Zero by the State Fred Griffin but here in our MLS the standard amount of earnest money is $500.00

Required?  None but that offer is unlikely to be considered competitive in most markets where I have represented buyers/sellers.

Deposit is negotiable.  However, more are 3% because the deposit ties to the liquidated damages clause in our contract.

The EMD is negotiable but 1-3% of the purchase price is typical.

0 down is a myth in CA.

I suppose technically you don't need to offer earnest money.... but I don't know of any sellers who would accept zero. Our combined emd and due diligence is in the 1-2% range of the contract price, but could be more. These are negotiated amounts. This always seemed low to me... when I sold real estate in NYC, the earnest money was never less than 10% of the purchase price.

Same here Fred. But lowest we have ever experienced was $5 for an estate selling it to a relative. We call it EM or Earnest Money. 1% is common here. -Kasey

Not sure if there is a requirement, but if you don't put down anything you are not likely to have your offer taken seriously.

Most put down somewhere between $500 and 5k

Interesting question. 

As far I know, there is not requirements.

Fred, I have never heard about requirments. 

We put 10 % (1st and 2nd deposits)

normally 1% of sale price.

$1,000 good faith deposit with the offer to purchase...

5% total depost with a purchase and sales agreement....

Initital earnest money - delivered upon signing of the contract is around $1000-$2000. After the inspection period, the number is increased to a total of appoximately 5% (in my area.)

It is consideration in IL. It depends on the price but $1K the absolute least. Around $150K would be $2000. 

Go less than the norm & your offer goes in the looser pile. Anyone except a VA offer with $500 will be laughed at.

No minimum required for EMD in Ohio. 

Earnest money is the local term, $0.00 is required and I actually did that successfully recently. Normally, a high earnest money is a sign of strength, especially in competitive bidding times. 

You are right FRED!  No deposit required in any state for consideration.

However most agents will never believe that so if I want the buyers offer accepted,  the deposit will always be bigger then the norm.

Eve

The expectations is typically 1 - 3% but there is no requirement. The more the better especially when in a competitive situation. Usually called deposit, escrow refers to as EMD

There is no legal requirement, but there is convention. In my particular area of Connecticut, deposits are done in two phases: first, at time of submitting offer, we call it "good faith deposit' and it's generally about 1%. The second is the "real" deposit, which is submitted at time of contract signing and that can range from 5 to to 10 to 20%; can be negotiated or used to strengthen offer.

1% in CT

No minimum.

No contingiency, no loan for consideration to get accepted. 3-5% EMD deposited within 24 hours to the title company. No exceptions.

Same what Tammy Lankford, said.

I know you're right Fred, although, I'm always looking for consideration to seal the deal. That being said I have accepted as little as $1.00 on units in a condominium project we sold. If they couldn't muster that amount, and a few couldn't, I sent them on their way.

Generally, I call it a deposit and strive for at least 10% down under normal circumstances.

We use the term earnest money but it is not required; however, it makes the buyers offer very weak.  How earnest are you Mr Buyer $0.00 or $10,000.

We call it earnest money and while it is not required it's recommended.  It is typical for it be fairly low $1,000. on our contracts.  There are sellers that counter this from time to time, but not often.

There is no minimum requirement in Washington State.  The deposit varies by transaction and market activity.  The faster the market is moving, the larger the deposit needs to be to show strength.  In a slow moving market, one can get away with a much smaller deposit.  Actual dollar amounts may have changed since I retired because prices have risen dramatically.  

In NC, combined Due Diligence fee (directly to the sellers) and the EMD typically totals 1% but, does go higher, based on the demand of the property.

It's negotiable here.  Customary is 3% for EMD, but it's all negotiable.  Sometimes buyers will put more down to strengthen the offer.

We used to have promissory notes until this year. Now it is in the body of the contract that within so many days there will be earnest money deposited. The amount is typically 1%, but is always part of the negotiations.

EMD, 3%.

No minimum.

Exactly what Michael Jacobs said.

There is no minimum requirement, and the norm depends on which side of the table one is a party. Price of the property, as well as the affluency of the buyer also has a little bit of influence on the Good Faith.

Depending on the terms in the contract, zero to whatever

Here in NH the very minimum is $100 however most common is $1000. I like to have 1-3% of the sales price myself. For cash sales an dno contingencies, it could be 10k to 25 k so they dont just walk

No money is REQUIRED, however customary seems to be 1%.
I refer to their "deposit" as Earnest Money , to be applied at closing

None is actually required . It's often more important AFTER all contingences have been satisfied ! 

It is not required and I am seeing more and more offers with no earnest money and we call it Earnest Money. 

We usually see 1% of the purchase price, but higher with luxury properties.   We see personal checks, cashiers checks and wires depending on when the property will close.

The amount is decided per ageeement of both parties

Something is needed here, it could be a sheep.

Most time 1%

$0 is required in NJ, although it is customary to make a deposit of $1000.

General rule of thumb in our area is 1% of proposed purchase price.  We call it earnest money or good faith deposit.