So you’re perusinglistings and finally youfindit: Staring back at you from your laptop screenis the perfect house that’s in the right location, has the amenities you’re looking for, and still, somehow, fits in your budget. There’s just one problem: It’ssale pending.
But what does “pending” mean in real estate? Are you too late, or do you still have a shot? Ah, one of real estate’s most enduring questions. The short answer: If a home you love is pending sale, don’t give up hope. You could still be the golden buyer.
What does “pending” mean in real estate?
A pending sale status means the seller has accepted an offer from a hopeful buyer, but the deal hasn’tclosedyet. (This is different from a contingent sale.)A property is placed in pending status the minute a contract is executed. But there’s still a chance the home can be up for grabs again—say, if the homeinspection doesn’t check outor the buyer can’t pull together the financing.
“‘Pending’ does not mean ‘sold,’” saysJoy Triglia, broker and CEO of Century 21 Universal Luxury inFort Lauderdale, FL.
Until the contract is complete and the sale is a done deal, there’s still an opportunity to land that magical, marvelous dream home. In fact, there’s more wiggle room than you might expect, particularly if you’re looking in a market that’s competitive. Many sellers will want to hold out for the best bid—and you could be the buyer with the best bid.
Here are four ways you can improve your odds on a listing that’s pending sale, swoop in, and steal that home out from under someone else. Real estate victory can be yours!
1. Make your interest on a sale pending home known
Think you’re wasting your real estate agent’stime when asking about a sale pending home? Think again.
“Many seller’s agents will continue to show the property to potential buyers up until the very last minute, in hopes of obtaining an even more compelling offer,” saysGary Malin,president of Citi Habitats in New York City.
Make sure your agent knows how in love you are with the home. You’ll want to be first in line in case any issues crop up with the pending home sale (like failed financing, inspections, or other unmet contingencies that can snag a real estate transaction).
“Remember:Until the ink dries on the contract, no transaction is legally binding,” Malin says.
2. Get the dirt on the home
While you’re at it, call thelisting agent. The agentmight have some insight on parts of the contract that aren’t firm. Try to suss out how many other offers there are on the home and whether there are any potential concerns about the initial bid. You can use those to your advantage in your own bid.
“You need to get on the listing agent’s radar screen—and stay there,” Malin says. “If the agreed-upon deadline to close the sale passes, it’s time to take action—and fast.”
Try driving through the neighborhood to learn as much about the home and the community as possible. Do your homework. Google the address, check out property tax records, or go on PropertyShark and see what comes up.
You may neverneed the intel, but who knowswhen details might help sway the odds in your favor. You could thinkof it as getting a head start on your research in case the initial deal does fall through. Become an expert on the property, and you just might be the seller’s ideal backup plan.
3. Try to beat the other buyer’s deal by negotiating with the sellers
This doesn’t necessarily mean putting in a higher bid—although that can certainly help. If—and onlyif—you’re financially comfortable, you could consider offering more than the asking price. But you can also make yourself an attractive buyer by presenting convenient terms to the seller. Maybe you want to agree to waive a mortgage contingency, pay closing costs, or offer flexible moving dates.
Being open to negotiation is one of the best things you can do to improve the odds of your offer being accepted, Malin notes.
“It helps make the case that you are serious about the property,” Malin says. “Your goal is to convey a sense of urgency to the current owner and make your offer, quite simply,hard to refuse.”
4. Be aggressive with a capital A
Err on the side of being pushy and tenacious, even if that isn’t your normal style. That way if the initial sale does fall through, yours will be the obvious backup offer. Be available for phone calls, check your email, and follow up with your agent often.
“If the seller has a sense the competing would-be buyer is dragging their feet—or has any other seeds of doubt about their offer—this aggressive approach may end up tipping the scale in your favor,” Malin advises.
So the next time you see that pending sale status icon next to your dream listing, don’t despair. Just be prepared to work a little bit harder for your ideal home.
