A short sale is an alternative to foreclosure for homeowners who owe more than their home is worth. In a short sale, the homeowner works with their lender to sell their home for less than what is owed on the mortgage. If approved by the lender, the home is sold through a real estate agent and the lender agrees to accept the proceeds of the sale even if it is less than the total amount owed. This allows the homeowner to avoid foreclosure. Some benefits of a short sale over foreclosure include less negative impact to the homeowner's credit score, the ability to buy a new home sooner, and not having to disclose the short sale in future loan applications.