No. Short sale properties are sold as-is, and the lender will not negotiate repairs or issue credits regardless of what an inspection finds. A buyer can still walk away under an inspection contingency if serious issues turn up.

Most lenders require buyers to sign short sale affidavits confirming there's no relationship between buyer and seller, no side agreements outside the contract, and no undisclosed cash changing hands. These are standard fraud-prevention documents.

No. Only the listing agent, working under a signed borrower authorization, is permitted to communicate with the seller's lender about the file. Buyers and buyer's agents who contact the lender directly aren't legally authorized to discuss it.

Buyers should expect a longer timeline, typically three to ten weeks for lender approval after a complete offer package is submitted, along with as-is condition and additional paperwork compared to a standard sale. The lender, not the seller, ultimately approves price and terms.