Why do homes disappear from listings?

Question: Dear Kari, My husband and I are just starting our home search online. We're trying to get a feel for what's in our price range before we work with a Realtor. It's been frustrating because we've noticed some homes we're interested in often disappear from the listings just days or weeks later. Can you tell us what's happening in these homes? Answer: That's a great question, and you're not alone. Many folks find it confusing when a desirable home for sale suddenly vanishes from online listings without ever showing a pending status. When a real estate listing is marked as removed, it indicates the seller has chosen to take the property off the market. This means the property is no longer being actively advertised for sale. It's important to understand a removed listing doesn't necessarily mean the property has been sold. It's helpful to understand the difference between a withdrawn and a canceled listing. A withdrawn listing means the property is temporarily off the market, but the seller still intends to sell it, and the listing agreement with their agent remains active. On the other hand, a canceled listing signifies the listing agreement with the agent has been terminated. Here are some common reasons why sellers might remove a listing: * Job changes, medical issues, divorce or other life events can impact seller's decision to move forward with the sale. * Sellers were hoping to sell the home "as is" but the market clearly rejected the price and conditions. * Take the home off the market to adjust the pricing strategy or wait for a more favorable market. * When a home is open to public showings, some sellers may realize their home has issues that are keeping it from reaching its full market potential. This could include necessary repairs. * Stale listings are when a home has been on the market for a prolonged amount of time without receiving a good offer. The sellers may choose to remove it and relist it to make it appear as a new listing. * The sellers may want to switch agents if they are dissatisfied with their listing agent's performance. * Sellers remove the listing to invest in professional staging and professional photo shoot. * Sellers are receiving only lowball offers and are not willing to negotiate. * Not finding a suitable replacement home. * Deciding to renovate and stay instead of moving. * Seller's short sale was denied. * The seller's offer on their next home was not accepted. * The listing agreement has expired. If you're interested in a property that has been removed from the multiple listing services (MLS) and other home search platforms, it would be wise to ask your professional real estate agent to contact that listing agent to inquire on your behalf.