@BJane The pausing of applications is relatively new. As soon as a HO has received five applications, the listing disappears. If a HO does not select a sitter from the original pool of five, she has to then reject some (maybe all?) of the applicants before the listing reappears. Perhaps it’s then relisted as “new”, which would explain why we’re seeing more “new” listings that aren’t actually new.
As you weren’t aware that applications are paused, this thread may be of interest: Pausing Applications Test