Sometimes. Your loan program and your equity decide, along with your lender's own rules. An escrow (impound) account folds your property taxes and homeowners insurance into the monthly payment, and the servicer pays those bills for you when they come due. Whether you can skip it: - FHA requires impounds on every loan, covering taxes, insurance, and the monthly mortgage insurance, regardless of down payment. USDA requires them for taxes and insurance as well. - VA has no program rule requiring impounds, but most lenders add the requirement as their own overlay. - Conventional loans generally require impounds when you finance more than 80% of the value. With 20% or more down, you can typically waive them. Some lenders will offer a waiver with more than 10% down, but that threshold is the lender's own call rather than a Fannie or Freddie rule, and a waiver often comes with a small pricing hit. - Higher-priced loans are a separate case. Federal rules force escrow on higher-priced mortgage loans no matter the program. Removing an account you already have is a separate request to your servicer after closing, and the same program rules apply. Confirm the requirement for your specific program and lender before you count on the option.