Every year thousands of people make big purchases on their homes. These new homes come equipped with all the latest amenities like granite counters, new appliances, the fresh smell of paint and new carpet. Borrowers are very excited to move to their new furnished home. It’s that home for which they have worked so hard to own. Later, facts start coming after the second year of their living on that home. The property tax comes due. Follow this simple illustration below. I and my wife together purchased a home for $200,000 in July of 2007.

Since the home was new, the taxes were on the land only since it’s an unimproved property. The tax was calculated by the cost of the land times three percent or $35,000 x 3% making the total $1050 per year or eighty-seven dollars per month. Everything is going fine until the taxes hit in the month of November 2008. Now, the new taxes will be calculated on the basis of improved property times three percent or $200,000 x 3% making the total new tax bill $6000 dollars per year or $500 dollars per month. Based on the old escrow account, I would have saved eighty-seven dollars per month times twelve months in the year. I accumulated $1050.00 but owe $6000. I am almost 5000.00 short in the escrow account. In case, I can’t come up with that money, the mortgage company will gladly pay it for me.

Now, since the mortgage company has paid my taxes, they will increase the mortgage payments by $500.00 per month to recoup the money they paid the taxes with and adjust the payment by $413.00 dollars per month to set the new escrow account up correctly. At the end, I realize that my mortgage payments have jumped up by almost $1000. I may not be in a situation to afford the new payment. The bank will foreclose the property and I will have to move to another apartment. My credit is ruined and the dream is turned over to a hard terrible reality.

Now, the question in your mind that comes first is to have a solution for a situation like this. First, it’s very important that you deal with a reputable mortgage lender. He will give you the time to explain how to set up the escrow account correctly. Anytime, when a new deal is finalized, the lender has the option of working with the borrower and set up the escrow account in such a manner so that you don’t fall into a shortage. They can set it up on the basis of improved or unimproved taxes. It’s always a good decision to have more than sufficient in your escrow account than to run short of the required amount. Before the escrow account shapes up a big problem, it is better to have a solution always ready and it can only happen when you have the required funds available. At the end you must question yourself one thing. Can you afford for a $1000.00 per month jump in your mortgage payment?

This entry was posted on Monday, February 4th, 2008 at 7:25 pm and is filed under Mortgage, Personal Finance, Real Estate, Tax. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.