Redfin

JULY 17, 2025

Earnest money deposit: A higher deposit signals serious intent and financial stability. Get pre-approved: A pre-approval shows the seller you’re financially ready and serious—it’s stronger than a pre-qualification. Showing you’re serious with a solid earnest money deposit.

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

JULY 9, 2025

Between setting a budget, getting pre-approved, and closing the deal, getting everything squared away can make all the difference. Get pre-approved for a mortgage Estimated time: 1-2 weeks A mortgage pre-approva l is a lender’s assessment of how much they’re willing to lend you based on your income, assets, debts, and credit history.

Pre-approval

Redfin

JUNE 23, 2025

In some states, buyers may also pay due diligence money—a non-refundable fee paid directly to the seller in exchange for this inspection window. While not required everywhere, it’s an important part of the process in certain markets and is separate from the earnest money deposit.

Due diligence

Redfin

JULY 14, 2025

Walking away from one could cost you your earnest money deposit (typically 1%–3% of the home price), and in some cases, you could even be sued for breach of contract. To protect yourself, work closely with your real estate agent to include appropriate contingencies and timing strategies so you’re not caught in a bind.

Earnest money deposit

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Hiring a Real Estate Agent When buying a property, the right buyer’s agent will save you time and, perhaps more importantly, money. Before you hire a real estate agent, meet with them to discuss your requirements before you choose. You don’t want to be denied the loan after being approved.

Purchase and sale agreement

Redfin

JULY 30, 2025

Speak with a real estate agent to help determine if you’re in a good position to begin the homebuying process. >>See: Should I get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage? If you’re considering buying a home, you’ve likely heard of getting pre-qualified or pre-approved.

Pre-approval

BAM Media

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

We also do Instagram audits during our BAMx office hours , and one thing I consistently see is agents posting videos that just arent moving the needle. or The Difference Between Pre-Approval and Pre-Qualification. Very rarely do people log on thinking, I really hope I learn something about earnest money deposits today!

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

JUNE 12, 2025

Work with your real estate agent to find out if your state or local laws allow for a contractual time limit, and how best to include it in your offer terms. Strong earnest money deposit: A higher deposit signals you’re serious and financially committed; giving sellers more peace of mind. Not at all.

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

AUGUST 4, 2025

But letting your emotions override your financial limits, such as your pre-approved mortgage amount, comfort level with monthly payments or cost of upcoming repairs, can lead to regret later. You can strengthen your offer by offering a larger earnest money deposit or submitting a personalized offer letter.

Earnest money deposit

Redfin

JUNE 30, 2025

Key takeaways: In most home purchases, the buyer’s agent delivers the offer to the seller’s agent, who then presents it to the seller If you don’t have an agent, you must submit the offer yourself—ideally with help from a real estate attorney. Buying with or without an agent changes how offers are made.

Earnest money deposit

Rochester Real Estate

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

For example, if you use a bank for your loan you may already have a pre-existing relationship with them and they sometimes offer very competitive interest rates. Have you tried calling a bank on a Saturday night to get a pre-approval letter? Check with your agent to determine how the latest guidelines apply to your situation.

Finance

RIS Media

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Keller Williams real estate maverick, Alexis Bolin, joined us this week on a Secrets of Top Selling Agents webinar to discuss what you can do to navigate a hot market and distinguish your client’s offer from the others. Yes, as a real estate agent, you can always find listings that your client may be interested in.

Earnest money deposit

Easy Agent Pro

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

By becoming familiar with local market dynamics, setting realistic budget goals, and working alongside an experienced real estate agent, you can position yourself as a powerful and informed buyer. Setting a Realistic Budget and Obtaining Pre-Approval Before engaging in bidding wars, creating a realistic budget is essential.

Earnest money deposit

CT Homes

AUGUST 31, 2020

There is a huge difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval. Most lenders or mortgage companies will issue a pre-qualification letter after reviewing the credit report and taking verbal information on income, assets and employment. Financing Issues.

Earnest money deposit

Realtor.com

OCTOBER 29, 2020

Most purchase agreements have contingencies —things that buyers must do before the real estate transaction is official, explains Jimmy Branham , a Coral Springs, FL, real estate agent at the Keyes Company. Financing contingency: This contingency gives you the right to back out of the deal if your mortgage approval falls through.

Closing

HomeLight

JUNE 23, 2022

If a seller terminates the contract outside of these contingencies , they typically must forfeit the buyer’s earnest money and — depending on the circumstances — may even be required to pay additional money damages and face other possible repercussions for breach of contract. Well, then they lose the earnest money.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

JUNE 29, 2022

Real Estate Agent. Real Estate Agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Professionals. According to Chester Ardolino , a real estate agent in Springfield , Massachusetts, the time to think about your top priorities as a seller is before the house hits the market. Require a sizable earnest money deposit.

Earnest money deposit

Realty Biz

MARCH 9, 2021

The main requirement is that the child must be able to document some type of disability and show that this disability prevents them from earning enough money to afford a home on their own. Getting Pre-Approved for the Family Opportunity Loan. Should you hire a real estate agent? What is an earnest money deposit?

Pre-approval

HomeLight

JANUARY 3, 2024

Find a Top Agent With Experience in Contingency Offers If you need to make an offer on a home with contingencies, you’ll want a top agent by your side who can avoid pitfalls and secure the home you want. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.

Purchase and sale agreement

Realty Biz

MAY 24, 2022

Home agents are sending pens to customers signing a contract to buy a new home. We decided to sell our house as “for sale by owner” to save the agent’s commission. Because it was not written by a professional real estate agent, the contract could have almost anything it. You did get an earnest money deposit, didn’t you?

Earnest money deposit

Point2Homes

JANUARY 31, 2023

With a budget in place, your next step should be to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Without being pre-approved, you’ll need to delay your offer while you secure financing. So, take your time and ask your real estate agent for advice. You can easily find templates online, or your real estate agent can supply one.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Buyers with lower credit scores or lower down payments can sometimes get an FHA loan even if they can’t get approved for a conventional loan. The forfeiture of earnest money deposits document means that HUD can retain your 5% deposit if you do not fulfill your end of the sales contract for some reason not already outlined in the contract.

Earnest money deposit

The Close

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Listing agents are flying high with attention on their listings. But, of course, buyer’s agents are always frustrated with the amount of work they are putting in, only to get shot down and have to repeat the process over and over again. CALL the Listing Agent. Make Sure You Have a Proper Approval Letter From a Reputable Lender.

Home sale contingency

HomeLight

MARCH 2, 2023

If you’re shopping for a home in San Diego, a trusted buyer’s agent is a key member of your team. HomeLight analyzes millions of transactions and thousands of reviews to find you a proven, top-performing agent in just under two minutes. Find a Buyer's Agent What will it cost to buy a home in San Diego?

Closing

Redfin

AUGUST 29, 2024

Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) Another major factor that a lender will consider when approving your mortgage loan is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). There are programs on the federal, state, and local levels, so it’s best to research your options and speak to your real estate agent to learn more. What will make your offer stand out?

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

MARCH 6, 2023

With the help of top Bay Area agent Carl Medford , who has 22 years of experience and specializes in helping first-time homebuyers, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide that breaks down all the ins and outs of buying a house in the Bay Area. Looking to Buy Your Dream Home in the Bay Area? Loans are between 3%-3.5%

Earnest money deposit

Realty Biz

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

How your real estate agent markets your property when an offer has been accepted can have vital implications. For example, some agents will mark your home contingent, while others will mark pending. They will also get their earnest money deposit back , and the home will go back on the market.

Backup offer

Redfin

JULY 16, 2024

This guide will walk you through each phase of the mortgage loan process, from pre-approval to post-closing, with examples to illustrate key points. Step 4: Get pre-approved Submit pre-approval applications: Apply to multiple lenders to get pre-approved. Be prepared for negotiations.

Loans

RIS Media

JANUARY 25, 2021

– If you are rate shopping (as in checking out different lenders for mortgage pre-approval on a home loan), do it quickly, within a week if possible. – Try to save money as a fiscal emergency fund, even if it is only $1,000. 1 RE/MAX real estate agent in Massachusetts. In 2018, he was the No.

Earnest money deposit

Realty Biz

AUGUST 22, 2022

In my eagerness to buy my first home, I made a full-price offer with the only continency being that my mortgage was approved. I’m almost certain that your biggest concern is about what will happen with your earnest money if you back out of the deal. Ask your agent or lawyer to point out the cancellation clauses.

Purchase and sale agreement

CT Homes

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

If you are using lender financing, the more money down the more likely your loan will be accepted. In addition to down payment on your loan you should consider increasing your Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). This is money that you potentially stand to lose if you back out of the deal without justification.

Earnest money deposit

The Close

FEBRUARY 14, 2024

Then, when the price drop happens, you have to justify the price cut to other agents. The truth is a big piece of a real estate agent’s job is to price a listing accurately. You’ll most likely get three different numbers if you have three different real estate agents conducting a CMA. The thing is, it can be tricky.

Pre-approval

Realty Biz

JULY 1, 2023

During this stage, the buyer, seller, or their respective agents select an escrow agent who will oversee the process. The escrow agent acts as a neutral intermediary, holding funds and important documents until all conditions are fulfilled.

Purchase and sale agreement

CT Homes

AUGUST 31, 2020

There is a huge difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval. Most lenders or mortgage companies will issue a pre-qualification letter after reviewing the credit report and taking verbal information on income, assets and employment. Financing Issues.

Earnest money deposit

CT Homes

AUGUST 31, 2020

There is a huge difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval. Most lenders or mortgage companies will issue a pre-qualification letter after reviewing the credit report and taking verbal information on income, assets and employment. Financing Issues.

Earnest money deposit

Windemere Buying

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Once the buyer has shown they have enough cash to make the purchase, they will put down an earnest money deposit. Whereas financed offers are tied to an approval process with a lender, all-cash offers are not because the buyer has already proven they have the amount required to purchase the property on-hand.

Earnest money deposit

HomeLight

MARCH 16, 2023

“We get a massive amount of investors coming to us looking for us to help them with investment properties, and a lot of them are cash,” says James Krueger , a top-performing real estate agent who sells properties 42% faster than the average Houston agent. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your Houston market.

Sales