Currently, the escrow states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, parts of Ohio, Oregon, Utah and Washington. States that structure closings differently. You and the seller are not required to be in the same location.
The period that you are "in escrow" is often 30 days, but may be longer or shorter. During this time, each item specified in the contract must be completed satisfactorily. By the time you have opened escrow, you have come to an agreement with the seller on the closing date and the contingencies.
Who Does The Escrow Agent Work For? Escrow agents act as neutral third parties in these types of transactions. They serve the escrow agreement, and as such, they don't work for either the buyer or the seller.