What happens to earnest money if deal falls through
When you sign a contract to purchase property, it is typically accompanied by an earnest money deposit. The amount of the deposit varies according to each transaction, but is generally a very small percentage of the purchase price.
Paying an earnest money deposit is a way for you to show the seller that you seriously intend to purchase the property in good faith, because if the deal doesn't go through, you may not get your money back. The earnest money check is kept in a trust by the real estate broker for the buyer or the title company. If the buyer goes through with the sale, the earnest money is applied to the sale.
It is generally assumed that the buyer gets the earnest money deposit back if the contract purchase is broken through no fault of her own, and that the seller keeps the deposit if the buyer fails to meet her end of the agreement.
These terms must be written into the sales contract and agreed upon by both parties to be valid. If the seller backs out of the contract, the buyer typically gets her earnest money back. If the buyer backs out, who gets the earnest money depends on whether the buyer has a valid reason for backing out of the deal. For example, a buyer would likely get her money back if she discovered a serious flaw in the property during a home inspection that the seller hadn't known about or disclosed.
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On the other hand, the seller would likely keep the deposit if the buyer simply changed her mind. If both parties believe they are entitled to the earnest money deposit, the matter can be taken to court. The real estate broker can take the matter to court himself, with himself as the plaintiff and the buyer and the seller as the defendants, if he wants to get the money out of his escrow account quickly.
If he doesn't wish to do this, the buyer or seller can take the other party to court and a judge will decide who keeps the earnest money deposit. Either way, the deposit cannot be taken out of escrow until a judge rules on it. Process The earnest money check is kept in a trust by the real estate broker for the buyer or the title company.
General Rule It is generally assumed that the buyer gets the earnest money deposit back if the contract purchase is broken through no fault of her own, and that the seller keeps the deposit if the buyer fails to meet her end of the agreement.
Who Gets the Earnest Money? Legal Action If both parties believe they are entitled to the earnest money deposit, the matter can be taken to court. The Earnest Money Deposit The Ohio Association of Realtors: Earnest Money Reality Times: Who Gets The Earnest Money Deposit?
Who Pays the Realtor When Selling a House? The Seller Will Not Give Back the Deposit With a Cancelled Does My Earnest Money Count Toward Closing Costs? What Is a Time of Essence Letter for a House? Land Sale Contract Vs. How Does Escrow Work Without a Realtor?
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