I paid a deposit for the house I bought, but I didn't sign the contract. Can it be transferred or refunded?

If the agreement is a deposit, you need to follow the deposit law, and the party who pays the deposit defaults. If the deposit is not refundable, neither will your deposit. This kind of situation has happened a lot recently. It is suggested to negotiate with the seller to see if there is any chance to return some of it. You can change hands, but it should be noted that the new buyer must be able to accept your deposit terms, and the seller has no objection.