A short sale means the seller's lender is agreeing to accept a discounted payoff in order to release the existing mortgage. The lender is willing to accept this reduced payoff because they believe that it is in their best interest because they can avoid high foreclosure costs and fees, not to mention a lower sales price. Keep in mind that just because a property is listed with short sale terms, that does not mean that the lender will automatically approve your offer, even if the actual seller accepts it. Most lenders are not pre-approving terms and conditions of a short sale prior to receiving a bona fide contract. This leaves the seller and Realtor to make an educated guess as to sales price and terms that the lender would be willing to accept. The average short sale takes between 4 and 6 months from contract to close. It is very important that you have a Certified Distressed Property Expert represent your interests when buying a short sale property.