Signed Bill Of Sale But Application Was Denied At Rv Park

Location: South Carolina/Florida

Throwaway account.

I live in South Carolina and the realtor and trailer I've been trying to purchase for a family member are in Florida. Over the phone, I was explained from this realtor that how their system works is that if I'm interested in a RV/trailer, you would pay full in cash or do what's called an earnest payment of $3,000 as a down payment, you would then go under contract and finally apply to the park if you're renting there. Upon denial of your rental application, you would get refunded that earnest payment.

Instead of sending a contract when I prompted them for that, they sent me a Bill of Sale to sign. This playing into my lack of understanding of how the process would look like, I thought this was the first part in getting the contract made. My family member was then denied at the park where I planned on buying the trailer and now they don't want to refund me the 3k earnest payment without a letter of denial from the RV/trailer park from the owner, NOT any member of staff. She's already received an email I've forwarded from the Park that the application was denied. The realtor will only accept a letter of denial from the owner of the park. I've contacted the park but haven't heard from the owner about them giving me that letter.

I'm worried now that they will attempt to say I'm legally responsible for paying the rest of the money for the trailer since I've already signed a Bill of Sale. Am I screwed out of the 3k since we had no contract? Am I legally responsible to pay the other 22k? Any info would be great.