@Anthony Wick if your law doesn't specifically prohibit early termination fees then you should be fine.

Maybe OP just lacks confidence in his docs or needs to review with their attorney to ensure they understand, perhaps an inexperienced escrow or OP doesn't want to be a jerk about it, he's looking for advice on BP about the nuances in this "grey area" and wants to be professional but without being taken advantage of by what sounds like from his description to be buyers acting like clowns. 

My grandma has a single family investment property that she doesn't want to deal with anymore.

It sounds elitist but someone suggested making a forum only for "professionals" (vs. the simple pay-for 'pro' designation which doesn't say anything about your experience). 

Many banks/substitute trustees will contract to sell the home at public auction using auction.com.After the auction, if the home doesn't sell, it will become an REO property (means bank owned) and will be listed with an agent.

I don’t touch anything that doesn’t positive cash flow, even in Austin!  

The real property (structural components) doesn't qualify for bonus depreciation and would still have the 27.5 year for rental and 39 year for commercial property depreciation schedules.

If either doesn't pan out -- either the 1B deal falls though or the permits cannot be obtained -- they invoke the contingency and walk.Now, if the contract had express language concerning the settlement date being pushed back to allow for buyer to satisfy either of those conditions, that would change my opinion completely.

And $100,000 doesn't go very far in most markets without any financing.

I found this list (and all the properties I have found are in those zip codes), but the author doesn’t state what his list is based on.