All of the following are TREC earnest money requirements with the exception of:

The statement regarding TREC earnest money requirements specifies that earnest money is typically held by a third party, such as a title company or an escrow agent, rather than the seller themselves. This practice ensures that the earnest money is managed in a neutral manner, protecting the interests of both the buyer and seller during the transaction.

Additionally, it is essential that the amount of earnest money is clearly stated and agreed upon in the sales contract and that it is deposited within a specific time frame to maintain the contract's validity and good faith between the parties involved. Therefore, the requirement that earnest money must be held by the seller does not align with standard practices outlined by TREC.