Introduction

When my website sister bought her first home, she asked: “What’s this earnest money thing?” She’d made an offer, and suddenly the real estate agent wanted a check. She didn’t understand what it meant, where it was going, or if she’d get it back.

That conversation showed me something important: earnest money deposits confuse most home buyers. You worry about losing your money. Sellers question if you’re serious. Agents explain the basics but rarely address deeper concerns.