Escrow Explained; Safeguarding Transactions

Escrow acts as a safe middle ground during financial transactions. Imagine a trusted third party holding onto money or property until certain conditions are met by both buyer and seller. That’s essentially escrow.

Let’s say you’re buying a house. You won’t hand over the cash directly to the seller because what if there are issues with the title, or repairs need to be done? Escrow prevents such problems.

Here’s how it works in real estate:

1. Agreement is reached: Buyer and seller agree on a price and terms.
2. Escrow opens: A neutral third party, like an escrow company, holds the documents and money.
3. Conditions are met: Buyer secures financing, and seller fixes any agreed-upon issues.
4. Closing: Once everything’s in order, the escrow agent transfers ownership and funds accordingly.

Escrow protects both parties, ensuring a smooth transaction. It’s also used for other situations where trust or security is needed, like holding funds in certain mortgage accounts.

Understanding the Escrow Process and Requirements

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The escrow process occurs between the time a seller accepts an offer to purchase and the buyer takes possession of the home.
• The first part of the escrow process is the opening of an account in which deposits and any other payments can be held.
• The buyer must wait for bank approval, secure financing, get inspections completed, purchase hazard insurance, do walk-throughs, and go through closing.
• The buyer may walk away from the agreement if conditions are not met or there is a problem with the property.

WEBSITE

Congratulations! You have accepted an offer. Here is everything you need to know about the escrow process.

1. Escrow

Within three days of an accepted offer, the buyer will wire a 3% deposit into our escrow account.  This deposit is refundable until after the contingencies have been lifted. At that time, the buyer will not be able to cancel escrow without losing their deposit to you.

Escrow instructions: Within the next few days, escrow will be sending you a package with instructions.  This will summarize the terms of the escrow and include reports and forms for you to read and fill out. Please look through them thoroughly and call us with any questions.

2. Inspections

Buyer Inspections: Depending on what was negotiated in the contract, the buyer has anywhere from 0-17 days to complete a general home inspection and any other specific inspections, such as a chimney, sewer line, and pool.  These inspections may take between 2-4 hours depending on the size of the house, and may take at least one or two days. Usually, the seller is not present, but one of us will be there. After the completion of the inspections, the buyer may ask for the seller to handle the repair of something that might have been uncovered.  This is not out of the ordinary, and usually, the buyer and seller come to an agreement regarding the issues. WEBSITE

Ralene Nelson, REALTOR
OPEN HOUSE Sat. 12 pm – 3 pm
OPEN HOUSE Sun. 12 pm – 3 pm
357 Spyglass Dr, Rio Vista
2bd/2bth/1172sf/4,391sf lot

Honey, stop the car, I want this cottage-like home on the golf course at the 6th tee box & with spectacular views!! The patio is perfect for morning coffee, afternoon beverages & BBQ. The Carmel model, 2 bedroom, 2 bath home is perfect for retirement. Laminate flooring, new exterior & interior paint & light fixtures is move-in ready. The kitchen has granite counters, oak cabinets, pantry closet & overlooks the golf course. The primary bedroom has a bay window that provides an excellent sitting area & view. Amenities galore, from the 18-hole golf course, tennis/pickle ball courts, bocce ball courts, full gym, billiards, computer room, indoor & outdoor pool/spas, and library plus an aesthetician & masseuse available in the health center. Start packing!! And head to Trilogy in Rio Vista, the Active Adult Community. WEBSITE

302 Spyglass Dr. Rio Vista,
2bd/2bth/1439sqft/4805sqft lot

$430,000 – Welcome to Trilogy at Rio Vista, the active adult community, located near the Sacramento River. Do you enjoy water sports, fishing and/or tennis, golf, or bocce, This is your retirement, resort-style living. This Pebble Beach model home provides you with a 2 bedroom 2 bath home with 2 full baths. Very private backyard to enjoy your morning coffee or beverage in the afternoon, and have a BBQ. The home features a kitchen with a pantry closet, white tile counters & black splash with oak cabinets & a white electric stove & a microwave, and a dishwasher. Carpet throughout with tile entry. Trilogy offers so many amenities such as an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, 2 pools (indoor and outdoor) billiards, a computer room, a library, a full gym, & cafe in the Vista Club. The restaurant is being renovated & will be beautiful. Come join the fun!  READ MORE

FOR SALE – 212 S 7th St Apt A, Rio Vista
3 units: A-3/1, B-2/2, C-2/2 or 1/2

$805,000 – Great opportunity to own investment property, 3 homes on 1 lot; Unit A is 3/1, Unit B is 2/2, & Unit C 2/2. Lot is very private, with lots of room for BBQ & fun. Located in Core Rio Vista, walk to town, restaurants, & groceries. Large grassy area for play. Stable renters with a good payment history. Do not disturb renters in Units A & B. Unit A built in 1930 & Unit B in 1948. Unit C was a barn/garage converted with permits. With a little TLC, these units are great for tenants just starting out on their own. All 3 have single-car garages. WEBSITE

PENDING SALE – 50 River Rd. Rio Vista
2bed/1 bath/772sqft

$150,000 – This new Skyline manufactured home, located in West Wind Mobile Park, is perfect for a starter home or your retirement home. The home has two bedrooms & one bath with a lovely kitchen with gas stove & room for small dining table, as well as, counter for bar stools. Carpet in bedrooms & laminate in remaining home, & comes with 70 TV. Carport for 2 cars tandem, awning & shed on entry door side. Home has patio area for those BBQ days. Walk to the river front & town, don’t forget to bring your fishing poles. Appliances convey with sale. Roof is cellulose, fiberglass cement siding, cashew color shaker cabinets & mini blinds. READ MORE

PENDING SALE 15967 Isleton Rd, Isleton
4bed/2bath/2,836sqft2,836 sf/1.37acre lot

$475,000 – This is an opportunity to own a home next to the river. Original home built in 1940, 1260 sq ft, then 3 stories added to home. The lot is 1.37 acres, with room to add a pool. This home has 4 bedrooms & 2 baths with lots of space for entertaining. The home is heated with 4 pellet stoves, 1 on each floor, & the natural breezes cool off the home in the summer. The boat dock is a lease with the State of California, acting through the State Lands Commission. The lease is dated 6/21/18 for 10 years. The gangplank is damaged. This home features 2 wrap-around decks. The laundry room & 2nd kitchen are located in the original house with a bedroom/sitting room. The primary bedroom is located on the 3rd floor with an elevated space for sitting & watching the boat traffic on the Sacramento River. The newer section has dual-pane windows, and the original section is single-pane. The lot provides so much space for entertaining your family & guests as well as 3 storage units. Only 1 storage unit has electricity. Home is a project waiting for your building & decorating skills and is priced to reflect that. All appliances convey with sale. WEBSITE

1.935ac Poppy House Rd. & Norman Richards Dr. Rio Vista

$410,000 – Zoned Commercial, No Cannabis. Contact Ralene Nelson at Re/Max Grupe Gold | BRE# 01503588 | 707.334.0699 | 107 Main St. Rio Vista. 4873 Lone Tree Wy, Antioch, CA

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Events in Northern California this Weekend
Sherman Island Opening Day, June 1st 2024
Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Sherman Island Regional Park, 5149 W Sherman Island Rd, Rio Vista,

Raffle, Maui Mike’s Magic Chicken + Smokin’ Dave’s Pork Sandos, Wing + Kite Foil Race, Expression Session, Demos and More! WEBSITE

Hashhole Island
Saturday, June 1 · 3 – 11pm
500 Brannan Island Road, Isleton

BE READY FOR A FESTIVE TIME FOR ADULTS ONLY 21+ AND UP. WE WILL BE HAVING RIDE ATTRACTIONS AND MORE THIS JUNE 1st. THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL. Come one come all. we have attractions this year’s entertainment, live performances, along with many opportunities to meet some of the most influential people and artists. WEBSITE

June First Sunday Brunch at Wimpy’s!
Sunday, June 2 · 10am – 2pm
14001 West Walnut Grove Road Walnut Grove

Enjoy a Beautiful Summer Day with Sunday Brunch at Wimpy’s! Kick off the month of June with a delicious Brunch by the river! The Wimpy’s Team is excited to see and serve you at our Riverfront Restaurant & Bar! ????
Our Traditional Prime Rib Brunch Buffet is an All You Can Eat style meal that features many Fresh Seasonal offerings Steamed Mussels, Artisan Mac ‘N Cheese, succulent Seafood Dishes, Full Breakfast, and Desserts. Includes your first Mimosa. Bottomless Mimosas $15 per guest.​

Pre-Reserved Tickets: $33/Person In Person Day Of: $38, $14 – Kids 12 & Under, 2 & Under Free RSVP on EventBrite only. Walk-Ins Welcome.

Attendance for the seating time you have purchased a ticket is required. To best serve you, we ask our guests to please do your best to visit us during the time slot that you reserve. WEBSITE

Sacramento Water Lantern Festival 2024
Sat, Jun 1, 2024 at 5:30 PM
8556 Gibson Ranch Park Rd, Elverta, CA

The Sacramento, CA Water Lantern Festival is bringing people together for a celebration of light and community! This unforgettable evening will be filled with tasty food trucks, fun music, activities, and thousands of lanterns lighting up the night with love, hope, and happiness. WEBSITE