Southwest Escrow
Southwest Escrow Corporation is an independently owned, California-licensed escrow company in Inglewood, serving Los Angeles-area buyers, sellers, agents, and lenders across residential, commercial, refinance, NACA, 1031 exchange, and bulk sale real estate transactions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersInglewood, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Southwest Escrow does
Southwest Escrow Corporation is an independently owned, California-licensed escrow company headquartered at 502 South La Brea Avenue in Inglewood, California, and operated by owner Lyn Kerby. The firm acts as a neutral third party that holds funds and documents in trust for real estate transactions, serving individual buyers, sellers, homeowners, real estate agents, brokers, and lenders across the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Its service catalog spans residential purchase, refinance, foreclosure/REO, short sale, commercial and industrial, 1031 exchange, bulk sales, liquor license transfer, mobile home, and NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) transactions, with a designated relationship with NACA providing a pipeline of first-time and low-to-moderate-income buyers. The firm also offers mobile notary services and rents two on-site community rooms as an ancillary revenue stream.
The business operates on a transaction-based fee model, with escrow fees varying by transaction complexity and county and not regulated by the state of California. Technology consists of a Wix-hosted website with online purchase and refinance escrow opening forms, a Google Calendar-integrated community room booking system, email newsletter distribution, and standard digital document handling — no proprietary escrow platform or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. The firm is BBB A+ accredited, licensed by the California Department of Corporations, and differentiates itself as independent from any real estate broker, mortgage broker, bank, savings & loan, or title company, eliminating the vertical conflict-of-interest inherent in many competitors. Go-to-market combines a self-serve website portal, walk-in and phone service, real estate agent/broker referral relationships, the NACA channel, and broad content marketing across Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and an E-News newsletter.
The firm is privately held, has no disclosed outside funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries, with headcount in the 1–10 range (approximately 8 staff visible across leadership and escrow operations). It has operated continuously in the escrow industry for over 30 years under the Kerby ownership, though one firmographic data point lists a 1935 founding date that conflicts with the 30+ years narrative. Strategic activity is limited to organic service-line expansion, digital channel buildout, and community engagement rather than M&A, geographic expansion beyond LA, or external capital raises.
Southwest Escrow firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southwest Escrow
- Legal name
- Southwest Escrow Corporation
- Website
- https://southwestescrow.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Southwest Escrow Corporation is an independently owned, California-licensed escrow company in Inglewood, serving Los Angeles-area buyers, sellers, agents, and lenders across residential, commercial, refinance, NACA, 1031 exchange, and bulk sale real estate transactions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southwest Escrow industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Real Estate Escrow Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Escrow Services (BPAJAOAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Escrow & Fiduciary Escrow Services (FSAAANAH), Escrow Administration (Tax/Insurance) & Payments Processing (FSALAEAI), Notary & Signing Agent Services (Remote/Onsite) (BPAJAOAF)
Keywords
Where Southwest Escrow is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Inglewood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Southwest Escrow business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Escrow Fees: The company charges escrow fees for handling real estate transactions including residential purchases, commercial sales, refinances, short sales, and foreclosures. Escrow fees are commensurate with the costs of producing the service, the complexity of the transaction, and a host of other factors. Fees vary between companies and from county to county.
- Community Room Rental: The company rents out two community rooms in their office building to the public for events and meetings, generating additional revenue at hourly rates with minimum reservation and deposit requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Community Room 1 - $50 per hour with a 2-hour minimum reservation and $100 deposit required upon approval. |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Community Room 2 - $100 per hour with a 2-hour minimum reservation and $200 deposit required upon approval. |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Escrow Services - transaction-based fees for residential and commercial escrow transactions. |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Southwest Escrow product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southwest Escrow Corporation is an independently owned, licensed escrow company that acts as a neutral third party to hold funds, documents, and instructions for real estate transactions. Core services cover residential and commercial purchase/sale escrow, refinance, foreclosure/REO, short sales, 1031 exchanges, NACA transactions, bulk sales, liquor license transfers, mobile home escrows, and relocation accounts. Auxiliary offerings include mobile notary services and community room rental at their Inglewood, California headquarters.
Product overview
Southwest Escrow Corporation is a full-service independently owned escrow company offering a comprehensive suite of escrow services for real estate transactions. The company provides core escrow services including Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Escrow, Residential Sale/Purchase Escrow, Foreclosure/REO Escrow, Refinance Escrow, and Short Sale Specialist services. The company also offers specialized escrow services including NACA Escrow Services, Bulk Sales Escrow, Liquor License Transfer Services, Mobile Home Escrow Service, Relocation Account Services, and 1031 Exchange Services. Additionally, the company offers Community Room Rental as an auxiliary service. All services are delivered through their licensed escrow officers at their Inglewood, California location.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 30 years of experience in the escrow industry
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Southwest Escrow
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Southwest Escrow technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Southwest Escrow partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America)coreSouthwest Escrow Corporation is a designated escrow company for NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) transactions. NACA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making homeownership accessible and affordable for low- to moderate-income individuals and families through its Best in America Mortgage program featuring no down payment, no closing costs, and below-market interest rates. Southwest Escrow handles the escrow process for NACA-financed home purchases, ensuring compliance with NACA's strict guidelines and timeline requirements.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Southwest Escrow competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- First American Financial Corporation: One of the largest U.S. title insurance and settlement services companies, offering escrow as part of integrated title/closing products. Comparable because it serves the same residential and commercial real estate closing workflow, though as a broad national incumbent rather than an independent escrow specialist.
- Fidelity National Financial: Major national title insurance and escrow/closing services provider. Comparable to Southwest Escrow in that escrow is a core part of its closing services, but operates at national scale with bundled title/escrow products.
- Stewart Information Services: National title insurance and real estate services company offering escrow and closing services across the U.S. Comparable product set (residential and commercial escrow) but materially larger and geographically diversified versus Southwest's single LA office.
- Old Republic Title: National title insurer providing escrow and settlement services for residential and commercial real estate transactions. Comparable in escrow functionality, but part of a much larger diversified insurance group.
- WFG National Title: National title insurance and escrow company operating through agent and lender channels. Comparable in escrow product set and reliance on real estate agent referrals, but at significantly larger scale than Southwest.
- Chicago Title (part of FNF): One of the most recognized U.S. title insurance brands, part of Fidelity National Financial, providing escrow and closing services nationally. Comparable in escrow functionality, but with brand scale and bundled offerings that independent escrows cannot match.
Emerging players
- Doma (now RealiFi / Domain Title): Technology-driven title and escrow company automating the closing process for residential real estate. Comparable to Southwest Escrow in serving the residential escrow workflow, but competing with a software-first, lower-fee model that could pressure independent escrow economics.
- Spruce: Digital title and escrow platform serving real estate investors, lenders, and consumers. Comparable in providing escrow services for real estate transactions, with a focus on technology-enabled closings that directly compete for the same agent/broker referral relationships.
Regional players
- Placer Title Company: California-based title and escrow company serving Northern and Central California. Comparable as a California-licensed escrow provider offering residential and commercial closing services, though serving a different region than Southwest's LA focus.
Others
- Qualia: Closing infrastructure software used by title and escrow companies. Comparable as ecosystem participant; Qualia powers the digital workflows that newer escrow and title providers use to compete with traditional independent firms like Southwest Escrow.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Southwest Escrow social profiles
Digital presenceSouthwest Escrow compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Southwest Escrow financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southwest Escrow leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Southwest Escrow funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southwest Escrow M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Escrow
What does Southwest Escrow do?
Southwest Escrow Corporation is an independently owned, licensed escrow company that acts as a neutral third party to hold funds, documents, and instructions for real estate transactions. Core services cover residential and commercial purchase/sale escrow, refinance, foreclosure/REO, short sales, 1031 exchanges, NACA transactions, bulk sales, liquor license transfers, mobile home escrows, and relocation accounts. Auxiliary offerings include mobile notary services and community room rental at their Inglewood, California headquarters.
Is Southwest Escrow a public or private company?
Southwest Escrow is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Southwest Escrow founded?
Southwest Escrow was founded in 1935. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Southwest Escrow based?
Southwest Escrow is headquartered in Inglewood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southwest Escrow make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Escrow Fees are the primary driver. The others are community Room Rental.
Who are Southwest Escrow's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are First American Financial Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, Stewart Information Services, Old Republic Title, WFG National Title and Chicago Title (part of FNF). Emerging players are Doma (now RealiFi / Domain Title) and Spruce. Placer Title Company is listed as a regional player. Qualia is listed as an others.
Does Southwest Escrow have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southwest Escrow.
What industry is Southwest Escrow in?
Southwest Escrow's product category is Real Estate Escrow Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAOAD, Escrow Services, with a secondary code of FSAAANAH, Escrow & Fiduciary Escrow Services.