Pocket listing
A home offered for sale privately, without going on the MLS. Less exposure to buyers, but also more control over who sees it. Rules on these have tightened in many markets.
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Where this comes up: getting ready
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A pocket listing is sold quietly, off the MLS, to buyers the agent knows. It trades exposure for privacy, and less exposure usually means a lower price. Rules on them have tightened since 2020.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your agent proposes showing the home to a few clients before it goes on the MLS. One offers $295,000 and the home never goes public.
| What happened | What it may have cost |
|---|---|
| Sold off-market at $295,000 | Whatever an open market would have paid, which nobody will know |
| Listed on the MLS instead | Every buyer sees it; the price is tested |
| A real need for privacy | The one case where the trade can make sense |
A pocket listing is a sale with one bidder. The price reflects it.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That off-market means exclusive and therefore valuable. Fewer buyers seeing a home is not usually good for the seller.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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