07/23/2018
Homeownership not only brings joy and a place to create new memories, but also new responsibilities. As a first-time
homebuyer, one of the many questions you might have is “How does an escrow account work, and why do I need it?”
WHAT — An escrow account (also known as an “impound account”) is a separate account set up by your lender to collect the funds needed to pay property taxes and insurance premiums on your behalf. These amounts are typically paid in a lump sum to your taxing authority and insurance company once or twice a year. With an escrow account, instead of you
making a large payment at that time, your lender divides the annual cost into a monthly amount that is collected along
with your mortgage payment. Since taxes and insurance premiums often change annually, your lender will collect an
additional amount of money each month to cover any temporary shortfall when the premiums are due.
When the tax or insurance bill is due, your lender will make this payment on your behalf from the escrow account funds
that were collected each month. Most homeowners appreciate the convenience of an escrow account, as its monthly
premiums can be easily incorporated into a monthly budget.
WHEN — An escrow account is necessary for most first-time homebuyers. This is a common requirement when a
loan’s down payment amount is less than 20% of the home’s appraised value. An escrow account may also be a legal
requirement for certain types of home loans, or if your home requires flood insurance.
WHY — Most lenders charge an additional 0.25 point fee for borrowers who opt out of an escrow account. Having an
escrow account ensures that a sufficient reserve has been built up to pay the amounts due for taxes and insurance.
Because they realize that making large tax and insurance payments once or twice a year can be a substantial burden
on homeowners, lenders are concerned about the additional risks assumed by both homeowner and lender when the
homeowner opts out of an escrow account.
WHO — Although your lender is collecting the funds to pay the taxes and insurance on your behalf and is obligated to
make the payments on time, you are still legally responsible for these payments. For this reason, you should ensure that
your lender is aware of any changes to your property tax obligations or insurance premiums so that your escrow account can be effectively managed.
In addition, federal law requires that your lender review your escrow account each year and provide you with a detailed
analysis. This helps to ensure that your taxes and insurance premiums are being paid correctly. If required, your monthly
escrow payments will be adjusted, based on changes to your taxes and/or insurance premium.
■ If your annual escrow statement reflects overpayments made during the year, you will receive a refund for these.
■ If your annual escrow statement reflects any shortages, your lender may add an additional payment amount to cover
any shortfalls caused by unanticipated increases in the tax or insurance premium amount due.
Please contact me for further information about the benefits of an escrow account and for assistance with your home lending needs.