what is escrow?

Answer 1

escrow is best known in the United States in the context of real estate (specifically in mortgages where the mortgage company establishes an escrow account to pay property tax and insurance during the term of the mortgage), escrow companies are also commonly used in the transfer of high value personal and business property, like websites and businesses, and in the completion of person-to-person remote auctions

Answer 2

Escrow is an account for a particular purpose..for example:rent..you have it held in escrow so you can prove that you paid but the landlord can't get it until she/he finishes repairs or whatever. If they try to throw you out for "non-payment" you can go to court and they know you had the $ and that is not the issue.
You can get info. at any bank or court or clerk-of-court.

Answer 3

Simply put: third party who holds anything of value until the deal closes

Answer 4

# The holding of funds, documents, securities, or other property by an impartial third party for the other two participants in a business transaction. When the transaction is completed, the escrow agent releases the entrusted property.
www.americantrust.com/Personal_Banking/Mortgage_Construction_Loans/Mortgage_Definitions.html

# An account in which a neutral third party holds the documents and money in a real-estate transfer until all conditions of a sale are met. Also, an account in which money for property taxes and insurance is held until paid; money is added to the account every time a mortgage payment is made.
www.midfirst.com/library1.asp

# Temporary deposit with a third party of assets by agreement between two parties to a contract. The money is released when the conditions of the contract have been met.
www.onlinewbc.gov/docs/starting/glossary.html

# A written agreement between two or more parties providing that certain instruments or property be placed with a third party to be delivered to a designated person upon the fulfillment or performance of some act or condition.
www.officespacefinder.co.uk/officespaceglossary.html

# refers to a neutral third party who carries out the instructions of both the buyer and seller to handle all the paperwork of settlement or "closing." Escrow may also refer to an account held by the lender into which the homebuyer pays money for tax or insurance payments.
www.secureyourdebt.com/glossary.html

# The depositing of money or documents from a real estate transaction with an impartial third party (escrow agent), to be disbursed to the rightful party when all conditions of the transaction have been met.
www.residentialtitle.com/glossary_of_terms.htm

# A transaction in which a third party represents both the buyer and seller, or for borrower and lender, involving the handling of legal documents and disbursement of funds. In some parts of the US, escrow of taxes and insurance premiums are referred to as impound or reserves. F
www.mortgages-magazine.com/mortgage-glossary.htm

# A trust arrangement by which one or more parties deposit things of value with an authorized escrow agent in accordance with the terms of a real estate agreement.
www.westvest.com/Glossary.cfm

# The closing of a real estate transaction through a neutral third party who holds funds and/or documents for delivery after specific conditions have been met.
www.cnsfn.com/realestateglossary.html

# Money or a written instrument such as a deed that, by agreement between two parties, is held by a neutral third party (held in escrow) until all conditions of the agreement are met.
www.munley.com/legal_glossary_e.html

# The placement of money or documents with a third party for safekeeping pending the fulfillment or performance of a specific act or condition.
www.alliance-re.com/reterms.html

# A third party service that will essentially hold on to the buyer’s payment when selling a domain name, thereby protecting both the buyer and seller.
www.100best-domain-names.com/articles33.html

# A third party who handles the closing of a loan. Escrows also refer to the taxes and insurance payments that borrowers pay at the closing of the loan.
www.buckinghammortgage.com/MortgageTools/MortgageGlossary.asp

# An item of value, money, or documents deposited with a third party to be delivered upon the fulfillment of a condition. For example, the deposit by a borrower with the lender of funds to pay taxes and insurance premiums when they become due, or the deposit of funds or documents with an attorney or escrow agent to be disbursed upon the closing of a sale of real estate.
www.findmyrate.com/learning_center/glossary.php

# Delivery of a deed by a grantor to a third party for delivery to the grantee upon the happening of a contingent event. Modernly, in some states, all instruments necessary to the sale (including funds) are delivered to a third (neutral) party, with instructions as to their use.
www.americannn.com/resources/resourcemain3.html

# A procedure whereby a disinterested third party handles legal documents and funds on behalf of a seller and buyer.
www.alaskausamortgage.com/help/mtgterms.asp

# Money, securities or other property that is held by a third party until a contract's conditions are met.
www.americancentury.com/servlet/GlossaryManager/acb.americancentury.com/ilEnEw.htm

# Funds that are set aside and held in trust, usually for payment of taxes and insurance on real property. Also earnest deposits held pending loan closing.
1ezmortgage.net/glossary2.html

# An item of value, money, or documents deposited with a third party to be delivered upon the fulfillment of a condition.
www.absolutelowestrates.com/glossary/default.asp

# Funds held by the lender, wet aside for payment of taxes and possible property and mortgage insurance and other recurring charges against real property. (Monthly mortgage payments usually included principal, interest and escrow amounts.)
debt-consolidation-equity-home-loans.com/glossary.htm

# Funds paid by one party to another (the escrow agent) to hold until the occurrence of a specified event, after which the funds are released to a designated individual. In FHA mortgage transactions an escrow account usually refers to the funds a mortgagor pays the lender at the time of the periodic mortgage payments. The money is held in a trust fund, provided by the lender for the buyer. ...
www.nethome.net/realterms.htm

# A state wherein consideration, benefits, legal rights, money, documents or other valuables are transferred to another party in advance of that party's legal entitlement to them, on the basis that the legal entitlement will arise at a given point in the future. A form of trust.
www.search4miamihomes.com/realestateglossary/E.html

# The handling of funds or documents by a third party on behalf of the buyer and/or seller.
www.nachi.org/glossary/e.htm

# the holding in trust of written agreement or other property (including money) by a third party until specified conditions are fulfilled.
www.cbsc.org/servlet/ContentServer

# Money or other valuables given to a third party with directions to deliver them to another party upon the fulfillment of a specific act or condition.
www.sarasotafloridausa.com/real-estate-terms.html

# a written agreement (or property or money) delivered to a third party or put in trust by one party to a contract to be returned after fulfillment of some condition
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

# Escrow is a legal arrangement whereby a thing (often money, but sometimes other property such as art, a deed of title, or software source code) is delivered to a third party (called an escrow agent) to be held in trust pending a contingency or the fulfillment of a condition or conditions in a contract. Upon that event occurring, the escrow agent will deliver the thing to the proper recipient, otherwise the escrow agent is bound by her or his fiduciary duty to maintain the escrow account.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escrow