Port St. Lucie is getting into the home-buying business.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last week gave city officials the go-ahead on a plan to spend $13.5 million in federal money buying, repairing and reselling foreclosed homes.

Port St. Lucie hopes to start working with local real estate agents this week and begin closing on homes in as little as a month, said Pat Selmer, assistant director of the city’s community services department. (more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE — The Port St. Lucie City Council agreed today to accept about $13.5 million in federal dollars to buy foreclosed or abandoned homes in the city.
Council members voted unanimously to participate in the program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They praised the move as one that will employee local contractors, while removing blight from the city’s neighborhoods. (more…)