In real estate, "pending" means that the seller has accepted a buyer's offer, all contingencies or conditions have been met, and the sale is in the final stages before closing, but the transaction has not yet been finalized
. Key points about "pending" status:
- The property is under contract with a buyer, and the contract terms have been agreed upon and satisfied
- It is a step beyond "contingent," which means the offer is accepted but certain conditions (like inspections or financing) still need to be resolved
- The sale is moving toward closing, where ownership officially transfers, but it is not yet complete
- Although rare, a pending sale can still fall through if, for example, the buyer's financing is denied
- Pending homes are generally no longer actively shown or marketed, but some sellers may accept backup offers in case the deal fails
The pending stage typically lasts from a few days to a couple of months, depending on factors like financing or inspection timelines
. In summary, "pending" means the home is effectively sold in principle, with all conditions met, and is awaiting final closing to complete the sale