For real estate agents
Send us the contract. We’ll run the escrow from there.
Advantage One Escrow has worked with Southern California agents since 1993. We like to start early, even before a home is listed, so problems come up while there is still time to fix them.
Opening a file
Send us the signed purchase contract and any counteroffers. Include contact details for both sides and the lender. We open the file, order the preliminary title report and send everyone an opening package that includes our wire fraud warning.
You can call us or use the Open an escrow form.
The work we do early
The quiet middle weeks are where closings slip. So we start the slow items as soon as the file opens.
- Payoff demands for every loan and lien
- HOA documents for each association
- The preliminary title report, sent out for review
- A heads-up when we find anything that could move the closing date
Neutral for everyone at the table
We follow the signed instructions and stay neutral, even toward the agent who opened the file. We can’t give legal or tax advice to you or your clients. We also can’t take a side in a dispute.
No referral rewards
California’s Escrow Law bars escrow companies from paying anyone for referring escrow business. Federal RESPA rules also bar kickbacks on home loans. So we don’t offer referral fees or any kind of gift or reward.
Our guides and fee calculator are free and open to every agent and every client.
Checklist
What to send when you open a file.
Tick items off as you go. Your ticks stay in this browser only.
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How much is the escrow fee for a sale?
Each side pays $300 plus $2.15 per $1,000 of the sale price. On any part of the price above $2,000,000, the rate is $1.75 per $1,000. On a $1,000,000 home, the fee is $2,450 for each side.
What other charges might I see from Advantage One?
A buyer with a loan pays a $500 loan processing fee. Sellers may see small flat charges, such as $30 for each loan payoff and $50 for each homeowners association. Our published fee schedule lists each charge.
Who pays the county transfer tax?
In Orange County, the seller usually pays it, though your contract decides. The tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of the price everywhere in Orange County, including Huntington Beach. Some cities in other counties add their own tax.
Who pays for title insurance?
The owner’s policy is usually the seller’s cost, and the lender’s policy is the buyer’s. The title company sets both premiums, and your contract can change who pays.
What does a refinance escrow cost?
For a single-family home, it is one flat fee based on the loan amount: $650 up to $750,000, $850 up to $1,000,000 and $1,200 up to $2,000,000, plus $200 processing. Loans above $2,000,000 are quoted. Multi-family and commercial refinances are $95 plus $0.95 per $1,000 of the loan, with a $500,000 minimum.
How do I open an escrow with Advantage One?
Send us the signed purchase contract and any counteroffers. Include contact details for both sides and the lender. Call (714) 962-0999 or use our Open an escrow form, and we will take it from there.
Can you plan around a rate lock?
Yes. Tell us the lock expiration when the file opens. We plan the signing and funding around it.
Do you handle subordinations and HELOC-only escrows?
Yes. A subordination agreement is $50. An escrow for only a second loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is $250.
Do you offer referral fees or gifts to agents?
No. California’s Escrow Law bars escrow companies from paying anyone for sending them business. Federal RESPA rules bar kickbacks on home loans. So we don’t offer referral fees or any kind of gift or reward. Our guides and fee calculator are free for every agent and every client.
Is my money safe in escrow?
Your money is held in a trust account, separate from the company’s own funds. It moves only on signed instructions. Advantage One is licensed and examined by the California DFPI, license no. 963-1716. We are also a member of Escrow Agents’ Fidelity Corporation (EAFC), the industry fund that protects member escrow companies against losses from employee theft or embezzlement.
How do I send money to escrow safely?
Never wire money based on an email alone. We will never email or text you new or changed wire instructions. Call us at (714) 962-0999, a number you look up yourself, before you wire money, and confirm the instructions with us.
What if I think I sent money to the wrong place?
Call your bank right away and ask it to recall the wire. Then call us at (714) 962-0999 and report it to the FBI at ic3.gov. The first hours matter most.
What if I get an email that changes the wire instructions?
Treat it as fraud, even if it looks like it came from us, your agent or your lender. Don’t reply and don’t send money. Call us at (714) 962-0999, a number you look up yourself.
Should I email my Social Security or bank account number?
No. Don’t send Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or photos of your ID by regular email or through our website forms. Your escrow officer will tell you how to get them to us safely.