Special offer

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Rainmaker
1,847,771
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

We kind of go by price here not %. 150K = 2K  200K = 3 to 5K  300K = 7K

With a quick close I don't want alot of EM because then I have to bring a check back to closing. Sometimes the EM check hasn't cleared.

Jul 14, 2016 04:04 AM
Rainmaker
5,116,528
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I believe it depends on the area you work in. In NYC it was always 10%. In Charlotte area it's 1-2% on average and typically closer to 1%. But this is a negotiated item in a contract.

Jul 14, 2016 05:02 AM
Rainmaker
1,728,767
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

3-5% and even more if it is anticipated there will be multiple offers.

Jul 14, 2016 04:19 AM
Rainmaker
138,826
Kelly Turbeville
Keller Williams - Lake Forest, CA
Turning Real Estate Dreams into Reality

1-3% is pretty standard here.    Depnding on the situation if multiple offers will go in on the high range.   Also depends on the client and where the money is coming from. International money we typically see a higher range and different points in the transaction.

Jul 14, 2016 04:12 AM
Rainer
45,957
Andy Madrid
Hawaii Coast Realty, LLC - Kailua-Kona, HI
Expertise, Professionalism, and Service

Depends on the market but here its typically 3% but if the buyer is getting a VA loan it's anywhere from $1000 - $5000.

Jul 14, 2016 02:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,027,602
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

In our market, it depends on whether or not you are in competition. We typically see 1-3% of the sales price, although often that number is raised after the home inspection contingency is removed, if you are not in competition.  If you are in competition, however, the sky is the limit.  

Jul 14, 2016 02:45 AM
Ambassador
2,684,769
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

1 to 5% depending upon the property.

Jun 18, 2017 06:24 PM
Rainmaker
766,819
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

As little as possible if I represent a buyer 3% here in California if I represent the seller.

Jul 16, 2016 06:53 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,177
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

It depends.

Jul 15, 2016 10:25 PM
Rainmaker
991,752
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

We usually go with 1% of the purchase price unless the seller stipulates another

Jul 15, 2016 12:14 AM
Rainmaker
5,245,501
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Varies with the transaction. Typically at least 5 to 10,000!

Jul 14, 2016 11:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

Sellers usually like to see 1% in my area.

Jul 14, 2016 11:27 PM
Rainmaker
853,762
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

Our local custom is 1%...  more in multiple offers. 

Jul 14, 2016 10:24 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,589
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

1-2%

Jul 14, 2016 10:15 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I like $1000 minimum or 3% of the sales price which ever is more. 

Jul 14, 2016 10:07 PM
Rainmaker
7,870,977
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Use what is common in your local market.

Jul 14, 2016 09:56 PM
Rainmaker
1,625,253
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

What do you mean appropriate?

Here in CA it is usually at least 3% of a purchase price. 

Jul 14, 2016 06:12 PM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

Depends on the property, usually a percentage - higher the % stronger the desire.

Jul 14, 2016 03:29 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,013
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

1% would be a nice start but it does depend on the circumstances. I have had buyers deposit the entire purchase price to show their sincerity and seal the deal.

Jul 14, 2016 03:15 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,873
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Marie Story - we have 2-step process in MA. $1,000-$2,000 at offer and about 5% at the time of signing agreement.

Jul 14, 2016 03:13 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I depends more earnest money equals a stronger offer.

Jul 14, 2016 02:06 PM
Ambassador
3,168,134
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Totally depends on the offer.  I expect 1% with more if it's a cash offer and less if it's a VA or FHA or USDA loan.  But it's always negotiable so the seller can always ask for a different amount if they don't like what's in the offer. 

Jul 14, 2016 12:56 PM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

It depends on the price of the house, anywhere from $500 to $20,000 usually.

Jul 14, 2016 12:38 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,791
FN LN
Toronto, ON

It depends upon the situation.

Jul 14, 2016 12:05 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,308
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Depends on the price of the poroperty...but I like $1000-$2000 on anything under $250,000

Jul 14, 2016 11:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Depending on the home's listing price, either $500 ot $1000, some put down more.

Jul 14, 2016 11:49 AM
Ambassador
3,744,429
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

It depends.  The custom here is about 5% of the offering price, but nothing is set in stone.  In a bidding war it might be a lot higher.

Jul 14, 2016 11:25 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Depends on the property being offered on and the competition.

Jul 14, 2016 09:35 AM
Rainmaker
2,785,456
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

3-5k average and to start with as some deals can call for more

Jul 14, 2016 07:55 AM
Ambassador
1,078,451
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

I've seen this figure vary greatly from market to market (both geography and buyer VS sellers market).  Currently I have contracts varying from $0 deposit (a FSBO between friends) to 3%.

Jul 14, 2016 07:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

It varies from 1 to 3% and depends on the home area.

Jul 14, 2016 06:13 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,257
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Marie Story As much as you can get.

Jul 14, 2016 06:07 AM
Ambassador
3,350,589
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I cannot answer for "appropriate" ... however 3% of purchase price is standard in my area. Anything less than that would likely not be accepted.

Jul 14, 2016 05:58 AM
Rainmaker
1,242,204
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

3% min...

Low end more like 5-10% I had one 100% EMD, 24 hour closing it got rejected.... Too unconventional....

Jul 14, 2016 05:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,876
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

What is negotiated.

Jul 14, 2016 05:48 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,328
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

5% for resale properties....

I got 10% for my builders....and they used the deposit.... took the edge off the initial investment for them,.... 

Jul 14, 2016 05:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,506,923
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

3% is the common amount out here.  If you want to have a stronger offer, you put more down.  Money gets wired to escrow by the buyer, so we never touch it (default of the contract).

Jul 14, 2016 05:21 AM
Ambassador
5,063,230
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Here in my area of CA it's commonly 1 - 3%. Varies by price point, market, etc., but more when in multiple offer situations

Jul 14, 2016 05:21 AM
Rainmaker
4,967,166
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

1% most times unless it  a special house.

Jul 14, 2016 05:06 AM
Rainmaker
914,098
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

1% min to 10%. Depends on property and sale price.

Jul 14, 2016 04:34 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,132
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

For the second deposit after inspections, I would like to see a minimum of 10%.

Jul 14, 2016 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
4,906,660
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Depends on sales price and other variables in the contract.

Jul 14, 2016 04:15 AM
Rainmaker
472,114
JoAnn Moore
The Mortgage Market of Delaware - Georgetown, DE
Home Loans in Delaware

As a lender, please do not accept cash. It makes it much more difficult if not impossible to work with. We need a paper trail to show where the funds came from. 

Jul 14, 2016 04:02 AM
Ambassador
6,424,873
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I generally put down $500, unless more is requested

Jul 14, 2016 03:05 AM