The due diligence clause in the standard form NC Offer to Purchase and Contract is very clear. While due diligence money is nonrefundable, earnest money is refundable but only if the buyer decides not to buy the home.Due diligence money is a fee that buyers proffer at the time they make an offer on a home. In essence, it is the buyer's good faith payment to the seller. Finding the earnest money or due diligence funds to declare a solid interest in a property can be an uphill struggle. Master the home buying process with due diligence and earnest money essentials. Protect your investment like a pro! Due diligence fees are non-refundable, so if you decide to back out of a contract for a home, that money will not be returned to you. Due diligence is the meticulous examination and verification process that prospective buyers undertake before closing a real estate deal. Due diligence, or specifically the due diligence fee, is negotiable but nonrefundable except in the case where a seller breaches the contract.