You submit a bid on a HUD home yourself; you must work with a real estate agent who is registered with HUD and has an active NAID (Name and Address Identification) number.

Buying a HUD home can be a strategic way to secure a property at a below-market price, but the process differs significantly from a traditional real estate transaction. These homes are properties acquired by the government after a foreclosure on an FHA-insured mortgage.

: Specifically for "fixer-uppers," these allow you to finance both the purchase and the cost of repairs into one loan.