What Is Escrow? | Mortgages and Advice
Most people never encounter the concept of escrow until they buy a home. Escrow accounts are set up by third parties as a safe place to hold money. They are used for two main purposes when it comes to real estate: during a home purchase and afterward as an easy way for homeowners to save for property tax and insurance costs. Here's what you need to know about escrow accounts, how they help facilitate a home purchase and how they help you manage your home expenses after the sale.What Does Escrow Mean?Generally, escrow is a type of account. It is held and managed by an escrow agent – a neutral third party who not only receives money, but can disperse it. The escrow account is held for two primary parties until a transaction is finalized or a contract's requirements are met. Escrow accounts ...