These are worst case scenarios, however. This is why people who are selling and renting so often want to make sure that you see the property before anything is signed. Up to that point, you can still back out and leave them in the lurch. However, due to the often subversive and deceitful nature of real estate doings, sometimes landlords, sellers, brokers, and real estate agents are perfectly happy to leave you in the lurch as well. That is why it is important to realize that, yes, sometimes you can back out of a deal.