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Hiring a Transaction Coordinator in San Diego: Complete Guide + FAQs

by Molly Sinclair

In the real estate business, you may have heard that having a transaction coordinator is a non-negotiable, especially in the high-ticket industry of San Diego.

But what exactly is a real estate transaction coordinator, what do they do, and most importantly - why do you need one?

If you’re a real estate agent looking for a transaction coordinator in San Diego, this article will answer all of your questions… in a concise way, of course, because you must be busy!

In a few minutes, you will understand:

  • Specific tasks of a transaction coordinator

  • What “licensed” and “certified” means when it comes to transaction coordinators

  • Benefits of hiring a transaction coordinator and why you need one

  • Essential qualities of a great transaction coordinator

  • Reasons to consider RoxyTheTC as your transaction coordinator in San Diego

What is a real estate transaction coordinator?

A real estate transaction coordinator is part of the agent’s team that moves along the transaction from contract to closing time.  They are an essential driving force that assists with all the administrative paperwork from the buyer or the seller.

While not technically required to close the sale, transaction coordinators in San Diego play a crucial role in making sure that all the legal documents are compliant with the state of California.  Since their sole purpose is to deal with the intricacies of these contracts, they are experts at filling in the blanks with what is missing from the clients or making important corrections in order to close the deal.  

With so many moving parts, transaction coordinators in San Diego are the glue that holds the agreement together.  They orchestrate communication between all the parties involved, including other agents and their transaction coordinators, the escrow officers, the buyers and sellers, and the mortgage lenders or title companies. 

What tasks does a transaction coordinator in San Diego do?

A real estate transaction coordinator in San Diego takes charge of all the administrative paperwork for the agent and helps the clients with any issues, including some of the following tasks:

  • Triple-checking that all legal documents are compliant with laws in California, San Diego County, and the city of San Diego

  • Reviewing residential purchase agreements to ensure they are filled out correctly and that nothing is missing

  • Setting up a structure of checklists and schedules in order to meet critical deadlines

  • Answering questions from clients when the agent is unavailable

  • Prioritizing inspection timelines, appraisals, and loan commitment letters

  • Getting documents signed in a timely fashion

  • Keeping the agent up to date with the transaction progress

  • Communicating and following up with all parties, including escrow officers, other agents and transaction coordinators, and the buyers and sellers

As you can see, a transaction coordinator in San Diego juggles many tasks from the frontline and is definitely not working behind the scenes.

While faced with many responsibilities, a transaction coordinator in San Diego is technically not required to be a licensed real estate agent.  However, we will discuss the abilities of a licensed and certified transaction coordinator in the following section.

What is a licensed and certified transaction coordinator and what do they do?

When it comes to hiring a transaction coordinator in San Diego, the state of California requires a professional certification.  

On the other hand, a license is not required.  However, your best bet is to choose a transaction coordinator that is both licensed and certified, due to their much greater scope of abilities.

Let’s discuss the differences between the terms certified, licensed, and unlicensed and what it means when it comes to helping your business.

A certified transaction coordinator in San Diego has passed a written exam and attended courses that allow them to work with real estate agents in the state of California.  The curriculum of these courses involves real estate law, escrow transactions, and proper closing procedures.

A licensed transaction coordinator has received specialized training that allows them more freedom and permission to work with all aspects of the pending transaction.  An unlicensed transaction coordinator can still help out in some regards but faces limitations when it comes to legal processes.

Given the nature of each role, a licensed transaction coordinator can be much more helpful than one who is unlicensed because the former has greater knowledge of the entire process and laws.  They are allowed to work independently of the real estate agent and assist prospective clients with important details from open to close.  Their duties involve streamlining the transaction process, whereas the unlicensed team member serves more of a general assistant role.  

10 Benefits of hiring a transaction coordinator in San Diego

To summarize why it is a no-brainer for real estate agents to hire a transaction coordinator in Southern California, here are a few crucial reasons to consider for the success of your brokerage:

  1. Transaction coordinators free up many hours of your time so that you can focus on selling properties and finding clients

  2. The small fee spent on hiring a transaction coordinator is nothing compared to the high commissions you will earn from the sale.

  3. Having deadlines met and followed up is essential to closing the sale.

  4. Making sure every stipulation is met is best handled by an expert who does this sole task over and over, every day.

  5. A licensed transaction coordinator is able to communicate with other agents and clients when you are not available, making sure there is always a team member on call to represent you.

  6. Uploading documents and handling digital tasks saves you a technological headache that can waste a lot of time.

  7. A structured and organized process makes buyers and sellers happy. 

  8. A transaction coordinator offers professional representation to your brokerage. 

  9. Even the best real estate agents can benefit from the second set of eyes to make sure everything is in order.  Everyone needs a team!

  10. All in all, this professional, detailed, organized, and communicative approach leads to repeat and referral business for agents.

What makes a great transaction coordinator? 

Besides being licensed and certified, there are other important qualities to consider when looking to hire a great transaction coordinator in San Diego.

First and foremost, a great transaction coordinator should have knowledge about state, county, and city laws and procedures.

Beyond the industry training, however, they need to have the right personality and skills for the demanding workflow.

An excellent transaction coordinator must be friendly since they are communicating with all parties in the transaction.  They must have a professional approach in all forms of communication, from email to phone calls, because they are representing the client and agent.

Additionally, their communication must be crystal clear, since the line of work when it comes to dealing with contracts is very specific.  A detail-oriented eye is a must.

They are highly organized with systems and structure in place so that it is never a guessing game when it comes to processes.  That being said, they can still customize your workflow for you, since every agent or firm is different. 

As it is a fast-paced job, a stellar transaction coordinator in San Diego can handle multiple projects at a time.  They possess the ability to multitask and work under deadlines.  They do not get overwhelmed, and they embrace a challenge. 

Of course, they must be highly reliable and quick to respond. You want them to be your lifeline; someone who can make your life easier and move things along.

Perhaps most importantly, a great transaction coordinator is proactive and not passive.  They do not wait for things to be handed to them; instead, they are the ones that are politely pushing forward the projects in order to get all the paperwork completed.  They are not afraid to follow up and help out all parties with whatever is needed when it comes to orchestrating the transaction. 

Hiring Roxanne Parra as your transaction coordinator in San Diego

Roxanne Parra a.k.a. Roxy the TC is a licensed and certified transaction coordinator in Southern California who loves the challenge of the fast-paced job.

Roxanne stands out as a premier transaction coordinator in San Diego for the following reasons:

  • She has all the qualities mentioned in the previous section

  • She has years of experience working with a variety of agents and brokerage firms

  • As a local born and raised in San Diego, she is extremely familiar with the area

  • Countless positive testimonials applaud her great attention to detail and reliability

  • She is reachable directly by phone and responds quickly

  • She approaches processes the way she would want if she were an agent

  • She offers an affordable rate with no hidden fees or extra costs

  • She is friendly and professional, and loves what she does!

Contact and Next Steps to Hiring Roxanne as your Transaction Coordinator in San Diego

The next step to potentially getting started with a transaction coordinator in San Diego is to set up a consultation to see if you are a great fit.

To speak with Roxanne and learn more, reach out to roxythetc@gmail.com for your free consultation.  She looks forward to hearing from you!


Molly Sinclair is a freelance writer currently traveling the world. She helps small businesses with their copywriting and marketing needs across all industries and can be reached by email.