Pocket listings are homes marketed privately, outside a shared listings database, often shown only to selected buyers or agents rather than broadly advertised.
Supporters say this approach can help sellers who value privacy, want to test pricing, avoid open houses, or limit home foot traffic.
Critics warn limited exposure can reduce buyer competition, leave some shoppers unaware of available homes, and raise fair housing transparency concerns nationwide.
A national trade group created a cooperation policy requiring prompt database submission after public marketing, though exceptions and enforcement remain challenging in practice.
For buyers and sellers planning a move, the key choice is balancing privacy with open exposure and competitive market access in Real Estate.
