In relation to a mortgage, an escrow account is a fund that contains money designated to cover certain monthly expenses including property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Taxes and insurance represent the two primary elements of what is held in an escrow account by the lender, which pays those bills on the borrower’s behalf. Financial lenders generally require an escrow account for mortgage loans, although escrow can sometimes be waived if a borrower pays a down payment of at least 20%.