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.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.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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