Is a Short Sale Better Than Foreclosure in Florida?

If you owe more on your Florida home than it’s worth or are facing foreclosure in Florida, a short sale may be one of the best options available. A short sale gives you an opportunity to sell the home voluntarily, negotiate the unpaid mortgage debt and avoid foreclosure.

How do short sales compare to foreclosure for home owners? Find out the differences!

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What do you have to gain by short selling? The top 5 benefits of a short sale over a foreclosure:

1. Avoid a completed Florida foreclosure.

A foreclosure can be mentally and emotionally draining and publicly humiliating. A short sale will help you stop FL foreclosure, and move on with your life quickly instead of having your home foreclose and face eviction from you lender.

2. Negotiate the remaining mortgage deficiency.

If you foreclose in Florida, your debt doesn't disappear, especially if you owed more than the home eventually sold for! Florida state laws allow lenders to pursue you for this loss, but you do have the opportunity to settle the debt in a short sale.

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3. Reduce the long term financial impact.

A short sale is less derogatory than a foreclosure and credit recovery is much faster. You can also qualify for a new mortgage 2-3 years after a short sale, but that will take 4-7 after a foreclosure.

4. Maintain more control over the sale of your home.

You will be able to sell your home on the open market and make all the decisions regarding the terms of the sale of your home, as well as how the remaining mortgage debt gets settled.

5. A Florida short sale will likely cost you nothing!

When involved in a short sale, almost always the lender allows all customary closing costs to come out of the proceeds of the home sale including realtor fees, conveyance taxes, back taxes and attorneys fees. In some cases you may even qualify for relocation assistance!

Florida Short Sale vs. Foreclosure: What's the Difference?

Short Sale:

Can take 3-6 months to complete.
Settles the debt and forgives the deficiency. Relocation assistance is also possible.
Quicker credit recovery and 2-3 year waiting period to be approved for a new mortgage.
Gives you control of the sale and how the debt is settled.

Foreclosure:

Can take several years to complete.
Leaves you open to be sued for a deficiency judgement by the lender.
Devastating credit impact and 4-7 years waiting period to be approved for a new mortgage.
Lengthy public foreclosure and eviction process, and lender can still sue you for their losses.

In nearly every instance, a short sale offers numerous benefits over losing your home to foreclosure.

FREE SHORT SALE SURVIVAL GUIDE!

A STEP BY STEP MANUAL FOR GETTING THROUGH THE SHORT SALE PROCESS!

LOVED LOVED LOVED working with them! They were so efficient, so attentive, they got back to me instantly with every question I had, (And trust me I had a lot!) they were so informative, and they walked me through every step. I highly recommend Minna and her team!

Michelle

Can I Do a Short Sale If I'm Already in Foreclosure?

Yes!

Even if you are already in the foreclosure process, it's not too late! You have until the day your home forecloses to find another way!

What Happens to My Mortgage Debt After a Short Sale?

Most of the time a short sale resolves your complete mortgage responsibility and results in full debt forgiveness!

How Long Does a Florida Short Sale Take Compared With Foreclosure?

Florida foreclosure can take years to complete, leaving you hanging while your credit is destroyed and you may still owe the lender for their losses after the foreclosure is over. The average short sale takes 4-5 months to complete.

Is a Florida Short Sale Better Than Foreclosure for Me?

Last Updated on August 31, 2026 by Minna Reid

short sale FAQ

August 31, 2026

Minna Reid

Minna Reid is the Broker-Owner of Reid Real Estate Group, serving FL & CT, specializing in foreclosure prevention and short sales.

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         jmccauley714 
 
 
 
   Verified Minna and her team did a excellent job in helping us short sale our home she was very kind, honest and up front about the process A+++ Communication, Service and knowledgeable highly recommended if you need a realtor.
  
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        wevschuab13 
 
 
 
   Verified It was a pleasure working with Minna and her team. From the beginning to end, she was there to guide me in the right direction. She does what is best for her clients and will go above and beyond to make sure the whole process is as smooth and it can be. I can't thank her enough for all her help and guidance during the sale of my property.
  
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        Melissa Case 
 
 
 
   Verified Responsiveness. Peace of mind. The feeling that, once and for all, everything was going to be OK. I got all these things and more the first time I spoke with Minna Reid. I was dealing with a home sale that, at first, had seemed uncomplicated and simple, but then was anything but. I needed help, and I needed it badly. From that first moment, Minna jumped immediately into action. She was thorough in her explanation of the things we needed to do and why, and took charge of the whole situation. I was able to take a breath and unclench my shoulders for the first time in weeks. I needed solutions, and she had them. I could not have asked for a better, stronger advocate. On top of that, she’s funny, personable, and knows how to relate to people (this is helpful not just when dealing with stressed-out clients—ME—but also with attorneys, other REALTORS, and difficult buyers). If you have a tricky home sale situation, I could not recommend Minna highly enough. And she was right: she said everything would be OK, and it was.
  
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        Kelly Turnage 
 
 
 
   Verified I was about to give up and just turn my back on my home and walk away. However, I found Minna and she was a lifesaver! Other realtors tried to help me but made the situation worse and wasted my time. If you are in the unfortunate place of having to short sale your home, then you know it can be embarrassing and difficult, especially if you don't have real estate experience. Minna knew exactly what to do, and was very professional, knowledgeable, and, kind. Minna was on my side and handled all the challenges we faced with selling a house that at times seemed like it didn't want to be sold! I appreciate Minna and know that you will love her.
  
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        Tony Guglielmi 
 
 
 
   Verified We are grateful to Minna for her knowledge, professionalism and expertise in shortsales. She truly cares about her clients and it is evident in the manner she represents them. She has a strong work ethic and keen negotiation skills when dealing with financial institutions and buyers. We strongly recommend Minna and her company if u want immediate results.
  
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        Elizabeth Smith 
 
 
 
   Verified I inherited my father's head and was completely in over my head. Minna was amazing in getting things straightened out with the mortgage company (which had been giving me issues for years) and was so responsive to my emails. I had a lot of questions, as this was my first time going through the selling process, and she was able to answer them all quickly. The selling process was so much easier than I expected it to be, thanks to Minna and her team!
  
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        qr8k4tscxx 
 
 
 
   Verified My husband and I worked with Minna to sell my father-in laws house after my father-in law-died. Minna is highly knowledgeable in regards to selling estate properties. She took the time to explain the process to us and she was very responsive to our needs. Minna was also highly motived to assist us in selling the house quickly. We listened to Minna’s advice in regards to selling the house (during the bidding process) and the house sold for well over what we expected. My experience with Minna was very positive and I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking to sell a property. Thanks again for everything Minna!
  
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        DanLing8 
 
 
 
   Verified Minna has been a fantastic partner in selling our home. She was patient with us in explaining the differences between a short sale and conventional sale and helped us think through the pros and cons of each. During the process of the sale she was strategic and got us the best price for our sale. The process was painless and quick and every step of the way she managed each and every detail flawlessly.
  
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        Anthony DeLuca 
 
 
 
   Verified Minna helped witha  dificult short sale. It was a process that went on for several months. Minna was professional and attentitive to the process. She worked diligently with the bank to get the deal done. I don't think we could have done it without her!
  
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        Marcin Rafalowicz 
 
 
 
   Verified Minna was the best thing that happened to us in a very long time. We’ve been planning on moving from on house and on with our lives and the house was simply an anchor. We’ve had two liens on the house that would take a long time to cure and we were forced to sell the house to settle with the bank. I’ve looked around for someone who specializes in short sales, not just an agent that did 2-3. The process took a while, but Minna was super persistent, and her strategic approach was close to none. We have lost two buyers, got a push backs from the back and lean holders and she was able to stay on top of it and at the same time, she kept us afloat emotionally. Because of her, we were able to leave CT and move to FL where we are currently waiting for our new place. Warm thank you to Minna and her team for doing what they do best. Marcin with family.
  
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5 Benefits of a Florida Short Sale vs. Foreclosure