Posted by pat/WA on 12/19/08 4:12pm
Msg #272447

Attorneys

Anyone have experience signing attorneys that they would like to relate??

Reply by Becca_FL on 12/19/08 4:20pm
Msg #272449

Attorneys are not nearly as difficult as Engineers, IMO. n/m

Reply by Derrick/MT on 12/19/08 4:23pm
Msg #272451

Re: Attorneys are not nearly as difficult as Engineers, IMO.

I totally agree with you on engineers being a pain in the behind. With attorneys I just make them feel like they know what all the docs are and in most cases they do not but are to prdeful to admit it and they signing goes pretty smooth.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/19/08 5:42pm
Msg #272468

They just want their money, like anyone else.

Havestickingkeyboardtoday.com, veryhardto dotyping....drat,another,expense!

Reply by Becca_FL on 12/19/08 5:54pm
Msg #272471

So it's your turn now. tryfreecycle.com for a free keyboard. n/m

Reply by PAW on 12/19/08 6:39pm
Msg #272472

Client marks up the Mortgage

With one closing that I did, which took almost 3 hours, the client started to mark up, er... correct the Mortgage. I told her she couldn't do that and go out the borrower's copy for her to sign. Again, she started to make pen and ink changes to the document. I called the title closer and she was told that if she changed the wording in the Mortgage that the loan probably would not fund. She indignantly told the closer that she was an attorney and she knew how to word the document. After she got done, she passed the document to her husband who read the entire 16 pages, word for word, and somewhat out loud. Did the same with the Note.

After the signing, all documents, even those that were "corrected" were returned to the title company. Needless to say, the loan, as corrected, did not fund. I don't know if the borrowers ever did get their refinance.

I would rather close with an engineer any day of the week than that attorney. I can honestly say that all the engineers and attorneys that I've closed have not given me any problems or headaches, except for that one.

Reply by Becca_FL on 12/19/08 7:26pm
Msg #272475

Funny you say this, Paul.

Because the only time I witnessed a borrower marking up a mortgage it was done by an engineer and not the many attys I have done closings for. Even funnier, the engineers wife was the VP of a local bank here and she even tried to get him to stop. They did eventually end up closing about a month later.

I will NEVER forget the first engineer I closed for. It was September 2004 after we were hit by first hurricane over labor day weekend. I met the guy in his home around 5pm. No one had power at this time, it was hot and everyone's rotting refrigerated food was in the streets rotting more awaiting disposal by the garbage company. I sat there sweating and smelling disgusting, rotting food for 2 hours while this guy read every single page of his docs. He even brought out a lantern when it got too dark to see in the house. I will never forget that closing.

I'll take an atty any day of the week.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 12/19/08 7:40pm
Msg #272477

Re: Funny you say this, Paul.

Just did a Chemical Engineer earlier this evening. One of the fastest loans I have ever done. I didn't even sit down. I ID'd them and they took the doc's out of my hands, sat down with them and they started signing after the HUD. I stood behind them both and pointed when they were looking where to sign. I did make them stop when we got to the Note and RTC. They were fine and they went on signing. They just wanted it done and the numbers were right and didn't want or need me to explain much of anything. It was great.

On the other hand, attorney's---- well what do I say, nicely. Did the buyer side with an attorney. First, he wanted me to drive as fast as I could to get there and he actually told me not to worry about a ticket, that he would take care of it for me. No way, no how. He was calling me every 10 min to see if I had the doc's yet. Got there and he read everything word for word. He started scratching out things also. I called title and they talked with him and I sent the docs back with his corrections. Haven't heard anything. He was not a very nice man and was real glad when it was over.

But, teachers seem to be the worse for me. They are readers. I spend more time with them than all others put together.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 12/19/08 8:03pm
Msg #272479

Re: Funny you say this, Paul.

Teachers for me, too. They are readers and would like to pick apart every nuance of every sentence.
I like lawyers. I just sit back and let them do their thing until they get to something they don't understand, then I edumicate 'em (they aren't RE lawyers) then they let me go full throttle.
Engineers haven't been much of a problem.

Reply by Teri_PA on 12/20/08 9:02pm
Msg #272534

Re: Client marks up the Mortgage

As an engineer (undergrad) and an accountant(grad), I can honestly say, that I could be someone's worst nightmare. I want the HUD, note, TIL, and mortgage..(actually, I really want to do this in my lawyer's office - which is a free closing in PA where they all own title cos)...
Most of my difficult closings are accountants, who pull out their calculators and add up the HUD to make sure the spreadsheet is right...GEEZ! Engineers are a pain (I am and my husband is worse), and I've always found lawyers to be easy....You give them the important docs...let them glance through, and remind them, they can't change anything or the deal is over...period....

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/19/08 8:07pm
Msg #272480

When I first started in this biz about 61/2 yrs ago, got

a signing for a couple. Both Attorneys. Beautiful old place on the Siletz River. Corner built-in breakfast nook overlooking the river beyond the lovely back porch. Glorious day.

From the first page, first *he* read the page. Then passed it to *her.* They couldn't possibly read it together. Then, they discussed each phrase, each paragraph, each legal concept and the many variations or consequences. Every page.

They didn't quite put pen to paper to mark up, because I assured them that the loan would not fund, more likely than not, if they did. I reminded them several times of their THREE DAY right to cancel.

By the end of the day, I knew every otter in the river, and all their kids' names. I was intimately familiar with every dust bunny, every cobweb, and each dear crumb in the kitchen. I counted the smears on the windows, and in my mind, re-arranged the open cupboards - alphabetizing the soups, and placing the staples according to size. I meditated to their droning voices.

Several years later, I returned to that gorgeous old home on the river. I dreaded the assignment - but - no more attorneys...a perfectly delightful couple in their stead. Had a great time.

Living with an engneer, I expect my sainthood to be approved any minute now...

Reply by CF on 12/19/08 8:27pm
Msg #272482

Just signed an Attorney 2 nights ago....

and he did not read or barely look at anything. I pointed out the obvious....and he singed and singed and singend. We did 100 pages in less than 20 minutes.

I guess that I lucked out with it! He said...."I will read it later and cancel if I dont like anything that I see in the docs."

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/19/08 8:32pm
Msg #272483

Ahh, the difference between the seasoned and the nubies. n/m

Reply by CF on 12/19/08 8:37pm
Msg #272485

Susan Fischer- are you implying that I am a newbie?

I have closed over 4000+ loans during the past -near -5 years and still going strong....thank you very much!!!!! If this was directed at me....you need to get your facts straight!!! I am in this business to make $$$$. My time is money; and I usually sign 2 signers with 100 pages in 30 minutes.

Reply by SReis on 12/19/08 8:42pm
Msg #272488

CF, I don't think her response was aimed at you....

I think she was referencing your borrower who was "seasoned" since he knew that he had the time to review & then cancel, unlike so many other borrowers who feel compelled to read every pg of a stnd mortgage during the closing.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/19/08 9:23pm
Msg #272493

Good Lord, no! I was referring to new attys. Trying to

flaunt their new attorneyness.

Sorry I was so unclear. Please accept my apology.

Reply by CF on 12/20/08 6:52am
Msg #272505

OK- thanks sorry to jump to that!!!

Had a hard night of signings.....got stuck in the snow in the neighbors driveway of my signing. In a rural area- not clearly marked with an address -1/4 mile long driveway...to find out that it was the neighbors. Had to push my Edge out for 1/2 hour with the borrower driving it and 3 people (including myself) pushing it. To then drive it down the 1/2 mile driveway next to it that had just been plowed (thank god)- while I was stuck next door. Then I was late to the next signing.

First time that I have been stuck in 11 years. Please accept my apologies too!!!

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/20/08 12:07pm
Msg #272521

CF, not to worry. So glad your day turned out 'unstuck.'

Stay safe and warm out there.

Reply by RJE/MI on 12/20/08 12:10pm
Msg #272523

I got stuck in the snow yesterday also

Luckily a nice young man with 4 wheel drive got me out.

Reply by Becca_FL on 12/19/08 10:07pm
Msg #272494

CF, don't be so sensetive. NOTHING was directed at YOU....

RELAX! Nobody called you out.

I don't know what you read, but I read nothing of the sort in Sue's post. Geeze, CF, lighten up and read for content. There is no way you can judge the demeanor of a post, that has been made apparent by your 'flying off the handle' approach to this post. Just sit back, take it in and respond.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/20/08 2:21am
Msg #272503

Re: Ahh, the difference between the seasoned and the nubies.

You got that right,whether atty, teacher or accountant. If they have gone through the process before, they aren't so bad. If they live alone, that is sometimes worse: they have 'company' issues, with the notary being the company.

My accountant tonight didn't trust the computer to be correct on the HUD and had to pull out his calculator to run the numbers through, but then just let me do my normal spiel and signed away. Of course, it always helps when the LO has been truthful about what to expect.

Reply by SReis on 12/19/08 8:32pm
Msg #272484

Being an atty....

I can say that I would def be the easiest closing you ever got since I am familiar w/all the docs. All of the attys I have signed, save one who wanted to be a bit more thorough than needed, were easy to deal with. Most attys, whether RE or not, know that the "important" things are laid out in 1 or 2 docs & that the rest are just legal BS.

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/20/08 12:21am
Msg #272500

Re: Just signed an Attorney 2 nights ago....

It seems to me that every time I sign an attorney they're either at one end of the spectrum or the other, very few fall in the middle. They either want to ridiculously scrutinize everything, or they barely glance at the figures and just fly through the signing.

Reply by MichiganAl on 12/19/08 8:41pm
Msg #272487

I'd usually say engineers, but I had a tough attorney Thurs.

She scrutinized every page. If it's a real estate attorney, it's usually pretty quick. They get that these docs are mostly generic. But a non-real estate attorney who knows very little about closings can be a challenge.

Reply by Prosperity on 12/20/08 2:34pm
Msg #272527

I had an attorney yesterday in DC who worked for US Congress. He was barely paying attention to what I was saying b/c of his blackberry.....I had to keep reminding him about dating. Very kind, but also very busy.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 12/22/08 12:38am
Msg #272569

I've signed attorneys who were fast, others who were a PITA and insisted on reading every word and I've had similar experience with engineers, teachers, etc. I've found no hard and fast rules. It does seem, though, that the attorneys, more often than average, tend to have a bit of an attitude. Any more, I make a point of not looking at the 1003 before I go to the signing so that I don't have any preconceived ideas about the borrowers. It is kind of interesting, though, to go back after the fact to get a window on certain people who, shall we say, act differently from most...

Reply by SharonMN on 12/22/08 10:25am
Msg #272583

Re: Attorneys/Engineers/Readers

I'm a paralegal in the financial industry and former English teacher that used to be married to an engineer. So, yes, I'm a reader. However, I make it very clear when I'm taking out a loan that I will not close unless I have the documents 24 hours ahead of time so I can read through things (this is for my own personal loans, not for notary work). I just don't believe in signing things and figuring out if they are right later - especially for the biggest financial transaction of my life.

Whenever I encounter somebody like me, I let them know that while most people sign quickly and read later, if they are more comfortable reviewing the documents before signing, they have every right to do so and that they should request to review the documents ahead of time next time.