You closed. You have the keys. Then, about two weeks later, the mailbox fills up. Letters about your mortgage, warranty offers with your loan amount printed on them, and envelopes that look official enough to make you nervous.
This happens to nearly every new homeowner, and most of it is harmless. But a few of those letters are designed to look like they came from us, and that is worth understanding before you open the next one.
Two kinds of mail you will see
1. The previous owner's mail
If the seller did not file a change of address, their mail keeps arriving at your house. Bank statements, magazines, the occasional package.
What to do
Write "not at this address" on the envelope and drop it back in the mail. Do not open it. After a few rounds, most senders update their records. If it continues for months, a note in the mailbox for your carrier usually solves it.
2. Mail for the new homeowner
This is the pile that surprises people. Home warranty offers, mortgage protection insurance, "final notice" letters, refinance pitches, and coupons from local businesses.
How do they know?
When you buy a home, the deed and the mortgage are recorded with the county. That is public record, and it includes your name, the address, the lender, and often the loan amount. Marketing companies pull those records within days of closing and sell the lists. It is legal, and it is why the letters know so much about you.
Some of it is useful. Local restaurants, dentists, and lawn services often send welcome offers. Nothing wrong with that.
The part to watch for
A handful of companies deliberately design their mail to look like it came from your lender or servicer. They use phrases like "regarding your mortgage with Canopy Mortgage" or "important loan information enclosed" to get you to open it, and sometimes to get you to pay for something you do not need.
Red flags that a mailer is not from us
- It names your lender but does not name Melanie Bundy or The Bundy Team as the sender.
- The NMLS number is missing, or it does not match Canopy Mortgage (NMLS 1359687) or our branch (NMLS 2567994).
- There is no Equal Housing Lender logo.
- It asks you to call an unfamiliar number, or the number does not match the one you already have for us.
- It offers "biweekly payment" or "autopay" enrollment for a setup fee. Your servicer offers this for free.
- It pushes mortgage protection or accidental death insurance with a deadline, often printed to look like a bill.
- Fine print somewhere on the page says "not affiliated with your lender."
A simple rule
If a letter about your loan asks for money or personal information, call us at 803-590-9358 before you respond. We will tell you in thirty seconds whether it is real.
Mail that is legitimate
Not everything in the pile is junk. Expect these, and keep them:
- Servicing transfer notice. Your loan may be transferred to a servicing company after closing. You will get a letter from the old servicer and a matching one from the new one, at least 15 days before the change. Both will reference the same loan number.
- Your first mortgage statement. It shows the payment amount, due date, and where to send it.
- Recorded deed. The county mails the original recorded deed a few weeks after closing. File it with your closing documents.
- Escrow analysis. Once a year, your servicer reviews the escrow account and adjusts your payment if taxes or insurance changed.
- Property tax and homestead exemption notices. In South Carolina, apply for the 4% legal residence rate with your county assessor. It is not automatic.
Want less of it?
The Federal Trade Commission explains how to opt out of prescreened credit offers and reduce marketing mail at consumer.ftc.gov. You can also register at DMAchoice to cut catalog and marketing volume.
Questions about anything you receive after closing? Reach out anytime. Between Melanie, Kevin, and the rest of the team, we are here well after the paperwork is signed. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice for your specific situation.
