What Is Pending in Real Estate?

In real estate, a pending listing means the seller has accepted an offer, and the home is under contract but not yet closed. While most contingencies have been satisfied, the sale is still in progress until the transaction is finalized at closing.

📋 What “Pending” Means on the MLS

Once a home’s status is marked as Pending on the MLS, it indicates that the seller and buyer have agreed to terms and are moving toward closing. At this stage:

  • All required inspections and contingencies have typically been met.
  • The buyer’s financing or mortgage is in its final approval phase.
  • The listing is no longer shown to new buyers, although backup offers may still be accepted in some cases.

🔁 How “Pending” Differs from Other Statuses

A home listed as pending is further along in the sales process than one that’s simply active or active contingent. Here’s how they differ:

  • Active: The property is available and accepting offers.
  • Active Contingent: An offer is accepted, but contingencies (like inspections or financing) remain.
  • Pending: All contingencies are cleared, and the sale is waiting to close.
  • Expired: The listing term ended without a completed sale.

💡 What “Pending” Means for FSBO Sellers

For FSBO sellers using a flat fee MLS listing, changing your status to “Pending” signals to agents and buyers that your property is under contract. This keeps your listing compliant with MLS rules and avoids confusion or duplicate offers.

Once the sale closes, the MLS will automatically update the property’s status to “Sold.”