You want to fall in love with a home you can actually buy, so you’re watching for active listings as you search real estate sites. But then you notice that some homes have an “active” status label that includes additional words, like active first right, active kick-out, or active no-show.

In this post, we’ll clarify these active listing terms so you can shop for a home with more confidence. We’ll briefly explain how each listing status might affect your decision to make an offer.

What is an active listing in real estate?

In real estate, an active listing typically refers to a property that is currently available for sale and has not yet been sold. The term “active” indicates that potential buyers are welcome to make offers.

There are different types of active status tags in the multiple listing service (MLS) that can indicate how far along a property might be in the offer process or what conditions might be attached to an existing offer.

Below, we’ve included a list of eight common active listing statuses, but depending on where you live, the status tags may appear differently. If you are working with an experienced buyer’s agent to find a home, they can help you interpret other listing tags you may find during your search.