For our business partners, Michele Lee Scherger , GRI , CDPE analyze properties, create thorough preservation programs, send out maintenance crews, advertise, and sell non-performing assets in order to get the best possible returns with the least amount of fuss and the shortest possible days on market. As your REO Brokers, it is our mission to provide you a competitive edge by providing market research on the Treasure Coast.

Facing Foreclosure? You Have More Options Than You Think.

If you’ve received a letter from your lender — or you’re watching the mail because you know one is coming — take a breath. You are not out of options, and you are not the first person to sit exactly where you’re sitting. I’ve spent more than twenty years on the Treasure Coast helping homeowners through this, and the single most important thing I can tell you is this: the earlier you reach out, the more choices you have.

How foreclosure actually works in Florida

Florida is a judicial foreclosure state, which means your lender can’t simply take your home — they have to go through the courts. That process takes time, and that time is your opportunity. From the first missed payment to a final foreclosure sale, there are multiple points where you can change the outcome. Missing a payment does not mean losing your house next month. But every week you wait quietly, a door closes.

Your options — and yes, you have several

Depending on your situation, your loan, and how far along the process is, homeowners on the Treasure Coast can often pursue:

Reinstatement or a repayment plan — catching up what’s owed, sometimes spread over time.

A loan modification or forbearance — restructuring the loan with your lender to make the payment workable.

Selling your home before the auction — here’s what surprises people most: with how Treasure Coast values have moved, many homeowners in foreclosure still have real equity. Selling on your terms can pay off the lender and put money in your pocket, instead of losing it all at the courthouse steps.

A short sale — if you owe more than the home is worth, a short sale lets you sell with the lender’s approval and walk away without a foreclosure on your record. This is a specialty of mine, and it’s worth understanding properly: [What is a Short Sale?]

A deed in lieu or negotiated exit — in some cases, handing the property back on negotiated terms, sometimes with relocation assistance to help you land on your feet.

Which of these fits you depends on details — and that’s a conversation, not a webpage. It’s also worth knowing that in Florida, a foreclosure can follow you even after the house is gone, because lenders can pursue a deficiency judgment for the shortfall. The right strategy now can protect you from that later.

Why talk to me about this

Distressed properties aren’t a sideline for me — they’re the center of my practice. I’m a Certified Distressed Property Expert and a trained HUD Housing Counselor, and banks and asset managers across the Treasure Coast trust me with their most difficult properties. That matters to you for one reason: I know how lenders think, what they’ll accept, and how to negotiate with them, because I work with them every day. When I sit down with you, I’m not guessing.

And I’ll be straight with you the way I’m straight with everyone: if your best move is to call your lender and modify, I’ll tell you that. If it’s to sell fast and protect your equity, I’ll tell you that too — and then I’ll help you do it.

Everything starts with a confidential conversation

There’s no fee to talk, no obligation, and no judgment. Life happens — job loss, divorce, medical bills, a rate adjustment that broke the budget. What matters now isn’t how you got here; it’s what you do next.

Start with our [Free Homeowner Guides] or visit the [Help Center] for answers to common questions. Better yet, call or text me directly at 561-309-2950, or email michele@sellingportstlucie.com. The lender already has a plan for your house. It’s time you had one too.