Vacant Land Escrow
Escrow for buying or selling land.
There's no house to inspect on a land deal, so the title is the whole story. We hold the funds and run down access, easements, and boundary questions before any money moves.
- Typical timeline
- 30–45 days
- Who it's for
- Land buyers & sellers
- Languages
- English / Spanish
Land transactions live and die on clean title: easements, access, liens, and boundary questions all matter.
We coordinate the research so you understand exactly what you're buying before any money changes hands.
What we handle on your file
We open the file from the purchase agreement, take the deposit into our trust account, and order the title work that a land deal depends on. We make sure the preliminary title report is read closely, because on a parcel with no structure, the recorded easements, access rights, and liens are what you're actually buying.
We coordinate with the title company on any exceptions that show up: a shared road easement, a utility right-of-way, an old lien, or a question about where the legal boundary sits. If a survey is part of your agreement, we hold the file open until it's in and reviewed. We close only once the recorded title matches what you agreed to.
What to expect
Land files move at the pace of the title research and any survey or rezoning conditions in your contract. Most close in 30 to 45 days, and cash deals can be faster since there's no loan to fund. We'll flag early if the title report turns up something that needs to be cleared before close.
You can call your officer any time with a question about an easement, an access concern, or a figure on your estimate. We'd rather you understand a title exception now than discover it after you own the parcel.
How a vacant land escrow goes
Open & deposit
We set up the file from the purchase agreement, take the deposit into our trust account, and confirm the legal description of the parcel.
Title report & exceptions
We order the preliminary title report and review the exceptions with you: recorded easements, access rights, rights-of-way, and any liens against the land.
Access, survey & boundaries
If your agreement calls for a survey or raises a question about legal access or where the boundary sits, we hold the file open until those items are confirmed.
Clear & sign
We work with the title company to clear any liens or exceptions that have to go, prepare the closing documents, and walk both parties through signing.
Funding & recording
Funds are released per instructions, the deed records with the county, and the parcel transfers with title insurance in place. You get your final statement.
What you'll need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Signed purchase agreement with the full legal description
- Assessor's parcel number (APN) for the land
- Existing survey or plat map, if you have one
- Access and easement details you're aware of
- Lien or loan payoff information, if you're selling
- Title and vesting information (how you'll hold title)
- Wiring instructions confirmed with our office by phone
Common questions
Related services
Residential
Buying or selling a home, with a neutral party holding funds and documents until every condition is met.
Multi-Family
Duplexes through apartment buildings, with the added coordination these deals tend to require.
Refinance
A new loan on a property you already own, handled with clear timelines and steady updates.
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.