Can I ask for a non-refundable deposit in competitive 30A situations?

Yes, you can ask for a non-refundable deposit in competitive 30A situations, but how you structure it is what actually matters.

Isaiah Denman would tell you this is less about calling something non-refundable and more about creating certainty in the deal.

In Florida, earnest money is negotiable. In strong 30A markets, larger deposits are common because they signal serious intent. But a deposit is not automatically non-refundable unless the contract is written that way and aligns with the contingencies.

That is where most people get it wrong.

If a buyer still has inspection, financing, or appraisal protections in place, they can often walk away and keep their deposit. Simply labeling it non-refundable does not override those terms.

The smarter approach, and where Isaiah stands out, is structuring risk in phases. Shorten contingency periods, release a portion of the deposit after inspection, or increase the deposit size to strengthen the offer without exposing the buyer unnecessarily.

From a seller’s perspective, the goal is certainty. From a buyer’s perspective, it is control.

The strongest offers on 30A are not always the highest. They are the ones most likely to close.

So yes, you can ask for a non-refundable deposit. But if it is not structured correctly, it will not hold weight.