It depends on the words in the contract.
In our state, the standard contracts have a place to put the type of financing (conv, VA, FHA, etc,). If the buyer should decide to switch (say from conv to FHA) and get turned down, a seller COULD look at this at try to claim any deposit money because the buyer didn't follow the terms of the agreement. And it would happen for sure if the seller got an attorney involved.
In our market, asking for 3% closing cost assistance from the seller happens in about half of the transactions I see. A good listing agent mentions this to a seller when assisting them in pricing their home, that way, there are no seller's net surprises at contract or closing.
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Broker-Owner Thirteen Years REO Experience
GRI,CRS,CRB,e-Pro
Some days I feel like the bug, other days I feel like the windshield