At first glance, notarizing documents with your local UPS notary seems like a great idea. And for some people it is, as you only need your ID and the document(s) you need notarized. (in certain cases)
But, what separates a UPS notary and a certified signing service like Sunshine Signing?
Read MoreRemote Online Notarization (RON) is gaining prominence and transforming the notarization landscape. But, it’s unlikely that mobile notarizations will become entirely obsolete. Both mobile notarizations and RON offer unique advantages, and their coexistence serves to cater to different needs and scenarios.
There are instances where physical presence is required due to legal or regulatory reasons. Mobile notaries play a crucial role in facilitating in-person signings, especially when parties must be physically present to provide signatures, answer questions, or fulfill specific legal requirements.
Read MoreThe real estate market is currently experiencing a period of remarkable growth and high real estate prices, with property prices soaring in many regions. While this trend can bring financial gains to homeowners and investors, it also has far-reaching effects on various sectors of the economy.
Notary work, which plays a crucial role in mortgage and real estate transactions, is no exception. The surge in real estate prices presents both challenges and opportunities for notaries as they navigate the evolving landscape.
Read MoreWould be buyers took another hit this week as mortgage rates continue to climb. Under normal circumstances, housing prices would fall, but low inventory continues to raise prices, as demand is exceeding supply.
Read MoreWe doubt anyone was thinking about student loans a few months ago, except for those that have them. But, they have a looming effects on the housing market, already hit hard by high interest rates.
Look back to the pandemic. Extreme measures were implemented to ease the economic suffering of so many people. In that regard, payments for federal student loans have been frozen.
And that is about to change. At the beginning of October the freeze ends and potential home buyers will see another bill coming their way.
Read MoreTitle companies play a crucial role in real estate transactions by ensuring the legal transfer of property ownership. In the fast-paced world of real estate, convenience, efficiency, and accuracy are paramount. To meet these demands, title companies often rely on mobile notary services. This article explores the reasons why mobile notary services are indispensable for title companies and how they contribute to the seamless execution of property transactions.
Read MoreEffective leadership requires a combination of skills and qualities that enable individuals to guide, motivate, and inspire others to achieve common goals and objectives. These essential and effective leadership skills include:
Remember that effective leadership skills are not about mastering each skill perfectly, but continually developing and refining these skills to suit specific situations and contexts. Great leaders are adaptable and always open to growth and improvement.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
Technological advancements and the advantages of remote online notarizations continue to reshape the way we conduct business and legal transactions. And the fields of notarization and authentication are no exception. Traditional methods of notarization, often involving physical presence and paper based processes, are being challenged by innovative alternatives.
In recent years, both remote online notarizations and mobile notarizations have emerged as convenient options, but the former offers distinct advantages that position it as a superior choice.
Read MoreWhile inventory on the housing market is still at historic lows, they have reached the highest they have been so far in 2023. While there are 10% less houses on the market compared to this time last year, current inventory is now 1% higher than it was just one week ago.
This arises in the face of still rising interest rates, which are expected to raise rates. This is according to the Altos rule.
To understand the future of housing inventory in this country remember the Altos Rule. The Altos rule says that the more available inventory of homes to buy is the result of higher mortgage rates. If rates climb, so does inventory. If rates fall, inventory will fall.
Housing Wire
Summer is known for raising inventory, which usually peaks in August, but which is now expected to grow until September. There are now just under 500,000 single family homes on the open market. Houses on the open market is raising at a faster rate than it was at this time last year.
There are now just under 365,000 homes under contract. This flies in the face of interest rates that are the highest they’ve been in twenty years.
Even in the face of rising interest rates, home prices are still rising. In fact, housing prices are still rising in 99 of the 100 biggest markets.
But, 35% of homes on the market have seen price reductions since being listed. So, even though prices are rising, in many cases they are not rising at the pace sellers hope they are.
And we can see it in the home price reduction data too. Price reductions are about to inch above 2018 and 2019 again. 35.5% of the homes on the market have had price reductions. Price cuts always tick up late in the summer, and this year’s seasonal increase is speeding up just a bit with the recent higher mortgage rates. Each week we have slightly fewer buyers, making slightly fewer offers, so slightly more sellers cut their asking prices.
Housing Wire
So, as we stand in the face of rising interest rates, there are some positives. Negatively affected are younger, first time home buyers, who are increasingly being priced out of the market.
During the 2007 crash, many first time home buyers felt compelled to buy their home before prices rose even higher. This led to many foreclosures among that group. With record high home prices, it remains to be seen if that will happen again, or if potential first time home buyers will just stay out of the housing market.
Since, historically, real estate has been one of the best investments, the pressure of rising housing prices may negatively affect this group, and the larger market, in the long run.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
Congratulations, you just got your first signing!
Now is when you set yourself up for success to ensure your first signing goes smoothly and provide your client(s) with a great experience. Positive feedback from signers, Title and Signing Services will be a crucial part of your self-advertising and using the following tips and tricks will practically guarantee your next job.
It cannot be said enough that reading your instructions will make or break your first signing. Do not skim the information provided. New policies and practices are introduced frequently in this industry and taking the time to confirm what is needed on each document(s) will only benefit you in the long run. Reading your instructions will also answer some of your most common questions: Print size, ink color, are witnesses needed, does your first signer need a copy, shipping instructions, etc.
First impressions matter and greatly influence the overall signing experience. Keep in mind, you are a stranger meeting them to notarize confidential documents. A professional conversation over the phone confirming the time, date and location of the signing gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and go over any other important details. You have set the foundation for your signing relationship which will lead to a better overall signing experience for you and your first signer.
This is your first closing or maybe it is a signing you have never done before. Either way, reviewing the docs before going to the table is always recommended. Taking this time to familiarize yourself with the signature and notarization requirements will limit the chances of something being missed during your first signing. You could even go so far as to tag the package with removable sticky notes to make the signing process simpler.
Make sure your docs are printed according to instructions and you have all the supplies you might need as a notary. This includes your notary journal, notary stamp, additional acknowledgements and jurats, extra pens in both black and blue. Additionally, make a note of the correct contact numbers for title or the lender to have any questions answered at the table as well as the contact information for the company or service who hired you to conduct the signing.
Going back to first impressions, not many would consider their attire in these kinds of situations. But, if you think about it, you are representing the title company, lender and even the signing service when you arrive to location. All of which are professional businesses that the signer has been in contact with frequently. This means they will be expecting the same in the representative sent to conduct their signing. Business casual or business dress is highly recommended to portray that level of professionalism.
Shake their hand, provide your business card and reintroduce yoursel. Then confirm you are in fact the notary sent to them and the person they spoke with on the phone. This provides reassurance to the signer when letting a stranger into their home and reaffirms the professional setting.
Stay on topic as much as possible, but do not fear a little small talk. Providing a comfortable and easy notarizing environment is beneficial both to you as a new notary and your first signer. Help them increase their productivity.
We are all human and we make mistakes, even veteran notaries make errors. Give yourself enough time in your schedule to double check your work at the table. Collect any missing signatures, initials or information while you are still at location. This way you don’t need to return for a correction.
Do not hesitate to review your portion of the docs again as well. Ensure all your notary blocks are properly filled out and notarized to decrease the likelihood of a correction coming back.
The goal of any notary is to provide an enjoyable notarization experience for their signer. And then return accurate documents back to title. Remember you want to set yourself apart and end up being their go to notary. These steps are just a few that can be taken. It is on you to assure your first signing completes without a hitch and boost your confidence going into the next one. Set yourself up for success.
Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.
