For Arizona real estate agents · · Mike Certo, NMLS #260555
What is CCBS in Arizona real estate?
CCBS stands for "Contract Contingent on Buyer Sale." It's an ARMLS status meaning the seller accepted an offer, but the offer depends on the buyer selling their own home first, so the listing stays active and marketed for backups until the contingency comes off. The good news for listing agents: that contingency is often removable.
What CCBS means on the listing
When you see CCBS on an ARMLS listing, the seller has an accepted contract, but the buyer can't close until their own home sells. ARMLS keeps the listing active and marketed so the seller can take backup offers, because the primary deal could fall apart if the buyer's home doesn't sell in time. For the listing agent, it's an accepted offer that isn't truly safe yet.
UCB vs. CCBS vs. Pending
These three ARMLS statuses get mixed up constantly. Here's the plain-English version.
| Status | What it means | Still marketed? |
|---|---|---|
| UCB | Under contract, but the seller is actively taking backup offers. | Yes |
| CCBS | Under contract, but contingent on the buyer's own home selling first. | Yes |
| Pending | Accepted, contingencies cleared, headed to close. | No |
The kick-out clause
Many CCBS contracts include a kick-out clause: the seller can keep marketing the home and, if a stronger offer comes in, give the contingent buyer a short window (often 24 to 72 hours) to remove their sale contingency or step aside. That clock is exactly why a contingent buyer wants financing that drops the contingency as fast as possible.
How we remove the contingency
This is the part most agents don't realize is possible. The buyer's current-home payment is almost always what forces the contingency. We're a direct lender that requalifies the buyer so that payment no longer counts: we exclude it once their home is under contract or carries enough equity, offset it with rental income if they're keeping the home, or fund the new purchase with a bridge loan. Once the buyer no longer needs their sale to close first, the contingency can come off and your deal moves toward a clean close.
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FAQ
What does CCBS mean on an Arizona MLS listing?
CCBS stands for Contract Contingent on Buyer Sale. It's an ARMLS status meaning the seller has accepted an offer, but that offer depends on the buyer selling their own home first. The listing stays active and marketed for backup offers until the contingency is removed.
What's the difference between UCB, CCBS, and Pending in Arizona?
UCB (Active/UCB) means under contract but still taking backup offers. CCBS means under contract but contingent on the buyer's own home selling, and still marketed. Pending means the offer is accepted, contingencies are cleared, and the home is no longer marketed.
What is a kick-out clause?
A kick-out clause lets the seller keep marketing the home and accept a better offer. If that happens, the contingent buyer usually gets 24 to 72 hours to remove their sale contingency or walk away. Strong financing that drops the contingency protects the buyer from being kicked out.
How does a lender remove a CCBS contingency?
By requalifying the buyer so their current home's payment no longer blocks the new loan, one of a few ways: excluding the payment once the home is under contract or carries enough equity, offsetting it with rental income, or funding the purchase with a bridge loan. Once the buyer no longer needs their sale to close first, the contingency can come off.
Can a buyer make a non-contingent offer if they still own a home?
Yes. If the lender excludes the buyer's current house payment from qualification (via a pending sale, enough equity, or rental conversion) or funds the deal with a bridge loan, the buyer can write a clean, non-contingent offer even while they still own their current home.