Which is an acceptable form of earnest money deposit?

An acceptable form of earnest money deposit is typically cash. Earnest money serves as a good faith gesture from the buyer to the seller, indicating the buyer's serious intent to purchase the property. Cash is universally accepted as a clear and immediate form of payment, providing assurance to the seller that the buyer is financially capable of proceeding with the transaction.

Other forms of payment like a credit card are less commonly accepted because they do not guarantee immediate funds and can be subject to chargebacks. Wire transfers are also acceptable but may not be as straightforward as cash in some situations. Gift cards, however, are not considered suitable for earnest money since they do not represent liquid funds in the same way cash does and can raise concerns about legitimacy and source of funds in real estate transactions. Therefore, cash is the most straightforward and universally accepted form of earnest money deposit.