What Does 'Under Agreement' Mean for a House?
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-05 · Published and reviewed for compliance by Camilo Palacio, a Florida Licensed Realtor
Under agreement means you and the buyer signed a purchase and sale agreement and your house is officially under contract. The term is used most in New England-area real estate markets in place of 'pending' or 'under contract' seen elsewhere. Your sale is not final until closing; the signed agreement sets the price, terms and any conditions that must be met.
| Factor | Traditional Route | Cash Flow Deals |
|---|---|---|
| What the term actually confirms | Buyer and seller signed a purchase and sale agreement, though contingencies may still be open | Same milestone reached at contract signing, with a set closing date attached |
| Regional label differences | Called 'pending,' 'under contract,' or 'under agreement' depending on the local MLS | Same underlying contract mechanics regardless of the regional label used |
| What's left before closing | Contingency clearance, loan underwriting, and title work still need to happen | Title and closing coordination, with no buyer loan underwriting step on the Fast Cash Offer; on the Premium Cash Offer, a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer's lender funds the purchase |
Under Agreement vs Under Contract vs Pending
These are regional naming differences describing essentially the same milestone: a signed agreement between buyer and seller, with the sale still pending final closing steps.
The Purchase and Sale Agreement Itself
In markets that use this term, the purchase and sale agreement typically follows an initial accepted offer or binder, and is a more detailed contract laying out the final terms of the deal.
What Can Still Change After Under Agreement
Inspection findings, a financing contingency, and in some states like Massachusetts, an attorney review period, can all still affect or end the deal after the purchase and sale agreement is signed.
Timeline From Under Agreement to Closing
This period typically runs 30 to 45 days, depending mostly on how long the buyer's financing takes to fully underwrite.
What Buyers and Sellers Should Do During This Window
Respond quickly to any lender document requests and keep your home insured and maintained. If you are also buying a home, avoid taking on new debt that could affect your loan approval before closing. With us, you choose between the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, and the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. For either offer, the number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens. We cover repair costs, and we figure out a way, so nothing comes out of your pocket. With Premium, only what your buyer's lender requires gets fixed, with those costs settled from the sale proceeds, from our share; with Fast Cash, you sell as-is without making repairs. If your Premium Cash Offer buyer's loan falls through, that is our problem, not yours, and you can still take the Fast Cash Offer at its own number.
Common questions
Is under agreement the same as sold?
No. It means the property is under contract, not that the sale has closed.
What region uses 'under agreement' most?
It is most common in New England states like Massachusetts, and still means the same thing as 'under contract' used elsewhere in the country.
Can a house under agreement fall through?
Yes. Contingencies like inspection, financing, or an attorney review period can still end the deal after the agreement is signed.
How long is a typical under-agreement period?
Commonly 30 to 45 days from signing to closing, depending mostly on the buyer's financing timeline.
Keep reading
Related reading
- Miami-Dade Under Emergency Order as Milton Nears Florida ›
- Assumable Mortgages Under 3% Attract Lake County Buyers Priced Out by Current Rates ›
- Tampa Bay Real Estate in 2026: What Slowing Sales Mean for Hillsborough Sellers ›
- Assumable Mortgages Under 3%: What Gainesville Sellers Should Know ›
- Assumable Mortgages Under 3% Are Back - What FL Sellers Should Know ›
- What Does Sold As Is Mean? ›
What this means for your options
Every path to selling a house has real tradeoffs.
Wait and see
Keep the property as-is and hope conditions improve. The mortgage, insurance, and upkeep keep costing money while you wait, with no set date for things to turn around.
List with a traditional agent
Standard MLS listing, typically 5-6% in commission, and a financed buyer whose deal depends on appraisal, inspection, and lender approval — any of which can fall through after weeks on market.
Sell to Cash Flow Deals
Two offers for your house, Fast Cash or Premium Cash, and you choose. Cash: Cash Flow Deals buys the house as-is and closes. Premium: More money. A pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have buys directly from you.
See your selling options before you decide anything.