Panayot,We almost exclusively buy properties that are NOT on the market.

Someone had an offer accepted before you saw it.  

as long as the net to the seller is acceptable, and the buyer agrees to reduce the credit if the house does not appraise, I don't see the problem with them

However, when I recently contacted one Commercial Real Estate broker in my area (who is RE investor too) and when I explained to him what I am looking for and how much financing I can get, he agreed to work with me but only after I sign "Exclusive Buyer-Broker agreement".

I'll let them know we will put the application on hold until full acceptance from her new job. 

In regards to HML,  if you are upfront with them many of them wouldn't accept borrowed money either as your skin in the game.  

Let's say the bank accepts my offer, but technically the property is still NOT mine until we have signed the contract on the closing date, correct?

I then got accepted into a masters program in Europe and so ended it early.

@DJ Thompson Did they accept your offer?

I used a BP calculator to look at all of the numbers when I was initially looking at the house, but they have changed slightly since I got my offer accepted, got the interest rate, and got the exact insurance amount.My monthly P&I would be $520, Insurance $78/month, Taxes $70/month, HOA $10/month for a total payment of $678.