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DJI's Pocket 2 palm-size 4K vlogging cam improves on audio, video for $349

DJI's Pocket 2 palm-size 4K vlogging cam improves on audio, video for $349

Two years ago DJI released the Osmo Pocket, a tiny handheld 4K camera stabilized on a three-axis motorized gimbal. For the follow-up, the Pocket 2, DJI dropped Osmo from the name but bulked up on features and accessories to make it an even better option for creators looking to do more with less. 

Like the original, the Pocket 2 records 4K-resolution video up to 60 frames per second (at a 100Mbps bit rate) and full HD at up to 120fps for slow motion. However, it now has a larger 1/1.7-inch image sensor, which normally would mean larger pixels for better image quality. This one, though, is packed with way more pixels: The Pocket 2 can capture 64-megapixel photos or bin pixels together for 16-megapixel shots with less noise and better dynamic range. 

The Pocket 2 has four mics to track your subject's voice with the video. 

Josh Goldman/CNET

DJI also uses that resolution to give you an 8x digital zoom in its 64-megapixel photo mode; a 4x lossless zoom when shooting 16-megapixel photos or 1080p video; a 3x zoom in 2.7K; and a 2x zoom in 4K. Of course, it's all fully stabilized, too, so you don't have to worry about adding any shake or jitter to your shots when you zoom in. 

The Pocket 2 also addresses one of its predecessor's biggest weaknesses: sound quality. The new Matrix Stereo system uses four mics strategically placed so you don't accidentally cover them with your hand or fingers. The camera can process the captured audio for better directional audio for when a subject is behind the camera or in front or both. Plus, it works with DJI's ActiveTrack 3.0 subject tracking to enhance audio based on the direction of the camera. The audio will also zoom with the camera. 

The $500 Pocket 2 Creator Combo.

Josh Goldman/CNET

Alone, the Pocket 2 has plenty to offer for $349 (£339, AU$599) when it arrives on Nov. 1. Paired with the camera's Creator Combo accessory bundle, though, it becomes a pretty amazing vlogging machine. For $500, you get the camera and case, a mini control stick, tripod mount, a magnetic wide-angle lens, a wireless mic pack and an attachable windscreen, a micro tripod and the Do-It-All Handle. The combo will be £469 in the UK and AU$799 in Australia.

The Do-It-All Handle is mainly a wireless adapter -- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth -- which makes it possible to connect your phone wirelessly to the camera for use with its Mimo mobile app as well as the Bluetooth mic. The handle also has a speaker and a 3.5mm audio jack. 

Without the handle, you can still connect your phone directly to the left side of the camera handle with included USB-C or Lightning adapters just like before. The mobile app lets you do everything from adjusting your camera settings and changing shooting modes to panning and tilting the camera and selecting subjects for tracking. Used with the Do-It-All Handle, the app makes it much easier to set up your shots on your own or have someone control the camera while you're out in front. 

The included case can hold the camera as well as the phone adapters, the wide-angle add-on lens and the mini tripod. 

Josh Goldman/CNET

The camera has updated shooting modes including a Pro mode for better control over exposure, white balance and ISO. You can also live stream directly to Facebook, YouTube or RTMP and there are new options for AI-powered editing so you can share completed projects straight from your phone with little effort. 

DJI also added the ability to turn on the camera and start recording with a single button press as well as drop protection that locks the gimbal in a safe position if it senses a fall. 

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Mortgage Refinance Rates on Sept. 1, 2022: Rates Rise

Mortgage Refinance Rates on Sept. 1, 2022: Rates Rise

Both 15-year fixed and 30-year fixed refinances saw their mean rates go higher Thursday. The average rates for 10-year fixed refinances also made gains.

Like mortgage rates, refinance rates fluctuate on a daily basis. With inflation at a 40-year high, the Federal Reserve has hiked the federal funds rate four times this year and is poised to do so again in 2022 to try to slow rampant inflation. Though mortgage rates are not set by the central bank, these federal rate hikes increase the cost of borrowing money. Whether refinance rates will continue to rise or fall will depend on what happens next with inflation. If inflation begins to cool, rates will likely follow suit. But if inflation remains high, we could see refinance rates maintain an upward trajectory.

If rates for a refi are currently lower than your existing mortgage rate, you could save money by locking in a rate now. As always, consider your goals and circumstances, and compare rates and fees to find a mortgage lender who can meet your needs.

30-year fixed-rate refinance

The average 30-year fixed refinance rate right now is 5.92%, an increase of 7 basis points over this time last week. (A basis point is equivalent to 0.01%.) One reason to refinance to a 30-year fixed loan from a shorter loan term is to lower your monthly payment. Because of this, a 30-year refinance can be a good idea if you're having trouble making your monthly payments. However, interest rates for a 30-year refinance will typically be higher than rates for a 10- or 15-year refinance. It'll also take you longer to pay off your loan.

15-year fixed-rate refinance

The average 15-year fixed refinance rate right now is 5.19%, an increase of 8 basis points compared to one week ago. A 15-year fixed refinance will most likely raise your monthly payment compared to a 30-year loan. On the other hand, you'll save money on interest, since you'll pay off the loan sooner. You'll also typically get lower interest rates compared to a 30-year loan. This can help you save even more in the long run.

10-year fixed-rate refinance

The average rate for a 10-year fixed refinance loan is currently 5.21%, an increase of 4 basis points over last week. A 10-year refinance will typically feature the highest monthly payment of all refinance terms, but the lowest interest rate. A 10-year refinance can help you pay off your house much faster and save on interest in the long run. However, you should analyze your budget and current financial situation to make sure you'll be able to afford the higher monthly payment.

Where rates are headed

At the start of the pandemic, refinance rates dropped to historic lows, but they have been mostly climbing since the beginning of this year. Refinance rates rose due to inflation, which is at its highest level in four decades, as well as actions taken by the Federal Reserve. The Fed recently raised interest rates by another 0.75 percentage points and is prepared to raise rates again this year to slow the economy. Still, it's unclear exactly what will happen next in the market. If inflation continues to rise, rates are likely to climb. But if inflation starts to cool, rates could level off and begin to decline.

We track refinance rate trends using information collected by Bankrate, which is owned by CNET's parent company. Here's a table with the average refinance rates provided by lenders across the US:

Average refinance interest rates

Product	Rate	A week ago	Change
30-year fixed refi	5.92%	5.85%	+0.07
15-year fixed refi	5.19%	5.11%	+0.08
10-year fixed refi	5.21%	5.17%	+0.04

Rates as of Sept. 1, 2022.

How to find personalized refinance rates

It's important to understand that the rates advertised online may not apply to you. Your interest rate will be influenced by market conditions as well as your credit history and application.

Having a high credit score, a low credit utilization ratio and a history of consistent and on-time payments will generally help you get the best interest rates. You can get a good feel for average interest rates online, but make sure to speak with a mortgage professional in order to see the specific rates you qualify for. To get the best refinance rates, you'll first want to make your application as strong as possible. The best way to improve your credit ratings is to get your finances in order, use credit responsibly and monitor your credit regularly. Don't forget to speak with multiple lenders and shop around.

Refinancing can be a great move if you get a good rate or can pay off your loan sooner -- but consider carefully whether it's the right choice for you at the moment.

When should I refinance?

Most people refinance because the market interest rates are lower than their current rates or because they want to change their loan term. When deciding whether to refinance, be sure to take into account other factors besides market interest rates, including how long you plan to stay in your current home, the length of your loan term and the amount of your monthly payment. And don't forget about fees and closing costs, which can add up.

As interest rates have rather steadily increased since the beginning of the year, the pool of people eligible for refinancing has shrunk significantly. If you bought your house when interest rates were lower than current rates, you may likely not gain any financial benefit from refinancing your mortgage.

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Razer Blade 14, 15 and 17 boosted with 12th-gen Intel, AMD Ryzen 6000 CPUs, latest Nvidia RTX GPUs at CES 2022

Razer Blade 14, 15 and 17 boosted with 12th-gen Intel, AMD Ryzen 6000 CPUs, latest Nvidia RTX GPUs at CES 2022

This story is part of CES, where CNET covers the latest news on the most incredible tech coming soon.

On the heels of AMD and Nvidia's CES 2022 announcements of their latest high-performance processors and graphics chips, Razer revealed which of those components you can expect to find in the next round of updates to its Razer Blade gaming laptops. 

All of the models have some updated design elements such as a new keyboard with larger keys, laser-cut speakers, thinner profiles thanks to a redesigned hinge, and rubber feet made to improve cooling. Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, HDMI 2.1 and a 1080p webcam with IR for facial recognition will be found across the lineup, too. I'm excited about what you can get in these models and the fresh display options across the Blade lineup. 

At the top of the lineup in size, performance and price is the Razer Blade 17. It will have up to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti mobile GPU, which can outperform Nvidia's desktop Titan RTX card; up to 32GB of DDR5 memory, upgradeable to 64GB; and a 1TB PCIe NVMe upgradeable to 4TB SSD as well as an open M.2 slot. There are two 12th-gen Intel processor options: a 14-core Core i7-12800H or a 14-core Core i9-12900HK. 

Razer is offering three 17.3-inch display options depending on the processor you go with: 1080p with a 360Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB color gamut, QHD with a 240Hz refresh rate with 100% P3 color gamut or a 144Hz UHD touchscreen with 100% Adobe RGB color gamut. The laptop has eight speakers inside, so whether you're getting it for gaming, content creation or both, you should have incredible sound to go with whatever display you choose. 

The Razer Blade 17 starts at $2,700 and will be available for preorder at the end of January direct from Razer. The starting price converts to approximately £2,010 or AU$3,770.

The Razer Blade 15 also pairs Intel with Nvidia.

Razer

The 15.6-inch Razer Blade 15 is essentially a smaller version of the Blade 17 with similar components and display options. Both models have UHS-II SD card readers, which is a boon if you want to quickly copy photos and video from a camera without reaching for a reader. 

• Intel Core i7-12800H or Core i9-12900HK
  
• 16GB or 32GB of DDR5 memory, upgradeable to 64GB
• 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD, upgradeable to 2TB
• Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics
• 360Hz FHD or 240Hz QHD displays or UHD display with 100% P3 color gamut

The new Razer Blade 15 starts at $2,500 and will be available for preorder at the end of January direct from Razer. 

The Razer Blade 14 has AMD inside. 

Razer

Starting at $2,000, the Razer Blade 14 is built around the latest AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor. You can get it paired with either an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, RTX 3070 Ti or RTX 3080 Ti mobile graphics. It comes with 16GB of DDR5 memory onboard and no room to add more later. A 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD is standard but you can upgrade to 2TB.

Razer offers only two 14-inch display choices with the Blade 14, either an FHD screen with a 144Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB color gamut or a QHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate and 100% P3 color gamut. The new Razer Blade 14 will also be available to preorder direct from Razer at the end of January.

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Acer brings AMD to its latest Predator gaming PC lineup

Acer brings AMD to its latest Predator gaming PC lineup

Just last week, Acer announced a bunch of new gaming PCs and accessories, but it apparently held back something for Computex 2018, which kicked off in Taipei today. 

The company's new 17.3-inch Predator Helios 500 gaming notebook and Predator Orion 5000 and Nitro 50 desktops will be available with AMD Ryzen 7 processors as well as options for AMD Radeon discrete graphics. These are in addition to Intel and Nvidia configurations previously announced. 

Options for the Helios 500 will include up to a second-gen AMD Ryzen 7 2700 processor and AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics with 8GB of second-generation high-bandwidth memory. The full HD-resolution display will feature a 144Hz refresh rate and support for Radeon FreeSync that eliminates blur and tearing during gameplay. Those are in addition to versions with up to a new hexa-core Intel Core i9+ 8950HK processor with Intel Optane memory support and overclocking along with an overclockable 8GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU.

The Orion 5000 desktop will come with second-gen AMD Ryzen 7 2700X processors paired with the latest AMD B450 chipset and up to an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPU. The more entry-level Nitro 50 will offer the same 2700X processors, but graphics options of AMD Radeon RX 580 GPUs or up to Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPUs.

The Predator Helios 500 will be available in the US in August starting at $2,199 (approximately AU$2,900 and £1,650) while the Predator Orion 5000 and Acer Nitro 50 will follow in September starting at $1,499 and $899, respectively, which coverts to roughly AU$1,980 and £1,125 and AU$1,190 and £675.

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These are the 10 best iPad apps of the past decade

These are the 10 best iPad apps of the past decade

It's now been more than 10 years since former Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad. The move firmly pushed tablets into the mainstream gadget conversation while leading many to ask, "What the heck is this giant iPod touch?" (Oh 2010, you sweet summer child.) In a review of the first-gen iPad that year, CNET's Donald Bell described the device as "an elegant, affordable supergadget." One of the main draws was how easy it was to access and navigate the apps on the 9.7-inch screen. 

Jobs said the iPad would define "an entirely new category of devices that will connect people with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before." He wasn't wrong: 10 years later, the iPad's portability, user-friendly interface and variety of apps have made it a favorite device in many homes, classrooms and offices. We use it for web surfing, reading, drawing, binge watching and sometimes even working. 

Read more: iPad Pro 2020 review: Working at home with a trackpad, AR and more

Apple separated iPadOS into its own platform last year, bringing the tablets closer to operating like a laptop -- though for most people, the tablet isn't ready to become a primary work device just yet. My CNET colleague Dan Ackerman dove into this topic in his commentary, Apple iPad at 10: Can we call it a computer yet?

Looking back on that first announcement (and how much we made fun of the name iPad), you can see the evolution of our expectations for the iPad and its apps. It briefly looked like the iPad would be the next frontier for magazines, with its large, high-resolution screen and interactive capabilities. That never came to fruition, but Apple is still betting on the format with Apple News Plus, a service for accessing top magazines and newspapers in one place for one monthly subscription fee. 

Read more:  iPad 10.2-inch (2019) review: The case for the least expensive iPad

The iPad also held a lot of potential for mobile games and -- unlike the expectations for magazines -- that promise was fulfilled. Many of the most popular iPad apps today are games, and the Apple Arcade mobile game service now has more than 130 games you can download and play on the iPad and other Apple devices. 

We selected 25 apps that have turned the iPad into a useful tool for entertainment, reading, working and playing. Here are the top 10 -- check out the rest in our full gallery of the best iPad apps of all time.

1. Netflix

Angela Lang/CNET

The release of the first-gen iPad coincided with the expansion of Netflix's movie and TV streaming service. The Netflix app on iPad allowed us to take our favorite shows with us everywhere we went, on a much larger screen than the iPhone -- truly a game changer that helped push us into the streaming era. This became especially useful for parents, who can now hand an iPad to their kid to watch family-friendly Netflix shows in any room of the house, on road trips and in other places where a little bit of distraction could go a long way.

Read more: Best tablet for remote learning in 2020

2. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

Lightroom on iPads will let you import photos directly from a memory card, showing a selection screen that lets you pick the ones you want to transfer.

Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET

With Lightroom, Adobe brought its desktop-standard photo editing to the iPad to use on the go. With a combination of free and premium features, Lightroom helps even professional photographers get important photo work done. With the advent of iPadOS, a recent update even lets you directly import photos into Lightroom from a memory card. 

3. Flipboard

Robyn Beck/Getty Images

Flipboard is a curation tool that uses a combination of editors and algorithms to deliver news, videos and podcasts tailored to your interests. Founded in 2010, Flipboard was one of the first apps to take advantage of the iPad's magazine-like layout. In the iPad app today, you can create Smart Magazines that bundle together articles and sources around your specific interests, like photography, technology or recipes. 

4. Amazon Kindle

NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Amazon Kindle app for iPad helped open up the world of e-books, as it allowed people to purchase e-books on Amazon and read them on the iPad, instead of on a Kindle. You can't buy books directly from the app on your iPad, but the Kindle books you buy from Amazon (including Amazon.com from your web browser on the iPad) will automatically appear in the Kindle app. 

5. Procreate

Procreate is an art app made for the iPad and the Apple Pencil.

Procreate

An Apple Editor's Choice winner, Procreate is an art app made for the iPad and the Apple Pencil, featuring ultra-high definition canvases, hundreds of virtual brushes, and many design and animation tools. It's used by creative professionals, hobbyists and aspiring artists, who can import or export art as Adobe Photoshop files or in virtually any other format they'd like. Professionals who use the app view the combination of iPad, Apple Pencil and Procreate as a big upgrade to the digital tools of the past. (Check out our list of 10 Procreate app tips for budding iPad artists, too.)

6. Star Walk

Vito Technology

Winner of the Apple Design Award back in 2010, Star Walk is a detailed astronomy app that allows real-time tracking of the night sky and its stars, constellations, planets and more. The iPad app showed the benefits and potential of the device's large, portable screen. When you launch the app and point your tablet at the night sky, you'll see a labeled map of stars, planets, satellites and constellations from your location. 

Read more: 7 best stargazing apps for spotting constellations in the night sky

7. Notability

Ginger Labs

Another Apple Editor's Choice award winner, Notability is a comprehensive note taking app that lets you combine typed or handwritten notes and drawings with audio recordings -- taking advantage of the iPad's capabilities as a digital notepad. For an extra cost, it will even convert your handwritten notes to text. 

8. Duet Display

Rick Broida/CNET

Duet Display is an app that turns your iPad into a second monitor for your laptop, desktop or phone. Designed by former Apple engineers, the app can turn your tablet into a productivity tool, with full gesture support and customizable shortcuts. It also creates a Touch Bar on your tablet. The app works completely via software, so no cables or dongles are needed -- and promises zero lag time.

9. YouTube

Getty Images/Artur Debat

It's another old standby, but the YouTube app for iPad helped further the tablet's reputation as a mobile content consumption platform. YouTube was one of the default apps on the iPad until iOS 6, when it moved to the App Store after Apple and YouTube parent company Google's license to include it in iOS expired. Almost a decade later, it remains one of the most popular apps for the iPad -- and along with other streaming video apps such as Disney Plus and CBS All Access, it makes the iPad a powerful mobile TV. (Editors' note: CNET is owned by ViacomCBS, which also owns CBS All Access.)

10. LumaFusion

LumaFusion

The most popular video-editing app for iOS, LumaFusion proved that iPads can be great not just for watching videos, but for making them. The app is a multitrack video editor used by professional video producers, filmmakers and journalists. It has six video and audio tracks for photos, videos, audio, titles and graphics. It also lets you add and layer effects and color corrections -- all from your iPad.

For more, check out our list of the best iPhone apps of last year.

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Ring Is Making a Smart Intercom System for Apartment-Dwellers

Ring Is Making a Smart Intercom System for Apartment-Dwellers

Ring, the Amazon-owned video doorbell and home security brand, announced a new wireless intercom device Thursday at the IFA tech showcase in Berlin. As the European launch might suggest, the battery-powered gadget is slated to make its debut in Germany and the UK this year, with orders opening up later this month at an asking price of £120 (about $140 or AU$200). Availability in France, Italy, Spain and the US will follow in 2023.

The Ring Intercom, a new smart home gadget designed to smarten up your apartment buzzer.

Ring

Aimed squarely at apartment-dwellers, the wireless Ring Intercom is designed to connect with most of the building-wide intercom systems used by apartment complexes to vet visitors and buzz them in. Once you connect it to a compatible system, you'll be able to manage access from the Ring app on your phone, and you'll be able to sync the building's intercom with an Alexa-enabled smart speaker, as well.

"Technology in the home has to evolve to meet changing customer needs and busy lifestyles, and we're excited to continue innovating with easy-to-use solutions for our customers," said Jamie Siminoff, Ring's CEO.

"Ring Intercom puts the customer in control, improving secure building access for residents and visitors, while introducing the added convenience Ring customers know and love. By upgrading the functionality of their existing intercom, customers no longer need to stay at home for a delivery or leave guests waiting outside in the rain when they're not home."

In addition to the Alexa integration, Ring says that the new Intercom will enable auto-verification for Amazon deliveries and for approved guests, which would let them buzz themselves in without need for a door code or an extra fob.

As for privacy, Ring says that the intercom's two-way talk conversations are fully encrypted by default to prevent outside access to your intercom, so only people at your apartment door will be able to buzz for your attention. Ring adds that you can share or revoke access to your building or your app's intercom controls to whomever you like at any time.

Another key point: With no camera in play, the Ring Intercom isn't something that you'd use for video sharing in the Ring Neighbors app, which has drawn criticism from privacy advocates in recent years for facilitating police requests for user footage.

There's no set date for when the Ring Intercom will make its way to the US, but Ring says that the device will start shipping in Germany and the UK this October, before arriving in France, Italy and Spain in early 2023, with the US release pegged for sometime next year after that. You can head to ring.com/intercom to register for updates on availability.

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What is an escrow account and how does it work?

What is an escrow account and how does it work?

Escrow refers to an arrangement in which a neutral third party receives, holds and pays out funds as spelled out in a contract. Though it's used in a variety of financial situations, escrow accounts are commonly used in a real estate context to help manage payments for property taxes and insurance. 

What is escrow and how does it work? 

In real estate, escrow accounts are used for two main purposes -- to hold an initial payment for the property and to hold funds for property taxes and insurance.

When you're buying a house, your mortgage lender may require an escrow account to hold funds for closing until the deal is finalized. Once you agree on a home price with the seller, your agent will collect earnest money -- a good-faith deposit that proves you're serious about the home purchase -- from you and place it into an escrow account. How much earnest money is required can vary, but you'll typically provide 1% to 2% of the home sale price.

What happens to your earnest money if the deal falls through?

When initially putting your money into escrow, you have a time window to change your mind (typically 48 hours) without losing your escrow money. As long as you meet the deadlines provided, you can get your earnest money back if the deal falls through. In addition, after the home inspection, you also receive a window of opportunity to review the inspection results and cancel the home sale without losing your earnest money. If you break the deal after a specified deadline, this money could go to the seller. 

Once you close on your home, your good-faith deposit becomes part of your down payment. On your closing day, you'll add the rest of your closing costs to this escrow account. This money is then distributed to all parties involved in the home sale -- the seller, agents and any other players.

How homeowner escrow accounts work

After you buy your home, your monthly mortgage expenses may still be deposited into an escrow account to pay for holding tax and insurance funds. This money will be taken directly from your monthly mortgage payment. This money is used by the lender to pay insurance premiums and taxes whenever they are due. Typically, there must be more than two months of funds in the account, to minimize the lender's risk and to make sure that the homeowner is capable of making the payments. The account is closed once the loan is settled. Keep in mind that escrow accounts do not pay for any kind of homeownership costs. Utility bills and other maintenance costs of the property are not part of the escrow account.

Who manages an escrow account?

The escrow account is managed by a neutral third party or middleman -- usually the escrow company or escrow agent or even the mortgage servicer, depending on what you are using the account for. The escrow agent is often the same as the title agent who holds onto the deed until the sale is closed during the home buying process. After the sale of a house, escrow accounts are managed by the mortgage servicer responsible for collecting your mortgage payments and keeping their records. 

Who pays for the escrow account?

Since an escrow account benefits both the buyer and the seller, there is no hard and fast rule about who pays for it. The buyer and the seller may choose to split the fees or decide that one party bears it all. If the title provider or settlement agent is paying for the account, the fees could be rolled into the settlement fees or the title insurance fee. If the buyer fields the cost, escrow fees could be added to the mortgage payments, resulting in a higher payment every month. 

Just like earnest money, escrow account fees can range, but typically equal 1% to 2% of the home sale price.

Benefits of an escrow account

The most important benefit of an escrow account is the financial protection it offers the buyer, seller and lender. As a home buyer, you are assured that your money will return to you if the deal falls through. As a seller, you can have peace of mind that you will be covered if the buyer backs out in the middle of the deal. As a lender, you can be sure that you will not face financial loss regardless of the outcome of the deal.

For homeowners, the escrow account eliminates the need to come up with a lump sum amount to cover taxes and insurance. Spreading the cost over the year makes it easier to have the payments made on time. At the same time, you don't have to keep track of the due dates of taxes and insurance premiums because they are being paid by your mortgage lender. 

Do you need an escrow account?

When you are buying a property, an escrow account is often a requirement by the lender and cannot be avoided, unless you are making over 50% down payment, have an incredible credit score or do not have a loan at all. While the benefits and peace of mind that escrow brings cannot be denied, there are certain downsides too. 

The biggest drawback of an escrow account is the higher mortgage rate, compared to what you would pay without escrow. You may also be charged a different amount for each payment because the rate of taxes and insurance premiums could rise and fall. The estimate of how much funds are needed in the escrow may not be accurate all the time, and you could end up overpaying.

It is not impossible to avoid an escrow. If you have enough savings to buy a house without a loan or pay off the mortgage with your own money, you can do without the higher costs of an escrow. Your annual income, credit score and your history of payments will determine whether or not you need an escrow account. 

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