Escrow

Each escrow transaction is unique and different from any other. The following is a general outline of events. After the Buyer and Seller have agreed upon all of the terms and signed the contract, the buyers enter into a period know as “Escrow”. The buyer and seller agree to satisfy all things agreed upon per the sales contract in the time allotted. And an actual escrow file is opened at the Escrow Company.

The day the escrow number is assigned is the day escrow opened in the office. This begins a kind of countdown which ends on the day escrow closes (the day keys are presented to the new homeowner and the transactions is recorded. Below is a typical timeline or a 30 day escrow.

Complimentary Consultation

Guide to Buying a Home

Basic Escrow Process

First Day

Escrow number assigned, Title Order opened, Supplemental Escrow Instructions typed, and Opening Packages sent out within 48 hours. Also, HOA contact information is requested (if applicable).

First Week

Escrow Officer begins to track contingency periods, begin to follow up on getting Natural Hazard Reports and Home Protection Plans ordered and into escrow, will begin preliminary processing on Buyer and Seller opening packages if they have been returned, send out Preliminary Title Report, Termite report (if applicable) and order HOA documents (if applicable). Buyer and their agent coordinate when to have inspection and what to ask for in repairs (if any at all come up).

Second Week

Escrow Officer follows up on Buyer and Seller Opening Packages, order demands for any existing liens and judgments; follow up on status of Termite report/completion; retrofitting and city reports (when applicable); begin to track loan status, etc.

Third Week

If there is a lender; Escrow Office follows up on Loan Status (when does the Loan Broker or Lender expect loan documents to be ready for Buyer to sign?). Escrow Officer does a preliminary audit of the file to determine the status of any outstanding documents and/or signatures needed for the file. Follow-up with the appropriate parties is done as needed in order to inform and also to receive needed documents and signatures.

Fourth Week

If there is a lender (most common), loan documents are signed by Buyer, packaged by Escrow, and returned to Lender in preparation for funding the loan. Lender reviews documents and informs Loan Broker and Escrow office of any outstanding conditions. Broker and Escrow supply conditions (if any) to Lender. In any case, Escrow ensures buyer´s remaining monies are receipted in, all signatures from Buyer and Seller are in, and all documents for recording are sent to Title for review. Escrow requests funding when all conditions have been satisfied as per the mutually agreed upon and executed Contract, Supplemental Escrow Instructions and any amendments.

Day 29

Lender funds the loan (meaning they actually transfer the money for the Buyer´s Loan to the Title Company) or, in an all-cash transaction, Buyer´s money is transferred to Title by the Escrow company (if required). Once the Title Company is in possession of sufficient funds to cover any existing liens, judgments, and deeds of trust which are being paid off and any remaining monies required to close the transaction are received by the Title Company or the Escrow Company (or in most transactions a combination of both companies), the Title Company sends all documents to be recorded in the transaction to the County Recorder´s Office, and upon the Escrow Officer´s instructions, releases the file to be recorded the next day.

Day 30

The County Recorder´s Office records the documents in the new buyers´ name, and confirms with the Title Company that the documents have been successfully recorded. The Title Company informs Escrow of the confirmation of recording. The Escrow Officer and/or Assistants call all applicable parties to inform them of the successful close of the escrow. Upon receipt of the final title, payoff and recording charges from the Title Company, Escrow Officer balances the file, pays any bills and disburses refunds to Buyer and Seller in accordance with signed instructions.

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