I can't remember the last time I held an earnest money check. Funds are almost always wired or overnighted, and we write a provision into the contract that it will arrive within 24 business hours. Escrow prefers a wire as well.

No such thing as an EMD check in CA anymore. WIRE ONLY. Have not handled an EMD check in 8 years.

I am handed the check by the buyer and deliver it to my brokerage, who deposits it in our escrow acccount.

It never gets near my hands. Once we have a signed contract and open escrow buyers wire funds within 3 business days. Our brokerage does not even keep a trust account

A bounced check!  Wow.  That deal was dead from the get-go.

     I usually hand deliver deposit checks to the Title company.  Sometimes I have the Buyer meet me there; I can introduce them to the Title Closer.  Since I am a one-man office, it also helps the Buyer "know where to go" should something happen to me.

    Regarding the balance of funds needed to close - most Tallahassee Title companies and lawyers insist on that money being wired.

wire transfer

I collected if working with the buyer and turn it into my office for deposit.

Almost all of ours are wired.

Direct wire by the buyer to escrow saves some potential problems. Not physically handling the EMD as an agent/broker is best policy IMO.

If you touch it, then trust handling rules must be invoked. I dont touch it!

I take it to the title company myself usually

All EM checks are made out directly to the title company.  We do not take any checks even at the closing table.

Rarely; usually we have wire transfers for EM.

Good morning Peter. That is what you call dead on arrival. Most of the checks come into the closing that are help by the office of the listing agent.

I ensure the check is delivered

Our new default is to have fund wired to escrow within 3 days of acceptance.  No more touching funds and that's perfect.

In Southern California 98% of the time Buyer wires funds into title company via the escrow company's instructions. 

I request a check to come with signatures together & pof.  The 3 must be in in order for me to submit an offer. Incomplete will not be processed.

Peter Mohylsky - that was my question.

In our area, usually, the first EMD check is a regular check - and is delivered to the listing office. We are attorney state.

I don't handle earnest money deposit checks.

Most of the time, the buyer will wire funds rto escrow.  Occasionally, the buyer will bring a check to escrow. 

In California, I often get a personal check from the buyer made out to the escrow company (NEVER to me) and I will open escrow on their behalf once the offer is accepted. If the offer is not accepted, I get the check back to the buyer. For that reason,  I like for the buyer to get the funds to the escrow company directly within 3 days after the offer has been accepted. Also, sometimes we need to make offers on several properties and this is cleaner.

I handle it, taking it to the title company when the offer is ratified.

always always.... go directly via wire..best way..or a cashiers check (maybe)

Our MCA handles these.

ND has made it clear that handing the check over to the title company does not absolve you of your responsibility. They consider it as still in your position.

In CA, contract was changed to have check automatically go to escrow via a wire. I love it as I haven't handled a client's check in years. ~Marisa

Most are held by title companies, and the buyer's agent delivers.

We handle it.  Make a copy of it and send it to the Listing agent, who will put it in their EM account.

I deliver it myself.

I take the EMD and hand it in to my broker as soon as I have a fully executed contract.

I take it to the title company myself. 

I handle all checks so I can make a copy for any kind of future reference or lost  ones

Directly to title, much easier that way.

Rarely ... most of my clients wire their deposit and closing funds. 

I handle it.

I am required to turn it in to my broker, so either I deliver it, or my client hand delivers it to the office.

I NEVER touch the money.  It gets wired straight to escrow.  No liability for me that way.

I give it to our office admin to deposit.  If I were a sole broker/owner I would have them make it out to the title company.

It depends on the situation, according to Roger.  He says that sometimes it is wired in, other times it is taken down to the closing agency by him or the client.  He personally does not like to handle the check Peter Mohylsky. 

I deliver it and get a receipt

Peter Mohylsky When I had my own company, I deposited the funds in my escrow account.

Typically it is sent via wire.   

We use the office ecrow account. 

Must be wired to the Escrow holding company.

each agent here takes the EMD check when purchase and sales is signed...and that check is given to the office administrator who takes care of the depositing process.... we make copies of everything.... 

we HAVE on occasion received a check that was not covered!! a transfer was not made in time.... we always ask if the funds are behind the check before we deposit, but ????

I take it directly to the title company. 

In my area, it is usually the selling brokerage that holds it until contract time, at which time normally the sellers' attorney would deposit it in his escrow account until closing. Unfortunately, often agents run around with those checks until the offer is accepted; some have been known to be lost in the process.

I take the earnest money and contract to the title company.

Wired funds are the way to go these days! I use a title company to hold escrow funds!

In NH the listing broker holds escrow money in their escrow account.

I handle it, and either turn it in to the office or the title company depending on which one check is made out to. I would not rely on a buyer to deliver it.

Escrow and title companies are not used in Ontario.

Wire to the Escrow direcly only. I haven't had EMD check in my hands for years.

Most of the time buyers mail or wire it directly to the title company.

In Wisconsin we either deliver the EM Check directly to the Listing Agency's Trust Account Dept or we have the Buyer mail it (but have them copy and send a copy to me prior to mailing) and then when the Listing Agency receives it they send us a receipt that then goes to the buyer's lender.  Seems everyone does it a little differently.  The best way is whatever works.  I've not had to deal with a bounced check.

The Earnest money check must be deposited at the title company and is handled by the buyers agent or their client.