What Do Real Estate Listing Statuses Mean? Coming Soon, Active, Pending & More

If you have searched for homes online, you have probably noticed different labels attached to properties:

• Coming Soon
• Active
• Under Contract
• Pending
• Sold

These labels are called listing statuses, and they help communicate where a property is in the buying and selling process.

While the exact names and definitions can vary slightly between MLS systems, listing statuses generally help real estate professionals and consumers understand whether a property is available, under contract, or no longer on the market.

Understanding these terms can make it easier to follow the home buying or selling process.

Quick Links

Coming Soon | Active | Under Contract | Pending | Sold | Other Listing Statuses

Coming Soon

Coming Soon means a property is being prepared for sale but has not yet moved into the fully active stage.

During this period, a property may be visible within the MLS and available for real estate professionals to share with interested buyers. However, it may not appear on all third-party websites like Zillow and realtor.com.

A Coming Soon period may give sellers additional time to complete:

• Repairs or improvements
• Professional photography and marketing preparation
• Final staging recommendations
• Other steps needed before launching the property

For buyers, Coming Soon listings can provide an early opportunity to learn about homes before they become widely available.

Active

An Active listing means the property is officially available for sale.

At this stage, the seller is typically accepting showings and offers, and buyers can work with their real estate professional to schedule a visit and determine whether the home fits their needs.

Active listings are generally the properties buyers think of when searching online for available homes.

Under Contract

Under Contract means the seller has accepted an offer and the buyer and seller are working through the contract process.

During this stage, buyers may be completing important steps such as:

• Inspections
• Financing requirements
• Insurance review
• Appraisal
• Other contract requirements

A property that is Under Contract is generally no longer available in the same way as an Active listing, although specific MLS rules and seller decisions may determine whether additional interest is accepted.

Keep in mind that:

• A home being Under Contract does not always mean the opportunity is completely gone.
• A seller may still consider backup offers, depending on the circumstances.
• A backup offer does not replace the existing contract unless the first transaction fails and the terms allow the backup offer to move forward.

Pending

Pending generally means the transaction is moving closer to closing after key contract steps have been completed.

The property may still require final steps before ownership transfers, such as:

• Final lender approval
• Closing preparation
• Title work
• Final walkthrough

While Pending often indicates a transaction is progressing toward closing, the sale is not complete until closing has occurred.

Sold

Sold means the transaction has closed.

The property is no longer available for purchase, and ownership has transferred according to the terms of the sale.

Sold listings can also provide valuable information for future sellers and buyers because they show what similar properties have recently sold for in a particular market.

Other Listing Statuses You May See

In addition to the most common statuses above, MLS systems may include other statuses that provide additional information about a property's history or availability. Each MLS can define these statuses differently, but here are the traditional concepts:

• New (NEW): A recently added listing that has entered the MLS.
• Back on Market (BOM): A property that was previously under contract but is available again.
• Price Reduced (RED): The seller has reduced the listing price.
• Price Increased (RAI): The seller has increased the listing price.
• Withdrawn (WTH): The listing has been temporarily removed from the market but may not represent a completed sale.
• Cancelled (CNL): The listing has been cancelled according to the applicable listing agreement or terms.
• Expired (FEL): The listing agreement ended without the property being sold.
• Rented or Leased (RNT/LSE): The property has been rented or leased rather than sold.
• Sold/Comp (SLD/COMP): A closed transaction recorded for comparable market purposes.
• First Right of Refusal (RFUSE): A property subject to a contractual right allowing another party the opportunity to purchase under certain circumstances.

MLS status names and rules can vary between markets, so your real estate professional can help explain what a specific status means for a particular property.

Why Listing Statuses Matter

Listing statuses provide a quick snapshot of where a property is in the selling process.

For sellers, understanding statuses helps explain how their home is marketed and what happens after an offer is accepted.

For buyers, understanding statuses helps set expectations about whether a property may still be available, whether a backup opportunity exists, or whether it has already sold.

Bottom Line

Listing statuses help buyers and sellers understand where a property is in the real estate process.

From Coming Soon to Sold, each status tells part of the story of a home's journey through the market.

Because MLS systems can have different rules and terminology, working with a real estate professional can help you understand exactly what a listing status means and what options may still be available.