Real Estate Glossary

Short sale

/glossary/short-sale
A sale where the lender agrees to accept less than the loan balance to release the lien. Used when the property is worth less than the mortgage and the seller can't bring cash to closing. Takes 3-6 months for lender approval.

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Reviewed by John Quigley · Founder, BuyHousesInCash · Last updated May 2026

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