Private exclusive listings aren’t new, but they certainly have been gaining attention in the news recently. Also referred to as “pocket,” “quiet,” or “off-market” listings, private exclusive listings are homes for sale that are listed with an agent/broker and promoted by that agent/broker to their personal network and other agents via direct communication but which are not publicly shared through the multiple listing service (MLS).
Historically, private exclusive listings accounted for roughly 2-4% of all listings in the marketplace, but the use of private exclusive listings is on the rise. In February 2025, over 8% of new listings were private exclusives*.
Pros and Cons:
Advocates of private exclusive listings say they offer a seller more choices. There are instances when listing a home as a private exclusive makes sense—such as for privacy reasons or to test a price without committing publicly to it. Critics of private exclusive listings claim they infringe on fair housing laws by limiting access to housing inventory to certain groups of people and that they are not in a seller’s best interest given they don’t result in maximum exposure.
Regardless of how you feel about this listing option, one thing is for sure: private exclusives are having a moment in the DC market right now.
The Facts:
Before we dive into successes that our team has recently had with private exclusive listings, here are some additional data points based on a study the BrightMLS conducted earlier this year:
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Almost all private exclusives transition to standard MLS listings before being sold.
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Homes take longer to sell when pre-marketed as an office exclusive.
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There is no price advantage to listing as an office exclusive.
Success Stories:
There are times when a private exclusive listing works best for a client. Here are some recent successes we’ve had with them:
Katie recently sold a home for top dollar by listing it as a private exclusive. Her seller clients had unusual work schedules and knew that they would be moving out of the area in about 4 months. In the meantime, while they wanted to be able to sell their home, they could not imagine how they would allow for showings given their schedules. Katie suggested a two-phased approach: start selling the house as a private exclusive in the near term, then transition to listing the home actively on the market after the owners move out of it. They completed some significant preparation before showing the home as a private exclusive. This included a whole home exterior paint job and a lot of decluttering—work they would have needed to do eventually had they listed the home publicly. Katie coordinated professional photos of the home inside and out. Finally, Katie began an outreach campaign to more than 100 agents in the area. She was able to schedule four showings, and two of those resulted in offers! Her clients were under contract to sell their home before they would have ever been able to list it on the market. They also were able to achieve one of the higher price points for a home like theirs in the neighborhood. Katie is thrilled for them, not just because of the price, but also because of the ease of the sale for the seller. She took all of the elements that were stressful for them off their plate and still had a lot of success financially!
Chelsea recently helped a seller avoid a punch list of repairs and sell quickly without listing on MLS. Her clients had just purchased their "move up home," a substantially larger house just blocks from the home they had bought 15 years prior. Aside from a not insignificant punch list of repairs they had put together with Chelsea's help, they were nervous about the average number of days on market for homes like theirs in their community—and the prospect of paying a double mortgage if their starter home lingered on the market. When their next door neighbor’s adult son knocked on the door to say he was interested in buying the home in order to live close to his parents, Chelsea was able to pivot and work with his buyer’s agent on a price and contingencies that were fair to the buyer and profitable for the seller. Chelsea negotiated a contract where the the buyer accepted the home in "as-is" condition, so the punch list was dropped in the recycle bin and the double mortgage payment was averted!
Melody recently helped a seller get ahead of the softening market and sell their home without stress by listing it as a private exclusive. Her client wanted to relocate out of DC but was intimidated by the idea of getting their home ready for market. Their home was in terrific shape but cluttered and full of personal items. It didn't make sense to list the home for the entire world to see in its current state, but it would take the sellers months to properly prepare for the public eye. They wanted to sell and get ahead of a potentially softening market, so Melody suggested testing the waters with a private exclusive listing while the sellers worked on decluttering and depersonalizing in the background. Melody put together a website with detailed floor plans, a set of teaser photos and a list of home highlights, and then assembled a list of close to 200 agents who are active in the area. After contacting everyone on the list, Melody had identified several agents with potential buyers. The result was a full-price contract with limited contingencies that sailed smoothly to settlement!
In addition to helping sellers, we’ve also had a ton of luck finding buyers opportunities that are not listed on the market. We have great relationships with all of the agents and brokerages in the area and are not afraid to put in the effort necessary to find your dream home.
If you have questions about how the rise of private exclusive listings affects your search or if you’d like to explore this as an option for selling, don’t hesitate to reach out!
* based on Bright MLS research published April 02, 2025