The Austin Board of Realtors has a new option for home sellers.

Here’s What it Means for Sellers:

Homes and sellers aren’t one-size-fits-all, so neither should listing strategies be. A Flex Listing gives you options when your timing, prep, or privacy needs don’t fit the traditional high-exposure rollout.

Here’s why some sellers choose it:

1. You want to start quietly.

Not every seller wants a parade of buyers the first 24 hours. Some want a more controlled start — vetted buyers, fewer looky-loos, and a chance to ease into the process.

2. You’re prepping the home, but you don’t want to lose momentum.

Maybe you’re painting, landscaping, replacing carpet, or just waiting for contractors (welcome to Austin). A Flex Listing lets serious agents know a property is coming soon — without rushing your prep.

3. You value privacy.

Whether you’re a public figure, going through life changes, or simply prefer not to broadcast your move, Flex Listings keep your information off public sites while still giving you access to the real buyer pool.

4. You want a professional advantage—without a premature DOM (days on market) clock.

Flex Listings do not start Days on Market.
That means you can strategically time your full launch instead of looking stale before you even begin.

Here’s the simplest way to picture it:

• Flex Listing = MLS-only visibility
  Your listing is seen by thousands of agents who represent real buyers, but not displayed on public websites.

• Full Market Launch = All MLS + public sites
  When you’re ready, we publish the full, polished listing with photos, video, staging, marketing — the whole production.

Many sellers use Flex Listing as Step 1, and then transition to Step 2 when the home looks its best, pricing is dialed in, and timing is ideal.

Here’s What it Means for Buyers:

Flex Listings aren’t just a new tool for sellers — they change the game for buyers, too. And if you’re searching on your own using Zillow, Homes.com, Redfin, or any other public website, you’re already at a disadvantage. A big one.

Here’s the truth:

Flex Listings do not show up on any public real estate sites.
They live inside the MLS only, which means…

If you don’t have an agent watching the MLS for you, you will never see them. At all.

And yes — these homes can go under contract in Flex status. That means:

• Your dream home could hit the market.

• It could get shown privately to agents and their clients.

• An offer could be accepted.

• And it could be marked under contract…

• Before you ever even knew it existed.

With Flex Listings becoming more common, buyers who rely solely on public websites are now missing a meaningful portion of the market. If you want full access — not just the homes that happen to show up on Zillow — you need an agent plugged directly into the MLS, watching every opportunity the moment it appears.

This is one of those times where representation isn’t a luxury; it’s a competitive advantage.

If you’re serious about finding the right home, it’s more important than ever to work with an agent who can open every door — including the ones the public can’t see.
Call us today to get connected with one of our exceptional agents and start your home search with the full market at your fingertips.