The Escrow Process for Orange County Home Buyers
Escrow is the neutral third-party process that holds funds and documents until every condition of your purchase agreement is met. Here’s what to expect timeline-wise.
Opening escrow
Escrow typically opens within a day or two of an accepted offer, once your earnest money deposit is submitted.
Contingency periods
Inspection, appraisal, and loan contingencies each have defined windows — usually 17 days for inspections in a standard California contract, though terms are negotiable.
Closing and recording
Once all contingencies are removed and funds are wired, the deed records with the county and you receive keys — typically 30–45 days from acceptance for a financed purchase.