Yes, it would be good if the seller communicated any issues earlier because then they could be handled/negotiated earlier if needed, but for the buyer there should be no risk to their EMD at least the way we would typically write a contract in my market. 

Have you considered using the BRRRR method, and kicking off things with a hard money loan?

Realistically it's been over 4 years since I communicated with those contacts so it's outdated information.

I just started using the BRRR method. 

To maximize the number of transactions you’re involved in you will need to:Be Top of Mind when they think about moving - which requires consistent reminders.Be seen as an Expert – which requires a consistent message and Evidence of Success storiesGain their Trust – which requires communicating integritySo, start out by listing everyone you know in an Excel spreadsheet.

Have you reverse engineered it backwards to your methods (cause you are talking about a portion of a method here)? 

To handle these situations, I've found that maintaining clear communication, documenting all interactions, and addressing issues promptly are key strategies.

We recently had a deal where we initially didn't bring up seller carry, but through building rapport and consistent communication with the seller, an opportunity presented itself.

This leads to building buyers agents that are multi-deal fluent and know how to build collaborative teams that communicate.  

They instead use an alternative method separate from both of the mentioned methods.