Do not use Joe Panichi, Nancy Bhattia, First Choice Escrow, Homeclub International for any real estate or lending, or specifically, escrow services. I bought a house through realtor Nancy Bhattia who has since had her real estate license revoked, however the fly-by-night escrow service operated by her cohort, Joe Panichi is still in operation. BEWARE! Do NOT use this escrow service or any other service provided by Joe Panichi or nancy Bhattia. These two well known crooks will rip you off.

I sent a home purchase through Click and List Escrow, which folded and became First Choice Escrow, operating under HomeClub International. Joe Panichi is the escrow officer using a remote gmail account. They are incredibly incompetent. my escrow refund was never mailed back for $714, finally after several emails and calls, I went o the office twice to investigate in person. This escrow service operates in a small back room to a larger loan office, which all but empty save for a cross eyed receptionist. [continued below]....

..... The back office (First Choice Escrow) has one desk and one computer and apparently Joe Panichi arrives once every other week to check emails. I have rarely been answered and the calls are for sure NEVER answered. 

The refund of escrow finally arrived for $400 less than what was categorized with no explanation and no return of any call. Further, the homeinsurance was never mailed out and two months after closing the insurance carrier called to ask if I was still planning on buying the house. Joe Panichi agreed to send out the re-imbursement for the insurance (over $500) but it still has not been collected and I expect that it will not be sent save me filing in small claims court. 

After the escrow was long underway I did some further googling of these entities to solidify my opinion that they have blatantly ripped off other buyers of real estate, and that there have been similar complaints as mine.

Beware, do NOT use Nancy Bhattia or Joe Panichi for any real estate transaction. You will regret it.