In a situation where a buyer wants a house but the seller changes their mind, what is the buyer likely to file for?

In the scenario where a buyer wants to purchase a house but the seller changes their mind, the buyer is likely to pursue specific performance. This legal remedy is particularly relevant in real estate transactions because each property is considered unique. When a seller has accepted an offer and then decides not to proceed with the sale, specific performance compels the seller to fulfill the terms of the contract, thereby completing the transaction.

This remedy is favored in real estate cases because financial compensation may not adequately remedy the buyer's loss since they may have specific preferences or significant emotional investment in that particular property. By seeking specific performance, the buyer is requesting the court to enforce the original agreement, thus allowing them to purchase the house as initially intended.

The other options, such as rescission, compensatory damages, and declaratory relief, address different legal circumstances. Rescission would cancel the contract rather than enforce it, compensatory damages would seek monetary compensation which might not be satisfactory in a real estate context, and declaratory relief typically requests a court to clarify legal rights rather than enforce a contract. Thus, specific performance is the most appropriate action for a buyer in this situation.