When making an offer on a house, it's important to make your offer desirable to the seller. One option is to offer a large down payment rather than the minimum down payment. Offering anywhere up to 20% can give your offer a much-needed edge. Another option is to offer an earnest money deposit, also called a good faith payment. This means you're offering a sum upfront to be paid prior to closing. It's a great incentive for sellers who will be funding another purchase with the money from the sale.