The primary duties of an escrow agent are: duty to follow the escrow instructions; duty to use good faith and reasonable skill; and. duty to redeliver goods on the completion of conditions.
In a real estate transaction, an escrow agent is a neutral third-party entity who holds onto funds and assets related to the transaction until both parties have satisfied their contractual obligations and the sale can be closed on. An escrow agent may also be referred to as an escrow officer.
The buyer in the real estate sales transaction generally makes the selection of the escrow holder/agent and the title insurance company intending to issue the title insurance coverage. A real estate broker should consult the escrow holder/agent before informing the principals that escrow will close on a certain date.