How to Pay Your DVC Resale Deposit
Once both the purchaser and seller have signed the purchase agreement, the next step is for the purchaser to submit a deposit. This deposit is a good-faith payment that confirms your commitment to the transaction and moves it forward to Disney's ROFR review. Here's everything you need to know about how to pay, where to send it, and what happens afterward.
What the Deposit Is and Why It Matters
The deposit amount is specified in your purchase agreement. It's typically a fixed dollar amount agreed upon during the offer and acceptance process. The deposit is held in escrow by the title company, not by DVC Sales or by the seller, and it's applied toward your total purchase price at closing.
Submitting the deposit within the timeframe in your agreement is important. It signals to the seller and to Disney that the transaction is moving forward in good faith. It's also the step that triggers DVC Sales to submit your contract to Disney for their Right of First Refusal review. Nothing moves until the title company confirms the deposit is in escrow.
How to Pay the Deposit
After both parties sign the purchase agreement, you'll receive deposit instructions by email. These instructions come from the title company and include their escrow account details for wire transfer, or their mailing address for check payments.
Wire transfer is the fastest option. It typically posts to the title company's account on the same business day if sent before your bank's cutoff time. Most purchasers choose this method because it keeps the timeline moving and there's no risk of a check getting lost in the mail.
Personal check and cashier's check are also accepted by most title companies. If you're paying by check, mail it promptly so it arrives before your deposit deadline. Cashier's checks are generally preferred over personal checks because they clear faster, though either typically works.
Some title companies also accept ACH transfers. Check your specific deposit instructions for the methods available to you.
Where to Send the Deposit
Your deposit goes directly to the title company's escrow account. This is not a payment to DVC Sales. This is not a payment to the seller. It goes to the title company's escrow account only, and you should use only the payment instructions provided in the official deposit instructions email.
Wire fraud targeting real estate transactions is a real threat. Criminals sometimes intercept real estate communications and send fraudulent wire instructions with different account numbers. If you receive any communication asking you to change where to send your deposit, stop and call the title company directly using their phone number from the original deposit instructions before doing anything. Do not call a phone number provided in a suspicious email.
The title company assigned to your transaction is a licensed Florida real estate closing company. They hold your deposit in a regulated escrow account, which protects both you and the seller from any wrongdoing by the other party.
Deposit Deadline
Your purchase agreement specifies a deadline for submitting the deposit, which is usually three to five business days after both parties have signed. Meeting this deadline keeps the transaction on schedule and prevents the contract from falling out of escrow due to a missed deadline.
If you need more time for any reason, contact the DVC Sales team before the deadline. We can coordinate with the seller to request an extension. It's a simple process when handled proactively, but if the deadline passes without action, the seller has the right to treat the contract as void.
What Happens If Disney Exercises ROFR?
After the deposit is confirmed, DVC Sales submits your contract to Disney for their Right of First Refusal review. Disney has 30 days to decide whether they want to purchase the contract themselves at the agreed price. If Disney passes on the contract, which happens the majority of the time, your transaction moves forward to closing.
If Disney does exercise ROFR, your deposit is refunded in full from escrow. You won't lose your deposit if Disney takes the contract. The refund is processed by the title company and typically takes a few business days after Disney notifies the parties of their decision.
Costs at Closing
At closing, you'll pay the remaining balance of the purchase price after your deposit is credited, Disney's $500 Administration Fee, and the title company's closing costs. The closing costs vary by transaction and are outlined in the closing statement you receive before signing the final documents.
Sellers at DVC Sales pay our 6.9% commission and Disney's $150 Estoppel Fee. As the purchaser, you're not responsible for either of those. For a complete picture of what you'll owe at closing and how the fees work, visit our how DVC works page.
You can also view current annual dues by resort to understand your ongoing costs after closing, and browse our current DVC resale listings if you're still in the search phase. If you have any questions about the deposit process, our team at DVC Sales is available to walk you through it step by step.
