More than two years into the housing crisis, lenders are beginning to allow more troubled homeowners to unload their homes for less than they owe. The practice, known as a short sale, is gaining popularity as an alternative to foreclosure, but it remains a difficult and lengthy task to pull off because the lender bears the brunt of the loss. The number of short sales completed jumped 208 percent during the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2008, according to a report issued last month by the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulate banks.

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