什么是 "earnest money"

看中一个short sale condo. 让agent下offer. 她回信说：
“Once I get your legal names (the names you wish to hold title in) and the amount you want to put up for earnest money (typically 2-4%, which will be cashed once an accepted offer is arrived and and then sit in escrow to be credited towards your closing costs) I will write the offer and email it to you.”

买过两次自住房，近十年前了，不是short sale, 从没有交过这个“earnest money”。 这是个新事物吗？

所有跟帖： 

• 回复：什么是 "earnest money" -说事- ♂ (280 bytes) () 07/21/2009 postreply 14:21:42

• 回复：什么是 "earnest money" -美西游子- ♀ (724 bytes) () 07/22/2009 postreply 02:36:39

• Thank you! -noproblem- ♀ (0 bytes) () 07/22/2009 postreply 13:48:16