Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Maryland

A typical "short sale" involves a contract subject to third party approval. In other words, the contract only "goes forward" if the third party (i.e., the mortgage lender) agrees to take a hit and release the property for whatever price the buyer and seller agree upon. If the lender doesn't like the terms, then typically the buyer either needs to adjust or the deal falls through. Where a cash strapped seller doesn't have enough money to pay off the mortgage it is unlikely to have funds to offer cash for closing help. So in many cases a seller concession for closing help may really translate to a lower pay-off for the mortgage lender which the lender would obviously need to approve.

The exact language of your contract should show the seller's obligation and any contingencies. An attorney cannot really analyze a specific contract without looking at it - you may want to get legal assistance from an attorney of your choosing.