Final answer:
The buyer would need to bring $19,400 to closing, after subtracting the earnest money deposit from the required down payment. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a buyer was approved for an 80% loan on a purchase price of $117,000, the buyer's loan would cover $93,600 (which is 80% of $117,000).
The buyer needs to provide the remaining 20%, plus the earnest money deposit already paid at closing. To calculate the amount the buyer needs to bring to closing, we first determine the 20% down payment which is $23,400 (20% of $117,000).
Since the buyer has already paid $4,000 as an earnest money deposit, we subtract this amount from the down payment: $23,400 - $4,000 = $19,400. Therefore, the buyer would need to bring $19,400 to closing.