How do I know if a house is available?

As a Texas real estate broker serving Carrollton, Plano, and surrounding North Texas communities, I get this question often because real estate websites can make a property look available even when it is already under contract or no longer actively being shown. The easiest way to understand what is really happening with a home is to look at its MLS status and know what that status actually means. Here are some of the most common terms you may see while searching for homes and what they generally mean for you as a buyer.

Active

An Active listing is currently on the market and available for sale. This is the status buyers usually want to see because the seller has not accepted another offer and the property is still available for showings and offers. Keep in mind that an active listing can receive an offer at any time, so if you are seriously interested in a home, it is worth talking with your agent sooner rather than later.

Coming Soon

A Coming Soon listing is expected to become active on the market but is not yet fully available for normal showings. Sometimes the listing agent includes a future active date in the private MLS remarks, while other times that information is limited. If you see a Coming Soon home you like, your buyer’s agent can often check the MLS for additional information and help you understand when the property may become available.

Active Option Contract

An Active Option Contract means the seller has accepted an offer and the buyer is currently in the option period, which is typically when inspections and additional due diligence take place. The property is already under contract, but this is still an early stage of the transaction, and deals can fall apart during the option period, so your agent may be able to monitor the property or discuss whether the seller is accepting backup offers.

Active Contingent

An Active Contingent status means the property is under contract, but the transaction depends on a contingency that still needs to be satisfied. Examples may include financing or the buyer needing to sell another property. Your agent can usually see additional information in the MLS about the type of contingency involved, and depending on the situation, the seller may still be willing to consider backup offers.

Active Kick Out

An Active Kick Out listing generally means the seller has accepted an offer that is contingent on the buyer selling another property, but the seller has retained the ability to consider another offer. If a stronger offer comes in, the original buyer may be given the opportunity to remove their contingency and move forward; if they cannot or choose not to, the seller may then be able to proceed with the new buyer. This status is not especially common, but it can create an opportunity for a buyer who understands how it works.

Pending

A Pending listing is much further along in the transaction. The buyer has typically moved through the option period and any major contingencies, and the parties are working toward closing. A pending home can still return to the market if something goes wrong, but it is generally less likely than a home that is still in the option or contingency stage. If you love a pending property, your agent can still monitor it in case the transaction falls apart.

Hold

A property on Hold still has a valid listing agreement, but the seller has temporarily stopped normal marketing or showings. This can happen for many reasons, including repairs, illness, guests, scheduling issues, or because the seller has already received several strong offers. A Hold status does not necessarily mean the seller has decided not to sell, and your agent may be able to contact the listing agent and find out whether the home is expected to return to active status.

Withdrawn

A Withdrawn listing has been temporarily removed from active marketing, but the seller may still have an active listing agreement with the brokerage. There are many reasons a seller may withdraw a property, and it does not always mean the seller has abandoned the idea of selling. If the home is one you are interested in, it may be worth having your agent ask for more information.

Cancelled

A Cancelled listing means the seller and listing brokerage have ended the listing agreement and the property is no longer actively listed for sale. That does not necessarily mean the owner will never sell; they may relist later, change agents, or decide to wait. If there is a specific property you are interested in, your agent can help determine whether there may still be an opportunity.

Expired

An Expired listing means the listing agreement reached its expiration date without the property selling. The home is no longer actively listed, but the owner may still want to sell. Buyers sometimes assume an expired home is completely off limits, when in reality the owner may simply be deciding what to do next.

Closed

A Closed listing has sold and the transaction has been completed. The property is no longer available for purchase because ownership has transferred to the new buyer.

So, Is the House Actually Available?

The status you see online is a good starting point, but it does not always tell the whole story. Public real estate websites can also lag behind the MLS, which is why a home may appear available online even though an offer has already been accepted. If you find a home you are interested in, the most reliable next step is to have your buyer’s agent check the current MLS information and, when necessary, contact the listing agent directly. Even when a property is already under contract, there may be an opportunity for a backup offer or a reason to continue watching it.

Janine Alexander is a Texas real estate broker serving Carrollton, Plano, Denton County, and surrounding North Texas communities. She helps buyers understand the market, evaluate properties, navigate contracts, and make confident real estate decisions.