Posted by John Bouchard on 7/27/08 1:52pm
Msg #257182

E-Signing - Hardware Advice

I know nothing about E-Signings since my state has not accepted or adopted ( not sure of the verbage ) the E-Signing documents; however, got a call to do one last week. The notarized docs would be printed and notarized the " old fashioned way ", and the lender docs would be a click and sign from a link provided by the lender.
I am searching for the type of hardware needed to do this at a borrower's home. I have a laptop with WIFI, but may need to connect some other way if no internet connection is possible. Could anyone provide some insight with using an air card, the cost, and is this the way to go. I had someone else tell my to access the internet from a PDA, connected to a laptop via the USB port. (?)
Any information would be appreciated.

Reply by MW/VA on 7/27/08 2:37pm
Msg #257191

E-signing has nothing to do with e-notarization. If you haven't already done so, you can go to www.esignmortgage.com & then click "video demo" from left menu. I did my first one last week & was fortunate enough to do it at the broker's office. It's pretty easy. Your tc will need to give you their logon/password. Even though I resisted at first, I have got set up with laptop/aircard. In my area, aircards are running $60/mo. Yes, there are some cellphones & blackberries that can give you computer connection through a USB. I did a lot of research & decided the ecard was the simplest way to go. The one glich in all this is that you still need to print some of the e-sign docs for the borrower (you're able to do this at the end of the process). The TIL & RTC are in the e-sign docs. If you're doing it from the borrower's home, you might want to find out if they have high-speed internet & a printer. Otherwise, you will need to figure out a way to print. I don't like the idea of lugging all that stuff around. So far it is just Amtrust that is doing these, so I'm not sure the volume will pay for the equipment. Good luck.

Reply by The Notary National Signers on 7/27/08 6:12pm
Msg #257204

I believe you can do e-signs in MA as long as all recordable docs are wet signed.

Reply by jojo_MN on 7/28/08 9:11am
Msg #257235

The companies I've done them for required me to take copies of all of the documents for the borrower, plus print out the wetsigned docs to be returned.

At the end of the e-signing, you have a choice of printing or saving it to a computer. If I'm using their computer, I save it to their desktop or document files (wherever they request). If I'm on my laptop, I save it to a disc and give it to the borrower.

Make sure you check with the borrower if they have a computer with internet service before you go there. Cell phone and air cards don't always have service in many parts of the country. (In the area where I live about 40%), so if neither you, nor the borrower have service, you might have to meet at a different location with service, or wet-sign all docs (after having permission from the hiring entity).

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/27/08 6:52pm
Msg #257209

Isn't MA attorney-only...or attorney-restricted... n/m

Reply by Les_CO on 7/27/08 8:18pm
Msg #257219

Re: Isn't MA attorney-only...or attorney-restricted...

Yes. And REBA is on the hunt for anyone... not only not a MA Attorney, but not a member, that does closings there. Careful what you post.

Reply by BobbiCT on 7/28/08 7:13am
Msg #257230

MA attorney "supervision" ...

John could be an attorney. I've noticed that many attorneys nationwide are now listing on "signing agent" sites, even the NNA site.

I know REBA is vigorously going after non-attorney and has determined that "an attorney available by telephone" is NOT "supervised by an attorney" under their definitions. This is a matter of OPINION that REBA, the MA Bar and Courts will work out over time; it is a MA attorney risk v. reward decision. It is possible that John is doing all the grunt work with the attorney just meeting him at the borrower's home to watch and collect the attorney fee or John is working with in-state title insurance companies who are moving real estate closings to their offices.

Look at it this way: Paying a non-attorney directly for a "closing" is definately a BIG RED FLAG to the Massachusetts Bar and REBA. The worst case for the non-attorney is being listed on the HUD. Being caught as a pass-through payee from an out-of-state signing company or title insurance company is bad for the those to companies if they want to continue to do business in MA. On the upside, if the borrower makes the mortgage payments and no MA auditor sees the loan file, the signing and title companies keep more profits.