Ask a lender to pay taxes early?

[Curtis H.]

Hello all, 

I am refinancing a Sub2 into my own name. I am expected to close before month's end, and they aren't due to pay the taxes until March out of the escrow account. Of course I would have closed by then so a refund check will be sent to the old owner with the money in the escrow account. Well while I am trying to get the old owner to sign the check over (should be fun) I will have taxes due immediately.

Can I call the current lender and request they just pay the taxes a couple weeks early? I was told by my escrow agent that lenders usually pay all the taxes for all their loans at once to the county, so it's unlikely. She said my only chance is to delay the closing until after they pay the taxes so the account is depleted. If I delay, I lose the lock on my rate.