Homeowners insurance is annual. Homeowners insurance policies do not automatically cancel when a house is sold.The seller will sign the deed and any documents needed to release their mortgage or other claims on the property. An escrow account is a bridge. It is a third man between a buyer and a seller. Yes, prior to closing on a mortgage, your lender will require you to get a homeowners insurance policy and keep your home insured until the loan is paid off. But if this is your first home, you may wonder, "Why do I need another insurance policy? I don't trust much in the house now. What recourse do I have in this moment and even in the future if water damage occurs again? Escrow account calculations show that the homeowner pays an additional three months of homeowner's insurance at closing.