What is a Short Sale
Any sale of real estate that generates proceeds that are less than the amount owed on the property. A real estate short sale occurs when the lender and borrower decide that selling the property and absorbing a moderate loss is preferable to having the borrower default on the loan. It is therefore an alternative to foreclosure. Real estate short sales can be done only by mutual consent of borrower and lender. Both parties can benefit greatly from this type of transaction. Borrowers can avoid having a foreclosure appear on their credit report, while lenders can avoid substantial fees associated with foreclosure.