Approval before purchase contract

[Minna Reid]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no way to get a short sale approved for any amount without first having a buyer and a contract in place, right? I get calls from realtors on active listings asking "is the ss approved yet?" or sometimes I see other listings advertised as "approved short sale". I also know one realtor who insists he has gotten bank approval before he even listed the property, but I certainly cant get the bank to talk to me about any approval until I have a purchase contract. The only way I could see a property for sale as an "approved" short sale was if there was an approval with a different buyer and the sale fell apart. Right?