How Escrow Works

First-Time Home Buying: How To Close on a Place

United Realty Group can walk you through closing – 702-907-4623 Let’s talk about “escrow”. An escrow company is hired to assure your home closes on time and the closing process goes smoothly. When funds are held by a third party in a transaction between a buyer and a seller, it’s in escrow. PayPal is a good example of an escrow company.

Clearing the final hurdles like taking in funds, completing forms, obtaining the documents for loans and liens, and assuring you get a clear title to the house before your purchase gets finalized are all part of the job of the escrow agent.

Escrow holders look for the following records:

Upon finishing of all instructions of the escrow, closing can take place. At this time, all payments and fees for inspections, title insurance and real estate commissions are collected. The home’s title gets handed over to you and title insurance begins per the steps of your individual escrow process.

At the close of escrow, payments of funds are made in an acceptable form to the escrow. You’ll know when it’s time to submit the form of payment.

The Escrow Holder Will:

  • Assemble escrow instructions
  • Perform a title research
  • Meet the bank’s standards as specified in the escrow agreement
  • Intake payments from the buyer
  • Prorate insurance, tax, interest and other payments according to guidelines
  • Record deeds and other legal documents as instructed
  • Request title insurance policy
  • Close escrow when all terms of agreement of seller and buyer have been finished
  • Disburse monies and finish instructions

The Escrow Holder Will Not:

  • Offer advice – the escrow agent must stay at a fair, third-party status
  • Dispense opinions about tax implications

The Escrow Holder Will:

  • Assemble escrow instructions
  • Perform a title inquiry
  • Meet lender’s standards as specified in the escrow agreement
  • Accept funds from the buyer
  • Prorate tax, interest, insurance and other fees according to guidelines
  • Record deeds and other legal documents as instructed
  • Request title insurance policy
  • Close escrow when all terms of agreement of seller and buyer have been met
  • Disburse monies and finish instructions

The Escrow Holder Will Not:

  • Tell you what’s best – the escrow agent must maintain a neutral, third-party status
  • Dispense opinions about future tax estimations

Mortgage Escrow Account

Often, to pay recurring costs while there’s a loan on the house, a Mortgage Escrow Account is created. Escrow Accounts are contributed to monthly by the home buyer (who is now the homeowner), but there is also a lump sum that goes into the account at closing.

This is a quick run-down of the escrow process. Your specific process will be unique depending on your lender and your escrow holder.