hopefully, the one responsible! 

Whoever actually IS to blame is usually the one misdirecting the blame on others.  So, it's usually pretty easy to determine who actually is to blame.  

I am on point so I expect the news to come to me first. From there, I go to problem solving. Blame doesn't give much of a return

Usually, it is quite obvious what have happened: a clients' temper, an inspection results, failure in negotiation, financing  hick up, or sometimes....an agent ego. 

Debbie,

In an ideal world, no one should.  In a world where some do not have emotional IQ someone is always to blame.  In our current business, whenever blame starts being tossed around for any reason whatsoever, we have the luxury of ending the relationship right then and there.  No need to put ourselves through hell or anyone else.  Life is so precious.  A

Cold feet with the buyer, greed with the seller, inability to put together an appropriate loan package with the lender, lies by them all including but not limited to the other agent.

Debbie Reynolds if we have everything done diligently, it is unlikely that someone can blame us.

It's a matter of keeping 'paper trail' and keep on warning the buyer or seller - in writing.

Hopefully not me! I try and make sure my clients know what's going on all the time. 

:: raises hand ::
The broker is the crying towel of the world.  Sniff! ;)

I have normally seen people blame the agents even though they are seldom at fault.

The one with the quickest index finger!

Never you but I may blame the other agent.

No doubt it is us the Realtor Debbie.

It depends on what caused it to happen.

I think it really depends on the situation, Debbie.

Good morning Debbie. If there is someone to blame, most likely the person doing the mortgage.

 Good Saturday morning Debbie. Generally it's the home inspectors fault! I've got broad shoulders! Put the blame on me – not really – point fingers at the responsible person and let them know why. Far to many times real estate agents dump vendors and they don't know the reason.

Sometimes it is blamed on the loan officer.  Many times the fault lies with the Buyer not listening and spends money before closing.  The Seller is sometimes at fault because they wouldn't hire professional to fix a problem, and the Buyer walked away from it.

Insted of blaming someone I try to salvage the deal by digging into what is holding it back.

The other guy usually gets the blame.

Hmmmm....it's usually the agent that gets the blame. Sometimes the lender if the buyer and/or seller are smart enough to figure that out. 

Usually the other person

Generally someone who is pretty quick to pass it on to someone else in the chain.

Debbie,

The answer Candice gave gets my vote: 

:: raises hand ::

The broker is the crying towel of the world.  Sniff! ;)

It depends who is at fault yet I am not one who likes fingers pointed at me.

Debbie Reynolds Unfortunately although not true, it is always the real estate agent.

The person(s) responsible for causing the problematic situation should shoulder the blame.

Debbie - I am with Lise Howe on this one, I would hope the one responsible. I don't think it is always the real estate agent.

With that said, I will be the first to jump in and try to resolve anything, but sometimes a deal goes bad and cannot be resuscitated.

The agent needs to understand that a year down the road with the buyer or seller tells the story, the only name mentioned will be the real estate agent.

Last event was seller accepted an FHA backed offer. I protested..."No, cash or conventional ONLY." So the inspection comes back with the observation house has 3.5 ton HVAC system when only 2.5 is needed. Deal died.

Seller responds, "Why didn't you tell me the HVAC would be a problem?"

I could have said because the single roof was 23 years old..

With an active leak...

and interior wallboard was water damaged.

I made those go away...so when it's time to blame, the only face or name the know it the agent.

The one closest to the issue or to the finger that's pointing. Agents usually are the ones.

I was just going to write...the one who is responsible, but just read that Lise beat me to it and had the same idea!

Of course we are blamed.  They teach us that in real estate school, even if it is someone else's fault.   We have to have LARGE shoulders! 

I like Lise Howe's answer! I think on many occassions it is the Realtor that gets the blame though.

its' always on the mortgage company lol

the buyer's agent!!!

Depends on the person.  I TRY to spend less time pointing fingers when we get to that point and look for solutions.  Some agents/clients, etc spend the time trying to determine who is at fault when what matters to me, is finding a solution that all parties can live with.  It is frustrating to me, personally, when I bring something to the client/agent, etc attention and then in X days I have readdress the issue I brought up earlier.   Personally, when dealing with people and situations I TRY to look internally first.  What could I have done differently?  Etc, before I point a finger outward at others.

The agents, of course!

In our industry it takes a team to get the job done and closed. Typically the blame will fall more on the listing agent but realistically if the ball is dropped by any of the key players it could spell disaster. 

Shame, blame, regret  - frame of mind wise - it's not the greatest place to be yet most of us spend at lease some time there on occasion.

One of two people. The listing agent or the selling agent.

Stuff happens.   

It's best to move on and move forward.

The agent of course

Why, the agents of course!