SO WHAT THE HECK IS AN ESCROW OFFICER?

Basically, an Escrow Officer is an Administrative Assistant in the Real Estate industry whose main purpose is to assist a Senior Escrow Officer with the daily activities and tasks required get the transaction to the closing table. The escrow team (comprised of a Senior Escrow Officer and an Escrow Officer) works with buyers and sellers to ensure that all parts of a real estate transaction are completed prior to closing. Does the person trying to sell the property actually have ownership of it or are there other people who would have to sign off on the sale? Are there any encumbrances that would prevent the property from being sold (think tax liens, o...