Certified Notary Signing Agent
Loan Closings and Real Estate Transactions
As a certified Notary Signing Agent (or Loan Signing Agent) of the National Notary Association, our signing agent services include: purchases, refinances, leases, home equity, reverse mortgages, cash transactions, REO and foreclosure transactions, loan modifications and more.
What is a Notary Signing Agent (NSA)?
A Notary Signing Agent is a Notary who has special expertise to handle and notarize loan papers. For lenders, Notary Signing Agents are the critical final link to complete the loan. A Notary Signing Agent is hired as an independent contractor to ensure that real estate loan documents are executed by the borrower, notarized and returned for processing on time. Completing this critical part of the loan process enables the loan to be funded.
A Notary Signing Agent or a loan signing agent – a signing agent should not be confused with a mortgage loan closer or closing agent. Signing agents are notaries public, who usually have experience and/or training concerning the proper execution of loan documents and are hired by mortgage companies, escrow companies, title companies, and signing services to identify loan documents, obtain the necessary signatures, and in some cases deliver the documents to the borrower. A signing agent is an impartial party to the transaction, and must adhere to the notary laws of their state or jurisdiction. In some states of the United States where signing agents are allowed, signing agents may identify documents and can point out terms to the loan transaction. However, signing agents are prohibited from giving legal advice or in any way explaining or interpreting the meaning of any terms or documents, and they are not permitted to prepare the documents, or alter them in any way. Any advice, explanation, or opinion can be considered unauthorized practice of law… From Wikipedia
Why is a Background Screening required?
To protect borrowers, Congress passed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act (GLBA). GLBA and resulting Interagency Guidelines obligates the lending industry to guard borrowers’ private financial information and require that all persons involved in the lending process undergo background screenings. Lenders in turn instruct title services companies to ensure that everyone with access to mortgage documents has been screened. This requirement applies to everyone handling loan documents including Notaries who act as Signing Agents.
