Contingent vs. Pending: What Those Listing Statuses Actually Mean

What “contingent” means

Common contingency types

• Inspection contingency — buyer can renegotiate or walk based on the home inspection.
• Financing contingency — the deal depends on the buyer’s loan being finalized.
• Appraisal contingency — the home must appraise at or near the purchase price.
• Home-sale contingency — the buyer must sell their current home first.

Each is a point where a contingent deal could fall through — which is why “contingent” is not the same as “sold.”

What “pending” means

A home is pending when the contingencies have been cleared and the sale is moving to closing. Pending is much closer to done — far fewer pending deals fall apart than contingent ones. At this stage, the seller usually is not entertaining new showings.

Can you still make an offer? (yes — backup offers)

On a contingent home, yes — you can often submit a backup offer, and sellers here do take them. In our market, a backup is submitted as a regular offer with a backup rider attached. If the first deal falls through, you are already in position and next in line — no scramble required. On a pending home a backup can still be placed, but since pending deals rarely fall through, it is much more of a long shot.

How often do contingent deals fall through?

Most contingent deals do close — but a meaningful share do not, usually over inspection or financing. That is exactly why backup offers exist, and why it is worth having your agent reach out on a home you love even after it goes contingent.

Frequently asked questions