Is being in Escrow really complicated?

[Timothy Douglas]

David Greene was addressing an Escrow that he went through with a client of his. He said that the escrow would have been really confusing and hard to navigate as a first-time investor. From what I've researched, Escrow is when a third party holds the funds until the conditions of the contract are met. Is this where all the earnest money is held and potentially lost? Finally, why would this be particularly difficult for a first-time investor to navigate alone?

[Brad Bellstedt]

It shouldn't be. A conversation needs to be had upfront with a title rep (escrow company's marketing person) to inform them of what you intend to do. Are we talking assignments? Double closings? Whatever it is, there is likely a couple of escrow companies that can handle it. I've conducted 100s of transactions, all through escrow and have never had an issue. It's not difficult, you just need to know how to work within their confinements and/or look for an escrow company with fewer confinements.