If you have a home search set up through NWMLS, you may start noticing a listing status you haven't seen before. As of September 4, 2026, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service offers a new option called First Look, and it's the first time our local MLS has allowed homes to be marketed before they officially go Active.
If you've bought or sold a home in another part of the country, this may sound familiar. Many MLSs elsewhere have offered some version of Coming Soon listings for years. Here in Washington it's brand new, and it changes how some homes will reach the market.
What Is a First Look Listing?
First Look is a pre-market status. It allows a seller and their listing broker to market a home for up to 21 days while they get it ready for its Active launch. When the listing broker enters a First Look listing, they set the date it will change to Active, and the listing switches over automatically on that date unless the seller and broker decide to go Active sooner.
Not every home is eligible. To qualify, a property must have been off the market for at least 60 days. First Look listings also have to meet the same information and photo requirements as Active listings, so buyers and their brokers get a complete listing, not a teaser.
During the First Look window, the seller decides whether to allow showings and whether to accept offers, or to hold off on both until the home goes Active. The seller also decides whether the listing is shared through IDX, the program that feeds NWMLS listings to thousands of real estate websites. If the seller opts out of IDX, the listing firm can still market the home publicly on its own website, partner websites, and social media.
How Is This Different From a Pocket Listing?
This is a fair question, especially since Washington recently passed a law on exactly that topic. SSB 6091, now RCW 18.86.130, took effect June 11, 2026. It prohibits brokers from marketing a home only to a limited or exclusive group of buyers or brokers unless it's also marketed to the general public and all other brokers at the same time, with a narrow exception to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant.
NWMLS has made clear that this law applies to First Look listings too. Every First Look home must be entered into NWMLS in a timely manner and made available to all member brokers and their clients, and brokers can't begin promoting a home until it's in the NWMLS database. Even when a seller opts out of IDX, the listing firm is still responsible for marketing the home to the public. A First Look home may not be on every search site yet, but it isn't tucked away in a private network.
What First Look Means for Buyers
You may see homes before most public sites do. If a seller opts out of IDX during First Look, the home won't appear on the thousands of websites that pull listings from NWMLS, though it may still show up on the listing firm's own website or social media. It will be in NWMLS, which means any NWMLS broker can send it to you. If you're relying only on consumer home search apps, you could miss it.
Your saved search may not include First Look yet. Existing NWMLS saved searches and automatic email alerts that were set up for Active and Contingent listings won't pick up First Look homes on their own. First Look has to be added as a selected status. If you're working with an NWMLS broker, ask them to update your search. If you're working with me, it's already done.
Showings and offers depend on the seller. A First Look home might be open for tours and offers right away, or the seller may wait until the Active launch. It's worth checking before you get your heart set on one.
Public sites won't tell the whole story. NWMLS has replaced Days on Market with Days Active, and that count starts at zero when a home moves from First Look to Active. Time spent in First Look and any price changes made before launch won't be displayed on public sites. That history stays in NWMLS, where brokers and their clients can see it. When a home looks brand new online, your broker can tell you how long it has really been available and whether the price has already moved.
What First Look Means for Sellers
When First Look can make sense. NWMLS points to a few situations where it may be a good fit: letting buyers and brokers know your home will be available soon while you prepare it for sale, telling your home's story on social media ahead of launch, or getting market feedback on a truly unique property that has no comparable sales.
Plan ahead. Your home must have been off the market for at least 60 days to qualify. A First Look listing needs the same photos and details as an Active listing, and marketing can't begin until the listing is entered into NWMLS, so photography needs to be done before your home enters First Look.
You control showings, offers, and online display. You decide whether to allow showings, whether to accept offers during First Look, and whether your listing is shared through IDX.
Think carefully before opting out of IDX. Keeping your home off IDX websites during First Look can feel exclusive, but NWMLS is direct about the downsides. Thousands of real estate websites will stop receiving updated information about your home and may show it as Off Market or Not for Sale, with outdated photos or a price estimate that doesn't match your list price. Many buyers may never realize your home is available. If you do choose to opt out, you'll complete NWMLS Form 7U (Seller's Request for Limited Marketing), which your broker submits with the listing.
Your history isn't hidden from brokers. Days in First Look and early price changes won't appear on public sites, but NWMLS brokers and their clients can still see them. The right strategy depends on your home, your timeline, and what's happening in your neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a home stay in First Look? Up to 21 days. The listing automatically changes to Active on the date the listing broker sets, unless the seller and broker move it to Active sooner.
Does every home qualify for First Look? No. A property must have been off the market for at least 60 days to be eligible.
Will my current NWMLS saved search show First Look homes? Not automatically. Saved searches and email alerts set up for Active and Contingent listings need to be updated to include First Look as a status.
Can I tour or make an offer on a First Look home? It depends on the seller. The seller chooses whether to allow showings and whether to accept an offer while the home is in First Look.
Will First Look homes show up on public home search websites? It depends. If the seller allows IDX display, the listing appears on thousands of real estate websites. If not, the listing firm must still market the home to the public, for example on its own website or social media.
Is First Look the same as a Coming Soon listing? It's similar in concept. The key differences are that every First Look home must be in NWMLS and available to all member brokers and their clients, and Washington's public marketing law still applies.
What does Days Active mean? Days Active replaces Days on Market in NWMLS. It counts time in Active status and starts at zero when a home moves from First Look to Active.
Can NWMLS brokers see how long a home was in First Look? Yes. Days in First Look and pre-launch price adjustments remain in the NWMLS database, even though they aren't displayed on public sites after the home goes Active.
Questions About First Look?
Whether you're getting ready to buy, thinking about selling, or just curious how this will play out in your neighborhood, I'm happy to talk it through. Reach out anytime.
Erin Corwin - The Corwin Group at Spire One Realty: 206-650-7390 | [email protected] | www.theCorwinGroup.com
Sources: NWMLS Legal Bulletin 233, New Listing Status: First Look; Northwest MLS Expands Listing Options, NWMLS press release, August 31, 2026; News and updates: Real estate brokers, Washington State Department of Licensing
Disclaimer: This article reflects NWMLS rules and guidance as of September 2026. First Look is a new listing status, and NWMLS rules, forms, and how listings display online may change as it evolves. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, reach out to me directly or consult a real estate attorney.
