Editorial Policy
Short-Sale.com publishes information about mortgage problems, foreclosure, home-retention options, selling, and short sales.
This policy explains the standards we use when creating and reviewing that information.
These standards also guide our tools, Help experience, Decision Briefs, glossary pages, and state and local guides.
Help users understand before they decide
Our content is designed to help users understand their situation, compare reasonable options, and prepare for the next decision or conversation.
We focus on the facts that matter, explain what may vary, and point to the next source of help when needed.
The goal is to make complex information easier to understand and use.
Explain reasonable options fairly
A short sale is one possible option. It is not the answer for every homeowner.
Depending on the facts and the homeowner's goals, other paths may include:
- working with the mortgage servicer,
- a repayment or loss mitigation option,
- staying in the home,
- selling with equity,
- a short sale,
- deed-in-lieu of foreclosure,
- housing counseling,
- legal help,
- or another path.
We explain the options that may apply without treating one outcome as the answer for everyone.
Support important claims with appropriate sources
Important claims about mortgage programs, foreclosure rules, timelines, laws, servicing requirements, and similar topics should be supported by an appropriate source.
We give priority to primary and authoritative sources when they directly answer the question.
We also consider whether the source is current and whether it applies to the right loan, program, state, or stage of the process.
Learn how we source our information →
Separate facts, estimates, and explanations
We make a clear difference between information that is confirmed and information that may need to be checked.
Our content may include:
- Sourced facts supported by an identified source.
- Rules or requirements tied to a law, mortgage program, investor, or servicer.
- Calculations or estimates based on known numbers or available data.
- Explanations that put the information into plain language.
We do not present an estimate as a confirmed fact or an explanation as an official rule.
When an answer depends on an official decision, we identify who must confirm it.
Use clear language
Mortgage and foreclosure topics can be difficult enough without extra jargon.
We use direct language, short sentences, and clear headings.
We define unfamiliar terms when they matter and explain abbreviations before relying on them.
When a legal, mortgage, or real estate term is necessary, we explain what it means in plain language.
Describe outcomes carefully
Mortgage outcomes often depend on decisions made by servicers, investors, courts, agencies, buyers, or other parties.
We explain what may be possible and what factors can affect the result.
We use clear limits around uncertain outcomes and avoid presenting a possible result as certain before it has been confirmed.
Keep editorial conclusions independent
Commercial relationships do not determine our editorial conclusions.
Compensation from a professional or service provider does not decide:
- which options we explain,
- which sources we use,
- how we describe those options,
- or whether a sale or short sale appears relevant to a user's situation.
Our educational standards apply whether or not a page or user journey may later include a professional connection.
Learn about our commercial relationships →
Apply the same standards across the product
Our editorial standards are not limited to articles.
The same basic standards for sourcing, balance, clarity, and consumer choice apply across:
- educational pages,
- state and local guides,
- glossary pages,
- interactive tools,
- calculators,
- Help,
- Decision Briefs,
- and other educational explanations.
The format may change. The standard should remain consistent.
Review important content before publication
Important published content should be reviewed for source support, accuracy, clarity, and balance.
The review process may also check whether a source is current, whether it applies to the topic, and whether a qualified professional should review the subject.
Our source and publication systems keep records of review and approval activity.
Learn about our content review process →
Use AI within the same editorial standards
Artificial intelligence may help with research, organization, drafting, classification, or conversational explanations.
AI does not replace our sourcing and review standards.
Important published claims should trace back to appropriate sources and follow the same review rules as other content.
Learn more about how we use AI →
Keep information current
Mortgage programs, foreclosure rules, laws, servicer guidance, and government resources can change.
Important sources and content may be reviewed again when new information becomes available or when a scheduled review is due.
If a material error is found, we update the content.
Say when information is uncertain
Some questions do not have one simple answer.
A rule may depend on the loan type. State law may change the process. A servicer or court may need to make the final decision.
When the available information does not support a clear answer, we explain what is known, what may vary, and what still needs to be confirmed.
Limits of our content
Short-Sale.com provides general educational information and decision-support tools.
Some questions require an official decision or advice from a mortgage servicer, HUD-approved housing counselor, attorney, tax professional, court, government agency, or another qualified professional.
We make those limits clear when they are important to the decision.
Raise a concern
If you believe content on Short-Sale.com is inaccurate, outdated, unclear, or missing an important source, please tell us.
It helps if you include the page URL, the statement you are questioning, and any source that may help us review it.