Across the United States, the housing market has been bombarded by a popular newcomer - short sales. Short sales have been around for years, but they are only now becoming extremely popular, as the result of an increasing number of foreclosures. From both sides of a short sale, as either buyer or seller, it is important that the sale is handled in the appropriate manner. Due to this, coupled with the fact that the steps involved can be very complicated, short sale specialists are often called upon to provide assistance during this process. As the homeowner and seller, short sale specialists can guide you throughout the process, beginning with the finding of short sales and ending with a wise purchase. Buyer should also beware; entering into this process without understanding the correct procedures can be unwise. However, the short sale process, including the issue of negotiation, can be handled with greater ease when a specialist has been consulted.