A short sale is a term used in the real estate industry to describe the situation in which a lender agrees to sell the home of the property owner (the borrower) at a discounted price that is less then what is owed on the property. In other words, a short sale happens when prevention of foreclosure is wanted and the bank agrees that the owner can sell the mortgaged property at a price less than its mortgage balance. Proceeds from sale then go to the borrower.