state licensing board and have them investigated and possibly have their license disciplined (suspended or yanked). Also, your contract for representation should have some sort of escape clause for the realtor failing to perform their duty, and it should say what happens if you fire your realtor for cause.

I've heard that short sales can be tricky, so it could be dangerous trying to go that course on your own if you don't have experience in this area.

Around here real estate agents can do dual representation. My experience with that is that the realtor is still only representing the person who's paying them, and they'll take you to the cleaners if they can. If you already have a set contract for sale, there might be less risk of your getting toasted.

I wonder whether you actually have a contract at this point-- if you've missed your closing deadline, and they never agreed to the extensions you requested, you might be contractual strangers; in other words, starting at square one.

There could be a lot of hidden issues in your situation. I'd guess your best bet is to talk to someone who understands real property law in your state. That might be a lawyer, your mortgage lender's people, your title company people, or a realtor that's been recommended to you by someone you trust (a realtor that you could explain the situation to and then consider hiring yourself).