Guide
Buyer's guide
Your job as a buyer comes down to three things: deliver funds on time, finish your loan paperwork, and read what we send you carefully. Here's the full picture.
Buying a home is the largest transaction most people ever make, and escrow is the part that keeps your money safe while it all comes together. As the buyer, your role is straightforward once you know what's expected: get us your funds on time, finish your loan paperwork promptly, and read the documents we send before you sign. We handle the coordination behind the scenes and keep you posted on where your file stands.
What we'll need from you
Pulling these together early keeps your file moving. We'll ask for:
- A government-issued photo ID for everyone going on title
- Your earnest money deposit, sent only after we confirm instructions by phone
- Proof of funds for your deposit and down payment
- Your lender and loan officer's name and contact information
- Signed escrow instructions once we issue them
- Signed disclosures and loan documents when your lender releases them
- Proof of homeowners insurance before closing
- How you intend to hold title, so we can prepare the deed correctly
Your timeline, offer to close
Every file is a little different, but most purchases move through the same stages. Here's the path your transaction tends to follow:
Opening and deposit
Once your offer is accepted, we open the file and send you escrow instructions. Your earnest money deposit comes in and is held in a protected account. We order title and confirm the details of the deal.
Inspections and contingencies
This is your review window. Inspections happen, and you decide whether the property and the terms work for you. Any contingencies written into your contract get cleared one by one during this stretch.
Loan and appraisal
Your lender processes the loan, orders the appraisal, and works toward final approval. We coordinate with them and track what's still outstanding so nothing falls through the cracks.
Signing
Once your loan is approved and conditions are met, you sign your loan documents and final escrow paperwork, usually with a notary. We'll walk you through what each document is before you sign it.
Funding and recording
Your lender funds the loan and the remaining money comes in. We record the deed with the county, which makes you the official owner, and the keys are yours.
Before you wire anything
Call our office at a number you already have and confirm the wiring instructions and amount verbally before you send a dollar. We never send or change wiring details by email, so treat any emailed change, new account number, or sudden urgency as a warning sign and call us first. This one habit prevents the most expensive mistake in real estate.
Common questions
Ready to open an escrow?
Send us the basics and we'll route your file to the right officer. Have an agent already? They can open it for you in a few minutes.