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Showing a buyer you are “in earnest” by depositing a sum of money is a practice dating back decades. But how much should you put down? If you’re wondering about how, when, and how much of earnest money, here’s what you need to know to complete this step in the home buying process.
Earnest money serves two functions: It tells the seller you are serious about your offer, and it covers some of the expenses associated with buying a home. You don’t give earnest money directly to the buyer; instead, you deposit it with a third party, who holds the money until the house sale closes, or one or the other party backs out of the deal.
Earnest money usually totals between 1% and 3% of the total home purchase price. For first-time homebuyers, earnest money may be lower, as some of the costs of homebuying may be absorbed by their specific loan program. In competitive markets, the seller might ask for more. Overall, if you are buying a $200,000 house, expect to cough up between $2,000 and $6,000 in earnest money
If the home sale concludes without incident, you get the earnest money back, and can apply it to closing costs or your down payment. If the seller walks away, you also get the money back. If you back out of the deal, and the reason you back out isn’t covered by a contingency clause in your offer, the seller gets to keep the earnest money.
If you feel you are certain about wanting to buy the home, you might up your earnest money to impress the seller. However, tying up a lot of funds in earnest money can put you at risk of losing it all if you have to cancel the sale for a non-contingent reason.
We’ve fine-tuned the preapproval process to make it one of the easiest experiences you’ll have in the whole home buying process. Buying a home should be fun and exciting, not stressful. Get preapproved today!
Sammamish Mortgage has been in business since 1992, and has assisted many home buyers in the Pacific Northwest. If you are looking for mortgage financing in Washington State, we can help. Sammamish Mortgage offers mortgage programs in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Contact us if you have any mortgage-related questions or concerns. If you are ready to move forward, you can view rates, obtain a customized instant rate quote, or apply instantly directly from our website.
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No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.