Escrow: what your lender collects, and why your payment changes
Most loans include an escrow (impound) account. With each payment, the lender collects one-twelfth of your annual property taxes and homeowners insurance, holds it, and pays those bills when they come due.
That's why your monthly payment is bigger than just principal and interest — the full figure is "PITI": Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance.
It also means your payment can change year to year even on a fixed-rate loan. When property taxes or insurance premiums rise, your escrow portion rises with them. Lenders run an annual escrow analysis: a shortage raises your payment, a surplus is refunded, and federal rules (RESPA) cap the cushion they're allowed to hold.
Source: CFPB guidance on escrow accounts; Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).
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