Contracts

A Minnesota buyer makes an offer with a $5,000 earnest money check. The check is made payable to the listing brokerage. If the seller rejects the offer, the earnest money:

AIs forfeited to the listing broker for their time
BIs immediately returned to the buyer since no contract was formed✓ Correct
CMust be held for 10 days before return
DBecomes the seller's property automatically

Explanation

When a seller rejects an offer, no contract is formed and the earnest money is immediately returned to the buyer. The earnest money is only at risk once a purchase agreement is fully executed. Until then, it belongs entirely to the buyer. Minnesota brokers must promptly return earnest money when offers are rejected.

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