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Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs (Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)

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Ambassador
5,230,079
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Cashier's checks, money orders or wire transfer...

And, yes, over half of my clients this year had to make other arrangements than personal checks in 2019!

Dec 12, 2019 09:01 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

The California purchase agreement states how the initial deposit will be handled typically after offer acceptance. It could be wired.

Dec 12, 2019 07:46 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

We haven't seen an EMD personal check in a LOOONG time.  It's all done by wire out here in Cali.  That's the default in the contract.

Dec 12, 2019 10:20 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Funds are wired to the title/escrow company.  That is the default in our CA Purchase Agreement. 

Dec 13, 2019 07:16 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Electronic transfer such as Zelle.

Dec 13, 2019 03:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,817
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Ummmm...really? As a buyer, you wire your funds in SoCal. We haven't accepted paper currency of any kind in 10 years. Once in a blue moon some goof ball ignores the RPA and shows up with a cashier's check and we often decline them unless an exception makes sense and the sellers approve. 

Dec 12, 2019 09:03 PM
Rainmaker
901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Some of our preferred closing attorneys allow em to be deposited direct into their accounts. I haven't used that service yet. Otherwise, these kids can get checks from their bank, get cashiers checks or get money orders.

Dec 13, 2019 04:49 AM
Rainmaker
536,943
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

money order

Dec 12, 2019 08:27 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Cashiers checks and checks from a relative.

Dec 12, 2019 07:39 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Wire transfer to Title company only

Dec 13, 2019 11:13 AM
Ambassador
3,125,819
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Wiring funds directly to Trust account.

Dec 13, 2019 06:49 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

My office does not hold earnest money. Settlement attorneys will hold it... and they will take a wire or a cashier's check (depending on the amount).

Dec 13, 2019 05:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

I'm a BOOMER and am virtually done with paper checks myself. I have a few paper checks left and they will last me a million years.

I Bill Pay my bills, Paypal vendors, or I just hand them cash and a receipt to sign.

Lease deposits are still certified bank check. 

Wire transfers are the norm for earnest deposits in sale transactions here . . . 

Dec 13, 2019 05:22 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I just went through this with 3 recent buyers. One buyer got a cashiers check, they were easy. The other buyer refused to pay for it. He wired money to my account and then i wrote a check. The last buyer came in with cold hard cash. The closing company would not take cash. That we are working out now. 

Dec 13, 2019 05:16 AM
Ambassador
2,161,048
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Wire transfer into escrow account at title company. 

Dec 13, 2019 04:41 AM
Rainer
231,948
Eva B. Liland Century 21 Doug Anderson
Century 21 Doug Anderson - Lancaster, CA
Glad to be of Service 661-714-1643

Wire the money into escrow even though that will set them back another $35 for doing so (at least that is the cost in my area). Or, save themselves the $35 and go to their own bank and buy a cashier check, then hand deliver it to escrow. NO MONEY orders. Or as a last resort, use a friendly relative that has a check account even though that in itself, creates additional paperwork.

Dec 13, 2019 03:47 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Only wire transfer. 

Dec 13, 2019 07:25 PM
Rainmaker
758,035
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

Wire transfer is the preferred method. 

Dec 13, 2019 09:03 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Money orders.

Dec 13, 2019 07:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Everything is wire transfer.

Dec 13, 2019 07:37 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

many wire funds.....

Dec 13, 2019 07:35 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Wire transfers are preferred. Our office provides nothing in regard to this...Thankfully!

Dec 13, 2019 07:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Cashiers checks, wire

Dec 13, 2019 07:17 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Well I guess Colorado Springs is right there with Ohio.

I have yet to have a client, including many young buyers who didn’t have a check book.

I wonder what else we’re behind on.

Dec 13, 2019 06:37 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I never had that problem when I was an active broker Liz and Bill Spear BUT when a buyer was strapped for cash we often used promissory notes.

Dec 13, 2019 06:05 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

No wiring EMD here.  In this situation, we request a bank check. 

Dec 13, 2019 04:27 AM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Wire, money order or cashier's check if they don't have a personal check.

Dec 13, 2019 02:31 AM
Rainmaker
620,692
Ernie Steele
Lebanon, PA

Money order

 

Dec 13, 2019 02:22 AM
Rainmaker
883,565
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

We can let them wire it to our account

A cashier check 

They can drop it into out account at the bank 

we even take cash (Gasp) on smaller land deals or owner financed 

No Trucks

no livestock 

Dec 13, 2019 01:07 AM
Rainmaker
629,608
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

I have not seen that here in Coastal NC. We are mainly a retirement and second home market. Most of our buyers are older!

Dec 12, 2019 10:23 PM
Rainmaker
785,464
Abby Stiller
TOP SELLING REALTY - Cape Coral, FL
SW Florida (239) 284-8637

Wire transfers, cashier checks, money orders. 

Dec 13, 2019 07:59 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

1. Cashier's check

2. Money Order

3. Wire Transfers

Dec 13, 2019 07:34 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Wire

Dec 13, 2019 12:56 PM
Rainer
195,422
Karen Climer
Demetree School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL
Teaching people to pass the real estate exam

Go to the post office and get a money order.  But I guess if you don't have a checkbook, you probably aren't a regular at the post office either.  ;)

Dec 13, 2019 06:07 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Actually it's a money order from Walmart for like 89cents. Don't take cash but that is the fastest as you are right, no one has a checkbook.

Dec 13, 2019 05:52 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

By far, most EMDs are sent by wire directly to the escrow company.

Dec 13, 2019 05:48 PM
Rainmaker
1,035,056
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

ACH

Dec 13, 2019 05:32 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

we take cash

Dec 13, 2019 12:34 PM
Rainer
337,854
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

In my market attorney's deal with Earnest money- though it's typically personal check, wire transfer or cashier's check (based on my interactions with the clients and attorney's).

Jan 11, 2020 09:24 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I have had several of these buyers, and they have their bank wire the funds.

Dec 17, 2019 04:49 PM
Rainmaker
8,092
Noah Gamer
GAMER Real Estate Group - Dallas, TX
Real Estate Advisor serving North Dallas Texas
 

Wire transfer tends to be the safest way to transact. 

 
Dec 17, 2019 03:01 PM
Rainmaker
62,960
Rae Hoffman
Roots & Wings Realty Group / Walzel - Katy, TX
Real estate agent serving the Katy area

My preferred title company accepts digital deposits via ZOCCAM. Option fees are typically done by check or Zelle.

Dec 16, 2019 09:06 PM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Our contract default so wiring funds to escrow for the good faith deposit.

Dec 14, 2019 03:51 PM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Bliz almost all folks wire funds to escrow after acceptance of offer and it states that in the contract. Typically within 24 hours or over a holiday they'll be given more time.  Only once in many years as somebody failed to do so and the seller served a 'cure notice' and contract fell through and we got another buyer the next day.

Dec 14, 2019 10:56 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,677
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Money orders still work

 

 

Dec 14, 2019 09:23 AM