{"id":98431,"date":"2026-02-17T12:52:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=98431"},"modified":"2026-02-17T12:54:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:54:10","slug":"under-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/under-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does Under Contract Mean for Buyers?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you begin your homebuying search, chances are you\u2019ll see a home listed as \u201cunder contract\u201d or \u201cactive under contract.\u201d If you find yourself wanting to buy that house, you may be wondering if you can still <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/making-an-offer-on-a-house\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">make an offer on a home<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that\u2019s listed as \u201cunder contract.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this Redfin article, we\u2019ll tell you exactly what it means when a home is \u201cunder contract\u201d and if you can still make an offer on the property. Whether you\u2019re looking at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/35759\/WI\/Milwaukee\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">homes for sale in Milwaukee, WI<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/8903\/TX\/Houston\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">condos in Houston, TX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, read on to find out more about under contract homes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does under contract mean in real estate?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does it mean when a house is \u201cactive under contract\u201d? When a home is active under contract, it means that a buyer has made an offer on the home and the seller has accepted, but contingencies still need to be met before the sale is final. When the transaction is complete, the status of the home will show that it has sold.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the property is still under contract, all contingencies must be met before the sale is finalized. That may mean the buyer must secure financing, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/home-inspection\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">home inspection<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> still needs to be completed to confirm the property is free of serious defects, or other conditions that still need to be met in order for the sale to be finalized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/closing\/real-estate-purchase-agreement\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Real estate contracts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> outline many conditions that must be met by both the buyer and seller. If either party fails to meet one of these conditions, the contract may be terminated depending on the terms outlined in the agreement.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the difference between under contract vs. pending?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a property is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-contingent-vs-pending\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pending<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, that means that all of the contingencies are removed, requirements are met, and the home is about to close. Basically, a pending property is much closer to being sold than an under contract property.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Under contract: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contingencies are still in place, backup offers may be accepted, and the closing process is underway.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pending:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> All contingencies are met, unlikely to accept backup offers, and closing day is approaching.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is an under contract house off the market?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you find the property of your dreams, but it\u2019s listed as under contract, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that you\u2019re out of options. It\u2019s still possible that the buyer or seller may fail to meet one of the conditions needed for the sale to be final.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most properties that are under contract are considered off the market, but the buyer has a specified period of time to fulfill their obligations. During this time, properties continue to be marketed but maintain the \u201cactive under contract\u201d status until the sale is finalized or the transaction is cancelled.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can a seller accept another offer while under contract?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this time, the seller may be willing to accept backup offers. A backup offer with especially favorable terms, such as a higher purchase price or fewer contingencies, has a good chance of standing out to the seller.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many things can go wrong during the under-contract period, and a fair number of homes will go back on the market. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/home-purchase-cancellations-december-2025\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">December 2025 Redfin study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showed nearly 16.3% of home-purchase agreements were cancelled. By putting in a backup offer, you\u2019ll be positioned as the next buyer in line should the current contract fall through.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a backup offer?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/backup-offer\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">backup offer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an offer submitted after the seller has already accepted one, placing you next in line if the original deal falls through. Sellers often state that they\u2019re accepting backup offers if they think the current offer may fall through. If you\u2019ve fallen in love with a home that is under contract, you should get in touch with a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/real-estate-agents\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">real estate agent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> right away to explore your options for making an offer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs about under contract homes<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What contingencies may need to be met while under contract?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several contingencies that could cause the deal to fall through if they aren\u2019t met during the under contract period. The most common include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Financing contingency: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also called a \u201cmortgage contingency,\u201d this gives the buyer the opportunity to back out of the sale if they aren\u2019t able to obtain a mortgage approval.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Home inspection contingency: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It allows a buyer to back out of the deal if the home inspection reveals more significant damage than expected.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Home appraisal contingency: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This contingency allows the buyer to back out if the home appraisal comes in lower than expected.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Home sale contingency:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The buyer\u2019s offer could be contingent upon the sale of their current home. If they\u2019re not able to sell the home in a specified time, they may be able to back out of the current deal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the main reasons a home sale may fall through?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Home inspection issues, financing problems, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/appraisal-came-in-low\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">appraisals coming in low<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are the main reasons a home sale may fall through. Financing and appraisals are often connected, as a low appraisal may cause a mortgage lender to reject the application, since the lender doesn\u2019t want to lend more than the home is worth.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long is a home typically under contract for?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s common for a home to be under contract for 30 to 60 days, though this can vary based on financing. For example, a cash offer may only be under contract for 15 days.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What happens while a home is under contract?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are five key steps that happen before the home is sold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Offer acceptance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both parties will sign the home purchase agreement, and the buyer will deposit <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-earnest-money\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">earnest money<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a good-faith deposit that is roughly 1 to 3% of the purchase price.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Contingency period\/closing process begins: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this time, there will be a home inspection, the buyer will apply for a mortgage, and the closing process will begin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Appraisal and mortgage approval: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lender will request an appraisal to confirm the home\u2019s value. As long as the appraisal isn\u2019t lower than the offer price, the mortgage will likely be finalized.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Final walk-through:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The buyer will take a final walk-through of the home to verify the home\u2019s condition and check that any agreed-upon repairs are complete.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Closing day:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The buyer will transfer funds, sign paperwork, and the home will be officially sold.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is an under contract home sold?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, an under contract home isn\u2019t sold yet. It means an offer has been accepted, but contingencies need to be met before the home can be sold. Once closing day is completed, the home is now \u201csold.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does under contract mean in a listing\u2019s status? Discover what under contract means when you\u2019re buying a house.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":537,"featured_media":87114,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[34276,10756],"tags":[34618,34529,34629],"coauthors":[33440],"class_list":["post-98431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-a-home","category-featured-post","tag-buying-definition","tag-buying-faq","tag-first-time-homebuyer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Does Under Contract Mean for Buyers? | Redfin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What does under contract mean in a listing\u2019s status? 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