💡 What’s an Escrow Account? A Simple Guide for Homebuyers

When buying a home, there are a lot of new terms and processes to understand — and one of the most important is the escrow account.

An escrow account is a special savings account managed by your mortgage lender. Each month, a portion of your mortgage payment is set aside into this account to cover important bills like:

🏠 Property Taxes🔒 Homeowners Insurance

This way, when those big annual or semi-annual bills come due, your lender pays them on your behalf.

📊 Example: How It Works

• Let’s say your total monthly mortgage payment is $4,000.

• About $500 of that might go into your escrow account.

• At closing, you may also deposit an initial $3,000 to get the account started.

Over time, your escrow balance grows until your lender uses it to pay your property taxes and insurance.

✅ What Happens to Extra Money?

• If there’s extra in the account: You’ll receive a refund from your lender.

• If there’s a shortage: You’ll need to pay the difference or adjust your monthly payment.

• If you sell or refinance: Any remaining escrow balance is refunded back to you.

🏡 Why Escrow Accounts Matter

Escrow accounts make homeownership easier by:

✔ Preventing surprise tax or insurance bills

✔ Helping you budget consistently

✔ Giving lenders peace of mind that your property is protected

At LJ Realty Team & LJ Mortgage, we make sure first-time buyers and experienced homeowners alike understand how escrow fits into the bigger picture of homeownership.

💬 Have questions about your mortgage or buying a home? Our team is here to help!

📍 LJ Mortgage Team Inc

127-03 Rockaway Blvd South Ozone Park, NY 11420

📞 (516) 218-1297

LJ Realty Team – Buy • Sell • Rent Equal Housing Opportunity

LJ Mortgage Team Inc. NMLS# 2120286

Purchase & Refinance NYS Registered Mortgage Broker, NYS Dept. of Financial Services MORTGAGE BROKER ONLY – Not a Mortgage Lender or Correspondent Lender

NMLS ID #2120286 | www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

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