earnest money
earnest money — phrase
1. an amount a buyer pays early in a deal to show serious intent and hold the prope
an amount a buyer pays early in a deal to show serious intent and hold the property or sale while the final contract is completed
Aylin paid earnest money to reserve the apartment before the inspection.
pay earnest money to reserve a property
The seller kept the earnest money after the buyers cancelled the deal.
keep earnest money after a buyer cancels
Before signing anything, Meera asked how much earnest money the agent required.
Earnest money was returned when the inspection found major roof damage.
The contract said earnest money would be refunded within three days.
- deposit
broader term for money paid first; it is not limited to showing serious intent in a contract
- good-faith deposit
very close in meaning and often used in property sales to stress honest intent
- down payment
usually focuses on the first part of the purchase price, not specifically on holding the deal open
文法句型
pay earnest money
put down earnest money
lose earnest money
earnest money on a house
用法筆記
Usually appears in property sales and other formal purchase contracts. The contract often states when the seller may keep it and when it must be returned.