There's nothing quite like the excitement of getting an offer on your house. Whether you're in Esperanza, The Ranches at Creekside, Cordillera Ranch, or a golf course street in Fair Oaks Ranch, you're one step closer to what's next. But what happens if that buyer backs out or ghosts you before closing?
If you've been seeing headlines about more home sales falling through lately, that possibility may be keeping you up at night. And it's true. According to Redfin and Cotality, canceled contracts have been on the rise.
But here's what those headlines don't always tell you…
Most sales still go through. Only 10-15% hit this snag. And even so, there are things you can do to help keep your sale from becoming one of them.
The key is knowing what tends to scare buyers away and getting ahead of those issues before they have a chance to derail your move.
What the Local Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch MLS Data Shows
I pulled the last 12 months of MLS data on single-family homes in the Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch area that came off the market without selling. That's a slightly different problem than a buyer walking away, but it comes from the same place: buyers in today's market have choices, and homes that aren't priced and prepared well get passed over.
Boerne & Fair Oaks Ranch Area: Single-Family Homes That Didn't Sell (Last 12 Months)
- 581 listings came off the market unsold in the past year — roughly 48 a month: 359 canceled, 170 expired, and 52 withdrawn
- Median list price: about $650,000
- Median days on market before coming off: 120 days (expired listings: 169 days)
- 63% sat on the market more than 90 days, and roughly 1 in 4 sat more than 6 months
- The largest group, 212 homes, was priced between $400,000 and $600,000, and 88 homes were priced at $1.5 million or more
Source: San Antonio Board of REALTORS® MLS, single-family residential, canceled/expired/withdrawn statuses, 12 months ending October 2026. Compiled by Charley Wasson.
The takeaway for Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch sellers: the homes that struggle usually aren't bad homes. They're homes that went to market without a clear plan for price, condition, and the buyer's financing. That's exactly what you can control. You can see how local prices and days on market have shifted over time on my Boerne TX real estate market history page.
What's Behind the Rise in Canceled Contracts?
Today's buyers are being more cautious. Mortgage rates are stretching budgets, and with more homes to choose from in 78006 and 78015, buyers have more freedom to walk away if something doesn't feel right. As Redfin explains:
"That gives house hunters more options and makes them more likely to walk away if an inspection uncovers problems, an appraisal comes in low or the seller doesn't agree to concessions."
That's why an accepted offer isn't always a guaranteed sale. But it doesn't mean you should be afraid to put your house on the market, either.
It just means getting ahead of potential problems matters more than ever.
3 Things That Can Scare Off a Buyer (and How To Get Ahead of Them)
A Redfin survey asked real estate agents why some buyers are backing out. Their answers give you a sort of cheat sheet for what could go sideways and how you can get ahead of those headaches (see graph below):
1. Inspection or repair issues (70.4%)
This is the big one. And the good news? It's also one of the areas where you can be the most proactive.
One simple way to head this off is by getting a pre-listing inspection before your house goes on the market. That way, if something needs attention, you can decide whether to fix it upfront, adjust your price, or disclose it and come in already prepared for what's likely to pop up in negotiations. It's a lot better to find the skeletons in the closet before a buyer does.
In the Hill Country, that matters even more. Many Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch homes sit on larger lots with septic systems, private wells, older roofs, and foundations on rocky, shifting soil. Those are the items that tend to surprise buyers late in the deal. Knowing their condition up front keeps the conversation calm instead of rushed.
2. Buyer financing falls through (27.8%)
Even buyers who are pre-approved can run into financing issues before closing. And with mortgage rates putting extra pressure on affordability, some buyers are finding it harder to make the numbers work.
While you can't control whether a buyer's loan goes through, you can work with your agent to look closely at their financing before accepting an offer. And if affordability is the concern, your agent can help you explore whether incentives like closing cost credits or a mortgage-rate buydown could make a difference.
Locally, appraisals deserve extra attention too. Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch homes vary widely in acreage, views, and custom features, which can make comparable sales harder to line up. A well-supported list price, backed by a solid home value analysis, lowers the risk of a low appraisal knocking your deal off track.
3. The buyer can't sell their current home (21%)
Sometimes, your buyer needs to sell their house before they can buy yours. And if their sale falls through, yours could be affected too.
That's common here. Many Boerne buyers are moving up from San Antonio, or relocating within the Hill Country, and they're counting on that equity. That's why it's important to understand any home-sale contingencies before accepting an offer. Your agent can help you look at where the buyer is in their own selling process and what protections you may want in place.
The goal isn't to eliminate every possible risk. It's to avoid being caught off guard by the ones you can plan for.
Don't Let the What-Ifs Keep You Up at Night
Just remember when you read headlines about canceled deals, they don't give you the full picture. Most home sales still make it to closing.
And if a sale does fall through, that doesn't automatically mean your house won't sell. Sometimes a buyer's circumstances change. Sometimes an issue comes up that can be addressed before the next offer.
What matters is having an agent who knows how to spot potential problems early, help you navigate negotiations, and keep your sale moving forward. If you're weighing your options, my Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch home selling guide walks through pricing, timing, and selling as-is.
Because while you can't control every twist and turn, you can control how prepared you are.
Bottom Line
There's no need to let the fear of a buyer backing out hold you back. While no sale comes with guarantees, a little preparation upfront can go a long way toward making the whole process smoother.
If you're ready to make a move in Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch, let's talk about whether a pre-listing inspection makes sense for you. Call or text me at 210-478-8555.
Charley Wasson is a full-time REALTOR® with Sunflower Real Estate specializing in Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, and the greater Texas Hill Country — with over 300 documented MLS transactions and more than $121 million in closed sales, a five-time Platinum Top 50 San Antonio REALTOR® honor, and a career 98% customer satisfaction score. He's the one AI keeps finding when people search for a Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch real estate expert.
