What Does Pending Mean In Real Estate?

Many prospective homeowners had hoped that the 2021 housing market would moderate a bit, but regrettably, the reverse has proven true, particularly in suburban markets. Many home searchers have been shocked by a “pending” message on their potential ideal home because homes are leaving the market almost as soon as they are advertised.

So what does “sale pending” actually mean? Here is all the information you require.

What does the term “pending” in real estate mean?

The term “sale pending” (also known as “offer pending“) merely denotes that the seller has accepted the buyer’s accepted offer. To put it another way, it’s already past the stage where you can choose to outbid every other buyer in this case.

One caveat, though: it’s a good idea to get in touch with the buyer agent, and double check as some sellers will label a home as “pending” for reasons other than those stated in the official definition.

Can you make an offer on a pending house?

Typically, the response is no. When a buyer files an offer letter to purchase a home, there is typically a condition stating that the homeowner cannot cancel the deal if another offer is received, regardless of how much better it is.

While it may seem bothersome now, you’ll be glad you did it once you’ve found your dream home. You don’t want to sign the papers, obtain the financing, and give up the keys to your present residence while worrying the entire time that someone else might outbid you.

*Can you surpass an accepted offer? Technically, you can still make an offer and serve as a possible fallback for the one that is accepted. Agents will typically advise you against wasting your time and emotions on trying this because the buyer won’t accept your offer unless the existing sale falls through.

Can a contract for a sale be canceled?

1 out of every 25 pending house sales, or around 4% of all pending home sales, fail, according to our data. The house will then often be put back on the market.

There are several causes for this, including:

Financing fails: It should come as no surprise that financing is crucial to a successful house purchase. Even if a buyer has been pre-approved for a loan, certain circumstances, such as losing or quitting a job after the pre-approval occurs, or piling up a lot of debt, may cause the lender to alter their mind.

Buyer’s regret: Purchasing a home is a very emotional transaction. Homebuyers could have second thoughts about the house, the move, or the house’s condition.

Low appraisal: Low appraisal problems can occasionally occur when bidding battles drive up home values well above market rates. When the appraisal comes in much lower than anticipated, lenders frequently won’t approve the loan.

Home inspections uncover problems: although it’s extremely uncommon for a home to be problem-free, certain problems can be more difficult than the buyer was expecting or able to address financially. And occasionally, if a person does experience buyer’s remorse, they will utilize the home inspection as a justification to formally terminate the sale.

Can a real estate agent show a pending property?

Since a home that is under contract can still be viewed by potential buyers, realtors are permitted to do so. Since the majority of home transactions do go through, it would be a headache for the homeowners (who might not allow it), and most real estate agents would rather direct home searchers toward a home they have a higher chance of securing.

What separates contingent from pending homes

The definition of “contingent” A contingency is a requested clause, or form of safety net, to guard the buyer’s earnest money in the event that the buyer feels compelled to back out of the transaction. They are frequently employed to condition home sales on appraisals reaching a predetermined level or the ability of the buyers to sell their current residence.

Based on a contingency, a sale may be pending. A contingent sale occurs when a buyer asks for a contingency, and the seller agrees. The bidder may opt out if their contingency is not satisfied. However, the seller is no longer able to accept further bids at this time.

One frequent condition is that the buyer must sell their current residence before the current deal can proceed. Their former house has to sell before they accept the offer. Due to the danger they pose to sellers. These conditions are more common in a buyer’s market.

Competition and several bids in a seller’s market, when sellers have the upper hand, may lead to sellers choosing only non-contingent offers. It’s also typical to have an appraisal, inspection, and financial contingencies.

What distinguishes pending from contingent homes? 

When the condition (or conditions) is satisfied, you could say that contingent transactions turn into pending deals. Still, they both signify that an offer on the property has already been accepted.

What occurs if a contingent purchase is not made?

The earnest money deposit, which is a small good faith deposit of 1 to 5 percent of the home’s worth made along with the offer, is returned to the seller if the contingency isn’t satisfied.

How long are properties under contract?

The normal time frame for a pending sale ranges from a week to 60 days, so keep that in mind if you’re expecting to buy a house when it comes back on the market. This is the period of time needed for the seller and the buyer to complete the necessary steps for sale, such as obtaining financing, having a title check performed, finishing a house inspection, addressing any issues, or the buyer selling their current residence.

How frequently are properties in the “pending” stage?

Pending sales can vary depending on a variety of variables, just like anything else in real estate. The chance of a pending sale can vary depending on the competitiveness of the market, the time of year, and the geography. Pending sales are more prevalent in the American South than in the Northeast, according to statistics gathered by the National Association of Realtors.

If you are interested in more articles like this, here’s an article about the consideration for homeowners before remodeling their homes.