A clear plan for the documents, funds and instructions behind your purchase or refinance, with Jenny Kim as your contact.
Purchase and sale escrow
Once the parties have an agreement, the escrow file brings together their closing instructions and the items needed to carry them out. Share the signed agreement and approved changes through the team’s confirmed process.
Buyers should identify financing, deposit timing and who will sign. Sellers should be ready to provide requested ownership and existing-loan information. Agents, lenders and title professionals each have separate responsibilities; escrow does not negotiate the purchase or certify the condition of the home.
Refinance escrow
A refinance is centered on the existing ownership, current obligations and new loan instructions rather than a transfer between a buyer and seller. Ask what payoff information, signatures, lender documents and funds are needed for the particular file.
Your lender explains the loan terms and applicable disclosure or waiting requirements. Do not assume every refinance follows the same timetable, or that signing immediately makes funds available. Raise a pending sale, ownership change or travel conflict early.
- Open: identify parties, agreement or loan instructions and contacts.
- Prepare: coordinate requested documents, title and payoff items.
- Review: confirm figures, signing and outstanding requirements.
- Close: complete the applicable funding, recording and disbursement steps.
A planning sequence, not a guaranteed schedule. Some tasks overlap or require additional review.
Keep changes in the right channel
A repair credit, changed date, revised loan or new signer can affect other parts of the file. Have the responsible parties document the change, then ask escrow and the lender what must be updated. Do not independently change a payment based on an earlier estimate.
Verify payment instructions through a trusted contact method already established with the team. Unexpected email or text changes deserve a pause and independent confirmation, even when the message looks familiar.
Ask for an estimate that fits your file
Use this as a conversation checklist, not a determination that your file is ready to close. Nothing is submitted or saved.
Questions before opening escrow
Does escrow represent the buyer or seller?
Escrow has a neutral administrative role under the applicable instructions. Your agent and independent advisers help you evaluate terms and protect your interests.
Can I get a guaranteed closing date?
The team can help identify dependencies, but lender, title, signing, funding and recording requirements may affect timing. Request a current status review rather than a guarantee.
Can Plaza handle a trust, entity, holdback or other special arrangement?
Ask Jenny before relying on acceptance. These arrangements may need additional documents and approvals; this page does not advertise them as universally available services.
Explore Plaza Escrow
Further reading
- California Department of Real Estate: understanding escrow
- CFPB: reviewing a mortgage Closing Disclosure
- CFPB: avoiding mortgage closing scams
General educational information, not legal, tax, lending or property-condition advice. Your written agreement and file-specific requirements govern.
Discuss your closing with Jenny Kim
Jenny Kim, Senior Escrow Officer, is your contact for Plaza Escrow. Start with the property address, transaction type, proposed closing date and any linked sale or purchase.
Ask Jenny which office or signing arrangement fits your file. Use the team’s confirmed secure process for sensitive documents, not an unverified email or public form.