Are you trying to make sense of a short sale still? J/K!
Every situation is different. Every short sale I closed last year the details were not worked out with the seller before the actual closing. Very odd. One primary home short sale, the seller received a 1099 for the difference. One received a letter from Country Wide 2 weeks after the closing saying no balance due. One worked out a deficiency of the difference 4 weeks after we closed. It still was considered a short sale at the time but the bank came back around and worked a deal. The commission always get negotiated down a percent it seems but shows up on a HUD like any other transaction.
They are not fun at all but if a buyer can hang on with no reply for 2-12 months they could be a good deal.
On the other hand, it is beginning to look like the foreclosure homes will make short sales look like a waste of time.