Some deals never make it to closing. Whether it’s legal issues, financing problems, or last-minute surprises, deal killers are everywhere in real estate. A recent poll ranked the most common ones:
Re-trades (38%) – The top deal killer. Buyers go under contract, then renegotiate at the last minute, either because they overpromised or are trying to squeeze a discount. In competitive markets, sellers walk instead of playing games.
Appraisal Issues (23%) – When a property doesn’t appraise at the contract price, financing can fall apart. Even cash buyers use appraisals to validate value, and if numbers don’t line up, deals stall.
Inspections (21%) – A bad inspection can trigger price reductions, repairs, or even a buyer walking away entirely. Commercial and residential deals alike suffer from unknown structural issues or costly repairs.
Legal Issues (18%) – Title problems, zoning disputes, and contract conflicts can delay or kill a transaction outright. If legal isn’t clean, financing and closing get messy fast.
Beyond these, there are countless silent killers—bad lenders, partner disagreements, financing delays, environmental issues, and even seller cold feet. Deals don’t die on their own. They get killed by a misstep, bad timing, or someone pushing too hard.
Ever had a deal fall apart at the finish line? What was the biggest reason?