M and D Collective

Matt Haug and I (aka Dianna Haug) are making our lives easier and scaling back on the extra social media pages. If you’re on our personal pages, you’ll see listings and all things real estate there! 🙂

This one will be going away in 5…4…3… or so days. 🥂

Cheers!

Earnest money acts like a handshake with financial weight - it shows the seller that the buyer is serious. It’s a deposit (usually 1–3% of the purchase price) held in escrow to signal serious intent. If the sale closes, it goes toward the down payment; if the buyer backs out without a valid contingency, it may be forfeited.

In a competitive market, making the right offer can set you apart. Beyond price, consider strengthening your offer with a larger earnest money deposit, flexible closing dates, or fewer contingencies. Working closely with your agent helps you craft a strategy that balances protecting your interests while showing sellers you’re serious. Sometimes, a well-structured offer wins over the highest bid.