Escrow is a process where a neutral third party helps hold and coordinate documents, funds, and instructions until the agreed conditions of a transaction are met. In a real estate transaction, escrow helps organize the steps between opening the file and closing.

An escrow company helps coordinate the transaction according to the instructions of the parties involved. This can include collecting documents, coordinating funds, communicating with the appropriate parties, preparing for signing, and completing closing-related steps.

Yes. Westlake Escrow is an independent escrow company licensed by the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation.

Westlake Escrow handles residential sales, commercial sales, mobile home sales, short sales, refinance transactions, 1031 exchange-related escrow, For Sale By Owner transactions, and REOs.

We work with buyers, sellers, real estate agents, lenders, investors, and other professionals involved in real estate transactions.

You can contact our team by phone or through the website. If you are ready to open escrow, please provide as much transaction information as possible so our team can help with the next step.

Every transaction is different. The escrow timeline depends on the terms of the agreement, loan requirements, document readiness, funding, signing, and other transaction-specific details.

Common delays can include missing information, incomplete documents, loan delays, payoff delays, title issues, delayed signatures, funding issues, or last-minute changes to the transaction.

The information needed depends on your role in the transaction. In general, buyers, sellers, agents, and lenders should be prepared to provide requested documents, contact information, transaction details, and timely responses throughout the process.

Before sending funds, call Westlake Escrow directly using a known and trusted phone number. Do not rely only on emailed wire instructions, especially if the instructions have changed or seem urgent.

Contact Westlake Escrow immediately by phone. Be cautious of unexpected changes, urgent email requests, or instructions that do not match what you previously received.