Pocket listings: are they still legal, and can you access them?

What you need to know about the practice of pocket listings in 2021 and whether it's worth trying to find them

US house with pool
(Image credit: Getty/Lee Ergulec)

Pocket listings are making a comeback in the media recently. From the industry's moves to ban the practice to its controversial status with both buyers and sellers, are off-market listings still a thing, and should you know more about them?

The answer is: yes, and yes. Pocket listings are very much still a thing – in fact, there's some evidence that they're becoming more popular in the overheated Covid-era housing market. You absolutely don't have to know about them or try to access them, but they can be advantageous. Here's what you need to know about finding pocket listings in 2021. 

What are pocket listings?

A house in the US

(Image credit: Unsplash/Aubrey Odom)

A pocket listing is defined by Investopedia as home lsitings 'retained by a listing broker or salesperson who does not make the listing available to other brokers in the office or to other multiple listing service (MLS) members.' Every state has its own multiple listing services – there are over 800 of them in the country. Off-market homes also don't appear on online search engines like Zillow. There are all sorts of reasons why a seller may not wish to market their home publicly yet. 

Although traditionally pocket listings have been associated with wealthy sellers wishing to keep a low profile, ordinary homes by ordinary sellers are also often sold this way. Perhaps the sellers is going through a messy divorce and doesn't want the neighborhood to know; they might be running late on completing a home renovation and aren't ready to show the home; some sellers just don't want the trouble of multiple showings and just want to find a serious buyer quickly. 

Wait, aren't pocket listings illegal?

In November 2019, the National Association of Realtors moved to make pocket listings illegal, and as of 1 May 2020, realtors are required to submit listings within one business day of marketing the property to the public. In practice, this move hasn't ended the practice of realtors keeping lists of properties that aren't available on an MLS. They're just now known as 'coming soon' listings, where the seller hasn't yet signed the contract for a listing (so it doesn't need to go public). 

Housing market hotspots like Austin, Texas, are reporting that the practice is growing amid an incredibly competitive market where properties are often sold the same day they go on the market. Ethical concerns aside, it is obvious that a home buyer who is aware that a home will go on sale sooner has a better chance of getting in with an offer before it's too late. So, should you look for pocket listings and how do you go about it?

Ways to find pocket listings in your area

House in the country

(Image credit: Unsplash/Aubrey Odom)

By far the easiest thing to do is to ask your local real estate agent about 'coming soon' listings. Even if they don't have anything, just asking the question can signal to a realtor that you are a savvy buyer determined to get a home in the area. As Texas realtors at HomeCity point out, 'Choosing the right realtor, with a large pool of peers to share pocket listings with can be incredibly advantageous. If a buyer chooses a well-connected Realtor, they can view the home pre-MLS, then put in an offer the very first day it goes on the market.'

Note that because the whole point of this practice is often for realtors to find reliable buyers for a specific seller, you'll need to prove that you are serious. You'll need to be pre-approved for a mortgage and, in many cases, be flexible either on price, the moving dates, or other contingencies, depending on the seller's situation. 

The good news, however, is that getting in touch with a seller early doesn't always mean that they'll expect you to pay more. In fact, sometimes buyers end up with a better deal because the seller just wants the certainty of a sale without the exhausting process of showing a home. 

Anna is a professional writer with many years of experience. She has a passion for contemporary home decor and gardening. She covers a range of topics, from practical advice to interior and garden design. 

Latest in Property
The best colors for north-facing rooms are useful to know. Here is a living room with beige walls with wall art prints on, a dark green velvet couch, a cream armchair, a gold lamp in the middle of them, and a peach rug
Meet the winners of Real Homes' So Chic Awards 2024
The outside of a traditional Brooklyn, New York, apartment building taken from the sidewalk at sunset. There is a white and blue sign hanging outside, which says 'Apartment for rent'
The 5 things about renting your first apartment you need to know — trust us, we have 33 years of renting experience
We've created your checklist for moving into a first house. Here is a white living room with a tan couch with a brown wall art print above it, a tall white lamp, and a light and dark brown checked rug
Checklist for moving into a first house — everything you need to make your new place feel like home
Three vintage dolls in pink outfits on a yellow background next to Emma Roberts in a black long-sleeved dress standing in front of a baby blue gingham wall
Emma Roberts' dolls are the real stars of her "storybook" L.A. home — here's how to create a similar display in your space
A velvet green sofa on a retro floral pink background next to a picture of Suki Waterhouse at the Meta Gala in 2023 with a light pink floral dress
Suki Waterhouse's cozy studio is full of 'eclectic charm' — how to get the look on a budget
Lindsay lohan in a white dress next to a picture of a coastal blue pillow and boucle white chair on a blue background
Lindsay Lohan's Dubai villa is coastal modern luxury at its finest — a designer reveals how to get the look from just $40
Latest in News
Jennifer Garner wearing a black and white coat and black dress, standing in front of a blue background
Jennifer Garner's dining room is filled with “cohesive and intentional” features that showcase her personality
Two pictures - one of Bobby Berk wearing a brown leather shirt and one of a living room with a black feature wall and a wooden dining table
Bobby Berk has revealed his favorite wall paint color — designers agree that it's a chic choice
Vanessa Hudgens wearing a white dress, a diamond necklace, and her hair up with a bow, standing in front of a gold and red background
Vanessa Hudgens’ wallpaper puts a trendy twist on a classic style — designers love her effortless approach
RuPaul wearing a black cowboy hat and jacket, standing in front of a purple wall that says 'Emmys' in gold writing behind it
RuPaul's dining room is filled with colorful and conversation touches that bring “all the fun vibes”
A living room with black walls, wall art prints, neon signs, and a velvet blue couch with throw pillows on it
I'm calling it — Beetlejuicecore is 2024's hottest Halloween trend
Alicia Silverstone wearing a black blazer, standing in front of a white background with black writing on it
Alicia Silverstone’s kitchen is a masterclass in nostalgiacore — designers adore its “simplicity and coziness”