Not having a checkbook and not having a bank account are two totally different scenarios.  

If they don't have a checkbook, wiring money to the title company to hold as EMD works well.  If they have only cash, taking them to a bank and getting a cashier's check made out, would be the answer.

Take the cash to USPS, convert it into money orders and take them to escrow. How exactly do they plan to pay for the house?
Okay wait a minute. They have an online bank? Well then they wire the money into escrow. They have a bank account. I'm confused, do they have a bank account or not?

In our contracts, wire transfer is an option that about 40% of my clients use. As well, most internet and regular banks, and online systems have the capability to do an e-payment to a third party.

More often here, is they have 3 days to submit their earnest monies, and usually wire it.

Wire transfer.

Most buyers wire the necessary funds from their bank to escrow once we are under contract. Escrow will also take a cashiers check.

Our escrow companies will take cashiers checks and money orders.

I am sure that their online bank can produce either a wire transfer or a cashiers check.

We're usually willing to wait a little for the earnest money to arrive.  The 'promise' of money also counts as 'consideration'.

They can pick up a money order at Walmart for a buck Praful Thakkar 

Cashier's check.

Here, they sometimes wire the funds also.

Another option - I had an international client last week that sent the DD directly to the seller via bank transfer. This, of course, is done following ratification of the Contract.

A money order is acceptable.

I have not seen a buyers check for years...it is always a wire.

Eve

Praful, I'm waiting for someone to say that they are using bitcoin for their EMD.  In your scenario, wiring funds to title company to hold might work.

I take it in unmarked, small bills, in a duffel bag, handed to me in a public space. It's funner that way.

Paypal, Apple$, Wechat, Baba$, Western Union. Red Cross blood pint receipt.

BitCoin, Source Code for new software update???  Weed?

Any form of certified funds would be fine (i.e. cashiers check, money order). The real questions are:

1. Are they paying cash for the house?

2. If not, do they have the financial stability to qualify for a loan? 

A lender will want to know their spending habits based on 2 months of bank statements. I've been out of lending for some time, so I am curious to know how a lender would deal with that. 

Money order.

     I haven't touched a paper check in a long time.  My buyers wire the money to the Title Company.

Cashiers check

They get a Money Order.

Escrow company

I just had this, the gave me $1000 cash, we took a copy of the withdrawl slip,  copy of cash, I wrote a check for the $1000 and submitted copy with offer. It was accepted, we had everything the prcessor asked for showing a paper trail of money coming out of the buyers bank.

Cash turned into money order, cashiers check... or a wire transfer? 

Out here: proof of funds is a print out of the bank balance.  EMD is wired in within 3 days of escrow opening.

We do not do checks in my area.  That ship sailed here years ago.  We provide proof of funds with the offer.  The deposit is wired to escrow within 24 hours of acceptance.  

Our deposits are mostly wired to the escrow company and the contract provides for that option.

How does a buyer without a bank account qualify for a mortgage?

It is also our custom to submit proof that the buyer has funds to cover the down payment and closing costs along with the offer and mortgage approval. If cash purchase, still need proof of funds. Hard to do that without a bank account.

no accounts at all??? wherever they stash their cash, they need to grab a chunk and get a certified or bank check for it....

Money order is the way to go. Western Union has same thing.

If they have a bank account they go to the bank get a certified cheque or money order.  If they have cash, they can also purchase a money order..  Although we prefer to have a cheque accompany an offer, it's not a requirement.  We muset have it withing 24 hours of acceptance of the offer or the offer dies.

Praful Thakkar Certified funds and money orders work.

get a Money Order OR go open one !

No checkbook, no problem! Wire transfer the money to the escrow agent. No bank account, not ready to buy!

Wire, money order or cashiers check all work. But remember, if the earnest money's origin is cash, lenders will not accept that, so it can't be included in the transaction. The agent, at closing, would have to issue a check back to the buyer for the earnest money

Cash will work.

There are many FOREIGN buyers arriving without bank accounts. Even they are smart enough to know this is not going to work, open a bank account and let their dollars season. After that the option are many.

Wire the funds to escrow

Cashiers check, money order or wire is acceptable.  No Cash!

Good luck.

They can get a certified check or cashiers check at the bank where they have deposits. I'm a bit confused... there is a difference between having a checkbook and a bank account. You can have a bank account without a checkbook. 

I take the cash, copy all of the Bills and then   deposit it  into my trust account

We have not required a copy of the check in years, so a wire would suffice, or a cashier's check.

if a buyer doesn't have any kind of bank account I don't think they are qualified to buy.

If they have an account, but not a checking account they can wire funds to my trust account, bring cash or buy a money order.  (I prefer money order over cash, but it has not always happened)

Money order, cashier checks.

They can always request a cashier's check.