EMD Funding in Hawaii | Swift Deal Funding
How EMD funding works in Hawaii
EMD funding covers the earnest money deposit you owe when you go under contract, so you can lock up a Hawaii property without committing your own cash. We wire the deposit directly to the escrow company on the contract, typically within 24 hours of a complete application and title confirmation. The deposit must be refundable under the contract’s inspection or due-diligence terms.
Hawaii’s high-value, low-volume market shapes the typical EMD here. Because prices are steep and sellers often want a meaningful deposit, earnest money on Hawaii deals tends to run larger than on the mainland — commonly $1,000–$5,000 on smaller residential contracts, sometimes more. Most activity sits in Honolulu, with neighbor-island deals in Hilo, Kahului, and Kona.
How EMD closes in Hawaii
Hawaii uses escrow companies (not closing attorneys), so the funded deposit goes to a licensed escrow officer who holds it per the contract. We require written confirmation from that escrow company that the EMD is refundable under your inspection or due-diligence terms before we release funds. Hawaii’s dry-funding rule applies to closing disbursement, not to the earnest-money deposit, so it doesn’t change how the EMD is handled at contract.
Local note: confirm which island’s escrow branch is holding the deposit, especially on neighbor-island deals, since inter-island document handling can add a day to your timeline.
Pricing
Two options on every EMD, in Hawaii or anywhere:
| Option | Upfront | At close | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 5% of EMD (min $500) | 20% of EMD | High close-through rates |
| B | 10% of EMD (min $1,000) | 0% | Predictable per-deal cost (most popular) |
Example: a $5,000 Hawaii EMD under Option B costs $500 total, paid once, nothing at closing.
What you’ll need
- Executed purchase contract with refundable EMD language
- Escrow company contact information
- Written confirmation from escrow that the EMD is refundable per the contract
- Borrower identification
No credit pull, no income verification, no tax returns.
A typical Hawaii EMD scenario
You find a motivated seller on a Mililani townhome and the listing agent wants $5,000 earnest money within three days to bind the contract. Rather than wire your own cash, you submit the contract and the Mapunapuna escrow company’s details. We confirm the deposit is refundable during your 10-day inspection window, then wire $5,000 to escrow within 24 hours. Under Option B you pay $500. Your capital stays free to chase the next Oahu deal while this one runs its due diligence.
Apply
Submit your contract and escrow contact online — under 10 minutes. Same-day wire is possible for complete files in before 11 AM Eastern. We coordinate directly with your escrow company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who holds my funded earnest money in Hawaii? +
A licensed Hawaii escrow company holds it. Hawaii closes through escrow rather than closing attorneys, so we wire your funded deposit straight to the escrow company named in the contract, usually within 24 hours of a complete file and title confirmation. We require written confirmation from that escrow company that the EMD is refundable under your contract's inspection or due-diligence terms before we release it, which protects both you and us if the deal falls through.
Does Hawaii's dry-funding rule affect EMD funding? +
Not really. Dry funding governs how sale proceeds disburse at closing, not how earnest money is deposited at contract. We fund your EMD into escrow up front when you go under contract, well before any recording question arises. The dry-funding sequence only becomes relevant later, at the actual close. So EMD funding behaves the same in Hawaii as in a wet state: deposit in, refundable per contract, returned or credited at close.
Why use EMD funding in an expensive market like Hawaii? +
Hawaii's high prices mean sellers and listing agents often expect larger earnest money to take an offer seriously. Tying up $10,000 or more of your own cash per deal limits how many properties you can lock up at once. EMD funding covers the deposit so your capital stays free, letting you keep multiple Oahu or neighbor-island contracts active simultaneously without draining your reserves.
Apply for EMD Funding in Hawaii
Submit your application online — same-day decisions for complete files before 2 PM Eastern.