Escrow Services in Santa Monica, CA

An escrow company acts as a neutral third party that holds purchase funds, deeds, and legal documents until all conditions of a sale contract are met. They coordinate with buyers, sellers, lenders, and real estate agents to ensure money and property ownership transfer correctly. Once all instructions are satisfied, the escrow officer disburses the funds and records the documents.

Escrow fees are typically calculated as a base fee plus a percentage per thousand dollars of the purchase price, often ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars total. Additional costs may include wire transfer fees, document preparation fees, and notary charges. Who pays these fees varies by local custom and what is negotiated in the purchase agreement.

Independent escrow companies are regulated specifically for escrow operations, while title-owned companies handle both title insurance and escrow under one roof. Choosing between them usually depends on purchase contract negotiations, mortgage lender preferences, or past experiences with a specific officer's responsiveness.