Therefore, I wonder if an earnest money deposit of $50k is normal for a newly built single family house? 

I would say the forums can sometimes have good conversations about localities but finding info for a very specific need in a very specific town is going to be harder and not garner quite as many responses.

Hi all,I'm sure some have heard of the properties being built by Clifton Homes:Location: 9440 N Adrian AveThey are a fully vertically integrated operation (prop mgmt, construction, and financing).This is their deal:Cash in:  $50K6-8 months later:One time refinance to put a long term mortgage on it at or around 75% which gets your $50k back + 16%.

Can't include furnace, hot water tank, central ac and some other built-in appliances - check your local ordinances.

I purchased a newly built duplex in August of 2021 to house hack.

Although this is. 1mm population town.  

This increased the average density by 50% and opened up opportunities for multifamily and ADU to be built on almost all residential zones.In a situation like this, new opportunities are bound to present themselves to homeowners and to investors.

Back stairs.If you are talking about making a 2+1 into a legal 3, the towns are going to tell you only the above two will qualify.

I know it’s a military town.

The sandbags also concerned me and I would be looking in other parts of town for sure.