Madrona Park Escrow, Inc.
Integrity | Efficiency | Service
Since 1990
What We Do for You
Madrona Park Escrow has been the trusted escrow company for you and your neighbors. We maintain escrow accounts and oversee the escrow process impartially, making sure all conditions of the sale are met properly. We serve as a neutral third party and liaison between all parties involved and make sure everything goes smoothly for you and your family. For more information on the escrow process and why it’s necessary, please review our FAQs section.
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Your satisfaction is our priority.
Commercial real estate
Residential Real Estate
For Sale By Owner
Bulk Sales/ABC Transfers
Madrona Park Escrow puts our clients first and foremost. Contact our office to set up an appointment and find out what we can do for you.
Seek professional guidance
The premise behind a real estate transaction is simple – the seller is selling, and a buyer is buying. You may have been told that you don’t need a broker, you don’t need escrow, you don’t need a lender, and you don’t need a title policy. However, unless you are an expert in these matters, a consumer shouldn’t even think about entering into escrow without the professional help from at least some, if not all of these providers.
Escrow - What Is It?
Very simply defined, an escrow is a deposit of funds – a deed or other instrument by one party for the delivery to another party upon completion of a particular condition or event. The California Escrow Law – Section 17003 of the Finance Code – provides the legal definition.
Escrow - How Does It Work?
The principals to the escrow – buyer, seller, lender and borrower – cause escrow instructions, usually in writing, to be created, signed and delivered to the escrow officer. If a broker is involved, he or she will normally provide the escrow officer with the information necessary for the preparation of your escrow instructions and documents.
The escrow officer will process the escrow in accordance with the escrow instructions and, when all conditions required in the escrow can be met or achieved, the escrow will be “closed.” Each escrow, although following a similar pattern, is different in some respects as it deals with your property and the transaction at hand.
The duties of an escrow holder include following the instructions given by the principals and parties to the transaction in a timely manner, handling the funds and/or documents in accordance with instruction, paying all bills as authorized, responding to authorized requests from the principals, closing the escrow only when all terms and conditions have been met and distributing the funds in accordance with instructions and provide an accounting for same – the closing or settlement statement.
What Do I Have To Do While In Escrow?
The key to any transaction as important as your sale, purchase or loan is to read and understand your escrow instructions. If you do not understand them, you should ask your escrow officer to explain the instructions.
Your escrow officer is not an attorney and cannot practice law. Therefore, you should consult your lawyer for legal advice. Do not expect your escrow officer to advise you as to whether or not you have a “good deal or are doing things the right way. The escrow officer is there to follow the instructions given by the principals in the escrow only.
To expedite the closing of the escrow, you should check with your escrow officer as to what specific items you could do to assist. One question to ask is “What can I do to expedite the closing of this escrow?”
Respond quickly to all correspondence as this will assist in the timely closing of the transaction.
If you are required to deliver funds into the escrow, make sure that you provide “good” funds in the form required by the escrow officer. Company procedures differ in this regard, and there are ways that you can help at the time of closing, so verify this with your escrow officer. Do not give the escrow officer a personal check and expect the escrow to close immediately. The escrow can only close on cleared funds, and the processing of a personal check can take days, possibly even a week or more.
When the escrow officer closes the escrow, some of you may want the closing papers, checks, title policies, statement and so on made available immediately. There are many aspects to the closing of the escrow, and some of these cannot be processed on the day of the closing. Instead, they may take several days. If you have a special need – for example, a cashier’s check on the day of closing – you should communicate that need to the escrow officer early in the processing of the escrow.
Why Do I Need Escrow?
Whether you are the buyer, seller, lender or borrower, you want the assurance that no funds or property will change hands until all of the instructions in the transaction have been followed. The escrow holder has an obligation to safeguard the funds and/or documents while they are in possession of the escrow holder and to disburse funds and/or convey title only when all provisions of the escrow have been complied with.
Who Chooses The Escrow?
The selection of the escrow holder is normally done by agreement between the principals. If a real estate broker is involved in the transaction, the broker may recommend an escrow holder. However, it is the right of the principals to use an escrow holder who is competent and experienced in handling the type of escrow at hand. There are laws that prohibit the payment of referral fees, which affords the consumer the best possible escrow services without any compromise caused by a person receiving a referral fee.
Escrow And Your New Loan
“If you are obtaining a new loan, your escrow officer will be in touch with the lender who will need copies of the escrow instructions, the preliminary title report and any other necessary documents related to escrow. In the processing and closing of the escrow, the escrow holder is obligated to comply with the lender’s instructions.
It has become a practice of lenders to forward their loan documents to escrow for signing. You should be aware that these papers are lender’s documents and cannot be explained or interpreted by the escrow officer. You have the option of requesting a representative from the lender’s office to be present for explanation.
Beulah Stidham
President & Owner
Beulah handles even the toughest escrows with confidence and works to make the “Escrow experience” pleasant for her clients.
She is a member of Escrow Institute of California serving as President from 2010-2012, and in several chair positions since 1990. And a Board Member of Escrow Agents Fidelity Corporation. Other memberships are California Escrow Association and American Escrow Association
While living in Germany for a time, she had the privilege of serving as Chairwoman of the Business Office of the Ramstein Air Base Officer’s Wives Club Bazaar and Chairwoman of their 25th Anniversary Bazaar. The Bazaar is a major fund raiser for the needs of the Military community and also supported special needs of the local German community.
Christine Chang
Escrow Officer
With over 20 years of experience in business management and accounting, Christine is an expert when it comes to escrow transactions.
Decades of owning and running her own businesses has helped Christine become a professional in bulk sales and liquor license transfers.
She is bilingual in Korean and English, which has been crucial in helping clients with language barriers, and she is also a Notary Public.
Her professionalism and dedication to serving her clients is what keeps them coming back to Madrona Park Escrow.
Rebecca Ellis
Manager
Rebecca has over 30 years of experience in the escrow field, with 25 of those years being at Madrona Park Escrow. She provides all customers with efficient, knowledgeable, and reliable service. In her spare time Rebecca enjoys running, which is fitting considering that she will go the extra mile in making every escrow a smooth and easy transaction.
Member
Department of Financial Protection & Innovation License #9631608
American Escrow Association
California Escrow Association
Escrow Law Advisory Committee
Escrow Agents Fidelity Corporation
Escrow Institute of California