Question 1

What is EscrowCheckup?

Accepted Answer

EscrowCheckup is a clarity service that reviews your escrow statement and explains exactly what you're paying, why your payment changed, and whether there may be opportunities for savings. We turn confusing servicer statements into clear, actionable insights.

Question 2

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Simply upload your annual escrow statement (PDF, photo, or scan) to our platform. We'll organize the information and deliver a clear report within minutes.

Question 3

What documents do I need?

Accepted Answer

You'll need your Annual Escrow Account Disclosure Statement, which your servicer sends once a year. This document shows your projected payments, disbursements, and any shortage or surplus in your account.

Question 4

Is my information secure?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We use bank-level encryption to protect your data. Your documents are processed securely and never shared with third parties. We're built for homeowners, not lenders or servicers.

Question 5

Why did my mortgage payment go up this year?

Accepted Answer

Mortgage payments usually rise because property taxes or homeowners insurance increased, or because your servicer discovered an escrow shortage. EscrowCheckup reviews your statement to show which of these changed and by how much.

Question 6

How do I understand my escrow statement?

Accepted Answer

Upload your Annual Escrow Account Disclosure Statement to EscrowCheckup. We extract the key numbers — taxes, insurance, payments, shortages, and surpluses — and explain each one in plain language.

Question 7

What does my Escrow Health Score mean?

Accepted Answer

Your Escrow Health Score (0-100) gives you a quick sense of how your escrow account looks. A higher score means your cushion appears appropriate and your statement is easy to understand. Lower scores may indicate areas worth reviewing with your servicer.

Question 8

What is an escrow shortage?

Accepted Answer

An escrow shortage occurs when your servicer didn't collect enough money to cover your tax and insurance payments. This usually happens when property taxes increase, insurance premiums rise, or the servicer underestimated costs. You may need to pay the shortage or have it spread across future payments.

Question 9

What is an escrow cushion?

Accepted Answer

Servicers are generally permitted to keep a 'cushion' equal to two months of escrow payments as a buffer. If your servicer is keeping more than this, they may be over-collecting — which means you're paying more than necessary each month.

Question 10

How do you show future payment trends?

Accepted Answer

We review publicly available data like treasury yields, local tax calendars, and insurance renewal cycles to show you helpful trends. Your servicer handles the official calculations—we help you understand what might change and why.

Question 11

How do you use my prior statements?

Accepted Answer

If you upload multiple annual escrow statements, we highlight simple year-to-year changes so you can see how things like taxes and insurance have moved over time. This helps you understand your documents more clearly. We don't predict future taxes or insurance, and we don't replace anything from your servicer.

Question 12

What causes an escrow shortage or surplus?

Accepted Answer

A shortage happens when your servicer didn't collect enough to cover tax or insurance bills. A surplus happens when they collected more than was needed. Both are common when property assessments or insurance premiums change mid-year.

Question 13

How does property tax escrow work?

Accepted Answer

Your servicer estimates your annual property tax bill, divides it by 12, and adds it to your monthly mortgage payment. If actual taxes come in higher than estimated, the account may fall short, leading to an escrow shortage.

Question 14

How does homeowners insurance escrow work?

Accepted Answer

Your servicer estimates your annual insurance premium, divides it by 12, and collects it monthly. If your insurer raises rates at renewal, your escrow may fall short — pushing your monthly mortgage payment higher.

Question 15

What are common mortgage escrow mistakes?

Accepted Answer

Common issues include over-collecting the cushion, using outdated tax or insurance estimates, missing mid-year rate changes, or misapplying payments. EscrowCheckup surfaces these discrepancies so you can review them with your servicer.

Question 16

Why did my mortgage payment go up even though my loan is fixed?

Accepted Answer

Fixed-rate loans lock your Principal and Interest (P&I), but escrow is separate. Taxes and insurance can still rise, which means your total payment can increase even when your interest rate hasn't changed.

Question 17

Why do I have a shortage?

Accepted Answer

An escrow shortage happens when your servicer collected less than what was actually needed to pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance. This is usually because your tax bill or insurance premium went up since your last escrow analysis. Your servicer spreads the difference across your next 12 monthly payments.

Question 18

Why is my escrow short?

Accepted Answer

Your escrow account can come up short if your property taxes or insurance costs increased more than your servicer estimated. The shortage is the gap between what was collected and what was actually owed — and it's typically repaid over the following year through a slightly higher monthly payment.

Question 19

Why did my escrow go up?

Accepted Answer

Your escrow payment usually goes up for one of two reasons: your property taxes or insurance premium increased, or your account had a shortage that needs to be repaid. EscrowCheckup shows you exactly which of these happened and by how much.

Question 20

Why did my property taxes increase?

Accepted Answer

Property taxes typically increase when your local assessor raises your home's assessed value, or when your local tax rate changes. These increases are set by your county or municipality — not your mortgage servicer — but they directly affect your escrow payment.

Question 21

Why did my homeowners insurance increase?

Accepted Answer

Insurance premiums can increase at renewal due to rate changes from your insurer, claims history, rebuilding cost increases, or changes in your coverage. Your escrow account adjusts to reflect the new premium amount.

Question 22

Why do I have an escrow surplus?

Accepted Answer

An escrow surplus happens when your servicer collected more than was needed to cover your taxes and insurance — often because a bill came in lower than expected. Depending on the amount and your loan type, a surplus may be refunded to you or applied to lower your future payments.

Question 23

How do I read my escrow statement?

Accepted Answer

Your escrow statement shows what your servicer expected to collect and pay over the past year, compared to what actually happened. Upload it to EscrowCheckup and we'll break down your taxes, insurance, shortages, and surpluses in plain language — no need to decode the format yourself.

Question 24

How does escrow work?

Accepted Answer

Escrow is an account your mortgage servicer uses to collect money monthly for your property taxes and homeowners insurance, then pay those bills on your behalf when they're due. Your monthly mortgage payment includes a portion set aside for escrow in addition to principal and interest.

Question 25

Why did my mortgage payment increase?

Accepted Answer

Your mortgage payment can increase even if your interest rate is fixed, because the escrow portion — which covers taxes and insurance — can change each year. Higher property taxes, higher insurance premiums, or an escrow shortage are the most common reasons.

Question 26

Why does roof age matter for insurance and escrow?

Accepted Answer

Many insurers apply additional underwriting rules based on roof age. In hail-heavy states, some begin as early as 5–7 years. Nationally, surcharges or coverage adjustments often start around 10–15 years. When your insurance premium changes, your escrow payment adjusts accordingly.

Question 27

Does asking my insurer about roof coverage count as a claim?

Accepted Answer

No. An inquiry is simply a question about your policy — it does not count as a claim. A claim is a formal request for payment after a loss. You can ask your insurer about roof-related coverage, deductibles, or underwriting without triggering a claims record.

Question 28

Why doesn't my insurance policy list the roof age?

Accepted Answer

Insurance policies typically describe coverage terms and limits, not property details like roof age. Roof age is usually found in home inspection reports, seller disclosures, property appraisals, or roof replacement invoices.

Question 29

Why does EscrowCheckup offer roof referrals but not HVAC or water heater referrals?

Accepted Answer

EscrowCheckup only provides referrals for home systems that directly affect insurance premiums and escrow payments. Roof condition is a primary factor in insurance underwriting and pricing. HVAC and water heater systems, while important, do not typically affect your insurance or escrow in the same direct way.

Question 30

What documents show roof age?

Accepted Answer

Roof age typically appears in home inspection reports, seller disclosure forms, property appraisals, and roof replacement invoices or warranties. If you have any of these documents, you can upload them to improve your insurance awareness insights.

Question 31

How much does EscrowCheckup cost?

Accepted Answer

EscrowCheckup is free for homeowners and renters while we grow. There's no charge to upload your statement, no subscription, and no credit card required — we're focused on clarity, trust, and adoption.

Question 32

Do you offer professional/partner access?

Accepted Answer

Yes — colleges, employers, housing programs, and financial wellness providers can partner with us to offer EscrowCheckup to the people they serve at no cost. Visit our For Professionals page to learn more.

Question 33

What should I do if you find an error?

Accepted Answer

Our report includes specific action steps and even scripts you can use when contacting your servicer. We tell you exactly what to say and what documentation to reference. Many issues can be resolved with a simple phone call.

Question 34

Can you help me dispute my escrow with my servicer?

Accepted Answer

While we don't directly contact your servicer, we provide everything you need to have an informed conversation. Our reports include specific talking points, helpful context, and a clear summary of what we noticed in your statement.

Question 35

How often should I check my escrow?

Accepted Answer

Many homeowners review their escrow once per year when they receive their annual statement. However, if you experience major changes — like a significant property tax increase or insurance renewal — an additional look may be helpful. Our Annual Plan keeps you informed throughout the year.

Question 36

Who is EscrowCheckup for?

Accepted Answer

EscrowCheckup is built for any homeowner who wants a clear, simple way to understand changes to their taxes, insurance, or escrow. Whether you're staying ahead of surprises, planning with confidence, or managing multiple properties, clarity always matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Understanding Your Analysis

Insurance and Roof

Cost & Access

Taking Action

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