Short sale vs. sell to cash buyer:
Speed & credit score impact
A cash buyer usually beats a short sale on speed by a wide margin. Cash sales commonly close in 7–14 days, while short sales often take 90–120 days and can stretch to 3–6 months or longer because lender approval is required.
Speed
- Cash buyer: fast, often 1 to 2 weeks.
- Short sale: slow, because the lender must approve the sale price and terms.
If speed is the priority, cash almost always wins.
Credit score impact
A short sale can hurt your credit score because the mortgage is being settled for less than the full amount owed. The size of the drop depends on your credit profile and whether the lender reports a deficiency balance, but it can be significant.
A cash sale does not create the same short-sale credit hit if you are selling the property normally and paying off the loan at closing. Your credit may still be affected indirectly if you are already behind on payments, but the sale itself is not treated like a short sale.
Simple comparison
| Option | Typical Speed | Credit Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Buyer | 7–14 days | Usually far less damaging than a short sale if the loan is paid off at closing |
| Short Sale | 90–120+ days | Often a major negative credit event |
Bottom
line
If you want the fastest exit and the least credit damage, a cash buyer is usually the better option. A short sale is mainly for situations where you cannot cover the mortgage payoff and need lender approval to avoid foreclosure.
If you want, I can turn this into a website-ready FAQ or comparison section.
