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Notary News

Will Mobile Notarizations Become a Thing of the Past?

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is gaining prominence and transforming the notarization landscape. But, it’s unlikely that mobile notarizations will become entirely obsolete. Both mobile notarizations and RON offer unique advantages, and their coexistence serves to cater to different needs and scenarios.

Here’s why Mobile Notarizations will not go the Way of the Dodo:

In-Person Transactions:

Will Mobile Notarizations Become a Thing of the Past?

There are instances where physical presence is required due to legal or regulatory reasons. Mobile notaries play a crucial role in facilitating in-person signings, especially when parties must be physically present to provide signatures, answer questions, or fulfill specific legal requirements.

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High Real Estate Prices and the Impact on Notary Work: Challenges and Adaptations

The real estate market is currently experiencing a period of remarkable growth and high real estate prices, with property prices soaring in many regions. While this trend can bring financial gains to homeowners and investors, it also has far-reaching effects on various sectors of the economy.

Notary work, which plays a crucial role in mortgage and real estate transactions, is no exception. The surge in real estate prices presents both challenges and opportunities for notaries as they navigate the evolving landscape.

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Mortgage Rates Continue to Climb

Would be buyers took another hit this week as mortgage rates continue to climb. Under normal circumstances, housing prices would fall, but low inventory continues to raise prices, as demand is exceeding supply.

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Student Loans and the Housing Market

We doubt anyone was thinking about student loans a few months ago, except for those that have them. But, they have a looming effects on the housing market, already hit hard by high interest rates.

Why Student Loans will Affect the Market

Look back to the pandemic. Extreme measures were implemented to ease the economic suffering of so many people. In that regard, payments for federal student loans have been frozen.

And that is about to change. At the beginning of October the freeze ends and potential home buyers will see another bill coming their way.

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The Essential Role of Mobile Notary Services for Title Companies

Title companies play a crucial role in real estate transactions by ensuring the legal transfer of property ownership. In the fast-paced world of real estate, convenience, efficiency, and accuracy are paramount. To meet these demands, title companies often rely on mobile notary services. This article explores the reasons why mobile notary services are indispensable for title companies and how they contribute to the seamless execution of property transactions.

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Effective Leadership Skills

Effective leadership requires a combination of skills and qualities that enable individuals to guide, motivate, and inspire others to achieve common goals and objectives. These essential and effective leadership skills include:

Effective Leadership Skills
  1. Communication: Strong communication skills are fundamental for leaders. They must articulate their vision, expectations, and ideas clearly and listen actively to their team members. Effective communication fosters understanding and collaboration.
  2. Emotional Intelligence: Leaders with high emotional intelligence can understand and manage their own emotions and those of others. This skill helps in building strong relationships, resolving conflicts, and motivating team members.
  3. Vision and Strategic Thinking: A good leader has a clear vision for the future and the ability to formulate a strategic plan to achieve that vision. They can set goals, prioritize tasks, and make decisions that align with the overall strategy.
  4. Decision-Making: Leaders must make tough decisions, often with limited information. They should be able to analyze situations, consider various options, and make informed choices. Being decisive is crucial to moving forward.
  5. Adaptability: In today’s rapidly changing world, adaptability is key. Leaders need to be open to new ideas, willing to change course when necessary, and resilient in the face of setbacks.
  6. Empathy: Empathetic leaders understand the feelings and perspectives of their team members. They can connect on a personal level, show compassion, and consider individual needs and concerns.
  7. Conflict Resolution: Conflict is inevitable in any group or organization. Effective leaders can address conflicts constructively, facilitating resolutions that are in the best interest of the team and the organization.
  8. Delegation: Effective leadership skills include the ability to delegate tasks and responsibilities to team members, while trusting them to complete the work. Delegation empowers team members and allows leaders to focus on high-priority tasks.
  9. Motivation: Leaders inspire and motivate their teams to achieve their best performance. This involves recognizing achievements, providing positive feedback, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
  10. Accountability: Leaders lead by example and take responsibility for their actions and decisions. They hold themselves and their team members accountable for meeting goals and fulfilling responsibilities.
  11. Problem-Solving: Effective leaders are adept at identifying and solving problems. They encourage creativity and critical thinking among their team members and actively work to find solutions to challenges.
  12. Time Management: Leaders often have demanding schedules. Effective leadership includes time management skills that are essential for prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines, and maintaining work-life balance.
  13. Integrity: Leaders must be trustworthy and honest. Demonstrating integrity in all actions builds trust among team members and stakeholders.
  14. Resilience: Effective leadership can be challenging, and setbacks are inevitable. Resilient leaders bounce back from adversity, maintain a positive outlook, and keep moving forward.
  15. Team Building: Leaders should be skilled in building cohesive and high-performing teams. This involves identifying strengths and weaknesses, promoting collaboration, and fostering a sense of unity.
  16. Innovation: Forward-thinking leaders encourage innovation and creativity within their teams. They are open to new ideas and embrace change as a means of improvement.

Remember that effective leadership skills are not about mastering each skill perfectly, but continually developing and refining these skills to suit specific situations and contexts. Great leaders are adaptable and always open to growth and improvement.

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000

Advantages of Remote Online Notarizations Over Mobile Notarizations

Technological advancements and the advantages of remote online notarizations continue to reshape the way we conduct business and legal transactions. And the fields of notarization and authentication are no exception. Traditional methods of notarization, often involving physical presence and paper based processes, are being challenged by innovative alternatives.

In recent years, both remote online notarizations and mobile notarizations have emerged as convenient options, but the former offers distinct advantages that position it as a superior choice.

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Inventory for Housing Highest This Year

While inventory on the housing market is still at historic lows, they have reached the highest they have been so far in 2023. While there are 10% less houses on the market compared to this time last year, current inventory is now 1% higher than it was just one week ago.

The Altos Rule

This arises in the face of still rising interest rates, which are expected to raise rates. This is according to the Altos rule.

To understand the future of housing inventory in this country remember the Altos Rule. The Altos rule says that the more available inventory of homes to buy is the result of higher mortgage rates. If rates climb, so does inventory. If rates fall, inventory will fall. 

Housing Wire

Summer is known for raising inventory, which usually peaks in August, but which is now expected to grow until September. There are now just under 500,000 single family homes on the open market. Houses on the open market is raising at a faster rate than it was at this time last year.

There are now just under 365,000 homes under contract. This flies in the face of interest rates that are the highest they’ve been in twenty years.

Inventory for Housing Highest This Year

Current Market Prices

Even in the face of rising interest rates, home prices are still rising. In fact, housing prices are still rising in 99 of the 100 biggest markets.

But, 35% of homes on the market have seen price reductions since being listed. So, even though prices are rising, in many cases they are not rising at the pace sellers hope they are.

And we can see it in the home price reduction data too. Price reductions are about to inch above 2018 and 2019 again. 35.5% of the homes on the market have had price reductions. Price cuts always tick up late in the summer, and this year’s seasonal increase is speeding up just a bit with the recent higher mortgage rates. Each week we have slightly fewer buyers, making slightly fewer offers, so slightly more sellers cut their asking prices. 

Housing Wire

First Time Home Buyers

So, as we stand in the face of rising interest rates, there are some positives. Negatively affected are younger, first time home buyers, who are increasingly being priced out of the market.

During the 2007 crash, many first time home buyers felt compelled to buy their home before prices rose even higher. This led to many foreclosures among that group. With record high home prices, it remains to be seen if that will happen again, or if potential first time home buyers will just stay out of the housing market.

Since, historically, real estate has been one of the best investments, the pressure of rising housing prices may negatively affect this group, and the larger market, in the long run.

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000

How to have a Successful First Signing

Congratulations, you just got your first signing!

Now is when you set yourself up for success to ensure your first signing goes smoothly and provide your client(s) with a great experience. Positive feedback from signers, Title and Signing Services will be a crucial part of your self-advertising and using the following tips and tricks will practically guarantee your next job.

Read Your Instructions for a Successful First Signing

It cannot be said enough that reading your instructions will make or break your first signing. Do not skim the information provided. New policies and practices are introduced frequently in this industry and taking the time to confirm what is needed on each document(s) will only benefit you in the long run. Reading your instructions will also answer some of your most common questions: Print size, ink color, are witnesses needed, does your first signer need a copy, shipping instructions, etc.

Confirm with the Signer

First impressions matter and greatly influence the overall signing experience. Keep in mind, you are a stranger meeting them to notarize confidential documents. A professional conversation over the phone confirming the time, date and location of the signing gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and go over any other important details. You have set the foundation for your signing relationship which will lead to a better overall signing experience for you and your first signer.

Your First Successful Signing

Review the Docs

This is your first closing or maybe it is a signing you have never done before. Either way, reviewing the docs before going to the table is always recommended. Taking this time to familiarize yourself with the signature and notarization requirements will limit the chances of something being missed during your first signing. You could even go so far as to tag the package with removable sticky notes to make the signing process simpler.

Come Prepared

Make sure your docs are printed according to instructions and you have all the supplies you might need as a notary. This includes your notary journal, notary stamp, additional acknowledgements and jurats, extra pens in both black and blue. Additionally, make a note of the correct contact numbers for title or the lender to have any questions answered at the table as well as the contact information for the company or service who hired you to conduct the signing.

Be Presentable and Professional

Going back to first impressions, not many would consider their attire in these kinds of situations. But, if you think about it, you are representing the title company, lender and even the signing service when you arrive to location. All of which are professional businesses that the signer has been in contact with frequently. This means they will be expecting the same in the representative sent to conduct their signing. Business casual or business dress is highly recommended to portray that level of professionalism.

Shake their hand, provide your business card and reintroduce yoursel. Then confirm you are in fact the notary sent to them and the person they spoke with on the phone. This provides reassurance to the signer when letting a stranger into their home and reaffirms the professional setting.

Stay on topic as much as possible, but do not fear a little small talk. Providing a comfortable and easy notarizing environment is beneficial both to you as a new notary and your first signer. Help them increase their productivity.

Review for Your Successful First Signing

We are all human and we make mistakes, even veteran notaries make errors. Give yourself enough time in your schedule to double check your work at the table. Collect any missing signatures, initials or information while you are still at location. This way you don’t need to return for a correction.

Do not hesitate to review your portion of the docs again as well. Ensure all your notary blocks are properly filled out and notarized to decrease the likelihood of a correction coming back.

The goal of any notary is to provide an enjoyable notarization experience for their signer. And then return accurate documents back to title. Remember you want to set yourself apart and end up being their go to notary. These steps are just a few that can be taken. It is on you to assure your first signing completes without a hitch and boost your confidence going into the next one. Set yourself up for success.

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000

The Importance of Credentials and Vetting

The demand for mobile notaries has increased drastically in recent years, and for good reason. Mobile notaries play an essential role in the signing of legal documents, offering convenient services by traveling to a signer’s location, providing the required notary services without the struggle of traveling to a notary or title office. 

Credentials are Important

However, with an increase in demand comes the need for diligent background checks and credentials to ensure your mobile notary is properly vetted. This article will address the importance of background checks and other necessary credentials a mobile notary should have in order to conduct your signing.

We all can see the significance that a mobile notary plays in our legal system today. They are not only responsible for verifying the signer’s identity but confirming the signer is entering the transaction willingly and knowingly, while ensuring all signatures, initials and notarizations are completed accurately. Wills, powers of attorney, real estate documents, could not progress without the knowledge and expertise provided by a notary.

Credentials and Vetting Your Mobile Notary

However, while a mobile notary is significant and convenient for your signer, there are risks to hiring just any mobile notary. Random hires lead to under qualified notaries who lack the basic training and credentials, let alone the experience, to perform their jobs efficiently and accurately. This puts not only your client, but your company at risk for receiving fraudulent services or having errors on legal documents. 

How Sunshine Protects Your Interests

The first thing we review here at Sunshine Signing is the notaries background check, which is easily the most critical credential a notary can provide. While most companies do a soft check on their notaries, we find that these can be lacking in critical areas and require annual background checks in order to stay up to date on our notaries and their eligibility to serve your clients.

A background check will reveal any criminal history, including motor vehicle and any listed offenders. You are already sending a stranger to your client’s home, the least we can do is ensure that notary is a standup citizen on paper. Any notary convicted or under suspicion of fraud, forgery, or identity theft should not be hired as they pose a significant risk to the client and the reputation of your company. By following industry standards for all notaries, regardless of states, we maintain a consistent level of expectations and service requirements for all notaries. 

Are They Insured?

Errors and Omissions Insurance. This is a staple credential in the mobile notary industry as it offers not only the notary financial protection against any errors but your company as well. Knowing that your notary is insured in case of any costly errors, while we always strive for none, offers a peace of mind and added layer of caution. We are all human and make mistakes, and in the legal world those mistakes can be layered in fees that stack up quickly. 

Among other creds such as bond and commission, Sunshine takes the time to personally vet and interview each mobile notary. This gives us an opportunity to gauge their professional experience, reputation through business references, and verify any additional training they may have had that will benefit the quality of the signing. 

Credentials are crucial aspect of hiring a mobile notary. Notaries with proper credentials have undergone the training and meet the state’s requirements to become a notary public. Verified credentials provide clients and signers with the assurance that their mobile notary is knowledgeable and above all else, safe. 

Our goal here at Sunshine is to provide a trustworthy, qualified and experience mobile notary each and every time. 

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000