If Zillow shows your house as "off market," it primarily means the property is not currently listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the primary database real estate agents use to publicly market homes. This status often indicates that while a property might be available for sale, its offering is not widely publicized or is no longer an active listing.
Understanding "Off-Market" Status
An "off-market" home is a property that may be for sale but isn't formally listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This approach can keep the offer out of the public eye, often used for privacy or specific selling strategies. Zillow, as a real estate marketplace, relies heavily on MLS data for active listings. When a home isn't found on the MLS, or its listing has expired or been withdrawn, Zillow will typically reflect this by labeling it "off market."
Common Reasons for an "Off-Market" Status on Zillow
Several factors can lead to your house being marked as "off market" on Zillow:
- No Active MLS Listing: This is the most common reason. If your home isn't currently listed by a real estate agent on the local MLS, Zillow won't display it as an active listing. This includes homes being sold privately (For Sale By Owner - FSBO) without MLS entry, or properties where a sale is being negotiated discreetly.
- Recently Sold: If your house has recently been sold, the transaction has likely been recorded. Zillow updates its records to reflect the new ownership, and the property's status shifts from "for sale" to "off market" (or sometimes "sold," depending on the data feed).
- Listing Expired or Withdrawn: Real estate listings have an expiration date. If your home was on the market but didn't sell by that date, or if you or your agent decided to pull it off the market, its status will change to "off market."
- Data Lag or Synchronization Issues: Zillow receives data feeds from various MLS systems and public records offices. There can sometimes be a delay between when a listing goes active, expires, or sells and when Zillow updates its site. This lag can cause a temporary discrepancy in your home's status.
- Pre-Market or Pocket Listing: Some properties are marketed privately by agents before they officially hit the MLS. These are known as "pocket listings" or "pre-market" properties. Since they aren't on the MLS, Zillow will show them as "off market."
- Public Record Discrepancies: Zillow also uses public records data for homes that aren't actively listed. If there's an error or outdated information in these records, it could contribute to an incorrect "off market" status.
How Zillow Gathers Property Data
Zillow's vast database is compiled from a variety of sources to provide comprehensive property information:
| Data Source | Description | Impact on "Off-Market" Status |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Listing Services (MLS) | The primary professional database for active real estate listings by agents. | If a home is not actively listed on the MLS, Zillow will often default its status to "off market," as it's not publicly advertised for sale through traditional channels. |
| Public Records | County assessor and recorder data, including ownership transfers, tax records, and past sales. | Used to show property details, ownership history, and sales prices for properties not currently on the market, contributing to their "off market" status. |
| User Submissions | Data contributed by homeowners, buyers, and agents, such as home facts, photos, and updates. | While useful for enriching property profiles, user submissions alone usually cannot change a property's active listing status if it's not on the MLS. |
What to Do If Your Home's Status is Incorrect
If you believe your home's "off market" status on Zillow is incorrect, you can take a few steps to rectify it:
- Claim Your Home on Zillow: If you're the homeowner, you can claim your property on Zillow. This gives you the ability to update basic home facts, add photos, and sometimes even update sale status, though listing status changes are primarily driven by MLS data.
- Contact Your Real Estate Agent: If your home is actively listed, reach out to your real estate agent. They can verify that your listing has been correctly entered and syndicated to all major real estate portals, including Zillow.
- Contact Zillow Support: For persistent errors or if you're not working with an agent, you can directly contact Zillow's customer support. Provide them with details about your property and the incorrect status, along with any supporting documentation.
- Verify Public Records: Check your local county assessor or recorder's office website to ensure your property's public records are up-to-date, especially if you've recently bought or sold the home.
Understanding why Zillow marks your home as "off market" helps in clarifying its current listing status and taking appropriate action if the information is inaccurate.
