[Tom '74 911]

Hello,
Was hoping to gain from the collective wisdom and experience here regarding purchasing bigger ticket items where the transaction requires a deposit or even full payment before you take possession of the item. I've been scammed thru eBay in the past and while I eventually recovered the $10.5K I lost via a PayPal dispute, the stress took a few years off my life and I don't wish a repeat.

I'm looking at a $60K purchase and while the seller and I have agreed over the phone to meet 1/2 way next weekend (we're about 10hrs. apart by car), I'm wondering about the best way to transfer funds where both the seller and I are offered some amount of protection. I realize that some amount of risk will always exist, but I'm just looking for a way that offers BOTH of us some level of comfort.

escrow.com looks fairly reputable. The fee for a $60K transaction is $550... so not insignificant... Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Tom