Colorado Springs Notary - Leon Austin

I got a call today to do a closing scheduled for next Tuesday. The closing is up in the mountains. I call it 'Map & Compass Territory' because the roads usually don't have signs. And you won't find these locations using the locator tools. They just don't recognize the addresses.

They asked me what my fee for it would be. Right away I knew to add an additional 'mountain surcharge' since it can take a long time to drive on some of those roads. It was a lot more than they normally pay, so I got the usual "I'll have to get that approved."  That's scheduler lingo for, 'Let me see if I can find someone else -- closer and cheaper.'

I never expected to hear back from them, and forgot all about it.  Then a couple of hours later I got a call from them. "We got your fee approved."  The closing isn't until next Tuesday, so it's hard to imagine that they gave up on trying to find someone else.  But then again, maybe they weren't able to find someone else.

I received the confirmation, called the borrower to confirm the appointment, and to check my compass bearings. I also asked her about cell phone coverage. That's usually a problem up there. Sure enough, there is none once you get off the highway.  But that's one of the reasons why these people live there: to get away from civilization. This is the kind of area where you have to be totally self-sufficient. If your car breaks down, you can't call AAA.  And even if you could, they probably wouldn't come up there.

So anyway, I got my maps out, and I studied the terrain. It looks like I'll be able to find it. I'll also have my camera so that I can take pictures. She told me it's really beautiful up there. I'm sure it is. After my experience in Black Forest last week, I think I'll wear cargo pants and hiking boots to this closing.

And of course a tie. Must dress 'business casual'.

Many times the lender will send the loan documents to the borrower and instruct them to find a notary to notarize their signatures, where needed. The borrowers will sign all of the rest of the documents on their own.

The problem with this is that there are very specific ways in which the loan documents need to be executed. There are many things that the borrower will miss if they try to do it on their own.  For this reason, I recommend that borrowers have the signing of their loan documents conducted by a Notary Signing Agent.  You want someone who will take the time to go over each document with you to ensure that they are signed and initialed properly.  This can save you a lot of time, and money.

I received a call a couple of days ago to notarize some papers for someone. I asked the man what type of documents they were. He said it was a Home Equity Line of Credit. I quoted him my fee for doing loan documents and he said he would have to check with his wife. What he was probably thinking was that, it should only cost $5 per notarization.  The fee I quoted him was for conducting the entire signing.  As it turned out, it's a good thing that he and his wife didn't try to do it on their own.

For one thing, there were many items that needed to have the borrower's initials. But they weren't indicated by whoever marked the documents. The Deed of Trust should have initials on all of the pages, except where there is a signature line.

Also, the Right to Cancel date was incorrect. It was dated for the day they were signing, which meant that their rescission date had already expired.  I changed the dates and had them initial them. This could have been a very costly error if it hadn't been detected because, according to the instructions in the Notice of Right to Cancel:

"If there are any mistakes on this document that are not corrected at closing, Federal Law will require new, redrawn documents to be signed. Such a redraw could cause the funding to be delayed."

That alone made it worth their while to have their signing conducted by a notary signing agent. It saved them a lot of time and money.

There were a few other things that I had the borrowers do to ensure that their loan documents would be acceptable, and that they would not experience any delays or inconveniences.

There is just one other thing. I would recommend that you seek someone who is a Certified Notary Signing Agent, and that they have undergone a background screening.

I did a closing yesterday at a mortgage company in Woodland Park. It was my final closing for the day. The loan officer was there. She didn't say much the whole time as I went over each document with the borrower. But she was obviously tuned in to what was going on. This was her client.

When I was done, I reviewed the documents to make sure that all of them were signed, where needed, and that everything else was in order. I rose from the table, thanked the borrower for his time and shook his hand, and was about to head out the door when the loan officer asked, "Can we ask for you specifically the next time?"  She was referring to the fact that, usually a company will simply request a signing agent to conduct the closing, but not know who they are getting. She wasn't satisfied with the last signing agent they had. I told her, 'absolutely', and gave her my business card.

I don't know exactly what it was that I did during the closing that made her want to request me from now on. One thing I do know is that I prepared very well for that closing.  I can't stress how important it is to prepare, in every respect. Rehearse. Know the documents, and where everything is in the stack, so that you can answer any questions. Be organized. Be methodical. Be on time.

I would rather do just one closing a day, and have the chance to prepare for it well, than have several closings for which I don't have time to prepare.

Everything I learned about being a notary public and a notary signing agent, I learned through reading books, doing research on the internet, and through experience. But I've never attended a notary training class.  So a couple of months ago I registered for the Notary Public Training Class offered through the Colorado Secretary of State's Office in Denver. It's located at 1700 Broadway. I tried to get into one of the classes offered in April, but it was full.  So if you plan on attending the class, register early.

I attended the class last Thursday, June 21st. It was a good class. The instructor was very knowledgeable about notary laws and procedures. There was a PowerPoint presentation, and all of the class participants received training materials. There was also a large assortment of notary stamps, certificates, and other tools that notaries use. We had a chance to ask questions and solve some problems.

The next class will be held on Thursday, July 19, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Arrive early enough to find parking.

For more information, visit the website: Notary Public Training Schedule

I got a call last week from a woman who needed someone to conduct the signing of her loan documents and notarize the signatures. She was unable to get around well because she injured her leg. It's one of the many reasons that I come to the borrowers to do their closings: to make it convenient for people who aren't able to get out. 

This closing was special in another way. It was for someone in the military. Her husband is an Air Force Major, stationed at the Air Force Academy. I've been to the Academy many times, but never in the housing area.

Because of the tight security, I decided it would be best if I parachuted in.  It was hard to find a good drop zone.

Just kidding. That's a photo of a photo from the Academy flight training school.

In order to get onto the installation you have to stop at the guard station and show your ID. They might even check the contents of your trunk. I have a map of the Academy and was easily able to find their home. I told them I would be there at 1:00 p.m. and arrived on the base with plenty of time to spare.

The closing went smoothly, and they really appreciated it that I came so far on such short notice. It really was my pleasure to have the opportunity to serve the military.

Afterwards I drove around and did some sightseeing. There's always something new that I get to see when I visit the Air Force Academy. 

Douglass Valley Elementary school (K-5)

A newer townhome community, located on Douglass Drive, within walking distance to the elementary school.

Falcon Stadium, the home stadium of the Air Force cadets, and where the graduation ceremonies are held.

I also stopped by the flight training school. Here are some of the pictures:

These planes are ready for take off.

If you look closely, in the upper left corner, you can see two planes in flight. 

All over the Academy there are various types of planes and jets on display, like the jet you see here.

Here's a skydiver, coming in for a landing. They can stay up there seemingly forever.

A safe landing.

Normally I go into a closing carrying a briefcase. For one of my closings yesterday, I was carrying bicycle panniers.

I enjoy cycling, and do it as often as possible. Not only is it a good form of exercise, it's also a good form of transportation. If I have an errand to do, such as dropping off loan documents from a closing, I'll ride my bike. Most of the time I'll use a backpack. But I also have panniers to use when the load is very heavy.

I also use it for riding around town to take pictures for localism. And long distances are not out of the question. My friend and I rode our bikes through Germany and slept in our tents at night.

I don't ride my bike to closings though, because of the distance.  I have to be there as quickly as possible. And I'm usually going from one to another.

However yesterday was a perfect opportunity to ride my bike to a closing. The weather was nice, and the distance was short: a little more than a mile. And June is Colorado Bike Month. So I really wanted to be able to ride at least once to a closing. The first thing I had to do was get everything together that I would take.

I used a plastic pouch to keep the documents in. The pouch has a zip lock and is large enough to carry legal size documents. I have both the originals and the borrowers copies.

They fit well inside the panniers. I'll put my stamp and other supplies in the other pannier.

This is my bike, loaded with the panniers, and ready to roll. It's a hybrid: a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike.

I've had it for many years. It still gets the job done, so I see no reason to buy a new one. It has a luggage rack, a mirror (very useful for seeing cars coming up behind you), and a cycle computer. I wear elastic bands around my ankles to keep my pants from getting caught in the chain. There's also a rear light and a mount for my halogen headlight for riding at night. And two water bottle cages.

This was my route, heading west on Fountain Boulevard, with the Rockies in the background. 

I got to the closing one minute ahead of schedule and locked my bike to a lamp post. The borrower was a bit envious that I rode my bike. She said she wished she could get into cycling. I had everything I needed and the closing went smoothly.

Getting to the closing was mostly uphill. Going back was a breeze.

Colorado Bike Month

Hopefully I'll be able to do the same on June 27, Bike to Work Day.

I would venture to say that John Denver had a place like this in mind as he sang the tune, Rocky Mountain High, Colorado.

I had a closing yesterday morning in Black Forest. I have been to Black Forest many times, but never to a place like this. From the moment I arrived, I felt: 'this is paradise.'

No, I didn't come on horseback.

Those are just two of the many animals that are on this ranch. I had to go out to my car to get my camera so I could take a photo of the borrowers ID, which meant that I had to make my way between these two huge animals.

No, they did not budge. Even when I said, "Excuse me." 

All kinds of animals. And the beautiful thing about it was that they were all roaming free.

After the closing the wife took me on a tour of the ranch. Seeing all of the animals, I had a smile from ear to ear. The animals would walk right up to us and follow us around.

For as far as you could see, wide open spaces, mountains in the background, and animals grazing in the grass, or simply resting.

They even had camels. I got right up close to them. You haven't lived until you've had a camel salivating on your shirt. Dromedary drool.

They have llamas too. I was told they do a good job of protecting the animals from coyotes.

They all seemed to have a personality.  

"You lookin' at me?' Are you lookin' at me?"

Here are some more pictures of the many animals there were to see:

As I headed back to Colorado Springs, I couldn't help thinking of two John Denver songs that were appropriate for today's experience: 'Rocky Mountain High', and ... 'Thank God I'm A Country Boy!'

It was a great experience.

I got a call last week from LandAmerica to do a closing at the LandAmerica office here in Colorado Springs.

I had passed the building many times in the past, and always felt a little intimidated. I never thought I would have a reason or opportunity to go in there for any reason. But I would be doing so. It was a great opportunity, an honor, and a pleasure. The people were very friendly and helpful. I was given a conference room to do the closing, and we had everything we needed.

One thing I didn't know was what type of loan it would be, or any of the specifics about the borrower. The documents were sent by overnight delivery to LandAmerica, so I never had a chance to see them until the day of the closing.  But I've done many closings in which I've never seen the documents beforehand, so I didn't foresee any problems.

It turned out that it was a construction loan, and the borrower would be signing for herself and for her husband with a Power of Attorney. I have had experience with construction loans, so that wasn't a problem. There were actually two loans, and a lot of papers to sign. As you can imagine, there was a lot of signing to do on her part.

For the notary signing agent, construction loans are not much different than the kinds of loans we normally see. There are different types of documents, and a lot more of them. But for the most part it's self explanatory.

There is a lot of discussion about notary signing agents seeking additional income opportunities outside of loan signings. Personally I think there are very many within our own field as notary signing agents. Areas such as Reverse Mortgages and Commercial Loans.

If you are interested in learning more about these types of transactions, a book that I highly recommend is: The Complete Handbook of Loan Documents and Transactions. It has chapters on:

• Refinance Loans
• Home Equity Lines of Credit
• Reverse Mortgages
• Sale and Purchase Transactions
• Commercial Transactions

and much more.

I just received a book that I ordered from amazon.com: The Insider's Guide to Commercial Real Estate, by Cindy S. Chandler. I'm still waiting on the other one: The Essentials of Commercial Real Estate, by Joseph Petrole. That's an area that interests me, and one in which I intend to pursue. I want to learn as much about commercial real estate as I can. I suggest that all notary signing agents try to diversify into as many different areas as possible.

Good luck.

One of the questions that I'm often asked, just before I'm about to notarize a signature on a document at a closing is, "Don't you have one of those things ... you know, the kind that you have to squish ...?" 

They're referring to an embosser. "Yes", I tell them. "I have one." In Colorado, a notary can use either an ink stamp, or an embosser. I use an ink stamp at closings. On some occasions I'll use an embosser.

Because notary signing agents and mobile notaries have to carry everything that we need to do our job, we have to choose tools that are functional, and portable. We don't have the luxury of sitting at a desk, with everything we need in drawers and file cabinets. Everything has to fit in a bag or briefcase.

The embosser that I use is a portable desk embosser. It works just like a full-size desk embosser, except that it's much more compact. I bought mine through the NNA. It sells for $26.95. It's a lot easier to use than a hand-held embosser.

The way it works is that the embossing plate fits underneath the handle when it's not in use.

These are the components.

When you're ready to use it, just insert the embossing plate, and you're ready.

This is what it looks like when it's assembled. The handle locks in an upright position. There's a small button that unlocks it for storage.

And you might want to have gold seals to use with it.

I also carry an inkless thumbprinter. The ink wipes off easily. I carry a small package of Kleenex.

A compact stapler comes in handy for attaching loose certificates. It's made by Swingline, and is very reliable. It has a ring on the end if you want to attach keys, or fasten it to the inside of your bag.

We have to keep our notary seal locked. I use a case with a lock on it. It fits inside my bag. 

Here you can see everything inside the box. A notary ink stamp, the embosser, stapler, and gold seals, and thumbprinter. And there's also room for paper clips and a few other small items. This gives you an idea how compact everything is.

Here's a closer view of everything inside the case.

And it has a lock on it.

The bag that I use is like a portable file cabinet/briefcase. It's the perfect mobile office.  I wrote a post about it a while back:

One case for everything

There are a lot of other items that I carry, such as digital camera, notary journal, notary certificates, pens, maps, and a few other items. There's also room in the bag for a compact umbrella.

I had a closing scheduled for last Thursday at 6pm. Then the borrowers called and said they were stuck in traffic on the way home. I believe it. The highway is notorious for traffic jams. I waited at a nearby mall so that, when they finally did arrive at home, I would be able to get to them in a couple of minutes.

The documents were overnighted to the borrower, so I didn't have a chance to review them beforehand. The borrowers didn't have time to look at them either. One of the first things I noticed was someone else's name on the documents that was different from the borrowers'.  It was his mother. She was to sign as a non-obligor, but she wasn't there. 

At first the borrower wanted to cancel the signing. I convinced him to proceed.  In the meantime he tried to reach his mother. No answer.

We finally had all of the documents signed, and he was able to contact his mother and get her to come to the house to sign.  Afterwards I thanked everyone for taking the time to sign the papers and left.

I kept thinking how inefficiently this was handled.  Someone could have told the borrower that his mother needed to be there to sign the documents.

This is just one example of the types of situations notary signing agents find themselves in: a closing that was to begin at 6pm, ending at 10pm.