Expiration date

Why it matters

If the owner misses the date, the domain does not vanish at once. Most registrars allow a grace period for renewal, then a redemption stage with extra fees, and finally deletion. Buyers can watch the expiration date to time an approach, since owners who are unsure about a name may let it lapse. Sellers should renew before any sale talks, because a domain near expiry looks risky. Common mistake: waiting for an expired name to drop. Many are caught by backorders in seconds.

Source: icann.org