in contract

In contract and contract signed mean the same thing -- both parties have signed a contract to buy the place (or in coops, the shares). But most contracts have contingencies that could cause the deal not to happen; for coops the big one is the board rejection. Often there is a financing contingency, so if the buyer can't find a mortgage/financing, the deal is off. Closing is a meeting in which everybody signs everything, all the checks gets passed around, and then the apartment is sold.

Also, UNTIL the contract is signed the seller is allowed, under NYS law, to continue showing the place.

Not sure if this means the seller CANNOT show the place AFTER the contract is signed but typically a place listed as being 'in contract' is not available for showing.

Is there anyway the seller can back of the deal after the seller signs the contract?