An escrow agent oversees escrow, the process that some states use to complete a home's sale or purchase. The buyer and seller sign an agreement that gives the escrow agent a detailed list of instructions on how escrow should be carried out, which includes how much money to collect, what documents to prepare and when to order a title search. The escrow agent is a neutral party who fairly represents both the seller and buyer. The escrow agent can be a lender, title company or real estate attorney.

See: Escrow