market
Pending
A property listing status indicating an accepted offer is in place and the parties are working toward closing, no longer accepting backup offers in some cases.
In depth
Pending status means a contract is signed and the parties are completing inspections, financing, title work, and closing logistics. Properties remain pending until they close, fall out of contract, or are otherwise terminated. Misconception: pending does not always mean the deal is certain; financing, inspection, and title issues cause some pendings to fall back to active. Practically, FSBO sellers should communicate clearly with their MLS provider when status changes to pending. Some MLS systems allow pending sub-statuses like pending-taking backups, indicating the seller will accept backup offers in case the primary contract fails. Buyers shopping for hot properties may submit backup offers on pendings to lock in second position if the primary deal collapses.
Educational content only. Definitions reflect typical usage in US owner-finance and FSBO transactions; statutes and case law vary by state. Consult a licensed real-estate attorney for fact-specific guidance.