Mortgage servicing 101

In this article: 

• What mortgage servicing is 
• What Desert Financial handles as your mortgage servicer  
• If your mortgage was sold or transferred to Desert Financial 

When you pay your mortgage each month, manage your escrow account or have questions about your loan, you’re working with your mortgage servicer — the company that handles the day-to-day management of your loan. If your mortgage is serviced by Desert Financial, that means our team is your primary point of contact for anything related to your existing home loan, even if your loan may have originally been funded or purchased by another institution. 

Understanding what mortgage servicing means can help you know who to contact, what to expect and how Desert Financial supports you throughout the life of your loan. 

What mortgage servicing is 

Mortgage servicing refers to the ongoing administration of your home loan after it has been funded. This includes: 

• Processing your monthly payments
• Managing your escrow account
• Paying your property taxes and insurance from escrow
• Sending statements, taxd ocuments and escrow analyses 
• Reviewing insurance updates and renewals
• Handling late paymentsor delinquency support 
• Providing payoff quotes and processing payoffs
• Offering guidance on questions or concerns about your loan

Even if your loan originated with Desert Financial, servicing is a separate function from origination — and it continues for the entire life of your mortgage. 

Why servicing matters 

Who services your mortgage matters because your servicer is responsible for making sure your loan stays in good standing and that required bills — such as taxes and insurance — are paid on time. A helpful, responsive servicer makes a big difference in your experience as a homeowner. 

When Desert Financial services your mortgage, you receive local support from a team that prioritizes clarity, care and member-first communication. 

What Desert Financial handles as your mortgage servicer 

Here’s what you can rely on Desert Financial to manage for you. 

Processing your monthly mortgage payments: You can make payments through online banking, automatic transfers, mailed payments or phone support. We process your monthly payments and apply them to: 

• Principal
• Interest
• Escrow (if applicable)
• Late fees (if applicable)
• Additional principal payments (when provided) 

Your escrow account: Our role is to ensure your bills are paid accurately and on time. 

 If your loan has an escrow account, we manage all activity, including: 

• Collecting monthly escrow funds
• Paying your homeowners insurance premiums
• Paying your property taxes
• Completing annual escrow analyses
• Adjusting your payment based on tax or insurance changes
• Handling insurance refunds and tax corrections

Your insurance updates: Maintaining active coverage is an essential requirement of mortgage servicing. We monitor your insurance coverage to ensure your property remains protected and meets loan requirements. This includes: 

• Reviewing policy renewals
• Updating your loan with new policies
• Paying premiums from escrow
• Tracking cancellations
• Notifying you if a lapse occurs 
• Providing support if force-placed insurance becomes necessary

Your property taxes: You do not need to send us your tax statements — the county sends them directly. We receive your property tax information directly from the county and pay your tax bills on your behalf. This includes: 

• Tracking tax statement release dates
• Ensuring timely payments 
• Updating escrow projections based on tax changes
• Handling supplemental tax bills
• Reviewing corrections or refunds

Your yearly documents: As your servicer, we provide important annual documents that help you track your mortgage and prepare for tax season, including: 

• Annual mortgage statement
• Form 1098 (mortgage interest)
• Escrow analysis statement
• Year-end payment summary

Support for changes to your mortgage account 

Having a direct line to your servicer means you always know who to contact. We can assist with: 

• Payoff requests
• Title changes (trusts, marriage, divorce, etc.)
• Insurance claims that involve your mortgage
• Questions about payment allocation
• Options during financial hardship
• Delinquency or loss mitigation review

What Desert Financial does not do 

We support you in understanding these changes, but we do not control the external factors that affect your payment. As your mortgage servicer, we do not: 

• Change the interest rate on your loan unless you refinance
• Alter the principal balance
• Reassess property taxes
• Set homeowners insurance premiums
• Make decisions about your county’s tax changes or schedules

If your mortgage was sold or transferred to Desert Financial 

Only the servicing company — the one handling payments and daily administration — has changed. If you recently received a notice that your mortgage servicing transferred to Desert Financial: 

• Your loan terms do not change.
• Your balance does not change.
• Your interest rate does not change.
• Your amortization schedule does not change.
• Your rights as a borrower remain protected.

When to contact Desert Financial 

We’re always here to support you with clear answers and member-first service. Contact Mortgage Servicing at (602) 433-7097 or firstmortgageservicing@desertfinancial.com if you have: 

• Escrow questions or payment changes
• Insurance updates or renewals
• Tax questions related to escrow
•  Payment difficulties or anticipated hardship 
• Title updates
• Payoff requests
• Clarification on statements or notices
• General loan questions