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The Role of a Notary Signing Agent in Real Estate Transactions

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Buying a home? Refinancing? Selling property? 🏡 A notary public , but more specifically, a notary signing agent plays a crucial role in ensuring real estate documents are properly executed and notarized so as to not delay the real estate transaction.   What's the difference between a Mobile Notary and  a Certified Notary Signing Agent? A Mobile Notary is a commissioned notary public who travels to clients to notarize documents, offering convenience for those who can’t visit a notary office. They can notarize a variety of documents, including powers of attorney, affidavits, and estate planning forms. A Certified Notary Signing Agent (NSA) is a specialized notary trained to handle loan and real estate documents . NSAs work with title companies, escrow officers, and lenders to ensure proper execution of mortgage paperwork. They must pass a background check and certification process to work with financial institutions. In short: All NSAs are mobile notaries, but not all mob...

10 Facts About Notaries

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The word "notary" comes from the Latin word "notarius," which means "secretary" or "scribe." Notaries have been around for thousands of years. The earliest known notary was a woman named En Hedu'anna who lived in ancient Mesopotamia around 2300 BC. Notaries are public officials who are appointed by the government to witness and certify the signing of important documents. Notaries are responsible for verifying the identity of the signers, making sure they understand the contents of the document, and ensuring that the signing is voluntary. In most states, notaries are required to keep a record of every document they notarize, including the names of the signers, the date of the signing, and the type of document. In some countries, such as France and Ital y, notaries are highly respected and have a lot of power. They can perform many of the same functions as lawyers, including drafting contracts and representing clients in court. I...

FACT: You Can Choose Your Notary Signing Agent

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It's true. If you're familiar with real estate loans, you've probably seen a section on the loan estimate disclosure form, also known as Good Faith Estimate , that says "Services you can shop for".   These services, as pictured at right, are Pest Inspection Survey Insurance binder Lender's title policy Settlement Agent Fee (AKA escrow or title) Title search While a notary signing agent is not specifically listed, you can ask your escrow officer (or your real estate agent) to use your trusted notary signing agent. It should be noted that not just any notary will do; she should be a certified notary signing agent. (See my blog post on NSAs.)    Why would you want to choose your own notary signing agent? The notary signing agent's job, while a small step in a long process in the acquisition of real estate, is important nonetheless. A misstep at the end of the process can derail the whole transaction. Personalized service with a seasoned NSA can make all the d...