Mortgage lenders are highly regulated by Federal Law, so you shouldn't have to wait very long for the Mortgage Company to return any funds left in your account after the account is paid. Typcially, when a mortgage is sold, transferred, or paid off, the funds remaining in the account are sent to the borrower in the form of a check. This check would include any incidental overpayment, plus the funds remaining in the escrow account. I think the current law allows the lender 30-60 days to issue this check. Note: in the current frenzy of refinance activity, many lenders have worked out ways to transfer escrow funds from your current account to the new account without having to cut a check to you or have you pay duplicate sums at closing. You may have participated in this without being fully aware if you recently refinanced. Look at your HUD-1 Settlement Statement, which is the "numbers and money" form you signed. On the 2nd page will be the breakdown of what you paid into the new escrow account and will also show any transfers from an old account that might have happened. A transfer should show up as a credit or negative number.