What's happening? The Municipality of Juana Díaz will auction seven properties declared public nuisances on Dec. 2, with opening prices ranging from $5,000 to $85,400. There will be three formats: a lottery for two affordable homes for use as a primary residence, and two open-bid auctions (live voice), one for residential properties and one for commercial.
The municipality will hold a pre-auction meeting on Oct. 15 at the Centro de Bellas Artes Ada Mages Zayas to explain the processes, and open houses to visit the properties from Oct. 20 to 22.
Why it matters. Juana Díaz joins San Lorenzo, Isabela and Manatí in holding public auctions to sell properties acquired through their nuisance-abatement programs. In its case, the "Aquí es mi hogar" program aims to expand housing options, primarily for residents of the municipality or their children who want to buy their first property.
"There is a great need for housing in the city and in the region. In our case, our program is directed primarily at city residents who have that need," Juan Carlos Figueroa, municipal administrator of Juana Díaz, told Platea.
By the numbers. Juana Díaz is estimated to have about 1,000 properties that meet the conditions for designation as a public nuisance. Of these, more than 300 are in the municipal inventory and another 200 are in the process of receiving the official designation.
The average rent in Juana Díaz is $550, Idelisa López, press officer for Juana Díaz, told Platea.
Jueves, 15 de octubre de 2026: Reunión pre-subasta en el Centro de Bellas Artes Ada Mages Zayas a la 1:30 p.m. Se orientará sobre los procesos, pero no es mandatoria para participar de la subasta.
16 al 26 de octubre: Periodo para presentar preguntas.
20, 21 y 22 de octubre, de 1:00 p.m. a 4:00 p.m.: Casas abiertas para visitar las propiedades.
30 de octubre, hasta las 4:00 p.m.: Fecha límite para someter las solicitudes completas en las tres modalidades (mejor postor residencial y comercial, y sorteo). Es la fecha límite para precualificarse para participar.
1 al 20 de noviembre: Periodo de evaluación de las solicitudes. Junta de Subastas informará por correo certificado quiénes cualifican.
Miércoles, 2 de diciembre: Día de las subastas en el Centro de Bellas Artes Ada Mages Zayas. El sorteo para vivienda principal será a las 10:30 a.m.; la subasta al mejor postor de residencias, a la 1:30 p.m. y mejor postor comercial a las 3:30 p.m.
Información adicional y petición de pliego de especificaciones y requisitos:
📞 787-837-2185 ext. 2243
📧 estorbospublicos@juanadiaz.pr.gov
📍Oficina del Administrador Municipal, Calle F Degetau #35 (al lado de la Casa Alcaldía), Juana Díaz, PR
Format 1: How the "Sorteo para Vivienda Principal" works
The "Sorteo para Vivienda Principal," or affordable auction, is aimed at individuals or families with low or moderate incomes who are looking to buy their first home. The winner is not whoever offers the most money: properties are awarded through a public lottery among those who have been declared eligible.
The properties. Two properties are included in this affordable auction; both received a discount through the Aquí es mi Hogar program so that their price would be below the appraised value. As a result, the fixed sale prices are $20,500 and $40,000.
Property 1 — Case JD-1811: Located at calle 39 #882, Comunidad Aguilita, Juana Díaz. Appraised value: $63,600 | Program discount for affordable housing: $23,600 | Fixed sale price: $40,000
Property 2 — Case JD-1802: Located at calle 34 #769, Comunidad Aguilita, Juana Díaz. Appraised value: $40,500 | Program discount for affordable housing: $20,000 | Fixed sale price: $20,500
Propiedad 1 — Caso JD-1811: Ubicada en la calle 39 #882, Comunidad Aguilita, Juana Díaz. Valor de tasación: $63,600 | Descuento del programa por vivienda asequible: $23,600 | Precio fijo de compraventa: $40,000 (Suministrada)
Propiedad 2 — Caso JD-1802: Ubicada en la calle 34 #769, Comunidad Aguilita, Juana Díaz. Valor de tasación: $40,500 | Descuento del programa por vivienda asequible: $20,000 | Precio fijo de compraventa: $20,500 (Suministrada)
Requirements to participate. According to the specifications published by Juana Díaz, each must be verified with the corresponding documents.
📍 Be a resident of Juana Díaz or an adult child of a resident of the municipality. This must be demonstrated with 2 official documents (utility bills, electoral certification from the Comisión Estatal de Elecciones, tax returns, agency certification, among others).
💵 Demonstrate low or moderate income. The limit used is 80% of the income threshold set by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the municipality of Juana Díaz: $36,050 for one person; $41,200 for two; up to $67,950 for eight. The income of all household members is considered. This is documented with tax returns, pay stubs, employment certification, Social Security, government assistance, among others.
🚫 Not hold title to any property or be in the process of acquiring one. Applicants must complete a certification of non-ownership of real estate.
🏦 Demonstrate the financial capacity to purchase the property. This may be shown through mortgage pre-qualification, personal funds, or documented financial contributions from third parties. A single family may not acquire more than one property.
🏠 Commit to using the property as a primary residence. It may not be used for rental, investment, or commercial purposes during the restriction period (10 years), except with municipal authorization.
📝 Complete the municipal pre-qualification process. Submit the application before Oct. 30.
Limits. Municipal employees may not participate in this lottery. In addition, a person may apply for multiple properties but may only acquire one per household.
En el Centro de Bellas Artes caben sobre 900 personas. Invitamos a la gente a que vaya. El espíritu dentro del programa es que sea a la luz de todo el mundo.
How will the lottery work?
Interested parties will have until Oct. 30 to submit their documents.
The Junta de Subastas will review applications (Nov. 1–20) and will notify those who meet the requirements by certified mail before the lottery date.
On Dec. 2, qualified individuals must appear in person with identification and a qualification letter.
Each participant will be assigned a control number for the lottery.
The Junta will make its selection through a tómbola lottery, a process that will be public and documented.
Winners will be announced that same day.
No participation bond is required.
Attendance at the lottery is mandatory. If a qualified person does not appear, they will be considered to have withdrawn from participation.
Payment method. Those selected may pay with a certified check or a mortgage from a financial institution acceptable to the municipality. They have up to 90 days to complete payment from the date of award, with the possibility of a 30-day extension upon prior authorization from the Junta de Subastas.
In the case of mortgages, applicants will have 30 days to show that the process has been initiated at the financial institution and another 30 days to demonstrate approval.
If payment is not received, the award is canceled and the property returns to a lottery among the initially qualified applicants.
What obligations will the buyer have?
Use the property as a primary residence for at least 10 years.
Complete cleanup and rehabilitation within one year of the deed of sale, with the possibility of requesting a justified extension.
Accept the property in its current physical and legal condition (as is).
If the conditions are not met, the municipality may exercise its right of rescission and cancel the purchase agreement.
Asiste a la reunión pre-subasta el 15 de octubre para aclarar tus dudas.
Pide los documentos para la subasta que te interesa en la Oficina del Administrador Municipal.
📞 787-837-2185 ext. 2243
📍Calle F Degetau #35, Juana Díaz
Envía los documentos y la solicitud completada antes del 30 de octubre. Podrías ser elegible, aunque no seas residente, si demuestras tu necesidad de vivienda.
Option 2: How the "Subasta al mejor postor de propiedad residencial" works
The "Subasta al mejor postor de propiedad residencial" allows the purchase of properties declared a public nuisance and acquired by the municipality through a public or open-bid auction process.
Unlike the lottery, the properties do not have a fixed sale price: interested parties compete through bids in minimum increments of $1,000, and the highest valid offer wins. There is no income limit, though priority is given to residents of the town.
Two properties will be auctioned in this category:
Property 1 — Case JD-1739: Located at Urbanización Jacaguax, calle 5, corner of calle D, Centro Urbano, Juana Díaz. Appraised value and minimum starting price: $85,400
Property 2 — Case JD-1833: Located at calle A / calle Los Millonarios #1042, Comunidad Aguilita, Juana Díaz. Appraised value and minimum starting price: $5,000
Propiedad 1 — Caso JD-1739: Ubicada en la Urbanización Jacaguax, calle 5, esquina calle D, Centro Urbano, Juana Díaz. Valor de tasación y precio base mínimo: $85,400 (Suministrada)
Propiedad 2 — Caso JD-1833: Ubicada en la calle A / calle Los Millonarios #1042, Comunidad Aguilita, Juana Díaz. Valor de tasación y precio base mínimo: $5,000 (Suministrada)
Requirements to participate.
📍 Be a resident of Juana Díaz or a son or daughter of a resident of the municipality. Documentary proof of residency (water or electric bills, electoral certification or certification from an agency, etc.) or of family relationship is required.
🚫 Not own another home or be in the process of acquiring one. You must complete the non-property-ownership form.
🏠 Use the acquired property as your primary residence.
🏦 Demonstrate the financial capacity to purchase it. Proof of financing or available funds to cover at least the property's starting price is required (mortgage pre-qualification letter, bank certification, etc.).
📝 Complete the municipal pre-qualification process. Submit the application before Oct. 30.
How will the auction work?
Only pre-qualified individuals will be allowed to bid on Dec. 2.
Participants must submit a bid bond of $5,000 in a cashier's check for each property they wish to bid on. (If they do not win, they may request a refund of the bond; if they win, the bond is held as a guarantee and deducted from the purchase price.)
On auction day, the Junta de Subastas will announce the starting price for each property.
Participants will make verbal offers. Each offer must exceed the previous one by at least $1,000.
The highest offer wins.
No individual or household may be awarded more than one property in this process.
What obligations will the buyer have?
The buyer will have 90 days from the award to complete payment, unless an approved extension is granted.
The property must be used as the primary residence for at least 10 years.
The property must be cleaned and brought into condition within one year of the deed, with the option to request an extension.
The buyer must cover the corresponding notarial and closing costs.
If the buyer stops using it as a primary residence or allows it to become a public nuisance again, the municipality may consider exercising its right of reversion, and the property would return to the municipality and could be auctioned again.
Category 3: How the "Best-offer auction of commercial property" works
The "Best-offer auction of commercial property" will be held as a public open-outcry auction and will be awarded to whoever submits the highest offer.
Unlike the other categories, it is not aimed exclusively at people seeking to acquire their first home and has no restrictions on residential use, as these are commercial properties.
It also has no income limits, does not require municipal pre-qualification, and has no restrictions for those who already own other properties in their name.
The properties. These are three commercial properties in the historic downtown.
Property 1 — Case JD-1844: Located at calle Dr. Veve, corner of calle Mariano Abril, Centro Urbano, Juana Díaz. Appraised value and minimum starting price: $69,400
Property 2 — Case JD-25-142: Located at calle Comercio, lote 109, Centro Urbano, Juana Díaz. Appraised value and minimum starting price: $27,000
Property 3 — Case JD-1843: Located at calle Dr. Veve, corner of calle Mariano Abril, Centro Urbano, Juana Díaz. Appraised value and minimum starting price: $26,500
(Suministrada)
(Suministrada)
(Suministrada)
Who can participate? Any interested person who meets the requirements of the bid specifications. No residency restriction in Juana Díaz is established, but priority could be given to residents or business owners in the town.
Bidding on more than one property is allowed, as long as a $5,000 cashier's check is submitted as a bond for each property before bidding.
Registration will take place on the day of the auction.
How will the auction work?
On December 2, interested parties may register to participate by presenting a valid ID and a $5,000 cashier's check bond for each property they wish to bid on. (You may request a refund of the bond if you are not the winning bidder; if you win, the bond is held as a guarantee and deducted from the final purchase price.)
At the time of the auction, the Junta will announce the starting price for each property.
Registered participants may submit verbal, successive bids. Each new bid must exceed the previous one by at least $1,000.
Each property will be awarded to the participant who submits the highest offer.
What obligations will the buyer have?
The buyer must complete the cleanup and rehabilitation of the property within one year of signing the deed, with the option to request a justified extension.
Accept the property in its current physical and legal condition (as is).
Cover the applicable notarial fees.
Complete payment within the 90-day period established in the award letter, unless an authorized extension is granted.
Prevent the property from becoming a public nuisance again.
If the person abandons the property, stops using it, or allows it to fall into disrepair, the municipality could cancel the purchase agreement and reacquire the title in order to auction the property again.
There will be more auctions in Juana Díaz
If the properties to be auctioned on December 2 are not awarded, they could be put up for auction again in a new process, Juana Díaz Press Officer Idelisa López explained.
López indicated that there will be more auctions, as there are other public nuisance properties in the process of being acquired, through expropriation and other proceedings, by the municipality. "There will possibly be auctions of 30 and 40 properties," she said. All three modalities could be used, depending on the property.
Although the municipality had initially planned to hold its first auction in September, as the municipal administrator told Platea, López said the date was pushed back as they adjusted their processes after observing auctions in other municipalities. Juana Díaz was one of the municipalities that took part in the Isabela auction.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
