Nor can the seller "cancel the deal" for any reason other that failure on your part to perform or other contingencies that are listed in the contract.At this point - assuming that the contract has been fully executed and especially if the EMD has been tendered, the contract is binding. 

In CA, there is a stipulation where you can change financing options in the middle of escrow as long as it doesn't delay the contingencies or the close of escrow.  

I have gone over asking and waived inspection and those didn't seem to work with a traditional mortgage.I heard on the Real Estate Today podcast last week that a buyer was successful after making 27 loan contingency offers by using her broker's cash offer plan. 

You could buy it before it hit the market as long as you followed the terms of the contract the seller had with the agent.Did you not do it contingent on your own inspection report? 

The EARNEST money is refundable and is returned to the buyer if you terminate using a valid contingency in the contract.

Usually in the form of 2-3mo of bank statements (to make sure the funds are wholly yours and not contingent on being repaid). 

They were originally asking $110k for it and the house was in rough shape so we offered $105k all cash with no contingencies and no inspections.

We've found that looking at properties with 7+ DOM (days on market) have a higher likelihood of accepting an offer with contingencies.

Our offer was an all cash offer with no inspections and no contingencies which gave our offer a huge advantage.

No negotiation on price and was a little risky buying as-is without any contingencies but I knew the area and market well enough to feel comfortable in the deal.