when it comes to buying and selling a home an escrow agent may be a title company in such cases the title company holds the deed to the property in escrow until all of the terms of both the buyer and seller are met the buyer may deposit the money for the purchase or at least the down payment with the escrow agent which serves to validate the transaction and reassure the seller until last minute closing terms are met the amount in escrow is then transferred to the seller and the property deed to the buyer once all the conditions for the sale are satisfied 
in summary whether the escrow agent is a business or an individual the purpose they serve is that of a neutral trusted third party to transactions that may involve persons who never end up meeting each other 