Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Deposits are serious business; Buyers risk forfeiting them in legal disputes.
- Brokerages typically hold deposits in trust, while non-neutral third parties may not be obliged to return them.
- Buyers can’t count on getting their deposits back and should seek legal advice if they want a refund.
- Forfeiting deposits may lead to additional damages if the Seller sells to another Buyer for a lower price.
- Backing out of a contract can still result in losing the deposit, even if it’s before the due date.

