Whether or not the earnest money deposit has to be refunded all depends on how the purchase contract was written up and what reasons the Buyer has given for not moving forward with the sale. Read the contract, was this first week the Buyer's due dilegence period, was certain conditions need to be met in order for the sale to move forward? Furthermore, if you keep the Buyers deposit, wrongfully, the buyer can put a lien of interest on your real estate and clouding the title. Read the contract. Did you use a Realtor? - Thu Jul 17 2008, 19:35
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