{"id":40702,"date":"2026-05-15T02:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T09:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=40702"},"modified":"2026-05-15T17:42:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T00:42:01","slug":"how-often-do-pending-offers-fall-through","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-often-do-pending-offers-fall-through\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Do Pending Offers Fall Through When Selling a Home?"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the initial excitement of accepting an offer, many sellers quickly find themselves sitting with a new kind of uncertainty. Even once a home is under contract, there\u2019s still a window where <\/span>inspections<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>mortgage financing<\/span><\/a>, and last-minute <\/span>negotiations<\/span><\/a> can change the outcome. That uncertainty makes many sellers wonder as closing day approaches: How often do pending offers fall through?<\/span><\/p>\n

In this post, we\u2019ll break down how frequently deals collapse, why most buyers back out, what you can do if it happens, and how to better protect your sale from unexpected setbacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How often do pending offers fall through?<\/h2>\n

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) April 2026 Realtors\u00ae Confidence Index Survey, about <\/span>5% of pending offers fall through<\/span><\/a>. While that\u2019s a relatively small share overall, it still means thousands of home sales fail to make it to the closing table each month.<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is that 95% of pending home sales carry through to closing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because the real estate market is always shifting, factors such as the economy, lending requirements, and local market conditions can all affect this number. It can also look different depending on where you are, what\u2019s happening in your local market, and even the property\u2019s price range.<\/span><\/p>\n

NAR also estimates that:<\/span><\/p>\n