Deed-Escrow Conditions Never Satisfied—Transfer Never Took Place

The Second Department explained that property is not transferred until the escrow conditions (re: a deed held in escrow) are satisfied:

“When a deed is delivered to be held in escrow, the actual transfer of the property does not occur until the condition of the escrow is satisfied and the deed is subsequently delivered to the grantee by the escrow agent” … . Here, in support of their motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, the defendants established their prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law … by submitting, inter alia, an escrow agreement … entered into by the plaintiff and the defendant … . Pursuant to the agreement, an escrow agent was required to hold the deed to the subject property until the plaintiff paid certain sums due on a purchase money mortgage. The evidence proffered by the defendants established, prima facie, that the plaintiff failed to satisfy the aforementioned condition of the escrow agreement and, thus, actual transfer of the subject property to the plaintiff never took place. Xui v Iron City Properties, Inc., 2015 NY Slip Op 06898, 2nd Dept 9-23-15