According to a report from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on Wednesday, March 28^th, short sales rose by more than 10% from the 3^rd quarter of 2011 to the 4^th quarter reaching a record of 63,257.  The potential for more distressed properties, longer time in the costly foreclosure process, and heightened oversight has resulted in more interest on the part of banks, investors, and the GSEs in this alternative to foreclosure.  The trend toward short sales is important as academic research suggests that a short sale has no impact on the sale prices of non-distressed homes in the same neighborhood, while REO sales can have a significant negative impact.  The OCC’s figures only measure 1^st lien loans though, so they may understate the true number of short sales by not incorporating sales where the selling price did not cover the 2^nd lien or piggy-back loan.