Newbie HUD/REO Home Question

[James Tobin]

There's a house in my area I've had my eye on that's been vacant for just over a year now and has never been listed. When I researched the tax information, the owner is listed as HUD, with the previous owner last paying taxes in 2012.

So this is not an REO correct? I'm assuming that if it were bank owned, the bank would be listed as the owner (this one shows the Secretary of Housing & Urban Development as owner).

And is there any way to make an offer on this house since it's unlisted? If it's truly an REO, most of the discussions here led me to believe that until it's listed by an REO agent, there's little chance of getting a reply directly from the bank. But if it's a HUD home is there a way to make an offer since it's never been listed...at least not since I've been watching it?

Thanks!