Texas earnest money deadline
When the buyer's good-faith deposit has to reach escrow. Miss it and the seller may be able to cancel, so it's usually the first deadline on any deal.
TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale)
TREC 20-18 (effective 1/3/2025). Texas REALTORS' FAQ references 20-19; check the current revision.
Earnest money and option fee delivered
By default it is 3 calendar days after the Effective Date (¶5A). The deadline is end of day local time.
The only TREC deadline that extends past a weekend or legal holiday.
Source: www.trec.texas.gov · checked 2026-10-16
If it falls on a weekend or holiday
- Earnest money and option fee delivered: If it lands on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.
Calendar days; the Effective Date is day 0. Only the earnest money / option fee delivery deadline extends past a weekend or legal holiday (to the end of the next day that isn't one). Every other deadline stays put, even on a weekend. Option-period termination notices are due by 5:00 p.m. local time.
Worked example: TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract
TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale). Effective Date Friday, October 16, 2026. Calculated with the same rules as the calculator.
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Earnest money and option fee delivered | Monday, October 19, 2026 |
Negotiated a different number?
Change it in the calculator and every date that depends on it recalculates.
Open the Texas calculatorFrequently asked questions
How is the "Earnest money and option fee delivered" calculated on the TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale)?
By default it is 3 calendar days after the Effective Date (¶5A). If it lands on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. It ends at end of day local time.
Do weekends count for this deadline in Texas?
Calendar days; the Effective Date is day 0. Only the earnest money / option fee delivery deadline extends past a weekend or legal holiday (to the end of the next day that isn't one). Every other deadline stays put, even on a weekend. Option-period termination notices are due by 5:00 p.m. local time.
Something missing or incorrect?