MLS Listing Status Types: A Complete Guide

An MLS listing status type describes exactly what stage a property is in during the selling process. These status types tell buyers and agents whether a home is available, under contract, off the market, expired, or sold — and they determine how the listing appears online through MLS syndication.

💡 What MLS Listing Status Types Represent

  • The property’s current availability—whether showings and offers are allowed.
  • What stage the home is in (Active → Contingent → Pending → Closed).
  • Compliance with MLS rules for status type changes.
  • How the listing appears on Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and IDX websites.
  • Whether Days on Market (DOM) is accumulating or paused.

Status types are created by the MLS — not by portals like Zillow. To learn how the MLS works, visit Multiple Listing Service (Ultimate Guide).

🏡 Why MLS Listing Status Types Matter

  • Control showings: Only Active status types allow full availability.
  • Signal demand: Contingent and Active Contingent indicate high buyer interest.
  • Clarify contract stage: Pending means the home is near closing.
  • Impact DOM: Certain status types pause or reset Days on Market.
  • Affect visibility: Status type changes sync everywhere through MLS syndication.

Understanding each status type helps both buyers and sellers make better decisions.

📘 MLS Listing Status Types Dictionary

Below are the major MLS listing status types, each linked to a full in-depth guide:

Active

The property is available for showings and offers. When a listing becomes Active, it appears on the MLS Hot Sheet showing:

  • New listings
  • Reactivated listings (Back on Market)
  • Price changes
  • Major updates
Active Status Type →

Contingent

An offer has been accepted, but buyer contingencies (inspection, appraisal, financing) must be satisfied. Contingent Status Type →

Active Contingent

The property is under contract with contingencies but may still accept backup offers depending on MLS rules. Active Contingent Status Type →

Pending

All contingencies have been satisfied or waived. Showings usually stop. Pending Status Type →

Coming Soon

The listing is being prepared for market but not yet available for showings. Not all MLS systems allow Coming Soon. Those that do typically enforce rules such as:

  • No showings allowed
  • Limited days permitted in Coming Soon
  • DOM may or may not accumulate
  • Some MLSs syndicate Coming Soon; others don’t
Coming Soon Status Type →

Temporarily Off Market (TOM)

The property is temporarily unavailable for showings but still under a valid listing agreement. DOM generally pauses. TOM Status Type →

Withdrawn

The listing is removed from the MLS, but the seller’s contract with the broker remains active. DOM stops. Withdrawn Status Type →

Expired

The listing agreement has ended without a sale. DOM resets if relisted under a new MLS number. Expired Status Type →

Canceled

The seller and broker end the listing agreement. The property is no longer marketed on the MLS. Canceled Status Type →

Closed

The property has officially sold and transferred ownership. Closed Status Type →

Back On Market (Not a Status Type)

Back On Market is not an MLS status type. It is a temporary event when:

  • A contingent or pending deal falls through
  • A listing is reactivated after TOM or Withdrawn

When reactivated, the listing becomes Active again and may appear on the MLS Hot Sheet.

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