Earnnest Selected as Member of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate Preferred Alliance Program

Digital earnest money service expands availability to more than 55,000 network agents

GREENVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Earnnest, the largest digital earnest money service in the U.S., today announced its selection as a Preferred Alliance Program member of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate, part of the HSF Affiliates LLC family of real estate brokerage franchise networks.

The Preferred Alliance Program manages all vendor relationships that offer products and services to the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate networks. As a Preferred Alliance Program member, Earnest expands its reach through one of America’s fastest-growing real estate brokerage franchise networks. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate collectively have more than 55,000 network agents in more than 1,600 offices across the globe.

“I’m excited about this strategic alliance with Earnnest, which will help our network’s agents maximize the efficiency and velocity of their customer’s earnest money deposits,” said Chris Stuart, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

The service is always free to use for agents, brokerages, escrow holders, and title attorneys with a flat $15 fee charged to buyers. The platform, which requires no physical checks or wires, utilizes banking-level security and connects to every bank nationwide, sending automated receipts throughout the earnest money transfer to keep all parties updated on the status of the transaction.

“Earnnest brings a powerful tool to our network’s agents that will allow them to digitize and modernize the earnest money deposit,” said Gino Blefari, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “It’s a tech-enabled resource network agents and brokerages can utilize to provide extraordinary quality service, convenience and value for their clients.”

Added HSF Affiliates Director of Preferred Alliances Nina Fabbri: “Through our strategic alliance with Earnnest, the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate networks will now have access to this best-in-class technology to make real estate transactions safer and faster for all parties involved.”

Earnnest is a member of the 2020 REACH class, an accelerator operated by Second Century Ventures, the strategic arm of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The Earnnest tool is also already used at many Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brokerages and is now available for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network agents nationwide. The Earnnest team is confident its new membership in the Preferred Alliance Program will enhance Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ brand mission to “FOREVER” serve and keep clients for life.

“Agents are looking for pandemic-proof methods of doing business right now and Earnnest delivers on safety and security to create a seamless and streamlined experience,” said Dani Ezelle, Earnnest co-founder. “We’ve built a digital earnest money solution that adds value for the client, the agent, the broker and the escrow holder - it’s a win-win for everyone.”

ABOUT EARNNEST

Greenville, S.C.-based Earnnest is the largest digital earnest money service in the United States, allowing buyers to securely and electronically deposit funds directly to an escrow holder. Earnnest keeps agents, buyers and escrow holders in the loop with automated emails and tracking information. Visit Earnnest.com for more information.

ABOUT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is one of the world’s fastest-growing residential real estate brokerage franchise networks, with more than 50,000 real estate professionals, nearly 1,500 offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Middle East, and more than $119 billion in real estate sales volume. The network, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability and longevity. Visit www.bhhs.com.

ABOUT REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE

Real Living Real Estate is a full-service real estate brokerage franchise network with a comprehensive and integrated suite of resources for franchisees and their sales professionals, as well as for consumers who work with them. Real Living Real Estate earned a record 98% customer satisfaction rating for 2019, according to independent rating service Quality Service Certification, Inc. Additionally, the Real Living Real Estate brand and its innovative concepts were recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as well as by Inman News with several Inman Innovator Awards.