I have been selling residential real estate for 14 years now and have used numerous escrow companies over the years. Homestead Escrow is unparalleled in their ability to communicate. The escrow officer that I use is Gale, and she is on top of EVERYTHING! She goes above and beyond with my clients and I have never had a complaint in working with her. Katie and George are the managers and marketing directors and they are amazingly helpful whenever my clients or I need something. They are truly a phone call away. If you have escrow questions or are wondering about fees or anything, this is who I would call and voluntarily choose to work with. My clients have always been very satisfied with every aspect of escrow. As for the review that states the "hold harmless" agreement, that is standard on ANY escrow company paperwork because in California, escrow companies are required to be the neutral third party. read more

Third escrow company I've closed with in the area - best service. Eddie Tanamachi was our escrow officer - he is efficient, easy to reach, and clear. He helped us pull off an early close and WIRED FUNDS SAME DAY. My knees are still wobbling. I'm not a realtor and no longer live in the area - so totally objective review. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!! read more

These kind folks who are supposed to represent the buyer and the seller, however they slip terms into the contract which has both the buyer and seller indemnifying anybody associated with the transaction. Entire classes of people. It is our interests they are supposed to protect but they will sell you down the river in a heartbeat.My last review here of these scallawags. was a little too rough they had it removed to try to clean up their stinking reputation. they gave me the 2+pounds of CC&Rs fastened together with with a flimsy rubber band which broke before I got to my car spreading paper all over their parking lot. All for the cost of a cheep envelope. Very professional! read more

Unfortunately we were not able to choose the escrow company to work with. If we had to, this would definitely not be the first choice on our list (or be a choice at all for that matter). From the beginning, there was a lack of communication from our Sr. Loan Officer Joanie. I still till this day have not heard what her voice sounds like over the phone. We completed the whole transaction while being in a different state. You would think communication would thus be extremely important. The list goes on about how many negative experiences I had with this company. Not only that, my escrow close date was pushed almost a week past its original date. In addition, they screwed up on our vesting information which caused a whole different issue I then had to deal with, with the lender. I attempted to resolve the issue with Kate/Katie the office manager. She was nice and understanding over the phone and was able to negotiate a small reduction of fees for the inconvenience we went through but even SHE failed to call me back after our long discussion to remedy the situation. After our phone call, I received an email from the Sr. Loan Officer's assistant explaining the reduction of fees. One would think that after a lengthy conversation with a disgruntled customer that the manager would call back/follow up (like they had said they would) and explain what had happened, review her findings of the issues, and explain the reduction of fees. This never occurred. I guess the overall interactions I had with this company probably reflects the way the manager handles her business. My rating is based on the following errors: Lack of communication, lack of attention to detail, and the lack of being able to follow through/follow up. Overall, if you had a choice, you should definitely avoid this company at all costs. read more

Chrissie Doidge and Karen Anthony have been "My Dream Team". As a Realtor, it is imperative to align yourself with "The Best of The Best". Their exceptional work ethic, customer service, attention to detail and follow through have always been "Above and Beyond" the industry standards. I've experienced some challenging and unusual circumstances along the way. Thankfully, I can always count on them to be "On Top of It" and get things handled in order to close on time. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HOMESTEAD ESCROW FOR ALL YOUR ESCROW NEEDS! Sincerely, Christine Hill Keller Williams BRE # 01991301 read more

STAY. VERY. FAR. AWAY. Homestead Escrow are a group of cheaters and liars. BUYERS BE VERY CAREFUL TO AGREE TO WORK WITH THIS ESCROW COMPANY. Kiss your money goodbye if you do regardless of the outcome. 30 days+ and I still haven't received the full amount of my escrow back after the seller agreed to return. This is criminal. read more

I worked with Chrissie on our last transaction and she was absolutely fabulous. I was blown away by the way she cares about her clients, our transaction and the timely manner in which she respond back. Amazing!!! I would give additional star if I can for her knowledge and her efforts. Looking forward to many more transactions in the future with Chrissie and Homestead escrow. read more

Excellent service. I worked with Heather and Melanie when buying by first home. They made the process very easy and fast guiding me every step of the way and giving me ample time to sign or fill out any documents they requested. They were always available if I had any questions and were extremely polite, professional and knowledgeable. Fantastic team and a great company! I would recommend Homestead Escrow to anyone. read more

I'm so grateful for Krissy Adamczyk & her dedication to every escrow we've ever had together. She's diligent, goes above an beyond and works so hard to make sure everything goes as smooth as possible. We've worked together helping five families now and my clients are ALWAYS amazed we always close on time without a hiccup! Krissy is truly an escrow angel! Looking forward to helping many more families together! read more

I recently refinanced my place and had the opportunity to deal with Sophie From homestead escrow. She helped me out with so many questions and uncertainties that I had about the process. She was always very friendly and informative. Very sad that this escrow company will not be servicing the loan for Me through out. Sophie either new the answers to my questions on the spot or got back to me about what ever it is I was asking in a matter of hours. She even helped me get info from a previous escrow company I was dealing with. Thank you Sophie read more

We have done business with this company twice in recent months. We are happy with its service. Our escrow officer Rob R. is client friendly, flexible and efficient on his work. He understood our needs and was willing to accommodate. No issue with small children being present during conduction of business. Office location is very convenient for us and there is ample parking. read more

It was a rough ride buying my first house but it finally ended and after 2 weeks i got my check from them. I would not recommend this company. If you write a bad review on them they might call you at 7am like Joffrey did to me and ask that you remove the review. Very unprofessional! Im giving 2 stars because they did end up giving me the money they owed me. read more

We had the pleasure of working with Debbie Ettelt, she was very friendly, informative (clear and concise) and made the process as painless as possible. We were first-time home-buyers and had a ton of questions, she was always caring and swift to respond. The signing process was much quicker than anticipated, she explained everything thoroughly and made it less stressful. Overall experience was phenomenal and hope to work with her again! read more

When purchasing a home there are so many moving parts and it tends to be a stressful situation. Debbie truly made our experience wonderful! Her knowledge, professionalism and ability to keep things calm was fantastic throughout the entire process. She takes the time to listen to concerns and provides clear guidance and understanding. Because of her, we would use Homestead Escrow again in a minute!!!! Thanks Debbie. read more

I have worked with Jennifer Davidson a couple different times and was very pleased with her service, professionalism and communication throughout the process. She is very knowledgeable knows how to get things done quickly and correctly and always keeps you abreast of what is going on. She is a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Homestead Escrow. read more

Donna Szmurlo with Homestead Escrow is probably the best escrow officer anywhere. Donna has been handling my escrow for the last 20 + years. Her work ethic, professionalism and customer service is an match. Kudos to her team and Katie Wilson and George Delgado read more

Homestead escrow is the top escrow in South Orange County in my opinion! What sets them apart from others is not their top ranked productivity but most importantly their top notch service! They have the best service and its in huge part because of Katie DiCaprio and Heather Clearwater. read more

I worked with Heather Clearwater at Homestead Escrow for the sell of my home. She was fast, friendly and efficient. She made the process a breeze. If you are selecting an escrow company I would definitely recommend Homestead Escrow and specifically Heather! read more

Eddie Tanamachi, Debbie Elliot both go the extra mile! They make the entire escrow process smooth and communicated with me the entire time. Highly recommend this team and company.... read more

My team and I have worked with Homestead Escrow on dozens of transactions & all of our clients have been very happy with their services. I'm very surprised to read some of the negative reviews on here - but I also know none of them were for my escrow officer, Julianne Long and her team. Julianne is simply the best! She has a loyal clientele of real estate professionals and homeowners alike because of her unparalleled customer service. She is extremely responsive and knowledgeable as she's been an escrow officer for many years. It always amazes me how she makes time for all of her clients given the amount of files she handles on a regular basis. I know I've had my share of horrible experiences with other escrow companies & escrow officers when I represent buyers in a transaction - which is extremely unprofessional and unnecessary. I guess I didn't realize that not every escrow officer is as professional as Julianne is! Her and her assistants will stay on top of your escrow from beginning to the end. I highly recommend her services and Homestead Escrow. read more

Horrible service! Watch out for your escrow dollars! Not only do they have HUGE attitudes!!! They also try to keep monies after all parties agree to return money set aside for escrow. Horrible business people! Everyone needs to know what they do!! I rate them negative stars if there were negative stars to input! read more

Rude. no communication manner or courtesy. Call my insurance company directly without letting me know, they raise the coverage. And Jenny said it's not her job but my insurance company to tell me about it so I get to refuse it. and then add this line, "Then we don't close the escrow and you don't get the loan" .. what? ... what? I said "Excuse me ..." and she kept yelling to shut me up. What? What? By all means, do not waste your precious money. FYI : Jenny Copenhaver jenny@homesteadescrow.com Colleen@homesteadescrow.com stay away from them. read more

Homestead Escrow is amazing!! They are so professional and hands on in every transaction. I have used them for over 10 years and there is no one better out there. Chrissie Doidge is my Escrow Officer and she is quick to respond and treats my clients with respect and makes it a smooth and easy transaction. She is the best! read more

I bought a house a few years ago. They were very helpful honest and straightforward. I highly recommend them.

My wife & I have worked with Chrissie Doidge at Homestead Escrow for several years (close to 10 years now maybe?), I can unequivocally say that she is by far the most elite Escrow Officer in the industry. No one is as fast, accurate and proactive as Chrissie, her work ethic is truly magnificent, it's been a pleasure to get to work with her for so many years. read more

I have been working with Katie for about 6 months now as my preferred escrow office at Homestead. Katie and her escrow officers are a great addition to my team and are always there when my clients or I need something done.(even on Super Bowl Sunday at 8:45pm) if you need someone that is going to work hard to EARN your business, then I recommend you give Katie the opportunity to do just that. Whether you need an escrow company for your income condo, or your beach front estate, they will handle it. read more

Joan Hively and her staff were fantastic in handling two escrows for me. They did a great deal of coordination to get things done.

Buying a home and moving is never a fun transaction. Jennifer Davidson and Cindy Cope helped make this big part my families life as stress free as possible. We never had any delays and she was always upfront and honest with us along the way. This company has service that is second to none and they will always do everything they can to get the job done. I would recommend this company to anyone who was looking for the best Escrow company to work with. read more

Where do I begin??? I am an Independent Real Estate Broker/Owner and the escrow company of my choice is, hands down, Homestead Escrow. In this crazy Real Estate world, I feel it is important to minimize conflicts of interest. For this reason, I believe using an Independent Escrow Company is very important. Eddie Tanamachi, my Escrow Officer, and his team are professional, efficient, caring, intelligent, easy to get a hold of, fun, etc. I rarely have to leave a voice mail message and emails are responded to in record time. Katie - Chief Marketing Officer and George - Executive Marketing Officer, are the best, also. They are supportive, responsive and always have a smile on their faces. Thank you all for helping Corliss Realty's escrows be smooth, stress free, and with on-time closings. Most of all, thank you for taking excellent care of our clients. You are the best!! read more

I was a Realtor for several years and maybe I have had some expectations coming into this transaction. I sold my house on Friday, and didn't get my proceeds until Wednesday. Emails are left unanswered and there is no sense of urgency. read more

As a real estate broker I have used or been forced to use almost every major escrow company in the area over the last 20 years. By far the best one is Homestead Escrow. They are not owned by any of the real estate companies, (Something the others hide but is more common than not). And they are experts, solving issues that other companies cannot. Additionally they have such a positive and professional attitude. I use Donna Szmurlo and her team but from experience they are all the best. Choosing the wrong escrow company can make the difference between a deal going through and one failing. Don't make a mistake. Homestead is by far the best of the best. read more

Homestead Escrow did a good job of closing my loan on time and forwarding the funds quickly to my purchase escrow. I was impressed they sent a mobile notary to me for free to get the documents signed and cleared at the beginning of escrow. I really liked that touch. The process was simple, easy and convenient. read more

Christine K. was great! She went above and beyond to move up our close date and moved her schedule around to meet with us so that we could sign in person. Christine was extremely accessible and either answered my phone calls or got back to me via email very quickly. Her effort resulted in us closing on Friday (instead of the following Monday) and really made our closing experience so much better than we thought. I definitely recommend Christine and Homestead Escrow! Carl read more

If I could give this company ZERO stars I would! Do not use them as your escrow company!! They screwed up on our official documents and we have received many fees and bills that were missed. This caused a lien to be placed on our condo. As first time home buyers that's exactly what you want.... we reached out to them to pay for the mistake they caused and they wanted nothing to do with it. In the end after many emails they paid for HALF.... out of the goodness of their heart? One month later we were hit with another issue do to the same mistake they made and they will not take responsibility for there mistake. Why pay a company thousands of dollars for there "professional work" then they just put the blame on you. Don't use this company and make sure no one else does. read more

Great transaction! Heather was quick and always responsive, the staff was charming and the transaction was easy... Good service!

My wife and I have the pleasure to work with Heather Clearwater of Homestead Escrow on two occassions, most recently this past two weeks on the sale of our condominium in Dana Point, California. Thanks to the "magic" of modern internet most of the transaction was accomplished via "Docu-sign" but Heather and her able cohorts hand held us every step of the way. There is a wonderful feeling when you are dealing with people who you are confident know what they are doing every step of the way. That's the way a Homestead Escrow client feels when she/he has Heather Clearwater et al in their corner. Professional, efficient, personable, timely and responsive are just a few adjectives to describe our feelings for the Homestead Escrow team. read more

Had the opportunity to work on a transaction with Heather Clearwater and what a professional she is!!! She alway kept in communication with everyone and kept us on track with all the contingencies and reminded me for pending items. She was always available to answer any questions when you needed her. Absolute pleasure working with Heather and the Homestead Escrow team. read more

I was supposed to get my escrow closed on April 2. Then changed to the 3rd. Today we find out we have to wait until Monday. We are a family of 4 with a dog that had been patiently waiting for our home for 40 days in motels. Now I find out we will have to spend Easter weekend in a motel also and wait till Monday. Monday is a great day to get your new house. It's great because then we get to go to work and to school and THEN come to our new house and try to move in Monday through Friday. After work. After school. When no one will be available to help until the following Saturday. I hope everyone working at Homestead Escrow enjoys this lovely holiday weekend in their lovely homes. read more

Debbie Etell, Eddie Tanamachi and the entire support staff are truly as good as it gets. They even moved offices in the middle of my escrow and didn't miss a beat. I changed from a under performing company and had high expectations, which they met and then some. I highly recommend this company if you want to sleep well at night. read more

Excellent service. Went above and beyond and very professional during the whole process. Stacy was our escrow officer and Susan/Chrysten were in her team. Highly recommend!!! read more