As of today — July 28, 2026 — Intermountain MLS has officially activated the Coming Soon listing status for agents throughout the Treasure Valley. If you're buying or selling a home in Idaho, this is something you genuinely need to understand. It changes how you search, when you move, and how competitive your offer needs to be.
Here's what it means in plain language.
What Is a Coming Soon Listing?
A Coming Soon listing is a home that has been entered into the MLS — meaning real estate agents can see it — but the seller is not yet accepting showings or offers. It's a heads-up period. The home is getting ready to hit the market, and the listing is visible so buyers and agents can start planning.
Think of it like a movie trailer. The film isn't in theaters yet, but you know it's coming, you know the plot, and you can decide whether you want to be there opening weekend.
Coming Soon is designed to create transparency — not to give any single buyer an unfair advantage. Everyone sees it at the same time through the MLS.
How Long Can a Home Stay "Coming Soon"?
Under IMLS rules, a property can be listed as Coming Soon for up to 21 days before it must transition to Active status (fully on the market, showings allowed). Most sellers use this window to complete final repairs, professional photos, and staging.
Once a listing goes Active, the clock starts on serious buyer competition. Coming Soon is your window to get ready before that happens.
Can I See the House During the Coming Soon Period?
In most cases — no. That's the catch, and it's intentional. The Coming Soon status exists to let buyers prepare, not to let a select few tour privately while everyone else waits. IMLS rules prohibit showings during this period to protect the integrity of the process.
There are narrow exceptions (seller can authorize showings under specific conditions), but as a general rule: if you see a Coming Soon listing you love, use that time to:
- Get fully pre-approved if you haven't already
- Drive the neighborhood, see the exterior, check the street
- Research the area — schools, commute, comparable sales
- Talk to your agent about offer strategy
- Schedule a showing the moment it goes Active
Why Do Sellers Use Coming Soon Status?
A few good reasons. First, it builds buzz. In a competitive market, buyers who've been watching a property for two weeks come in more motivated on day one. Second, it gives the seller a real runway to prepare without the pressure of having the house "sit" on the market while they finish getting it ready.
Third — and this is the practical one — it reduces the chaos of a sudden launch. Instead of scrambling to get photos done, staging finished, and the lockbox installed all on the same morning, a seller can take their time and launch clean.
What Should Buyers Do Differently Now?
Pay attention to Coming Soon listings in your target neighborhoods. If you're working with an agent (and you should be), set up a search that includes this status so you're not caught flat-footed when a house you would have loved goes Active on a Tuesday morning and has six offers by Thursday.
The buyers who win in this market are the ones who move fast and move prepared. Coming Soon listings give you a small but real head start — use it.
A Note on Pocket Listings vs. Coming Soon
Coming Soon is different from a "pocket listing" — a property sold privately, never entered into the MLS at all. Pocket listings have become controversial (and restricted by many associations) because they limit exposure and often get sellers less money. Coming Soon is the legitimate, transparent version: visible to all MLS participants, same rules for everyone.
If an agent ever tells you a home is "off market" and available only through them, ask questions. That's a different situation entirely — and often not in the seller's best interest.
Bottom Line
Coming Soon is a small but meaningful shift in how the Idaho MLS works. For buyers, it's advance notice — use it to prepare. For sellers, it's a cleaner launch window — use it to show your home at its best.
If you're thinking about buying or selling in Treasure Valley and want to know what's Coming Soon in Eagle, Meridian, or Boise right now, reach out. I'm happy to walk you through what's on the horizon before it hits the open market.
Sam Mena · Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty Boise · Idaho License #9081213 · Serving Eagle, Meridian, Boise, Star, and the Treasure Valley. Reach me at 208-577-1193 or sam@samsells208.com.