If you are refinancing, opening a home equity line, or closing a loan with an out-of-state lender, the final step is often a signing appointment with a loan signing agent at your home or office. Here is what to expect.
Who the signing agent is
A loan signing agent is a notary public with training in mortgage documents, hired by your title company, lender, or a signing service. The agent's job is to make sure the package is signed, dated, and notarized correctly and returned on time. The agent does not work for you or represent you, and does not decide anything about your loan.
Before the appointment
- Review your Closing Disclosure. Your lender sends it before closing. Compare the rate, payment, and cash to close against what you were promised, and call your loan officer about anything that looks wrong before the signing, not during it.
- Have ID ready for every borrower, plus a second ID if your lender asked for one.
- Set aside about an hour and a clear table. Larger packages, including reverse mortgages and New York CEMA refinances, take longer.
- Make sure every signer can be there. A non-borrowing spouse sometimes has to sign certain documents too. Your title company will tell you.
At the table
- The agent checks each signer's ID and records it.
- The agent presents each document, names it, and shows where to sign, initial, and date.
- You sign exactly as your name is printed on the documents.
- The agent notarizes the documents that require it, typically the mortgage and several affidavits.
- The agent checks the whole package for missed signatures before leaving.
The documents you will see most often
- Note: your promise to repay, with the rate, payment, and term.
- Mortgage: the document that pledges the property as security. It is notarized and recorded with the county clerk.
- Closing Disclosure: the final statement of loan terms and costs.
- Right to Cancel: on most refinances of a primary residence, you have three business days to cancel.
- Affidavits and lender disclosures: occupancy, name, and compliance forms.
What the agent can and cannot answer
The agent can tell you what a document is called and where the rate or payment appears on it. The agent cannot explain what a term means for you, advise you whether to sign, or change anything in the package. For those questions, the agent will help you reach your loan officer, title company, or attorney by phone before you sign.
After you sign
The agent returns the package to the title company or lender, often scanning it the same day. On a refinance of a primary residence, the loan funds after the three-day cancellation period ends.
Title companies and attorneys looking for a signing agent can find details on the loan signing agent page.
Common questions
How long does a loan signing take?
Most take about an hour. Reverse mortgages and CEMA refinance packages have more documents and can take longer.
Can I read everything before I sign?
Yes. It is your loan and you are entitled to read it. If you want to read every page, ask your lender for the documents in advance so the appointment stays on schedule.
What if I find a mistake in the documents?
Stop and tell the agent. The agent will contact the title company or lender. A signing agent cannot correct loan terms.
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This guide is general information about New York notarial practice. It is not legal advice. For advice about your situation, consult a New York attorney.