What Do Under Contract, Contingent, and Pending Mean in Real Estate?

When you shop for a home online, the MLS status next to the address can feel like a secret code. Under contract, contingent, pending, active with contingency, and off market all describe where a property sits in the sale process — and whether you still have a realistic shot at buying it.

This guide explains those labels in plain English, how they relate to each other, and what buyers and sellers should do when a status changes.

Local note: Exact MLS labels vary by market. Some boards say Active Under Contract; others use Contingent or Pending. Always ask your REALTOR® what the status means in your MLS.

Quick glossary of common listing statuses

Status	What it usually means	Can buyers still tour / offer?
Active	On the market; no accepted offer yet	Yes — full marketing
Active with contingency / Active under contract	Offer accepted, but contingency windows are still open	Often yes — backup offers may be welcome
Contingent	Same idea: sale depends on conditions being met	Often yes, especially early in the contingency period
Under contract	Broad phrase for “accepted offer in progress”	Depends on whether contingencies remain
Pending	Closer to closing; major contingencies often cleared or waived	Usually limited; backup offers only in some cases
Coming soon	Not fully live yet; early awareness only	Rules vary by MLS — ask your agent
Off market	Not (or no longer) in full public marketing	Possible through agent networks; not guaranteed
Sold / Closed	Transaction finished; ownership transferred	No
Withdrawn / Cancelled / Expired	Listing ended without a sale (for different reasons)	May relist later

What does under contract mean in real estate?

Under contract means the seller has accepted a buyer’s offer and both sides are working through the purchase agreement toward closing.

It does not automatically mean the sale is guaranteed. Many contracts still include contingencies — escape hatches for inspection, financing, appraisal, sale of the buyer’s current home, and more. Until those are satisfied or waived (and the deal closes), the home can still fall back on the market.

In everyday conversation, agents often say “under contract” as a catch-all for anything between accepted offer and closing. On the MLS, you may see a more specific status instead (Contingent, Pending, Active Under Contract).

What should buyers do if a home is under contract?

1. Ask your agent whether the listing is still showing and whether backup offers are being accepted.
2. Decide how strong your backup would need to be (price, terms, timelines).
3. Keep looking — do not pause your search on one under-contract hope.

What should sellers know?

“Under contract” is progress, not the finish line. Stay responsive on repairs, disclosures, and lender requests so the deal does not stall and fall out.

What does contingent mean in real estate?

Contingent means the sale is conditional. An offer is accepted, but the contract still depends on one or more conditions being met by a deadline.

Common contingencies include:

• Inspection / due diligence — buyer can renegotiate or walk after inspections
• Financing — buyer must obtain loan approval
• Appraisal — property must appraise at a level that supports the loan
• Sale of buyer’s home — buyer must sell another property first
• Title / HOA / insurance — clear title, documents, or insurability

If a contingency fails and the parties cannot renegotiate, the buyer may cancel (often with earnest money returned per the contract), and the listing can return to Active.

What does contingent mean on a house for sale?

When a house for sale shows Contingent, the listing is telling shoppers: there is an accepted offer, but the deal is not locked yet.

Practically:

• Photos and details may still appear on portals.
• The seller (or listing agent) may still allow showings.
• Backup offers may be encouraged if the first deal looks soft.
• The home can become Active again if the contingent deal cancels.

Treat contingent homes as possible, not available like an open listing. Your agent should check showing instructions and whether the listing office wants backups.

What does pending mean in real estate?

Pending usually means the transaction is further along than a typical contingent stage. In many MLSs, pending signals that major contingencies are removed, waived, or nearly complete — and the parties are preparing for closing.

Compared with contingent:

	Contingent (typical)	Pending (typical)
Deal stage	Early / mid contract	Late contract
Contingencies	Still active	Mostly cleared
Showings	More often allowed	Less often allowed
Backup offers	More common	Less common
Fall-through risk	Higher	Lower (but not zero)

Pending is still not Sold. Financing can fail late, title issues can appear, or either party can breach. Until deeds record and funds clear, treat pending as “very likely,” not “done.”

What does active with contingency mean?

Active with contingency (sometimes Active Under Contract or AUC) means:

1. The home is still marked in a way that keeps it somewhat visible to buyers, and
2. An accepted offer exists with contingencies still in play.

Why this status exists: sellers want a safety net. If the first buyer’s inspection or financing falls apart, a backup buyer can step in faster if the listing never fully disappeared from search results.

Active with contingency vs contingent vs pending

Think of a spectrum:

1. Active — shopping
2. Active with contingency / Contingent — offer accepted, conditions open
3. Pending — conditions largely cleared, heading to closing
4. Sold / Closed — ownership transferred

Not every MLS uses all four labels. Some collapse steps. Your agent’s job is to translate the local code into “can we still write an offer?”

What does off market mean in real estate?

Off market means the property is not being marketed through the normal public MLS listing path — or it has been pulled from public marketing.

Off-market situations include:

• A seller exploring interest quietly before a full launch
• A pocket listing shared mainly inside agent networks
• A home that was listed, then withdrawn, but may still sell privately
• Pre-MLS or “coming soon” conversations (rules differ by association)

Off market does not always mean secret or illegal. It means limited public exposure. Buyers who want access usually need a connected agent who monitors private inventory and coming-soon chatter. For a deeper dive, see What are off-market properties?.

Related statuses buyers and sellers ask about

What does active mean on a house listing?

Active means the home is on the market with no accepted offer (or the previous deal cancelled and the listing is live again). This is the status where competition, showings, and open houses are usually strongest.

What does coming soon mean?

Coming soon (or similar early-marketing statuses) signals a listing is preparing to go live. Showing and offer rules are MLS-specific. Some markets restrict showings until the listing is fully Active; others allow limited early access. Ask before assuming you can tour tomorrow.

What does withdrawn, cancelled, or expired mean?

• Withdrawn — seller temporarily pulls the listing; may return
• Cancelled — listing agreement ends early by agreement
• Expired — listing term ended without a sale

None of these mean the owner will never sell. Many homes relist with a new price strategy — often after a fresh comparative market analysis (CMA).

What does sold or closed mean?

Sold / Closed means the transaction completed. Public records and MLS closed data then become comps agents use when pricing the next listing.

What is a backup offer?

A backup offer is an offer the seller may accept in second position. If the primary contract cancels, the backup can move into first position (per the backup agreement’s terms). Contingent and active-under-contract listings are the most common places backups matter.

What is a kick-out clause?

Some seller-friendly contracts include a kick-out (or similar) clause when the buyer’s offer is contingent on selling another home. If a stronger offer arrives, the first buyer may get a short window to remove their contingency or step aside. Exact language is contract- and state-specific.

How listing status affects strategy

For buyers

• Active — compete on price, terms, timing, and certainty.
• Contingent / Active with contingency — ask about backups and remaining contingency dates.
• Pending — lower odds; stay in touch only if your agent confirms backups are welcome.
• Off market — rely on agent relationships; verify everything with the same diligence as a public listing.

If you are still deciding whether to make a move, a private home value estimate and a conversation with a strong local agent help you plan budget and timing. For choosing representation, start with how to find and choose a real estate agent.

For sellers and listing agents

Status is part of your marketing story:

• Overpricing often leads to long Active days, then a painful cut — or a contingent deal that falls out.
• A clean path from Active → Contingent → Pending → Closed builds buyer confidence.
• If a deal cancels, refresh photos, feedback themes, and pricing with an updated CMA before relaunching.

Agents who run open houses while a listing is Active can capture more demand early. The free Deetz open house app helps turn every sign-in into a follow-up-ready lead.

Status FAQ

Is under contract the same as pending?

Not always. Under contract is the everyday phrase for an accepted offer. Pending is often a later MLS status after major contingencies clear. In some markets the words are used interchangeably — confirm locally.

Is contingent the same as under contract?

Closely related. Contingent is a specific way of saying the under-contract deal still has conditions. Many contingent homes are accurately described as under contract.

Can I still buy a contingent house?

Sometimes. If showings and backup offers are allowed, yes — you may get the home if the first contract fails. Your agent should verify instructions with the listing office.

Why did a pending home fall through?

Late financing issues, appraisal gaps, inspection renegotiations that reopen, title problems, buyer cold feet, or contractual default. Pending reduces risk; it does not eliminate it.

Do Zillow or Redfin statuses always match the MLS?

Portals usually mirror MLS feeds, but sync delays and display labels can differ. When timing matters, your agent should check the live MLS status, not only a consumer app.

How long does contingent or pending usually last?

It depends on the contract: inspection periods may be days; financing and closing often take weeks. Contingency removal dates in the purchase agreement matter more than the portal badge.

Should sellers keep showing a contingent listing?

Often yes, especially early, if the first buyer’s contingencies are soft or the market is competitive. The listing agent should balance seller preference, MLS rules, and showing fatigue.

Bottom line

Real estate listing statuses are a progress bar for the sale:

• Active — available
• Contingent / Active with contingency / Under contract — offer accepted, conditions may still unlock the deal
• Pending — closer to closing
• Off market — limited or private marketing
• Sold — closed

Learn the local labels, then ask the only question that matters for your next move: Given this status, what is our best action today — write, backup, wait, or keep shopping?

If you are pricing a listing or explaining market comps after a fall-through, a clear CMA helps sellers reset strategy. Buyers who want a ballpark before touring can start with Deetz’s instant home value estimator.