AITA for pushing through with a home purchase when the seller decided to back out of the sale THE DAY OF CLOSING?

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Imagine driving cross-country, your life packed into a U-Haul, chasing a fresh start on the East Coast. The promise of a new home fuels your excitement, only to be shattered by a phone call on closing day: the sellers are bailing. For one Redditor, this isn’t just a hypothetical—it’s a gut-punch reality. Their family is now crashing at a friend’s place, scrambling for an Airbnb, while the sellers dig in their heels, risking a legal showdown.

This AITA post is a rollercoaster of emotions, blending frustration, guilt, and the high stakes of the housing market. The OP’s dilemma—pushing forward with a lawsuit or letting the house go—has Reddit buzzing with opinions. It’s a tale of contracts, broken promises, and the messy human side of real estate. Let’s unpack this drama and see where the moral compass points.

‘AITA for pushing through with a home purchase when the seller decided to back out of the sale THE DAY OF CLOSING?’

So after deciding between multiple homes in a new town on the other side of the country, we put in an offer on one, and it was accepted. We are moving from west coast to east coast for my husband’s job.

When they accepted the offer, they said they’d accept it if we could close by the end of the year (this was the end of November at the time). We agreed, and even moved up the closing of our own home that we were selling to accommodate this request.

Because we moved up the closing date of the home we were selling, we had to stay in a hotel for our last 4 days on the west coast while my husband finished work there.. While in the hotel, closing for the house we are purchasing got pushed back to the 4th of January.

As we were driving across the country with everything we owned, closing was pushed back another day due to papers on the sellers end not being turned in. Then it was pushed back to the 6th and an appointment was set to sign the closing documents. We had everything we needed in and ready to go at the closing attorney’s office, including our closing funds.

The MORNING of the 6th… the DAY we were supposed to close, the sellers let the closing attorneys know that the house they were buying fell through, so they didn’t want to sell their home anymore.

They were informed by their attorney AND their realtor that they legally can’t back out now and they would be liable for a lot of damages if they tried to back out. They heard it, understood it, and still chose not to show up to the appointment to close.

Once their intentions were made clear, our realtor put us in contact with a good real estate lawyer. The housing market being what it is, prices have already gone up, and even if they hadn’t, there is barely anything available to buy in our price range right now.

There is literally no way they can win this if we go to court, but I realize they are in the same position of facing homelessness, so I feel guilty for pursuing legal action. My family is currently homeless, crashing at a friend’s house 3 hrs away from where we need to be, and scrambling to find an Airbnb to hold us over when my husband starts work until a permanent solution is found.

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As of right now, we are filing a case against them tomorrow morning in the superior court. They were served with a notice last week and given 5 days to basically close or be sued. Today was the end of that.

AITA for not letting this house go? They will be kicked out if we continue to pursue it, but if we don’t get it, then we have already lost a lot of money and opportunities by pursuing this house and signing papers on it in the first place, and then on top of that

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we have to start all the way back at square one searching for a home and settling for less at a higher price due to market changes that have happened since we first went under contract with this house.

ETA: they have a past bankruptcy. This will make it more difficult for them to find temporary housing. We have great credit and can qualify for just about any temporary housing… but the cost… $$$ 😬

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This cross-country housing saga is a stark reminder that real estate deals can unravel in spectacular fashion. The OP’s family, already uprooted and living out of suitcases, faces a seller who’s backed out at the eleventh hour, citing their own failed home purchase. It’s a tough spot, but the sellers’ decision to ignore a legally binding contract puts the OP in an even tighter bind, forcing them to choose between compassion and their family’s stability.

The housing market’s volatility only complicates things. A 2024 report from Zillow notes that home prices rose 5.3% year-over-year, with inventory shrinking in many markets, leaving buyers like OP with few options (Zillow). The sellers’ past bankruptcy and potential homelessness tug at the heartstrings, but their choice to breach the contract isn’t OP’s burden. As real estate attorney Mark Hankins explains in a recent article, “Once a contract is signed, backing out without a valid contingency clause exposes sellers to significant liability, including damages for the buyer’s losses” (Realtor.com).

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Hankins’ insight underscores the OP’s strong legal standing. The sellers were warned by their attorney and realtor but still refused to close, leaving OP to cover hotel stays, moving costs, and now temporary housing. Pursuing legal action, while emotionally heavy, is justified to recoup these losses and secure the home. The broader issue here is the fragility of real estate deals—contingencies like the sellers’ failed purchase can derail plans, but contracts exist to protect both parties.

For OP, the path forward is to follow through with the lawsuit, as Reddit users urge, while exploring temporary housing options their credit can support. They might also consider negotiating a delayed closing to give the sellers breathing room, but only with legal safeguards.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Reddit’s got no shortage of spice on this one—here’s the community dishing out their takes with equal parts wit and wisdom. Grab some popcorn for these candid reactions!

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Hefty_Candidate_4902 − NTA. Their poor planning is not your problem. They can rent a property until they find something to buy. Don’t let emotional arguments sway you on this one.

[Reddit User] − NTA. I could be wrong but it sounds as if it fell through because they did not qualify. It sounds like they were cutting it close and taking a chance that they would get the house. They took a gamble and they lost. that is no reason why YOU should suffer. I feel for these people. I do. However, it seems like you did nothing wrong and should not be punished for it.

Leather-Anybody-5389 − NTA-During the buying/selling process this is explained to sellers and buyers because trust goes into putting money up and time is put into it. So people are aware of the ramifications in completing the process and what can happen if they don’t. They knew and understood what would happen and they chose this course.

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StAlvis − NTA. the sellers let the closing attorneys know that the house they were buying fell through. Well, you know a good hotel you could recommend!

puppyfarts99 − NTA. You probably feel like you're putting them in the same position you are currently in (not having a house to live in, scrambling to find temporary housing while house hunting).

But the difference is they have breached a contract, while you have not. Contracts exist for a reason, and they knew the penalties for breaking the contract, yet did it anyways. You were right to sue, and you should pursue all damages available under the law, to recoup your expenses and be paid for the stress and uncertainty you're now facing.

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While it's touching that you're concerned for their welfare, you're not responsible for their circumstances. You could do them a kindness, sure, but unless you're sitting on a boatload of hoarded wealth, it would seriously disadvantage your own family to assist theirs.

Perhaps when faced with the suit they'll be properly advised by their attorney to close the sale and reimburse you for the extra expenses you've incurred due to the delay.

kjbtetrick − NTA Their poor planning should NOT be your emergency, which at this point it is. I empathize with the sellers, but a contract is a contract.

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Pessa19 − NTA. You’re never the AH for enforcing a legally binding contract formed in good faith. They’re in a tough position, but that doesn’t mean they get to break the rules. Not your problem. Don’t feel bad.

Lurker_the_Pip − NTA pursue it. They f**ked around and now they will find out.

Discombobulatedslug − I've seen this happen before when the house prices go up; seller realises they can get more money for it and backs out of sale with a sob story. Then a week later you see it on the market again at a much higher price. Not saying this happened in your case, but just keep it in mind. Nta

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crbryant1972 − NTA You already were doing them a favor. They did not have anything in their contract to cover contingencies. You have to take care of your family first.

These Redditors are fired up, but do their “sue ‘em!” cheers hold up when you weigh the sellers’ tough spot? Or is this just a case of “a contract’s a contract”?

This home-buying nightmare shows how fast a dream deal can turn into a legal slugfest. The OP’s stuck between a rock and a hard place: fight for the house they’ve invested in or walk away and face a brutal housing market. It’s a clash of fairness, legality, and human struggle. Have you ever faced a broken deal or a tough call like this? What would you do—push for the house or cut your losses? Share your thoughts and let’s keep this drama alive!

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