Can a seller back out after signing closing papers? Technically, a seller can back out any time before the escrow records the grant deed.There's a line where you can state how many days the seller has to return the earnest money and if not filled out defaults to 180 days. Escrow kicks off after you sign the purchase agreement from a buyer, and it ends when all the funds are disbursed at closing. Your offer can be withdrawn anytime before they accept it in writing (it's not a deal for real estate until all parties have signed). In this article, we explain under what circumstances a seller may cancel a home purchase agreement. A seller can sue a buyer for backing out of a real estate deal, but it's not something that's done on a whim. The termination option allows the buyer to pay a small nonrefundable fee on top of the earnest money after signing the purchase contract. Likewise, a seller can also benefit from escrow. Sellers must complete the selection of disbursement in order for the transaction to proceed.