{"id":328649,"date":"2024-02-02T05:40:58","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T10:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/?p=328649"},"modified":"2025-07-22T03:00:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T07:00:33","slug":"what-does-pending-mean-on-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/what-does-pending-mean-on-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does Pending Mean on a House for Sale? (2024 Updates)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Pending home sales have dropped by <a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/pending-home-sales#:~:text=Pending%20Home%20Sales%20in%20the%20United%20States%20averaged%20%2D0.36%20percent,percent%20in%20October%20of%202022.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">18.7%<\/a> year-over-year in 2023. That&#8217;s not all. There has been a continuous decline in pending home sales in the last 3 months within all four regions of the US. September 2023 recorded a whopping <a href=\"https:\/\/in.investing.com\/economic-calendar\/pending-home-sales-232\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">7.1%<\/a> drop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this blog, we will dive deep into understanding what a pending sale means and how it affects your home-buying process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block-takeaways\"><p class=\"topHead\"><\/p><p class=\"headKeytake\"><b>Key Takeaways\n<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Buyers have numerous properties to look for in recent days. Though the demand is high, the fall of 18% helps the buyers to get larger exposure to buy properties.<\/li>\n<li>90% of buyers bought homes at a lower price than the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/what-is-fair-market-value-and-how-to-find-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">actual market value<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Due to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/research-and-statistics\/housing-statistics\/pending-home-sales\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">7.1%<\/a> fall in August 2023, mortgage rates have risen to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/mortgages\/mortgage-rates\/#mortgage-industry-insights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">8%<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"margin-top-28 wp-block-heading\" id=\"What-Does-Pending-Mean-in-Real-Estate?\"><strong>What Does Pending Mean in Real Estate?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A pending status on a house indicates that the homeowner has accepted an offer. This house is not available for showings. Pending is a stage further along than &#8220;contingent&#8221; or &#8220;under contract.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"margin-top-15 wp-block-heading\" id=\"Pending-Sale-Vs.-Contingent\"><strong>Pending Sale vs. Contingent<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Pending means the homeowner has accepted an offer, and the deal will be closed anytime.<\/li><li>A contingent sale means that home inspection and appraisal aren&#8217;t successful. The status will still be &#8216;active.&#8217;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"margin-top-15 wp-block-heading\" id=\"What-is-the-Difference-Between-Pending-and-Under-Contract?\"><strong>What is the Difference Between Pending and Under Contract?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/what-does-under-contract-mean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Under contract<\/a> means the seller has accepted an offer, but contingencies remain.<\/li><li>Pending means all contingencies have been met, and the sale is in the final stages of closing.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"margin-top-28 wp-block-heading\" id=\"Reasons-a-Pending-Sale-May-Come-Back-on-the-Market\"><strong>Reasons a Pending Sale May Come Back on the Market<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are the reasons why a pending sale house could come to the market again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Financing Issues &#8211;<\/strong> Buyers may encounter difficulties securing a loan. They may even fail to meet the lender&#8217;s requirements.<\/li><li><strong>Inspection Problems &#8211; <\/strong>If major issues are discovered during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/home-inspections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">home inspection<\/a>, buyers may choose to terminate the sale.<\/li><li><strong>Buyer&#8217;s Remorse &#8211; <\/strong>Buyers could get cold feet or have second thoughts about their decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-a-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">buy a house<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>Other Major Reasons <\/strong>&#8211; Due to a sudden change in the market conditions or if the buyer&#8217;s employment status changes unexpectedly.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"margin-top-28 wp-block-heading\" id=\"Can-You-Make-an-Offer-on-a-Pending-House?\"><strong>Can You Make an Offer on a Pending House?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, it is possible to make an offer on a pending house. However, it ultimately depends on the seller&#8217;s circumstances and preferences. You can consult with a real estate agent to make an offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"margin-top-28 wp-block-heading\" id=\"How-Long-Does-a-House-Stay-Pending?\"><strong>How Long Does a House Stay Pending?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The pending status can vary based on transaction complexity and contingencies involved. The contingencies may include home inspections, appraisals, and other financial issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some sales may close within weeks, while others take months. Market conditions and the parties&#8217; efficiency can also influence the average time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"margin-top-28 wp-block-heading\" id=\"Bottom-Line\"><strong>Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A pending status on the house indicates that a real estate transaction is in progress and nearing closing. All contingencies have been met, and the sale is in its final stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, pending sales can still <a speechify-initial-font-family=\"-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif\" speechify-initial-font-size=\"15px\" href=\"#Reasons-a-Pending-Sale-May-Come-Back-on-the-Market\">fall through for various reasons<\/a>. It is essential to understand the implications of a pending status and to be prepared for potential challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"margin-top-25 wp-block-heading\"><strong>Find Your New Home With Houzeo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With thousands of property listings,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Houzeo.com<\/a>&nbsp;is one of the biggest property listing sites in the US. Find condos, townhouses, co-ops, and other types of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/homes-for-sale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">homes for sale<\/a>&nbsp;on Houzeo, America\u2019s best home buying website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb NEED MORE CLARITY?&nbsp;<\/strong>Read these exclusive&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestatequeen.com\/houzeo-reviews\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Houzeo reviews<\/a>&nbsp;and learn why the platform is the best in America\u2019s competitive housing market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"margin-top-28 wp-block-heading\" id=\"Frequently-Asked-Questions\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-faq-schema-wrap wp-faq-schema-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-faq-schema-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ui-accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy do houses stay pending for so long?\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ui-accordion-header-icon ui-icon ui-icon-triangle-1-s\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ui-accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Houses can remain pending for an extended period due to various factors like inspection or financing issues. Legal procedures, paperwork, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/home-title-search\/\" target=\"_blank\">title issues<\/a> may also contribute to the delay.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ui-accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCan you make a higher offer on a pending house?\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ui-accordion-header-icon ui-icon ui-icon-triangle-1-s\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ui-accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, <a href=\"#Can-You-Make-an-Offer-on-a-Pending-House?\">making a higher offer<\/a> on a pending house is possible. However, remember that the seller is not obligated to accept or respond to your request.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ui-accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAt what point does an offer become a contract?\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ui-accordion-header-icon ui-icon ui-icon-triangle-1-s\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ui-accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>An offer becomes a contract once both parties have agreed on all terms and have signed the purchase agreement. It may then be marked as \"pending\" until all contingencies such as home inspections, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/home-appraisal-process\/\" target=\"_blank\">home appraisals<\/a>, and financing are met.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"ui-accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIs it better to be contingent or pending?\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ui-accordion-header-icon ui-icon ui-icon-triangle-1-s\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ui-accordion-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If the status is contingent, then you can make a successful offer. However, consulting with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/top-real-estate-agents\/\" target=\"_blank\">real estate agent<\/a> or attorney is recommended to understand the implications better.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"new-excerpt\"><p class=\"small-desc\">A \"Pending\" status in real estate refers to the status of a property that has an accepted offer but the deal is yet to...<\/p><\/div><div class=\"reading_date\"><span class=\"readtime\">3 mins read<\/span><span class=\"date\">Feb 02, 2024<\/span><\/div>","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":428976,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46225],"tags":[28921,27457,27360,27361],"class_list":["post-328649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buyer","tag-pending-definition","tag-what-does-it-mean-when-a-house-is-pending","tag-what-does-pending-mean-in-real-estate","tag-what-does-sale-pending-mean"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Does Pending Mean in Real Estate? (2024 Updates)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Realtors often use pending when talking about homes. This indicates the status of a house in MLS. Check out, what is pending in real estate\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/what-does-pending-mean-on-a-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Does Pending Mean in Real Estate? (2024 Updates)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Realtors often use pending when talking about homes. This indicates the status of a house in MLS. Check out, what is pending in real estate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/what-does-pending-mean-on-a-house\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Houzeo Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-02T10:40:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-22T07:00:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/What-Does-Pending-Mean-on-a-House-for-Sale.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"840\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Bhagyesh Behere\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Bhagyesh Behere\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Does Pending Mean in Real Estate? (2024 Updates)","description":"Realtors often use pending when talking about homes. This indicates the status of a house in MLS. Check out, what is pending in real estate","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.houzeo.com\/blog\/what-does-pending-mean-on-a-house\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Does Pending Mean in Real Estate? (2024 Updates)","og_description":"Realtors often use pending when talking about homes. This indicates the status of a house in MLS. 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