The final result? Pending offers (on average) usually last between one week and two months, but delays can occur. Here are some of the most common reasons why. It is common to see a pending sales sign appear after two or more months in a buyer's market. Market days tend to be much longer when there are fewer buyers than sellers.
But it's just as common to see the hanging sign fall back down. A sale could be canceled due to the seller's remorse, but it's a long shot. In real estate, a pending sale (or “pending offer”) means that the buyer submitted an offer for a home and the seller accepted it. However, you should always check with the seller's agent, as a home could be marked as pending for a variety of reasons or contingencies.
In other words, how long does this crazy period of limbo usually last? Explore other lodging options in your area and make sure this is the home you want before making an offer. But how long does an offer remain in a “pending” state before the keys are delivered? We spoke to real estate agents from coast to coast to give you the answers. If you're looking for a new home, you might be wondering what went wrong when a pending home sale comes back on the market as an active advertisement. Because the house hasn't been through contingencies yet, you're more likely to be able to buy a home that's under contract than one that's pending.
But when you're driving through neighborhoods, especially when you're looking for a home, you might see the occasional “pending sale” badge instead. Even if the first home is paid for, the buyer may need the cash from that closing to pay for the new purchase. His experience has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, CBS Evening News and HGTV's House Hunters. You may also hear terms such as “under contract” (meaning the home sale contract is in process) or “closing period” (which refers to the weeks between an offer and the final sale).
