Knowledge Builders

what is the difference between under contract and pending

by Melyssa Skiles Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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When a property is marked as "pending," it means that the property is under contract and that all contingencies have been cleared. A contingency is a condition that must be met in order for the sale to go through. Once all of the contingencies have been met, the property is then considered pending.May 10, 2022

Full Answer

What does pending or under contract mean?

When a property is pending, that means that all of the contingencies are removed, requirements are met, and the home is about to close. Basically, a pending property is much closer to being sold than an under contract property. Is an under contract house off the market?

What's under contract option pending mean?

"Option Pending" means there has been accepted offer on a home and it is under contract in its "option period". The option period is a time a buyer will conduct inspections and can change their minds about the home purchase without forfeiting their earnest money.

Does contingent mean under contract?

The seller has an agreed-upon contract with the potential buyer. That doesn’t mean that it’s a done deal by any means, however (more on that next). A contingent status means that the seller has accepted an offer and the home is under contract.

What is under contract pending?

‘Under Contract’ is probably the most accurate way to describe a pending or ‘contingent’ sale. It means the same as the other statuses above; a buyer and seller have agreed to terms and have executed a contract. But, the contract has yet to go to closing.

Why is pending a good deal?

Why would a seller use a backup offer?

What are contingencies in a mortgage?

How long does a contract for a house last?

What does a rock star agent do?

How many contracts were terminated in 2020?

What are the hurdles in the under contract phase?

See 2 more

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Which is better pending or under contract?

For a home to be listed as pending, that means the home is under contract and there are no longer any contingencies on the sale. Once a property is listed as pending, the home is much closer to actually being sold than when it's under contract.

Is pending or under contract further along?

Sale pending means that the property is under contract, but there are no longer any contingencies. This stage is further along in the sale process than simply “under contract,” meaning that the sale of the property is more likely to finalize.

What does active under contract vs pending mean?

Active Under Contract vs Pending When a property is listed as “active under a contract,” there are conditions/contingencies that must be met before the deal can close. However, when a property is listed as “pending,” all the contingencies have been met and the deal is on the road to being finalized.

Do pending sales ever fall through?

One of the most common reasons a pending sale falls through is that the buyer isn't able to qualify for financing. Eighty-eight percent of home buyers finance their homes, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2018 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report.

What comes first pending or under contract?

When a property is marked as "pending," it means that the property is under contract and that all contingencies have been cleared. A contingency is a condition that must be met in order for the sale to go through. Once all of the contingencies have been met, the property is then considered pending.

Does pending mean they accepted an offer?

When a home has a pending offer, it means that a buyer has made an offer that the property's seller has accepted. The sellers and buyers are now just waiting to close the sale of the property, whether the buyer is making an all-cash offer or plans to finance the purchase of the home with a mortgage.

Why is a house pending for so long?

Why pending offers can take longer. There are a lot of mundane reasons a pending offer can just sit in limbo for months on end. Those include things like inspections, or a delay with the survey, appraisal, or even the homeowner insurance. Here are a few other issues to be aware of.

Can sellers back out of a contract?

Yes, a seller can back out of a contract under certain circumstances. But you must show that you've upheld the conditions in the purchase agreement or face consequences.

Does pending happen before contingent?

While contingencies are conditions that must be met for the sale to go through, pending is used to identify a listing where all contingencies have been met and the transaction is nearing the closing process.

Is it better to be contingent or pending?

Is pending or contingent better? If a property is listed as contingent, the sellers has accepted the offer, but there are certain contingencies that need to be met, so the property is still active. If a property is listed as pending, however, the contingencies have been met and the sale is being processed.

Will appraisers consider pending sales?

Pending sales and listings are only used on the appraisal report to show what the current market is doing; appraisers do not consider these comps in their final opinion of value.

At what point do most house sales fall through?

How often do house sales fall through? The frequency of fall-throughs changes month by month, so there is no headline figure. But in recent years, there have been times when half of all property sales have fallen through after the sale has been agreed, whereas at other times, the figure is more like 20 to 30%.

What is the difference between pending and under contract on Zillow?

When your real estate listing goes from “active” to “pending,” it means you've accepted an offer, but the sale hasn't closed yet. (You'll also hear real estate agents use the phrase “under contract” for this post-offer, pre-close time period, too).

What does pending mean on a contract?

Unlike a contingent status, which means the seller has accepted an offer but must still meet some requirements, pending usually signifies that the contingencies have been worked out, the contract has been signed, and all that is left is to move through the final stages of escrow.

What does it mean when it says contract pending?

Contract - pending means the house has an agreed upon executed contract between Buyer and Seller.

Why would a house say pending continue to show?

“Pending continue to show” means that the seller wants to continue to show the house to other buyers in case the current contract falls through. During this time, the seller will still encourage—and even sign onto—backup offers for the property.

Under Contract vs. Pending: What Is The Difference? - Bucks & Cents

4. Under contract: the buyer and seller draft a contract that includes mutually beneficial contract clauses.Once both parties sign the agreement, the property is classified as under contract. 5. Deposit: the property’s buyer is then required to transfer their deposit to a specific escrow bank account. 6. Finance: the prospective buyer then applies for their mortgage to finance the home or ...

Under Contract, Pending, or Contingent: What's the Difference? - Orchard

After months and months of searching, it finally happens. You’ve found your dream home. But there’s a catch. Whether you scoured a home listing website late at night or you drive by the perfect property on a Sunday morning, it’s disappointing to find out that a home you’re interested in is under contract or pending.

What does “under contract-pending” mean? - HAR.com

Contract - pending means the house has an agreed upon executed contract between Buyer and Seller. The Option period (inspections have been completed and repairs have been agreed) for inspections has passed.

Active Under Contract vs. Pending Status: What You Need to Know

There are two statuses in Bright that seem similar, but have different meanings: Active Under Contract and Pending. While both of these statuses are used when a contract is in place, there are a few differences you’ll need to know about. The difference between Active Under Contract and Pending Status in Bright When a listing is in Active Under

Why Are Contingencies So Important?

If you’re really interested in a home that is already under contract, contingencies are your best friend. Contingencies are the terms in the contract that must be met for the sale to go through. If you really want to buy a house under contract, then you’ll really want the buyer or owner’s responsibilities to fall through.

What is a contingency mortgage?

For the majority of home sales, a mortgage contingency grants that the buyer must secure a mortgage for a certain amount to afford the home. Many buyers will get pre-approved for a mortgage before they put down an offer because otherwise, a homeowner could be skeptical that they can afford the sale.

What does "pending" mean in a contract?

Pending sales mean that the buyers and sellers have fulfilled contingencies in the contract, so the home is very close to selling.

What is contingency in a home sale contract?

Arguably the most important contingency in a home sale contract is that the buyer secures enough money to buy the home. In most cases, a buyer will need to borrow money to cover such a large expense. In some cases, buyers can offer cash for a home and this can be a huge reason homeowners accept an offer.

What is contingency in real estate?

A contingency is a term that requires action to go through with the sale. For example, the contingency might be that the buyer offers to pay a certain amount for the home, but only if they can secure a loan from the bank.

Why offer cash for a mortgage?

Offering cash is a great way to streamline the buying process and guarantee payment. The homeowners won’t have to wait to hear if the buyers secured a mortgage, therefore taking away that risk from the contract. There are also fewer strings to pull, less paperwork, and fewer people that get involved with the sale.

What is pending sale?

What’s the difference between house pending sale vs under contract, then? When used correctly, pending sale means that a home has been under contract and undergone a home inspection and appraisal. Many of the necessary steps towards completing the contracted terms have been completed and the home is close to being sold.

Should I Make An Offer On A Under Contract/Pending Home?

It’s worth noting that Multiple Listing Service providers do not always provide real estate agents with the functionality to reflect a home’s sales status accurately. Furthermore, they often switch under contract and pending sales categories around.

Why is an offer more attractive to the seller?

Your offer will also be a lot more attractive to the seller if you can adhere to their other contingency requirements and offer the same price as the previous buyer or more . If you need to save money in other areas, look towards moving hacks to save money and focus on submitting a stellar offer to the seller.

What is a prospective buyer?

1. Viewing: a prospective buyer views several properties and decides to make an offer for their ideal home.

What does "active under contract" mean?

All properties classified as being under contract or “active under contract” signify that the seller of the property agreed to the terms and conditions of the buyer’s formal offer and has entered a contract.

How long does it take to get under contract?

The under-contract period usually takes four to eight weeks from when the seller accepts the offer until the sale is concluded.

What are the issues that you might only detect during a visit?

You might only detect numerous issues during a visit, e.g., noisy roads, loud neighbors, or other significant problems in that area.

What is a strong deposit?

A strong deposit of 10% of the purchase price.

What does it mean when a home is under contract?

What does active under contract mean? When a home is under contract (which is sometimes called “active under contract”), it means that the buyer has made a formal offer on the property and the seller has accepted their offer. While there is a good chance the sale will go through, if your dream home is under contract, you don’t have to necessarily give up hope. We’ll explain why in a minute.

How does the real estate transaction process actually work?

This brief overview will give you an idea of how the process works and what order each of these statuses come into play.

What does contingent sale mean?

If a home is listed as being a contingent sale, that doesn’t mean the home is sold or an offer has been made. Instead, it refers to the sale of the home being dependent on a contingency working out. Both sellers and buyers can come to the table with contingencies that are required for the sale to go through (such as the buyer selling their current home first).

How to find out if a listing agent is accepting a backup offer?

Ask your real estate agent to speak to the listing agent to find out if they are accepting backup offers at this stage of the game. Your agent should be able to get a feel for if the deal is expected to go through or not. If they are open to backup offers, have your agent inquire as to what their ideal offer is so you can make a competitive one.

What is step 6 in a sale?

Step 6: The seller accepts the offer.

Why do you include a personal offer letter with your offer?

Including a personal offer letter alongside your offer that outlines why you want to buy their specific home is an extra special touch that goes a long way. If you can pull on the seller’s heart strings, you may stand out from other very similar backup offers. Of course, a personalized letter about why you love their home won’t be able to compete with a strong financial offer, but if you’re on equal footing otherwise, it can push the seller in your direction.

What does it mean when a home is listed as pending?

For a home to be listed as pending, that means the home is under contract and there are no longer any contingencies on the sale. Once a property is listed as pending, the home is much closer to actually being sold than when it’s under contract.

Pending Listing Statues

Is when the agreement has been negotiated and agreed upon by both the home buyer and home seller.

Property Under Contract is Only One (Of Many) Statues Codes

During a real estate deal, you will notice several stages that a home goes through once listed on the MLS.

What Is A Listing Status?

In real estate, the “listing status” refers to situation that the home or listing is currently under (if it’s for sale) or was under (if it already sold).

MLS Statues Definitions

Below we cover various property status terms you will encounter when buying a home.

Expired, Cancelled and Withdrawn

The 3 home listing statues that want to be avoided are Expired, Cancelled and Withdrawn.

For Home Sellers

One of the many things performed by the title company during this phase include the title company doing research on the house.

Why is pending a good deal?

Because the current buyer and seller are deeper into the process than they are when their deal goes under contract, pending presents a more narrow path to success for a potential buyer.

Why would a seller use a backup offer?

The seller could be using your backup offer to motivate the original buyer.

What are contingencies in a mortgage?

Contingencies are often responsible for deals falling apart. For instance, if a buyer can't secure a mortgage, the contract terminates.

How long does a contract for a house last?

A contract has been signed. But it's still near the start of a process that can extend for weeks, or even months.

What does a rock star agent do?

A rock star agent at your side can help you figure out how to best position you to secure a home you love that's pending or under contract.

How many contracts were terminated in 2020?

The odds of buying a house that's either pending or under contract are long. Six percent of overall contracts were terminated in November 2020, according to that month's Realtors Confidence Index Survey. The main reasons the contracts within that 6% fell through:

What are the hurdles in the under contract phase?

The biggest hurdles during the under contract phase are contingencies. These are conditions that must be met before a contract is considered legally binding. Major contingencies buyers typically include in home-purchase contracts revolve around financing, inspections, and appraisal.

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1.Pending vs. Under Contract: What's the Difference in Real …

Url:https://listwithclever.com/real-estate-blog/pending-vs-under-contract/

6 hours ago  · The difference between under contract and pending is fairly simple. When a homeowner chooses to accept an offer, they go into a contractual agreement with the buyers. …

2.Pending vs Under Contract - What’s The Difference?

Url:https://ibuyer.com/blog/pending-vs-under-contract/

4 hours ago  · Basically, a sale pending property is much closer to being sold than an under contract property. It’s important to note, though, that in some markets, agents will use these …

3.Videos of What Is The Difference Between Under Contract And Pe…

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29 hours ago  · Under contract is typically an early stage where the seller and buyer have recently entered into a contractual agreement. Pending is a late stage in the process once the …

4.Under Contract vs. Pending: What Is The Difference?

Url:https://bucksandcents.com/under-contract-vs-pending/

32 hours ago  · Compared with homes listed under contract, a pending status means a better likelihood of selling the house to the buyer. They are also more secure as the seller will most …

5.Under Contract, Pending, or Contingent: What's the …

Url:https://orchard.com/blog/posts/whats-it-mean-when-a-house-is-under-contract-pending-contingent

23 hours ago Sale Pending Vs. Under Contract. The terms “sale pending” and “under contract” may imply that a property is no longer on the market. However, this isn’t the case. Only once the property has …

6.Active Under Contract vs Pending - What Does It All Mean!? 🤔

Url:https://www.craigthomasrealtor.com/real-estate/active-under-contract-vs-pending/

16 hours ago  · Step 1: The buyer tours homes and finds one they want to make an offer on. Step 2: The buyer makes a formal offer in writing, and they may agree to contingencies put in place …

7.Home Buying: Under Contract vs. Contingent vs. Pending

Url:https://www.navyfederal.org/makingcents/home-ownership/under-contract-vs-contingent-vs-pending.html

8 hours ago  · This means that the home is under contract and all contingencies have been removed. A pending sale is further down the home buying timeline than a property that is under …

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