(a) IF THE CLOSING FAILS TO OCCUR BECAUSE OF BUYER’S DEFAULT, THE DEPOSIT SHALL BE RETAINED BY SELLER AS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES. THE PARTIES HERETO EXPRESSLY AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SELLER’S ACTUAL DAMAGES IN THE EVENT OF A DEFAULT BY BUYER WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT OR IMPRACTICABLE TO ASCERTAIN BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY AND THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE DEPOSIT REPRESENTS THE PARTIES’ REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE PAYMENT OF SUCH AMOUNT AS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IS NOT INTENDED AS A FORFEITURE OR PENALTY WITHIN THE MEANING OF ANY APPLICABLE LAWS, BUT IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES TO SELLER. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 18 , SELLER AND BUYER AGREE THAT THIS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES PROVISION IS INTENDED TO BE SELLER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR A DEFAULT BY BUYER, BUT IS NOT INTENDED AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED OR CONSTRUED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY BUYER’S INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.