What Does “Active” Mean on Zillow? A Complete Guide for Buyers and Sellers

If you’ve ever scrolled through Zillow looking for your next home or checking out the competition as a seller, you’ve probably noticed different status labels attached to listings. One of the most common—and sometimes confusing—is “Active.” But what does it actually mean when a property shows up as Active on Zillow? Is it really available, or could there be a catch?

Understanding listing statuses isn’t just real estate jargon—it’s essential information that can save you time, help you make smarter decisions, and avoid frustration whether you’re buying or selling. In this article, we’ll break down exactly what Active means on Zillow, how it differs from other statuses, and what you should do when you spot an Active listing that catches your eye.

What Does “Active” Mean on Zillow?

At its core, Active means the property is currently on the market and available for purchase. The seller is accepting offers, and there are no accepted contracts in place—at least not yet. When you see a listing marked as Active, it signals that you have a legitimate opportunity to tour the home, submit an offer, and potentially buy it.

For sellers, having a property listed as Active means your home is officially in play. It’s visible to thousands of potential buyers browsing Zillow, and your listing agent is ready to field inquiries and schedule showings.

Zillow doesn’t create these listings from scratch. Instead, it pulls data from Multiple Listing Services (MLS), which are databases used by real estate agents to share property information. Agents update the MLS when a home’s status changes, and Zillow syncs that data to reflect the most current information. However, as we’ll discuss later, there can sometimes be delays or discrepancies in how quickly updates appear.

Types of “Active” Statuses on Zillow

Here’s where things get a bit more nuanced. Not all Active listings are created equal. Zillow uses several variations of the Active status to give buyers a clearer picture of where a property stands in the selling process.

Active

This is the straightforward version. The home is fully available with no accepted offers. The seller is waiting for interested buyers to come forward, and you’re free to make an offer without worrying about competing with an existing contract. Think of this as a green light—there are no obstacles between you and submitting an offer.

Active Under Contract (AUC)

This one throws people off. If a listing says Active Under Contract, it means the seller has already accepted an offer, but they’re still open to receiving backup offers. Why would they do this? Because deals fall through all the time. If the current buyer can’t secure financing, fails an inspection negotiation, or gets cold feet, the seller has other options lined up. For buyers, it’s worth submitting a backup offer if you really love the home, but know that you’re not first in line.

Active Contingent

When a listing is marked Active Contingent, the seller has accepted an offer, but the sale depends on certain conditions being met. These conditions—called contingencies—often include things like the buyer securing financing, the home passing inspection, or the property appraising at or above the sale price. Until these contingencies are satisfied or waived, the deal isn’t final. Some sellers will still accept backup offers during this stage, while others won’t. It’s always smart to ask the listing agent where things stand.

Active Coming Soon

This status is like a sneak peek. The home isn’t officially on the market yet, but it will be soon. Sometimes these listings are only visible to agents or people with insider access, while other times they’re posted publicly to build buzz. As a buyer, seeing a Coming Soon listing gives you a heads-up to prepare your financing and schedule a showing the moment it becomes available.

Also Read: Ownerly Vs Zillow: The Ultimate Real Estate Test?

Difference Between “Active” and Other Zillow Listing Statuses

To really understand what Active means, it helps to see how it compares to other common Zillow statuses.

Pending

A Pending listing means the seller has accepted an offer and all major contingencies have been removed or satisfied. The deal is moving toward closing, and the seller is no longer accepting backup offers. For buyers, a Pending status is essentially a “do not disturb” sign. The home is spoken for, and unless something dramatic happens, it’s off the table.

Off Market

Off Market means the property isn’t actively listed for sale. This could be temporary—maybe the seller decided to pause their listing for personal reasons—or it could mean the home was never officially on the market to begin with. Zillow sometimes shows Off Market properties based on public records or past listings, but you can’t make an offer on them unless the owner decides to list again.

Sold

Pretty straightforward: the transaction is complete, and the home has a new owner. Zillow typically keeps Sold listings visible for a while so users can see recent sale prices and get a sense of market trends. If you’re researching home values in a neighborhood, Sold listings are goldmines of information.

What’s the Difference Between “Active” and “For Sale”?

This is a question that confuses a lot of people, and for good reason—the terms seem interchangeable at first glance. However, there’s an important distinction on Zillow.

“Active” is an official MLS status that indicates a property is currently listed by a licensed real estate agent through the Multiple Listing Service. It’s part of the formal real estate system, with all the professional oversight and data accuracy that comes with it.

“For Sale” is a broader, more general term that Zillow uses to categorize any property that might be available for purchase. This can include Active MLS listings, but it also encompasses other types of sale opportunities like:

• For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listings, where homeowners are selling directly without an agent
• New construction properties being sold by builders or developers
• Pre-foreclosure or foreclosure properties
• Properties that may not be formally listed but where the owner has indicated interest in selling

In other words, all Active listings are For Sale, but not all For Sale listings are Active. When you search Zillow and filter by “For Sale,” you’re casting a wider net that includes both professional MLS listings and alternative sale methods.

For buyers, this distinction matters because Active listings typically come with certain assurances—verified information, professional representation, and standardized contracts. For Sale listings that aren’t Active might require more due diligence on your part, especially if you’re dealing directly with a homeowner or navigating a foreclosure situation.

If you’re specifically looking for traditionally listed homes with agent representation, filtering for “Active” status will give you more targeted results than the broader “For Sale” category.

Why Listings Stay “Active” Even If They Seem Sold

Ever stumbled across a listing that says Active, but a neighbor tells you it sold weeks ago? You’re not imagining things. There are a few reasons why a listing might not reflect its true status.

One common culprit is delays in agent updates. Real estate agents are busy, and sometimes updating the MLS isn’t their top priority, especially when they’re juggling multiple deals. If the agent doesn’t change the status promptly, Zillow won’t know any better.

There’s also the issue of MLS synchronization. Zillow pulls data from the MLS, but that process isn’t always instantaneous. Depending on the MLS system and how frequently Zillow syncs with it, there can be a lag of several hours or even days.

Sometimes, a deal that seemed solid falls apart. Maybe the buyer couldn’t get financing, or the inspection revealed costly repairs the seller refused to address. When this happens, the listing reverts to Active—but if the agent hasn’t updated the MLS, Zillow might still show an outdated status.

And then there are stale listings. Occasionally, a property lingers on Zillow long after it’s been pulled from the market, either because the agent forgot to update it or because of a glitch in the system. If something feels off, trust your instincts and reach out to the listing agent to confirm.

What Buyers Should Do When They See an Active Listing

Seeing an Active listing is exciting, but don’t jump in blindly. Here’s how to make the most of it.

First, check the date of the last update. If the listing was posted months ago and hasn’t changed, there’s a chance it’s stale. You can usually find this information near the top of the listing page.

Next, contact the listing agent directly. This is the fastest way to get accurate, real-time information about the property’s availability. Agents can tell you if there are any pending offers, upcoming open houses, or special considerations you should know about.

If the home is truly Active and available, schedule a showing as quickly as possible. In competitive markets, homes can go under contract within days—or even hours. The sooner you see it, the sooner you can make a decision.

Finally, set up saved searches and alerts on Zillow. This way, you’ll get notified as soon as new Active listings hit the market in your desired area and price range. Speed matters, and being first can give you a significant advantage.

What Sellers Should Know About Keeping Their Listing Active

If you’re selling a home, keeping your listing status accurate is crucial. An outdated or misleading status can frustrate buyers, waste everyone’s time, and even hurt your credibility.

Make sure your agent updates the MLS promptly whenever your home’s status changes. If you accept an offer, the listing should reflect that immediately, whether it’s Active Under Contract, Active Contingent, or Pending. Transparency builds trust and helps manage buyer expectations.

Avoid the temptation to leave your listing as Active when it’s not. Some sellers think keeping it Active will attract more interest, but this strategy usually backfires. Buyers who discover the home isn’t truly available feel misled and move on to other options.

Work closely with your agent to manage the listing throughout the selling process. Regular communication ensures that your home is presented accurately and that you’re not missing out on opportunities due to outdated information.

How Zillow Displays Active Listings Across Platforms

Zillow makes it easy to browse Active listings whether you’re on your laptop or scrolling through your phone during lunch. The web version and mobile app both offer robust search and filter options, allowing you to narrow down results by price, location, property type, and yes—listing status.

You can filter specifically for Active listings to weed out Pending and Sold properties, saving yourself time and frustration. The map view is particularly handy, letting you see where Active homes are located in relation to schools, work, and other points of interest.

Zillow also highlights certain features on Active listings, like 3D tours, open house schedules, and price reductions. These details help you assess properties quickly and decide which ones are worth pursuing.

Common Questions About Zillow’s “Active” Status

Does Active mean there are no offers?
Not necessarily. A listing can be Active even if the seller has received offers they haven’t yet accepted. Active simply means the home is still on the market and available for new offers.

Can a house be Active but not actually available?
Yes, due to delays in updates or MLS syncing issues. This is why contacting the listing agent is always a good idea before getting too attached to a property.

Why does it say Active if the home is under offer?
If the listing shows Active Under Contract or Active Contingent, it means there is an accepted offer, but the seller is still open to backups or waiting for contingencies to clear. If it just says Active and you hear otherwise, it’s likely an outdated listing.

Conclusion

Understanding what Active means on Zillow is more than just knowing real estate terminology—it’s about empowering yourself to make informed decisions in a fast-moving market. Whether you’re a buyer hoping to snag your dream home or a seller trying to attract serious offers, knowing how to interpret and act on listing statuses can make all the difference.

Remember, Active means the property is available and ready for offers, but always verify the status with the listing agent before making any big moves. Keep an eye on updates, set up alerts, and don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Now that you know what Active means, you’re better equipped to navigate Zillow like a pro. Next, consider learning about other listing statuses like Pending and Contingent, and always stay in touch with a trusted real estate agent who can guide you through the complexities of buying or selling a home. Happy house hunting!

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