The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) statuses represent a precise language used by real estate professionals to communicate a property’s availability and its stage within the transaction process. Understanding these MLS statuses is important for anyone involved in buying or selling property, as they dictate whether a home is available for viewing, accepting offers, or moving toward a final sale. These simple designations provide immediate insight into the life cycle of a listing, from its initial market debut to its eventual transfer of ownership. This system ensures that all parties are operating with accurate, real-time information about the status of a home.
Understanding the Multiple Listing Service
The Multiple Listing Service is a proprietary, cooperative database created and maintained by real estate brokers across the country. Its existence facilitates an orderly and transparent marketplace by allowing member brokers to share information about properties they have listed for sale with other professionals. Licensed real estate agents and brokers are the primary users of the MLS, relying on it to find homes for their buyer clients and to market their seller clients’ properties to the widest possible audience. The core purpose of this system is to foster cooperation among competing brokerages, ensuring that all agents are aware of available inventory. This cooperative environment is typically accompanied by an agreement on compensation for the agent who ultimately procures the buyer.
Core Statuses Indicating Availability and Offer Acceptance
These statuses are the most frequently encountered by the public and directly signal whether a property is currently open for business. They inform a buyer’s agent whether they can schedule a showing and submit a new offer. They also tell a seller where their listing stands in the transaction process.
Active
An “Active” status means the property is fully available for sale and is being actively marketed to the public. The seller is ready to accept offers, and the listing agent is expected to facilitate showings and present all offers received to the seller. For a buyer, this is the most straightforward status, indicating an open opportunity to view the home and submit a contract.
Active Under Contract or Contingent
The “Active Under Contract” or “Contingent” status signifies that the seller has accepted an offer, but the final sale remains conditional upon one or more defined requirements being met. These conditions, known as contingencies, often include the buyer obtaining financing, a satisfactory home inspection, or the successful sale of the buyer’s current home. In many cases, the seller will continue to allow showings and accept backup offers in case the initial contract falls through because a contingency is not satisfied. This status is a signal to buyers that an offer has been accepted but that a secondary opportunity may still exist.
Pending
When a listing moves to “Pending,” it means that all significant contingencies have generally been removed or satisfied, and the transaction is progressing toward the final closing date. At this stage, the parties are committed to the sale, and the property is effectively off the market. For the interested buyer, a Pending status usually means they should stop pursuing the property, as the seller is no longer soliciting or entertaining new offers. The agent’s work shifts from marketing to managing the final administrative and legal steps leading to the transfer of title.
Statuses Indicating Listing Removal or Completion
These statuses mark the conclusion of a property’s journey on the MLS, whether through a successful transfer of ownership or the contractual termination of the listing agreement. They provide a historical record of the listing’s outcome.
Sold or Closed
The “Sold” or “Closed” status is the definitive sign that the transaction has successfully completed. The buyer and seller have finalized all paperwork, the funds have been transferred, and the title of the property has officially passed to the new owner. This status provides valuable comparable sales data for agents and is the final outcome all parties involved in the transaction were working to achieve.
Expired
A listing is marked “Expired” when the contractual term of the listing agreement between the seller and the brokerage has ended without a sale or other form of termination. Upon expiration, the listing is automatically taken off the market, and the broker no longer has the exclusive right to sell the property. The seller is then free to either renew the contract with the original agent or list the property with a completely different brokerage.
Withdrawn
“Withdrawn” indicates that the property has been temporarily taken off the market at the seller’s request, but the existing listing agreement with the current broker remains legally in effect. The property is not available for showings, and the marketing has ceased. The broker still maintains the contractual right to sell the home, and this status prevents other agents from soliciting the seller while the listing contract remains valid.
Canceled
The “Canceled” status is used when the listing agreement between the seller and the brokerage is officially terminated before the agreed-upon expiration date. Unlike a Withdrawn listing, a Canceled status completely ends the contractual relationship between the parties. Once a listing is Canceled, the seller is immediately free to engage a new brokerage to list their property.
Specialized and Temporary Administrative Statuses
Certain statuses are used for administrative efficiency or specific marketing strategies. They often indicate a temporary pause in market activity or a pre-market advertisement phase. These provide nuance to the property’s availability that is helpful for agents and buyers to understand.
Hold or Temporarily Off Market
The “Hold” or “Temporarily Off Market” (TOM) status signals that the property is not currently available for showings, despite a valid listing agreement still being active. This temporary status is often used when the seller needs a short break from the market, perhaps for minor repairs, a family emergency, or travel. While in this status, the “Days on Market” counter is typically paused, which can benefit the seller when the property returns to active status.
Coming Soon
A “Coming Soon” status is a pre-marketing designation that advertises the property before it is officially available for showings. This tool is used to generate interest and build anticipation among potential buyers before the official “Active” date is set. During this period, showings are generally not permitted, but the listing information is shared within the MLS system for cooperating agents to see.
Back on Market
A property is designated “Back on Market” (BOM) when a previous contract, such as a Contingent or Pending sale, has fallen through. This status signals renewed availability to buyers who may have been tracking the property. Buyers who missed out on the first opportunity may see this as a chance to submit an offer.
Practical Implications for Buyers and Sellers
Tracking and understanding these MLS statuses is fundamental for strategic decision-making in real estate transactions. For buyers, the status indicates how quickly they need to act and the likelihood of securing the property. An “Active” listing demands immediate attention and a strong offer in a competitive market, while a “Pending” status suggests shifting focus to other opportunities. For sellers, the listing status reflects the effectiveness of the marketing strategy and current demand. A rapid change from Active to Pending suggests a successful, well-priced listing, while Expired or Withdrawn statuses may signal a need to re-evaluate the price or presentation.