How Long To Keep Mortgage Documents

Most homebuyers get a mortgage to fund their home purchase, which comes with a stack of paperwork, documents and monthly payment statements. While all of these mortgage documents are important, some are more essential to keep handy than others. Here’s what to know about how long to keep mortgage statements and other home-related documents.

How long should you keep mortgage statements?

When you receive a mortgage statement each month, whether by mail or digitally, you might wonder how long you should hold on to it. In general, mortgage statements have a short shelf life. Since you’ll receive a new one each month, you can destroy or shred them whenever you want. At most, you might keep one on hand in case you need to provide proof of your mortgage details or home address.

If you receive an agent’s agreement or addendum documents for tax purposes, you can typically discard those after six years. At that point, the statute of limitations for IRS auditing is over. After six months, you can toss a home inspection report, although you might want to hold onto it to prove the condition of your home when you purchased it.

What about the most important mortgage documents? Many experts recommend keeping certain paperwork, like the mortgage note and deed, until your loan is paid off, or at least until you sell your home.

Even if you pay off your mortgage, it is a smart idea to keep the paperwork. Once you sell and there are no future tax implications associated with the sale of that property, your paperwork may be discarded.

— Roselina D’Annucci
New York-based attorney with Serrano and Associates PC

Information your mortgage statements contain

Mortgage statements contain many important details, including:

• Upcoming payment information: Your mortgage statement shows the amount of your next mortgage payment, with a breakdown of how much is going toward the principal and interest. The document will also list details about your escrow account balance (for homeowners insurance and property taxes) and fees.
• Loan and account details: On your mortgage statement, you can find information like your account number and your home’s address. You’ll also see your loan balance, current interest rate and maturity date (when your loan will be completely paid off). If there’s a prepayment penalty on your mortgage, you might see that, as well.
• Transaction history: This section of your mortgage statement highlights any charges or payments that you’ve made since the previous billing period. This is also where extra mortgage payments will show up.
• Past payment breakdown: Monthly mortgage documents typically include a detailed breakdown of your past payment history. For example, you might find the amount you paid last month as well as for the year so far.
• Contact information: Your monthly mortgage statements will have your lender’s contact details so you can get in touch with any questions or concerns.

Other important homeownership documents

Besides mortgage statements, there are other documents you can expect to receive when you buy a home.

Buyer’s agent agreement

The buyer’s agent agreement is a contract between you and your real estate agent. The contract explains what services the real estate agent will provide you with and how much it will cost you.

Seller disclosure

A seller’s disclosure highlights any problems with the home that the seller knows about that would impact a new owner’s safety or the home’s value. For example, this disclosure could note the presence of lead paint in the home.

Home inspection report

A home inspection report is a detailed document prepared by a professional home inspector. It describes the home’s condition and possible hazards or problems that warrant attention.

Title insurance document

You’ll receive the title insurance document from the settlement or title company. It includes information about your title insurance policy, which protects the lender (and you, if you opt for this coverage) from issues with the property’s ownership.

Promissory note

The promissory note, also called a mortgage note, is the legal contract you sign with your lender, in which you promise to repay the debt you took on with interest and agree the home is collateral for the debt. In some states, the promissory note is called a deed of trust.

Closing disclosure

The closing disclosure is a document you’ll receive at least three days before you close on the home. It breaks down the finalized details of your loan terms and the property sale and includes information on the loan amount, length, interest rate and escrow fees.

Purchase agreement

The purchase agreement is signed by the buyer and the seller at the home closing. It typically includes the price paid for the home, the closing date and other important details about the transaction. Some purchase agreements also include addendums and amendments, which are documents that specify changes or details not present in the original purchase and sale agreement (the contract you signed when your home offer was accepted).

Deed

The property deed is the document that transfers or proves ownership of the home, and it’s signed by the buyer and seller during closing. The main purpose of the deed is to transfer the legal rights of the property from one party to another.

Home warranty

While not required when buying a house, a home warranty is a service agreement that covers your home’s major systems and appliances if they stop working or get damaged. It typically covers things that homeowners insurance doesn’t, like damage from wear and tear and normal use. A home warranty document states when the coverage expires.

Which mortgage documents are most important to keep?

Some mortgage documents are more important to keep than others. These are the ones you should hold onto:

Why is it important to keep mortgage documents?

For many people, buying a home is the biggest investment they’ll ever make. As a result, keeping the documents associated with the transaction is important for many reasons, such as:

• If a question about your title, insurance or taxes comes up, your mortgage paperwork might have the answer.
• If your lender never filed a satisfaction of mortgage with the local recording office when you paid off your loan, your mortgage documents could save you from a dispute during a future home sale.
• If you ever face foreclosure, or a challenge to the title, you might need these documents to prove your ownership of the property.
• If you need to calculate your capital gains tax liability, your mortgage documents can provide the information you need.
• If you are planning for a major remodeling project, having your home inspection report and seller’s disclosure can come in handy.

What is the best way to store mortgage paperwork?

Here are a few options for securely storing your mortgage documents:

• In a fireproof and waterproof safe: The best place to store your original mortgage documents is in a fireproof and waterproof safe in your home. At the very least, keep paper copies in a locked filing cabinet at home.
• In a safe deposit box: If you aren’t comfortable storing your mortgage documents at home, consider putting them in a safe deposit box at your local bank.
• In digital form: It’s a good idea to keep a digital copy of your mortgage documents in cloud-based storage or on a hard drive.

What to do if your mortgage documents are lost or damaged

If your original mortgage documents have been lost or damaged, you can usually get a replacement. Many companies that participate in real estate transactions — like lenders and title companies — keep this type of paperwork on file. If, for some reason, you need a physical copy of a particular document, the company that was involved in that part of the deal, or your local recorder’s office, may be able to send you a replacement.

FAQ about keeping mortgage documents

• How long should you keep mortgage statements after the death of a loved one?
  

  While there’s no standard requirement for this, it’s a good idea to keep mortgage statements for at least three years after a loved one dies. Make sure to store the documents in a safe place, like a fireproof safe or a safe deposit box.

• How long should you keep old mortgage documents after selling a home?
  

  Keep your mortgage documents and related home sale records for at least seven years after selling your home. This includes proof of mortgage payoff, the closing statement and receipts for capital improvements.

• How long should you keep your refinance documents?
  

  If you decide to refinance your home, you should hold onto your documents for at least three years. However, it can be beneficial to keep these documents for up to 10 years in case there’s a statement error or unexpected changes in your interest rate or payments.