Paul Haley
Arizona Luxury Realtor · eXp Luxury
Off-Market Listings: How to Buy a Home Before It Hits the MLS in Arizona
If you've been browsing Zillow, Realtor.com, and the MLS for luxury real estate in Scottsdale and Arizona, you're seeing a fraction of what's actually available. A significant portion of high-value properties in Arizona — estimates suggest 20–35% of transactions above $3 million — trade off-market, through agent networks and private buyer pipelines before any public listing ever goes live.
Paul Haley of Haley Housing, an eXp Luxury agent based in Scottsdale, has built a practice around exactly this kind of access. Here's how off-market real estate works in Arizona and what you need to do to get in front of these opportunities.
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What Is an Off-Market Listing?
An off-market listing (also called a pocket listing or pre-market listing) is a property that is available for sale but not yet — or never — listed on the public MLS. The seller has agreed to sell but prefers to avoid the disruption of a public listing: open houses, photography teams, strangers walking through the home, and the psychological pressure of watching days-on-market accumulate.
Off-market sales appeal to:
- High-profile sellers who value privacy (executives, celebrities, athletes)
- Sellers testing price before committing to a public list price
- Estate situations where heirs want a quiet, efficient transaction
- Sellers who already have a buyer candidate through their agent's network
For buyers, off-market properties offer:
- Less competition — you may be the only offer
- Access to homes that are never publicly listed
- A less adversarial negotiation environment
- Potential to purchase before a seller has fully anchored on price
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How Arizona's Off-Market Market Works
In Arizona, agents are required to submit listings to the MLS within one business day of signing a listing agreement, unless the seller signs a waiver (called an MLS Exclusion Addendum). That waiver is what enables legitimate off-market transactions to occur.
Sellers who sign an MLS exclusion do so knowingly and often strategically. They are typically working through agents who have already identified a likely buyer pool before the listing paperwork is signed.
eXp Luxury agents like Paul Haley generate off-market access through:
- 1The eXp agent network — 80,000+ agents globally, many of whom represent sellers actively considering listing
- 2The Haley Housing buyer pipeline — a database of active luxury buyers who have pre-authorized contact when appropriate properties become available
- 3Agent-to-agent relationships — direct communication with top-producing luxury agents in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix who share pre-market intel
- 4Direct seller outreach — proactive contact with homeowners in target neighborhoods on behalf of buyers with specific criteria
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How to Position Yourself as an Off-Market Buyer
Not every buyer gets access to off-market deals. Sellers and their agents are selective about who they approach with pre-market opportunities. To position yourself effectively:
Be Pre-Positioned Financially In off-market transactions, there is no time to get financing in order after you see the property. Have your proof of funds or pre-approval letter ready before you make an inquiry. Cash buyers have a significant advantage in this segment.
Be Specific About Your Criteria Vague criteria ("something nice in Scottsdale") will not generate targeted off-market introductions. Specific criteria ("4-bed, guest casita, golf course views, under $4M in DC Ranch or Silverleaf") allows an agent like Paul Haley to efficiently match you to appropriate pre-market opportunities.
Sign a Buyer Representation Agreement In the post-NAR settlement environment, many off-market sellers and their agents will not share pre-market opportunities with unrepresented buyers. Being formally represented signals seriousness and protects all parties in the transaction.
Be Ready to Move Quickly Off-market transactions often move faster than public listings. There may be little time between first introduction and offer deadline. If you're not ready to make a decision quickly, off-market access is less useful.
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The Role of the Haley Housing Buyer Pipeline
Haley Housing maintains an active buyer pipeline — buyers who have engaged Paul Haley, documented their financial capacity, and provided detailed purchase criteria. When a seller approaches Haley Housing before listing publicly, this pipeline is the first call list.
Getting onto that list requires nothing more than a 30-minute introductory conversation and documentation of financial readiness. Buyers on the pipeline have successfully purchased properties in DC Ranch, Silverleaf, Arcadia, Paradise Valley, and North Scottsdale before those homes ever appeared on the public market.
Connect with Paul Haley to join the buyer pipeline →
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Off-Market vs. MLS: Which is Better for Buyers?
Neither is categorically superior — the right approach depends on your flexibility and timeline.
| Factor | Off-Market | MLS/Public Listing | |---|---|---| | Competition | Low to none | High in current market | | Selection | Limited (what agents know about) | Broad | | Speed required | Fast | More flexible | | Price | Sometimes negotiable pre-anchor | Market-priced | | Due diligence time | Often shorter | Standard 10-day inspection |
Most luxury buyers use both approaches simultaneously — staying informed on MLS listings while also being registered in an off-market pipeline.
Browse current public MLS listings →
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FAQ: Off-Market Real Estate in Arizona
Q: Are off-market listings legal in Arizona? A: Yes. Arizona allows sellers to opt out of the MLS with a signed exclusion addendum. Off-market transactions are a legal and common practice, particularly in the luxury segment.
Q: Do off-market homes sell for less than MLS-listed homes? A: Not necessarily. In some cases, off-market transactions occur at or above market price because the seller values discretion and speed over maximum competition. In others, buyers may secure slight price advantages by presenting strong, clean offers. The outcome depends on the specific transaction.
Q: How do I find off-market homes in Scottsdale? A: The most reliable path is through a well-connected luxury agent. Paul Haley at Haley Housing has direct access to the eXp agent network, an active buyer pipeline, and relationships with top Scottsdale listing agents that surface pre-market opportunities routinely.
Q: What is a pocket listing? A: A pocket listing is another term for an off-market or pre-market listing — a property that is available for sale but not publicly listed on the MLS. The term reflects the idea that the listing is "in the agent's pocket" rather than publicly advertised.