How To Become a Loan Signing Agent in Texas in 6 Steps (2024)

When you become a loan signing agent in Texas, you can earn a nice living. It can be a rewarding full-time career or a great way to earn money working part-time. Many loan signing agents work for themselves and have control over their schedules.

If you want a flexible career with good pay, this might be the one for you. Of course, you can work full-time, as well. Before you decide to become a loan signing agent in Texas, you should understand the job duties for this career.

Job Duties of a Loan Signing Agent in Texas

When you decide to become a loan signing agent in Texas, you will work in the real estate industry. You will help make sure mortgages close, whether for the purchase of a home or the refinance of a mortgage.

The main job duties you will perform include:

• Walking borrowers through the loan documents
• Ensuring all signatures and initials are completed
• Witnessing the signatures
• Verifying the identity of the signor
• Notarizing the signed documents
• Delivering the documents
• Printing documents

As a loan signing agent in Texas, you’ll perform these duties. You will take charge of a mortgage closing to ensure it runs smoothly.

How To Become a Loan Signing Agent in Texas in 6 Steps

Step #1 – Meet the Qualifications

The basic qualifications are pretty simple in Texas. If you want to become a loan signing agent, you need to be at least 18 years of age. It’s also necessary to be a legal resident of Texas. All loan signing agents also need to be able to read and write English.

These are the only basic requirements you need to meet with the state. However, it might be necessary to gain training or experience, if you want some credentials to prove you can handle mortgage closings.

Step #2 – Get Your Surety Bond

You are required by the Texas Secretary of State to purchase a surety bond of $10,000. This needs to come from a licensed surety, which could be an insurance company, a notary bonding company, or a notary organization.

The surety bond will protect your clients, not you. If you want protection for yourself, you need to get Errors & Omission insurance.

It’s common to spend about $50 for a surety bond worth $10,000. If you want to add E&O insurance coverage, expect to pay another $80, on average, for $30,000 in coverage.

Step #3 – Complete your Notary Public Commission Application

You will need to fill out the Application for Appointment as a Texas Notary Public. This application will ask common questions, such as your name, address, and a few others. You will need to include the bond number on your application, too. It also has to be signed by an authorized person from the surety company.

You will need to pay the fee, which can be paid by a check or money order to the Secretary of State. If you pay by credit card, you will pay a 2.7% convenience fee for your application.

After you’ve filled it out, you will need to mail your application to the Notary Public Unit in Austin, Texas. You can also deliver it in person to the James Earl Rudder Office Building in Austin, Texas.

Step #4 – Get your Notary Public Commission Certificate

After your application has been approved, you will receive a notary public commission certificate through email. They will not send this through physical mail. Be sure to include your email address on the application and make sure it’s correct.

Once you receive this certificate, you want to review the details and make sure everything is correct.

Step #5 – Purchase Your Notary Supplies

You can get a notary seal from an office supply store in Texas. Just make sure it meets the necessary requirements.

It’s also necessary to get a notary journal. The Texas Secretary of State requires that you maintain a book of records. This is also known as a good business practice. This record must be held for three years after the date of notarization.

Getting a permanently bound journal is the best option. You want to make sure it’s a good choice for a notary public. The seal and book of record should be kept locked up and in a secure area.

Step #6 – Become an Online Notary Public

Texas is one of the states that allows for an online notary. This can help you notarize documents without needing to be there in person. It can become very easy to notarize documents and work as a loan signing agent in Texas.

It’s also very convenient for record-keeping. You can keep your records on your computer, which makes it simple to hold onto them for a longer amount of time.

You will need to get the X.5098 compliant digital certificate to become an online notary public in Texas. This will include your electronic signature, and you will also need to provide your electronic seal. This seal can be a BMP, PNG, JPEG, or TIF file.

Along with these requirements, you will also need to be able to record an audio-visual meeting, get digital signatures, and remain registered with a compliant digital certificate. The registration fee is $50 for online notaries public in Texas.

When you want to become a loan signing agent in Texas, these are the steps. With the right steps, you can complete the process rather quickly and start a new career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Loan Signing Agent in Texas

Regardless of the course that you choose to take, you should get some training if you want to be successful as a loan signing agent.

There are many good reasons to become a loan signing agent in Texas. The steps above will make it easy for you to gain this position. Whether you want to go into business for yourself or work for an employer, this can be a great career.

Many loan signing agents work part-time. No matter how much you plan to work, you will need to follow the steps above to become a loan signing agent in Texas.