What Does “Coming Soon” Mean on Redfin and Zillow? A Guide for Washington Home Buyers

Real Estate News BRIAN SIDE

If you’re searching for a home in Seattle or around the Puget Sound, you may have started seeing more properties labeled “Coming Soon” on Redfin or Zillow.

Then you click into the listing and see something called “First Look.”

Can you tour it? Is it actually for sale? Can you make an offer? And why does the same house sometimes look different depending on which real estate website you’re using?

Those are good questions, especially because this is relatively new in Washington.

Here’s what buyers need to know.

“Coming Soon” May Actually Be an NWMLS First Look Listing

In September 2026, Northwest Multiple Listing Service, or NWMLS, introduced a new listing status called First Look.

For buyers, I think the easiest way to understand First Look is to think of it as Washington’s version of a coming soon listing.

The property has been entered into the MLS, but the seller may not be ready for its full Active launch yet.

Maybe they’re finishing paint or landscaping. Maybe staging and photography aren’t complete. Or maybe the seller simply wants to start marketing the property before officially going Active.

A property can remain in First Look for up to 21 days before moving to Active status.

Here’s where things get a little confusing for buyers:

First Look is the MLS status, but that isn’t necessarily the terminology you’ll see when you’re searching online.

Why Does Redfin Say “Coming Soon”?

If you’re using Redfin, an NWMLS First Look property may show up as Coming Soon.

Redfin may also surface these properties within its Early Access or Coming Soon search experience.

So you might hear your real estate agent call a property “First Look,” while you’re staring at Redfin and seeing “Coming Soon.”

You’re not necessarily looking at two different things.

In many cases, you’re simply seeing Redfin’s consumer-facing presentation of the listing versus the underlying status your agent sees in the MLS.

What About Zillow?

Zillow may handle the same listing a little differently.

First Look properties can appear within Coming Soon search results while the individual listing may use First Look terminology.

That means you could see the same house described slightly differently on Zillow, Redfin, another brokerage website, and the MLS.

Understandably, that can get confusing.

My advice is simple:

If you see a house you like, send it to your agent.

Don’t spend too much time trying to decipher the status yourself. Your agent can see the underlying MLS information and tell you what is actually happening.

Can You Tour a Coming Soon or First Look Home in Washington?

This is probably the most important thing buyers should know:

Yes, you may be able to.

Don’t assume “Coming Soon” means you have to wait until some future date to see the property.

Under NWMLS First Look, a seller may choose to allow showings before the property becomes Active.

They don’t have to allow them, but they can.

That is an important distinction because Coming Soon has traditionally sounded like a property that isn’t available to tour yet.

With First Look, that may not be true.

If you find something you like, ask your agent to check it right away.

Can You Make an Offer on a First Look Home?

Don’t assume that because a property isn’t technically Active yet, nothing can happen.

Have your agent find out exactly how the seller is handling the First Look period.

Are they allowing showings?

Are they willing to review offers?

Are they intentionally waiting until the Active date?

Is there an offer review date?

Is there information in the broker remarks that you cannot see online?

Those details can matter far more than the label you see on Redfin or Zillow.

Why Would a Seller List a Home This Way?

There are plenty of legitimate reasons.

A seller might want to start generating awareness while final preparations are being completed. They may still be finishing staging, photography, repairs, landscaping, paint, or other work before the full launch.

It gives sellers another way to introduce a property to the market without necessarily jumping straight into a traditional Active listing.

As a buyer, remember that you may be seeing the home before the seller intended to make their full first impression.

If you tour during First Look and there’s still a painter working in a bedroom or the landscaping isn’t finished, focus on the things that are harder to change:

Location, lot, floor plan, natural light, neighborhood, condition, and overall fit.

Why Your Agent May See Something Different Than You Do

Consumer real estate websites are incredibly useful. I use them too.

But Zillow, Redfin, and other real estate websites do not always display MLS information exactly the same way.

There can also be information available to brokers through NWMLS that is not obvious from the consumer-facing listing you’re looking at.

Sellers may also have choices regarding how a First Look property is distributed online.

So your home search shouldn’t simply be:

“What new listings showed up on Zillow today?”

It should also include a conversation with your agent about what they’re seeing in the MLS.

There may be homes preparing to come to market that deserve your attention before they appear as a traditional Active listing.

What Should You Do When You See “Coming Soon” on Redfin?

My advice is pretty simple.

Don’t wait for the status to change before asking about it.

If the house looks interesting, send the listing to your agent.

A quick text saying, “What’s the story with this one?” is enough.

Your agent can look it up in NWMLS and determine whether it is First Look, whether showings are allowed, when it is expected to become Active, and whether there is anything else you should know.

You may decide to see it immediately.

You may decide there is no advantage to seeing it early.

Or you may learn something that changes your interest in the property altogether.

At least you’re making that decision with the full picture.

Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent About a Coming Soon Home

If you find a First Look or Coming Soon property you’re interested in, ask:

Can we tour it now?
When is it expected to go Active?
Is the seller accepting or reviewing offers during First Look?
Is there an offer review date?
Is the property completely ready, or is the seller still preparing it for market?
How long has it already been in First Look?
Is there anything in the MLS or broker remarks that I’m not seeing online?
Are disclosures, inspection reports, or other documents available?
Would you recommend seeing it now or waiting until it goes Active?
If we like it, is there any strategic advantage to acting early?

That last question matters.

Early does not automatically mean better.

There may be situations where seeing a home during First Look gives you valuable information or an opportunity to act. There are other situations where waiting until the seller completes their preparation makes more sense.

Your agent should help you understand the difference.

What Washington Home Buyers Should Take Away

If you’re searching for homes in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Mercer Island, Sammamish, or elsewhere around the Puget Sound, you’re probably going to start seeing more of these listings.

Just remember:

Coming Soon on Redfin may be an NWMLS First Look listing.

A First Look property may be available for showings.

Different websites may display the same property differently.

And the information you see online may not tell the entire story.

So don’t get too hung up on the label.

If you see a property you like, send it to your agent and ask about it.

At Upside Properties, we’re constantly watching new inventory throughout Seattle, the Eastside, and the greater Puget Sound, including First Look listings. If you’re actively looking for a home, we can help you understand what’s available now, what’s coming next, and when it actually makes sense to move quickly.

Sometimes the best question isn’t:

“Is this house for sale?”

It’s:

“What’s the story with this one?”

Frequently Asked Questions About Coming Soon Homes

What does Coming Soon mean on Redfin in Washington?

It may be Redfin’s label for an NWMLS First Look listing. Ask your agent to confirm the MLS status and the seller’s plans.

What is an NWMLS First Look listing?

First Look is a pre-launch MLS status that lets sellers market a home while preparing for its Active launch. NWMLS member brokers can access the listing.

Can you tour a Coming Soon home in Washington?

Possibly. Sellers may allow showings during First Look, but they are not required to. Your agent can check whether a tour is available.

Can you make an offer on a First Look home?

Ask your agent to confirm whether the seller is accepting or reviewing offers during First Look and whether an offer review date applies.

Why does a house show differently on Zillow and Redfin?

Consumer websites may display the same underlying MLS status using different labels. Your agent can clarify the listing’s current status and showing instructions.