Do Short Sales Take Longer to Close?
If you’re exploring options to avoid foreclosure, you may have heard that short sales can drag on for months. It’s true: short sales generally take longer to close than traditional home sales. But by understanding why — and preparing properly — homeowners can reduce surprises and improve the chances of a smooth transaction.

Why Short Sales Typically Take Longer
Here are the main reasons a short sale often extends beyond the usual 30-45 day closing window of a standard sale:

> Lender approval: Unlike traditional sales, a short sale requires the seller’s mortgage lender (or lenders) to approve the deal. This means they must agree to accept less than what’s owed on the mortgage. This additional layer of review often adds weeks or months.

> Multiple parties involved: If there’s a second mortgage, home equity line, or other lien (like unpaid HOA dues or tax liens), each party has to sign off on the sale.

> Document-heavy process: Homeowners must submit extensive financial documentation to prove hardship, along with detailed short sale packages. If paperwork is missing or incorrect, it causes delays.

> Negotiations: Even once an offer comes in, the bank may counter or take time to verify the home’s value via broker price opinions (BPOs) or appraisals.

How Long Do Short Sales Take to Close?

> In 2025, a typical short sale might take 60 to 120 days from offer to closing, though some take longer.

> Much depends on the lender’s responsiveness, whether there are multiple liens, and how complete the initial short sale package is.

For a more detailed look at each step, check out our Short Sale Stages guide.

Can You Speed Up the Short Sale Timeline?
Homeowners can’t always control the lender, but there are ways to keep things moving:

> Work with an experienced short sale specialist. Agents who handle short sales regularly know how to compile solid packages and communicate with lenders efficiently. Learn more about how we help at Why Choose Us.

> Provide complete documents upfront. Missing pay stubs, bank statements, or hardship letters are common reasons files get kicked back.

> Stay available. Respond quickly if your agent or the bank asks for updated info.

Short Sale vs Foreclosure Timeline
While short sales may take longer than a regular sale, they usually close faster than waiting for a foreclosure to complete. And unlike foreclosure, a short sale gives you more control over the process and potentially less damage to your credit. See our comparison here: Short Sale vs Foreclosure.

Talk to a Specialist Early
If you’re worried about time frames and want to avoid foreclosure, talking to a professional early is key. We can help you understand realistic timelines based on your specific situation. Visit our Homeowners page or Contact Us today to get started.

For more on typical timelines and lender processing, visit:
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-short-sale-en-133/