Posted by 101livescan on 8/23/13 9:22am
Msg #481636

Cost for Recording Notary Bond

In Santa Barbara county, the cost to record four year bond has risen to $57.

I can remember when it was $8 in Ventura county in 1973.

Reply by Stoli on 8/23/13 11:05am
Msg #481645

That was when bread was $.05-loaf, Cheryl. n/m

Reply by Mike Goodey on 8/23/13 11:55am
Msg #481650

Re: That was when bread was $.05-loaf, Cheryl.

Gas was $.23 a gallon.

Reply by HisHughness on 8/23/13 12:02pm
Msg #481651

And Model A's were $495 ...

... Hoppalong Cassidy was the reigning Hollywood cowboy, there was no such thing as penicillin, and the British Empire was still intact.

Cheryl is what is known as a salt & pepper signing agent, which is to say a seasoned signing agent.

Reply by Yoli/CA on 8/23/13 12:18pm
Msg #481654

This tapped my curiosity, Cheryl ~

Were you also a signing agent in the early '70's? Were we called signing agents back then? If so, were you mobile or did borrowers have to sign at TC? Was carbon paper used for copies? Just wondering how/when a notary public migrated to being a signing agent ....

No, I didn't research this. And, queries are not solely for Cheryl. Anyone with that much experience, please pipe in. If you don't want to take up forum space and time, feel free to PM me.

TIA!

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/23/13 12:50pm
Msg #481657

Re: This tapped my curiosity, Cheryl ~

The term "Signing Agent" was coined by Susan Pense of NASA (National Association of Signing Agents) in the 1990's

Reply by 101livescan on 8/23/13 2:57pm
Msg #481669

According to WIKIPEDIA

In American law, a signing agent or courtesy signer is an agent whose function is to obtain a formal signature of an appearer to a document. In common parlance, most jurisdictions require the appearer to sign before a notary public. From this, the practice of a notary public designating themselves as a signing agent has arisen. There are notaries public who specialize in the notarization of real estate transfer and loan document signings. Signing agents often have certification and training through private organizations, but is not a requirement in law, although it may be a requirement of the lender in the oversight of real estate transaction document signatures.

Also referred to as a notary signing agent or a loan signing agent, a signing agent should not be confused with a mortgage loan closer or closing agent. Signing agents are notaries public, who usually have experience and/or training concerning the proper execution of loan documents and are hired by mortgage companies, escrow companies, title companies, and signing services to identify loan documents, obtain the necessary signatures, and in some cases deliver the documents to the borrower. A signing agent is an impartial party to the transaction, and must adhere to the notary laws of their state or jurisdiction. In some states of the United States where signing agents are allowed, signing agents may identify documents and can point out terms to the loan transaction. However, signing agents are prohibited from giving legal advice or in any way explaining or interpreting the meaning of any terms or documents, and they are not permitted to prepare the documents, or alter them in any way. Any advice, explanation, or opinion can be considered unauthorized practice of law, except in the State of Louisiana, which is governed by Civil Law; in Louisiana, civil law notaries public have broad powers, and can actually prepare documents and discuss them with the signers.

The American Signing Agents Association Inc. defines the signing agent as, "A signing agent is a trusted professional, usually a state commissioned notary public, that performs the closing ceremony for real estate transactions, mortgage loan transactions, legal process transactions and other similar transactions where an independent third part is requested. A signing agent should insure that they are disinterested in the transaction and have a mutual obligation to all parties to remain objective, neutral to any position, insure awareness of document contents by affiant and make a reasonable effort to prevent fraud and protect affiants from coercion. [1]

However, the Occupational Professions Handbook published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has no such job title in their repertoire.

Talk about an identity crises?

Reply by DD/OR on 8/23/13 11:20am
Msg #481647

That's cheap. I paid $98.00 in San Bernardino county last month. I recently moved from Oregon to San Bernardino county, CA. Does anyone know how to change DD/OR to DD/CA? Thanks.

Reply by 101livescan on 8/23/13 2:22pm
Msg #481667

Alright, all you youngsters. Go ahead, make fun of me. I learned to drive on a Ferguson tractor, four gears. I had stilts and a pogo stick for fun, treehouses, pollywog pond, and grew up on meatloaf, potatoes au gratin, pork and beans and wieners, lima bean soup, and chicken and mashed potatoes and peas on Sundays.

Wasn't called a signing agent until 2000. Before that, I was the salesperson onsite at 211 Spalding, a 84 unit luxury condominium project where Stephanie Powers, Telly Savalas, Gig Young and Dear Abby shopped for condominiums. I had my first limo ride when a buyer from Mexico City picked me up and we motored to 211 South Spring Street, First American's corporate headquarters and title plant to sign for a cash purchase of a condo priced at, are you ready, one block off Wilshire Boulevard, for $169,900. It was considered "spendy" to pay that much for a luxury condo in those days.

So I liken my role as a signing agent very much like Lucille Ball and Ethel Mertz when they got hired at the chocolate factory, until recently. Not that frenetic any more!

Reply by DebraOro/CA on 8/23/13 3:03pm
Msg #481671

DD you should be able to do that in your profile-"edit" n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/23/13 5:45pm
Msg #481682

DD, if you want to change your forum alias you'll have to

contact Admin and ask them to (Contact Us button).

Reply by DebraOro/CA on 8/23/13 2:48pm
Msg #481668

That is freaking unbelievable !!!!!
Save that for the tax deduction !!!!!!
State of California is driving everybody out!!!!
I want to move, it has become a priority for me.....

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 8/23/13 9:19pm
Msg #481699

You're not alone...

More and more this state is just getting ridiculous. I'm almost ashamed to admit I was born and raised here sometimes. It's just out of control.

My husband and I have been doing some serious research and consideration of several possible locations to move... out of California. We have a lot of specific requirements, and it's likely we're going to end up somewhere in the Idaho/Washington area, possibly Wyoming. It won't happen anytime soon, for a variety of reasons... but these are the eventual plans.

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/23/13 3:43pm
Msg #481675

San Bernardino County - $86 back in 2011

Not sure what the cost is today (August 2013)

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 8/23/13 9:31pm
Msg #481700

For Kern County last fall - $42.00+

The recording of the Bond: $15.00
Notary registration and Oath of Office: $27.00


Although that didn't include the cost of getting myself TO the county clerk's office in Bakersfield, 60+ minutes away.

Every county is different. I believe that San Bernardino is the most expensive in the state.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 8/23/13 10:33pm
Msg #481703

Cheryl became a notary when Abaham .....

.. Linco..... err Richard Nixon was president!

Jerry Brown - now CA governor (second time around) - was secretary of state. I would suspect she might hold some sort of record for consecutive renewals!!

Reply by 101livescan on 8/23/13 11:06pm
Msg #481704

Re: Cheryl became a notary when Abaham ..... n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 8/23/13 11:13pm
Msg #481705

Re: Cheryl became a notary when Abaham .....

Watch it, you guys, I think you're trying to insinuate my "history" translates into I'm of the Gerry Brown Era. Well, I always did wonder what Linda Rondstatt saw in GB.

How time flies, heh? Well who knows what my next gig will be, Lord knows I've had plenty of them. Call me the element of change, because I've reengineered myself over and over for the past 30 years, you know with the glass ceiling, and the good ole (sorry) boys network.

Hammock, here I come...found a couple of trees this morning that have some possibilities. A friend of mine suggested I tie a rope up in one of the trees to swing myself, Don't know how much time I'll get in it, still doing a lot of brush cutting and clearing, tree trimming around here.

Monthend? What monthend?