Posted by LisaWI on 3/17/08 10:52am
Msg #239535

Interesting Blog to the New RESPA Guidelines

If you want to understand the general consensus of how we are viewed at the closing, this will give you an example. We are generalized in this particular blog, as being, unknowledgeable individuals doing loan closings for borrowers.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/426458/Simplified-Disclosures-Problem-Solved
To learn how we are viewed I believe is important in crossing over that line to be recognized and respected for what we do. Changing the "thought process" of how many view us is challenging when you have those who say "Im just a Notary".

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/17/08 11:31am
Msg #239538

Lisa...is it in that article? Or in that blog in another

article.

I skimmed (working my 8-5 job desk) it so I guess I have overlooked it.

Reply by LisaWI on 3/17/08 11:36am
Msg #239539

Re: Lisa...is it in that article? Or in that blog in another

Its in there. Its short and sweet
Taken out of context: "From a title companies perspective, would you rather have a $50 notary present at settlement that has no loan closing experience, or a $150 licensed settlement agent that brings with them knowledge and expertise. Sure, the borrower saved $100, but tell me how that is supposed to help borrowers better understand their loan..."

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/17/08 12:05pm
Msg #239541

Gotcha...

I know now why I couldn't see it...weird syntax:


1) From a title company's (not "companies"; possessive case, not plural, for cryin' out loud) perspective...

2) Would you rather have a $50 notary present at settlement who (not "that"...it's a person!) has not...

3) $150 licensed settlement agent who (not "that"...it's a person!) brings

Reply by LisaWI on 3/17/08 12:20pm
Msg #239544

Re: I Think AR is a Portal

to educate ourselves on "What Do They Really Think?" And why do they think this way? I do more reading on there than anything because it gives me a "straight up" point of view when looking at the big picture.

Reply by Pat/CA on 3/17/08 12:30pm
Msg #239546

Re: Gotcha...

"1) From a title company's (not "companies"; possessive case, not plural, for cryin' out loud) perspective..."

Yeah, so for those that do not clearly understand english grammar, this wouldn't be necessarily read as this title company's perspective, but all title companies!

I believe one of the BIG reasons the notary profession is not taken as seriously as it should be is because of many states' SOS's belittling it with so little accountability.

Reply by LisaWI on 3/17/08 12:43pm
Msg #239549

Re: Gotcha...

When you are a "Notary Signing Agent", the terminology of Notary changes somehow from what a Notary is at a Title Company. I have found that we take Notarial Law more seriously than someone at a Title Company does.
Notary Signing Agent=A Notary who does Loan Closings
Title Agent/Settlement Agent=Loan Closer who is a Notary
My opinion, NSA's could do better to get the education needed to successfully close a loan such as a Title/Settlement Agent would. And Title/Settlement Agents could do better by following and adhering to Notarial Law such as a NSA does.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 3/17/08 1:27pm
Msg #239556

As a functional title NSA is totally meaningless! The only

meaning it has is what the individual wants to confer on it. There is no NSA sanctioning body and there is no established agency regardless of how some people want to torture the English language to make it fit.

Reply by Pat/CA on 3/17/08 2:29pm
Msg #239573

I completely agree! n/m

Reply by Charles_Ca on 3/17/08 1:20pm
Msg #239555

In my opinion Blogs are only one person's perspective

and to attach broader meaning to information in a Blog would be completely inaccurate. Had the infor come fromone of the major Title Companies like First Am or Stewart or LandAm or Chicago it might have had some merit but I wouldn't put to much stock in what Chris says. I have seen an incredible amount of misinformation in Blogs and Active Rain is no exception. Many of the posters on Active Rain really post questionable information. With a little more research (check out Chris' links to his title company) it appears to be another wannabe closing/Signing Service and at best a Title Insurance producer (we've had some of those post on Not Rot) One really needs to be a bit more critical when reading stuff on the web, just 'cause its in print doesn't make it true nor does it make it mainstream beliefs!

Reply by LisaWI on 3/17/08 1:31pm
Msg #239558

Re: With Respect Charles.........

I pulled one persons point of view out of a hat that is full of them. Im looking at the Big Picture. Yes, I agree it is the opinion of one, but read somemore and you will see it is the opinion of more than one.
Not meant to stir and create a debate. Just trying to relate how "some" look at us. I like to know how everyone perceives me, not just the ones I deal with. Im not looking at the blog as gold, its just information to think about. Thats it.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 3/17/08 1:45pm
Msg #239563

Debate is healthy as long as participants keep an open mind

I agree that some may look at the notary that way. I also know that some don't. I believe that you (generic you, not your specifically, one has to be careful on this forum) are the person most responsible for the way people view you. I believe that there are notaries who are viewed as consummate professionals and there are notaries viewed as idiots: we have some of both posting here at times. I have no idea how you could ever find out how "everyone" perceives you since you don't have access to the set of "everyone". You also can't judge how you are perceived by a few vocal individuals with an axe to grind or those who may dislike notaries for whatever plethora of reasons. I don't know you and I don't know how you conduct your closing s but everything I've read from you indicates a knowledgeable, professional individual. I think that no one can expect more.

Reply by desktopfull on 3/17/08 2:14pm
Msg #239569

Re: In my opinion Blogs are only one person's perspective

"...Many of the posters on Active Rain really post questionable information....."

When you join AR you are told to post blogs and respond to blogs to build points so your name comes up higher on the list in your area when someone is searching for a notary. The blogs are simply self-promotion sites. IMHO

Reply by MichiganAl on 3/17/08 11:44pm
Msg #239651

Re: In my opinion Blogs are only one person's perspective

Most of you know I write a blog on my own website. I'm the first to admit that one of the reasons is to promote my site and build traffic and as I've said before, anything said on a blog has to be taken in proper context. But Active Rain simply promotes quantity and traffic with no regard to quality, accuracy, or relevance. People just get obsessed with building points and we've seen people here whose only concern is driving traffic to their Active Rain site. I just can't take anything on AR even remotely seriously.