N
The Daily Insight

How long does it take to close on a short sale?

Author

David Craig

Updated on March 31, 2026

How long does a short sale take? One California-based agent has estimated it takes about 60 to 90 days on average for a lender to approve a short sale deal — and that’s after receiving the full offer. However, that’s just one agent’s estimate.

Who pays for a short sale?

In a short sale transaction on the other hand, the seller’s closing costs are usually paid out of the money the buyer brings to the closing. Normally, the seller’s lender must approve all of these seller closing costs before a short sale can be approved and completed.

Is short sale good for buyer?

Who benefits from a short sale? Short sales are a mixed bag for the buyer, the seller and the lender. If you’re a seller, a short sale is likely to damage your credit — but not as badly as a foreclosure.

How much can you negotiate on a short sale?

Offer 10 to 15 percent under the approved price to open the negotiations. If you low-ball an offer, the lender may not respond. Wait for the lender to agree to your terms or to counter your offer. Ask the seller’s agent if other offers are on the table, or if a bidding war is being waged.

Why does it take so long for a short sale to close?

Short sales happen because the loan on the property is larger than the sale price minus all the sale expenses. With a short sale, the seller is asking the bank to take less than the amount owed. The seller’s bank must approve the sale, and this is where the big delays can happen.

Who pays for short sale negotiation fee?

Short Sale Negotiators are usually paid at closing by the buyer of the property, the bank / lender, or the real estate agents involved. Ethical Short Sale Negotiators don’t charge the home owner to represent them, nor do they charge thousands of dollars in up front fees.

Why does a short sale take long to close?

Once the lender gets the paperwork, the lender will put a huge amount of time verifying the details of the short sale, often a lot more time than when the borrower applied for the loan. And the more money the lender will lose, the more time it may take to process and approve the short sale.

Can you lowball a short sale?

The seller’s mortgage lender will check property values in the area so a lowball offer is not recommended. Many banks are so overwhelmed with short sale requests and multiple offers that they will most likely not even counter-offer if you submit a lowball.

Can you make a contingent offer on a short sale?

In the multiple listing services in northern California, once a seller has accepted a short sale offer, that listing can be placed into a status called “active short contingent.” It’s supposed to let other agents know that the home is no longer for sale because an offer has been accepted.