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What happens when you pay off a house?

Posted on 12/6/16 at 8:04 pm
Posted by rpg37
Ocean Springs, MS
Member since Sep 2008
47435 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 8:04 pm
When you pay off a house, what all happens? I assume a deed is sent to you and some paperwork. However, my question is financially. I still would pay insurance and taxes (escrow). Are you really just saving the principle and interest after paying it off? Does escrow change after this happens?

Just trying to gauge how much more money I will be saving monthly when this happens. Thanks!
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 8:10 pm to
Escrow ends when your mortgage ends. You will be responsible for paying the annual insurance and property tax bills directly to the insurance company and to the tax authority. So yes, you stop paying the loan....but you will need to save sufficient funds each month to pay your annual property taxes and insurance (homeowners, flood, etc)
Posted by SloaneRanger
Upper Hurstville
Member since Jan 2014
7690 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 8:11 pm to
You got the deed when you bought it. When you pay it off your servicer should file a satisfaction of the mortgage. There is no more escrow after the loan is paid off. You are responsible for paying taxes and insurance on your own.
Posted by wfallstiger
Wichita Falls, Texas
Member since Jun 2006
11423 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 8:23 pm to
We paid off our home about this time a year ago. We are now the escrow for property taxes and insurance. I guess you could drop your insurance given you own the property outright but would be unwise...worked too hard for that asset...??.

Our property taxes and insurance began to rival the monthly P&I.

We received paperwork noting we had satisfied the terms of the loan as well as the escrow balance, which we turned around and paid property taxes and insurance
This post was edited on 12/6/16 at 8:25 pm
Posted by rpg37
Ocean Springs, MS
Member since Sep 2008
47435 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 8:26 pm to
So, in reality, the only thing you stop paying is Principle and Interest? The escrow payments remain and retain the same amount?
Posted by schexyoung
Deaf Valley
Member since May 2008
6534 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 8:37 pm to
When you pay off a "mortgage" it means you have completed payment of a promissory note. Therefore, the mortgage is satisfied and the lien against your house is lifted. Escrow exists so that the lender doesn't lose its collateral value due to a non-market event (insurance) or lien position (delinquent property taxes trump a mortgage lien).

After paying off the note or "mortgage" it's up to you if you want to protect your investment with insurance. If you don't pay your property taxes the city / county will come after you and place a lien on your property.
Posted by Old Sarge
Dean of Admissions, LSU
Member since Jan 2012
55287 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 9:16 pm to
You get a letter saying the loan is paid in full

The deed stays at the courthouse. The mortgage company should send a letter to the courthouse releasing the lien. But file your letter away in a safe place in case there is a mixup, it will save you a headache.
Posted by tigeralum06
Member since Oct 2007
2788 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 9:24 pm to
Props to you for paying off a mortgage without having a clue of what escrow is or how it works.
Posted by lnomm34
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
12609 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 9:28 pm to
quote:

Props to you for paying off a mortgage without having a clue of what escrow is or how it works




I was thinking the same thing. How can a person with a mortgage (or who ever has had a mortgage) not know the answers to these questions?
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17258 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 9:29 pm to
quote:

So, in reality, the only thing you stop paying is Principle and Interest? The escrow payments remain and retain the same amount?


No, you stop paying everything, the Lender is not going to keep an escrow going for you, they no longer have skin in the game, they don't give a shite

When your homeowners insurance comes due , the insurance company sends you a bill, pay it if you want, cancel it if you want

When property tax comes due they send you a notice, I advise you to pay this one

But it is all on you, if you want to set up an account and put so much in it every month so you have the money available when you need it, go ahead, but you will have to set that up, and if you want call it your personal escrow
Posted by rpg37
Ocean Springs, MS
Member since Sep 2008
47435 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 9:37 pm to
quote:

Props to you for paying off a mortgage without having a clue of what escrow is or how it works.


Hardly. I am years away, but just wondering what happens. I was looking at my amortization today and got to wounding.
Posted by Golfer
Member since Nov 2005
75052 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 9:54 pm to
The lender forces you to pay your insurance and taxes into escrow to protect their loan. Once you don't have a loan with them, they don't care if you insure or pay the taxes on your house.
Posted by Hermit Crab
Under the Sea
Member since Nov 2008
7166 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 10:04 pm to
quote:

The lender forces you to pay your insurance and taxes into escrow to protect their loan. Once you don't have a loan with them, they don't care if you insure or pay the taxes on your house.


This, and they aren't going to deal with the hassle of paying your insurance/tax bill if they aren't making any money off you.
Posted by TigerDeBaiter
Member since Dec 2010
10262 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 10:59 pm to
quote:

Hardly. I am years away, but just wondering what happens. I was looking at my amortization today and got to trolling.



FIFY
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
89513 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 11:22 pm to
You live happily ever after?

quote:

I still would pay insurance and taxes (escrow).


Yes. Not to an escrow account, though. You pay the insurance company (if you want insurance, that is - your call now, not the bank's) - and taxes (not optional).

quote:

Are you really just saving the principle and interest after paying it off?


Yes. That's the loan part you just paid off.

quote:

Does escrow change after this happens?


If you own the house outright, you don't have to have insurance. I wouldn't recommend that, but it is your choice.
Posted by VABuckeye
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2007
35525 posts
Posted on 12/7/16 at 5:57 am to
You still have to pay the taxes when you pay the house off. What did you think they go away?

Insurance is up to you but dropping that would be one of the dumber things you could do.
Posted by Dock Holiday
Member since Sep 2015
1635 posts
Posted on 12/7/16 at 6:32 am to
quote:

What happens when you pay off a house


Not sure about you, but I'm throwing a party. Started with a 30 year loan, refinanced to 15 years, now paying extra to pay off sooner... The party is coming.

Like others have said, you are still on the hook for taxes and insurance (is you so choose).

Note: I opted out of escrow with my last refi. Didn't like the idea of the bank managing my money and I wanted flexibility to shop insurance without input from the bank.
This post was edited on 12/7/16 at 6:38 am
Posted by rpg37
Ocean Springs, MS
Member since Sep 2008
47435 posts
Posted on 12/7/16 at 7:53 am to
quote:

You still have to pay the taxes when you pay the house off. What did you think they go away?


I just didn't know if insurance or taxes would be affected in amount or style.
Posted by tiger91
In my own little world
Member since Nov 2005
36704 posts
Posted on 12/7/16 at 7:54 am to
We didn't escrow either. Like paying
My stuff myself.
Posted by LSU316
Rice and Easy Baby!!!
Member since Nov 2007
29288 posts
Posted on 12/7/16 at 8:45 am to
quote:

When property tax comes due they send you a notice, I advise you to pay this one



Solid solid advice right there
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