Escrow payments rising nationwide with homeownership less attainable

Rising escrow payments are eating into Americans' budgets, creating an even bigger barrier for people trying to enter the housing market this year, according to a new report.

These escrow payments, the portion of a monthly mortgage that goes toward property taxes and homeowners insurance, are considered one of the biggest risks to the U.S. housing market in the new year, threatening market participation, according to the Cotality 2026 property market trends analysis. 

The analysis closely examined how these payments...