Posted by Gwen McMillan on 3/13/07 2:31pm
Msg #179715

SIGNING AGENT

I HAVE APPLIED TO BE A NOTARY. I'M CONFUSED ABOUT BEING A SIGNING AGENT; IS IT THE SAME THING OR DO I NEED TRAINING, IF SO WHERE DO I CHECK?

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 3/13/07 2:37pm
Msg #179717

lol n/m

Reply by Bonnie_CO on 3/13/07 2:54pm
Msg #179720

Gwen-
Notary and Signing Agent are 2 different things. If you don't mind my asking, what was the reason you applied for your notary commission? Was it just to be a notary? Or did you hear about notary signing agents somewhere? If you heard the NNA bologna, I hope you didn't fall for it. To be successful as a Signing agent, you HAVE to know what you are doing. As a SA, you have a great deal of responsibility and your screw up could cost someone thousands of dollars.
It helps if you have a background in real estate or legal, something along those lines. Yes you do have to be trained! See message # 33325.
This is not the best time to get into the business of real estate closings due to all the lender upheaval (sp?) that's going on right now. If someone told you or you read somewhere that being a notary signing agent was gonna bring you lots of money for little work, well, all I can say is "don't believe everything you read!"
I suggest you go to the beginning messages on this board and start reading all the way to the current messages. You'll learn a lot and then you can make an informed decision as to wheather or not you want to do this.
Another helpful hint: Don't type in all CAPS as most board users feel that by doing that you are yelling!
Good luck

Reply by Patti Corcoran on 3/13/07 5:17pm
Msg #179732

Re: Your response

Bonnie, thank you for your patient reply to this person just starting out. Too many times I read curt, rude remarks to newbies.

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/14/07 2:05am
Msg #179810

Re: Your response

I don't see rude responses, I see blunt responses.

I HAVE APPLIED TO BE A DOCTOR. I'M CONFUSED ABOUT BEING A NEUROSURGEON; IS IT THE SAME THING OR DO I NEED TRAINING, IF SO WHERE DO I CHECK?

People who are trying to get into the business, yet obviously have no idea what the business even is, really don't deserve patient replies from us. They're the main reason our work has become so devalued in the first place.

Reply by Mumbo719/FL on 3/14/07 4:26am
Msg #179812

Well said Bonnie_CO

Reply by DogmongerCA on 3/13/07 3:09pm
Msg #179723

I believe by statue iMD signing agents have to be a Licensed

Tilte Producer. Requires studying for and passing a substantial test, acquiring a large bond besides passing the notary exam, and learning how to be a signing agent. Unless you can support yourself for 6 -8 months, to contend with a shrinking market, I would keep my day job. I defer to the MD signing agents on the statues as I am strictly working off of memory. Best of luck.

Reply by Loretta Reed on 3/13/07 5:22pm
Msg #179733

You have to have a title producers license in Maryland. Contact the MIA regarding the classes and get a job with an attorney or title company so they may consider training you to do signings for them. After the classes and you pass your test, get E&0 insurance and a bond for $100,000 (have good credit and assets). Stand in line and good luck. This place is swarming with notaries/licensed title producers.

Reply by Genkichan on 3/13/07 6:21pm
Msg #179747

And in order to take a licensing class, take the test, buy the bond, and then buy some E&O insurance to back up your $100,000 bond, you might as well figure on spending around $2000.00 out of pocket before you even do your first loan closing. And yes, business has really slowed. Not to be discouraging, but it's the truth.

Also, read your MD notary handbook VERY carefully and it will tell you that regular notaries cannot notarize deeds of trusts/mortgages unless you are also title licensed.

Reply by Nicole Clement ClementClosingServices on 3/14/07 8:31pm
Msg #179976

and don't forget after you get licensed, and bonded, it's good to have a very up to date computer and laser printer, preferably a laser printer by itself, not an all in one to print your loan docs. I recommend HP. Also, as the previous person advised it is slowing up a lot in MD. so if I were trying to get into this now, I would probably keep my day job and consider this part time. Good luck.