A practical guide to mortgage escrow.
Clear answers, useful examples, and practical next steps for the questions that come with an escrow account.
15 guides to help you get started
What is mortgage escrow? A clear guide for homeowners
Understand where your escrow money goes, why the amount changes, and how taxes and insurance fit into your mortgage payment.
10 min readHow to read your annual escrow analysis
Read your escrow analysis one section at a time: payment changes, past activity, future bills, reserves, and shortage repayment.
10 min readEscrow shortage vs. deficiency: what each means
Learn the difference between an escrow shortage, a negative-balance deficiency, and a surplus, with practical examples and next steps.
10 min readWhat is an escrow cushion, and how is it calculated?
Understand the escrow reserve, the two-month limit, projected low balances, and why the cushion is not a new annual expense.
10 min readEscrow vs. principal: where your mortgage payment goes
Separate escrow, principal, interest, and mortgage insurance so you can understand balances, extra payments, and changes in your monthly cost.
10 min readWhy did my mortgage payment increase?
Separate higher taxes, insurance, shortage repayment, and loan changes to understand a larger mortgage payment.
11 minShould you pay an escrow shortage all at once?
Compare shortage installments with a voluntary lump-sum payment while keeping future taxes, insurance, and household cash needs separate.
11 minHow homeowners insurance changes affect escrow
Understand premium renewals, policy changes, refunds, and mortgage payment timing when homeowners insurance is paid through escrow.
11 minFirst-year escrow surprises: a guide for new homeowners
Learn why escrow can change after closing, how to compare the first analysis, and what to check before the next mortgage payment.
11 minNew construction, property taxes, and escrow changes
Understand how an unfinished or newly assessed home can affect tax estimates, escrow payments, and separate supplemental bills.
11 minEscrow refunds: where the money comes from and what to check
Understand annual escrow surplus refunds, refunds after payoff, and how to check the amount without confusing a refund with lower future bills.
9 min readRefinancing and escrow: follow the old account and the new one
Learn how to track escrow at refinance, compare opening deposits with old-account refunds, and budget for the timing between them.
9 min readWhen your mortgage servicer changes: protect the escrow handoff
A practical guide to checking payments, escrow balances, upcoming bills, and account records when mortgage servicing transfers.
9 min readEscrow problems: organize the facts and ask for a clear answer
A calm, practical process for investigating an unexpected escrow charge, missing bill payment, or unexplained balance.
9 min readCan I remove escrow? Eligibility, budgeting, and the practical tradeoffs
Understand what to ask before requesting an escrow waiver and how to plan for taxes and insurance if you will pay them directly.
10 min read