Can I Take My House off the Market and Not Regret It?

If you’re regretting putting your house up for sale, you may be wondering if you can pull your listing. Maybe you don’t see eye-to-eye with the agent, you’ve had a family emergency, or you’re more emotionally attached to the property than you thought. Just because you’ve listed it doesn’t mean you have to sell your home right now (or ever).

In this article, we explore the reasons for taking your house off the market, how to do it, and any repercussions you might face. To bring you the most reliable information, we’ve spoken with the experts:

Michael Pinter, CEO of Real Property Buyers, LLC, who has been flipping homes full-time since 2013
Jennifer Wemert, a HomeLight Elite agent who sells homes 56% faster than the average agent in Orlando, Florida
Megan Hill, a top agent who works with 68% more single-family homes than the average agent in Montgomery, Alabama

Let’s get started.

Can you take your house off the market?

You can take down the for-sale sign, terminate your listing agreement with your agent, and remove online evidence of your listing so long as you haven’t already gone under contract with a buyer. It’s your house — you can sell it. Or not sell it. You won’t be penalized by listing sites, and if you change your mind in the future, relisting your property won’t be any different.

However, taking your house on and off the market can have repercussions. Doing so can affect the marketability of your home. And, depending on the terms of your listing agreement, removing your listing early could cost you a fee.