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Active, Pending, Sold… What do all of these words really mean?
When you are looking for a home in Texas online, knowing the right vocabulary will help keep you informed, focused, and not falling in love with a home that isn’t for sale.
Active: Home is currently for sale. We will need to schedule an appointment to see this home.
Option Pending: The seller and buyer have a mutual agreement, and home is under contract, but it is in option period. Option period is optional and negotiable. It usually ranges between 7-15 days, and this is the time that the buyer has paid the seller in order to make the informed decision. The buyer will probably do the following: home inspection, quotes on improvements, quotes on repairs, take measurements, negotiate repairs, negotiate price. By 5:00pm on the last day of option period, the buyer either needs to move forward with the contract, terminate the contract, or ask to extend option period. If the buyer chooses to move forward with the contract, then it will move into pending status. If the buyer chooses to terminate, then it will move back into active status.
Contingent Active: The seller and buyer have a mutual agreement, however there is a contingency on this home. This most likely means that the buyer has to sell their personal home in order to buy the one for sale.
Pending: The seller and buyer have a mutual agreement, and the home is under contract. Either they are past option period, or the buyer chose not to have an option period. Seller and buyer are most likely waiting on the status of the appraisal (if there is financing), title work, survey, repairs…
Sold: The home is no longer for sale.
Sometimes, the status of the home is not up to date. So, if you are interested in a home, you need to let me know, so I can double check with the real estate agent. Unless the status is active, or maybe contingent active, I would not recommend scheduling an appointment to see the home. I would not want you to get your hopes up, if you are not able to purchase the home.
Happy Homeownership,
Kelly Raulston, REALTOR®
Reliable and Ready
Kelly Raulston
“Reliable and Ready” REALTOR® since 2016. I was born in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, but was raised in Texas since 1997. When I found out we were moving to Plano, Texas, I remember looking forward to riding a horse to school and a brand-new pair of cowboy boots! Growing up in Plano prepared me to be competitive, quick, and to have a strong work ethic.
I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Axe’em Jacks! That is where my love for East Texas began. The nature, warm smiles, football games, and community values can't be beat! I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. I was a middle school math teacher in Tyler, Texas. I met my husband, Travis, in Sunday school, and we have been married since September 2016.
I love being a REALTOR® in East Texas! Relationships are genuine, the area is beautiful, and the market is rockin’! I am an involved REALTOR® to better the community. Some of the organizations I am involved with are: The Professional Development Committee, Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee, and Tyler Educational Networking Group. Some awards I have won were “The Hustle Award” in 2016, and “Rookie of the Year” in 2017.
When I am not working with my clients, I like to spend quality time with my friends and family doing the following: running, target practice, read and participate in book club, and playing with my dachshund Greta.
