📋 What is an Earnest Money Депозит?

An earnest money депозит (also called a "добросовестность депозит") is money a buyer provides when making an offer on a property to demonstrate serious intent to purchase. In California, these deposits are typically 1-3% of the purchase price and are held in escrow. When a transaction fails to close, disputes often arise over who имеет право на keep the депозит.

Когда Использовать Это Руководство

Use this guide if you are a buyer seeking return of your earnest money депозит because:

🚫 Seller Breached Contract

Seller failed to perform obligations under the purchase agreement

✅ Contingency Not Satisfied

Инспекция, financing, appraisal, or other contingency was not met

🔄 Mutual Cancellation Dispute

Both parties agreed to cancel but disagree on депозит allocation

🔒 Escrow Holding Funds

Escrow company refuses to release funds without both signatures

👍 Что Вы Можете Взыскать

  • Full депозит amount - The earnest money you deposited in escrow
  • Interest earned - Interest accrued on the депозит while in escrow
  • Адвокат fees - If your purchase agreement contains an адвокат fee provision
  • Consequential убытки - Additional costs caused by the breach (in some cases)

Common Earnest Money Dispute Scenarios

🚫 Seller Нарушение Договора

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When продавец fails to perform their obligations under the purchase agreement - такие как failing to make agreed ремонтные работы, refusing to provide required disclosures, or simply refusing to close - покупатель is typically entitled to a full возврат of the earnest money депозит plus any additional убытки.

🔍 Failed Инспекция Contingency

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If покупатель properly exercises their инспекция contingency rights within the contractual timeframe, they имеют право на cancel the transaction and receive a full возврат. The key is providing timely письменное уведомление and following the contract's cancellation procedures exactly.

💰 Failed Financing Contingency

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When a buyer cannot obtain financing despite добросовестность efforts, and they have a valid financing contingency, they should receive their депозит back. Buyers must document their loan application efforts and provide timely notice of loan отказ.

📈 Failed Appraisal Contingency

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If the property appraises for less than the purchase price and there is an appraisal contingency, покупатель can typically cancel and receive their депозит back - unless they agreed to make up the difference or waived the contingency.

🔄 Mutual Cancellation Disputes

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When both parties agree to cancel but cannot agree on who gets the депозит, the funds remain in escrow. California law provides a specific procedure for releasing disputed deposits under гражданский кодекс 1057.3.

⚠ Time is Critical

California has a 4-year срок исковой давности for written contract claims (Code of Civil Procedure 337). Однако, acting quickly is essential - witnesses forget, documents get lost, and some purchase agreements have shorter contractual deadlines. Start the demand process immediately.

✅ Контрольный Список Доказательств

Gather these documents before sending your требование. Click to check off items as you collect them.

📄 Документы по Договору

  • ✓ Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA) with all signatures
  • ✓ All counter-offers and addenda
  • ✓ Contingency removal forms (if any were signed)
  • ✓ Cancellation of Contract form

💰 Депозит Доказательства

  • ✓ Escrow депозит receipt showing amount deposited
  • ✓ Bank statements or canceled checks proving payment
  • ✓ Wire transfer confirmation (if applicable)
  • ✓ Escrow instructions and escrow number

📩 Cancellation Доказательства

  • ✓ Written cancellation notice with date/time proof
  • ✓ Contingency-related documents (инспекция reports, loan отказ letter, appraisal)
  • ✓ Email/text correspondence about cancellation
  • ✓ Agent communications regarding депозит release

🔍 Seller Breach Доказательства

  • ✓ Documentation of seller's failure to perform
  • ✓ Missing or false disclosures
  • ✓ Доказательства of title defects or encumbrances
  • ✓ Written demands sent to seller/seller's agent

🔒 Preserve All Доказательства

Keep originals of all documents. Screenshot text messages and save emails. Document all phone calls with follow-up written confirmation. Your paper trail proves your right to the депозит and when you properly cancelled.

💰 Рассчитайте Свои Убытки

In earnest money disputes, вы можете иметь право на more than just the депозит itself. Here is what вы можете взыскать.

Category Описание
Earnest Money Депозит The full amount you deposited into escrow
Interest Earned Any interest that accrued on the депозит while held in escrow
Адвокат Fees If your purchase agreement has an адвокат fee clause (most C.A.R. forms do)
Costs of Suit Filing fees, service costs, and other судебный процесс expenses
Косвенные Убытки Additional losses caused by the breach (инспекция costs, appraisal fees, etc.)

💰 Адвокат Fee Взыскание - A California Advantage

Under California гражданский кодекс 1717, if your purchase agreement contains an адвокат fee provision (which most do), the prevailing party in a dispute can recover their адвокат fees. This makes it financially viable to pursue even smaller депозит amounts.

📊 Пример Расчёта Убытков

Example: Seller Breach with $25,000 Депозит

Earnest money депозит $25,000
Interest earned in escrow (6 months) $375
Инспекция costs (non-refundable) $650
Appraisal fee (if seller breach) $550
Адвокат fees (estimated if судебный процесс needed) $5,000
ПОТЕНЦИАЛЬНАЯ ОБЩАЯ СУММА ВОЗМЕЩЕНИЯ $31,575

💡 Liquidated Убытки Clauses

Be aware that California purchase agreements typically contain a liquidated убытки provision that limits продавец's убытки to 3% of the purchase price if покупатель breaches. Однако, this does NOT limit what a buyer can recover if продавец breaches. If продавец breached, вы можете иметь право на actual убытки beyond just the депозит.

📝 Образец Текста

Копировать and customize these paragraphs for your требование.

Opening Paragraph - Contingency Cancellation
I am writing to formally demand the immediate release of my earnest money депозит in the amount of $[DEPOSIT AMOUNT] currently held in escrow at [ESCROW COMPANY NAME], Escrow Number [ESCROW NUMBER]. As documented below, I properly cancelled the purchase agreement for [PROPERTY ADDRESS] within the contingency period, and I am entitled to a full возврат of my депозит.
Opening Paragraph - Seller Breach
I am writing to formally demand the immediate release of my earnest money депозит in the amount of $[DEPOSIT AMOUNT] plus all accrued interest and additional убытки resulting from your breach of the Residential Purchase Agreement dated [CONTRACT DATE] for the property located at [PROPERTY ADDRESS]. Your failure to [DESCRIBE SELLER'S BREACH] constitutes a material breach entitling me to cancel the transaction and recover my депозит.
Contingency Exercise Documentation
в соответствии с the Residential Purchase Agreement, I was provided until [CONTINGENCY DEADLINE] to complete my [INSPECTION/FINANCING/APPRAISAL] contingency. On [CANCELLATION DATE], до the contingency deadline, I delivered письменное уведомление of cancellation to [SELLER/SELLER'S AGENT] via [EMAIL/FAX/HAND DELIVERY]. The cancellation was timely, properly delivered, and I am entitled to a full возврат of my earnest money депозит under the terms of the contract.
Правовая Основа - гражданский кодекс 1057.3
California гражданский кодекс Section 1057.3 governs the release of disputed earnest money deposits. If you fail to execute release instructions or continue to wrongfully требование entitlement to my депозит, I will exercise my rights under this statute. в соответствии с гражданский кодекс 1057.3, I am submitting a written demand to the escrow holder for release of the депозит. You will have 30 days to object in writing; absent a valid objection, the escrow holder обязан release the funds to me. Дополнительно, under гражданский кодекс 1717 and the адвокат fee provision in our purchase agreement, I will seek взыскание of all адвокат fees and costs incurred in obtaining the return of my депозит.
Demand and Deadline
I hereby demand that you immediately execute the escrow cancellation instructions and authorize the release of my earnest money депозит in the amount of $[DEPOSIT AMOUNT] plus all accrued interest. Please execute and return the attached release authorization within [10/15] days of the date of this letter. If I do not receive the executed release authorization and my депозит is not returned by this deadline, I will pursue all available legal remedies, including filing a судебный иск seeking the депозит, interest, адвокат fees, and any additional убытки to which I am entitled.

🚀 Следующие Шаги

What to do after sending your требование.

Ожидаемые Сроки

Days 1-5

Seller and escrow company receive your требование

Days 5-15

Seller/seller's agent review and respond or ignore demand

Дни 15-30

If no signed release, begin гражданский кодекс 1057.3 escrow demand process

Если Откажут to Release

  1. гражданский кодекс 1057.3 Demand to Escrow

    Отправить a written demand directly to the escrow holder for release of the депозит. Escrow must then notify the other party who has 30 days to object.

  2. Суд Мелких Тяжб (Up to $12,500)

    For deposits under $12,500, суд мелких тяжб is fast and inexpensive. Нет адвокат needed. File in the county where the property is located.

  3. Superior Суд Судебный Иск

    For larger deposits or if you want адвокат fee взыскание, file in Superior Суд. The адвокат fee clause makes this financially viable.

  4. Медиация/Арбитраж

    Many C.A.R. purchase agreements require медиация before арбитраж or судебный процесс. Check your contract's dispute resolution provisions.

Нужна Юридическая Помощь?

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Ресурсы Калифорнии

  • Департамент Недвижимости Калифорнии: dre.ca.gov - File исковое заявлениеs against licensees
  • Гражданский Кодекс Калифорнии: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Full text of 1057.3
  • Суд Мелких Тяжб: courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-smallclaims.htm
  • State Bar Адвокат Referral: calbar.ca.gov
  • C.A.R. Forms: car.org - Standard purchase agreement forms