I received 2 jobs this month from my profile on Active Rain. I encourage all real estate professionals to get listed on Active Rain. Best of all it is full of useful everyday information and it's free :)

Real Estate Networking

Single question survey.

Do you believe that Real Estate Networking has worked or is working for you? Please post a brief explanation.

   Well The beginning of May for loan signing was pretty good. The end sure has come to a screeching halt. The lowest rate that I was the Signing Agent was for 4.75 fixed 30 years. I was sure happy for this woman. She did pay a 350 lock fee but would be worth it for her, dropping   6.5 int. rate. I live in Southern California where everybody's property value has dropped significantly and I have signed only one refi this month. The others have been for purchases. We are having so many foreclosures in my immediate area :(

   I am determined to keep my head up and know that things will turn around. I am also suprised at the amount of Notaries that have let their commissions go and not renewing but... that is alright with me just suprising. Much Luck to all of my fellow Signing Agents.

I have been a Mobile Notary for 2.5 yrs. In 2007 drove app. 15,000 miles. (Work related) My main income is of course witnessing the signing of loan documents. Called a Signing Agent. I think that many people do not know the terms/duties of a Notary Public.

            Hello... Well I wanted to compare rates for Errors & Omissions insurance. So I googled to get some rates. I am needing to add 1 year of 100,000.00. So I know the price with the NNA. 156.00 per year.

            I checked my email the next day and was surprised at what I found out. That the NNA's insurance is absolutely the lowest rate that I have found. I also received two phone calls and the gentlemen on the phone advised me to purchase from the NNA. They could not come close to that price. So, I have about a week does anybody have a better option. I live in California.

Hope to get some input. Thanks, Maureen 

So do all California Notaries know about the new laws for California Notaries???
There are of course some obvious ones such as the new required wording for all Acknowledgments, Copy Certifications and Jurat wording but… there are others. Here are  five that were instructed in a class I recently took.

(I was glad I did)

1. All Notaries NEW and RETURNING MUST submit a 2″x2″ color passport photo to Secretary of State with their application.
2. We are No LONGER ALLOWED to rely on personal knowledge when identifying signers. You should check the personally known box in journal but also must insert the method of Satisfactory evidence. Such as valid ID card or Drivers License.
3.We are now REQUIRED to get a thumb print when notarizing any Power of Attorney.(I get thumb prints for every entry in my journal.)
4. WE now sign Acknowledgments under the Penalty or Perjury.
5. One more of the many is that we must surrender our journals to any peace officer that is investigating a criminal offense. There is no search warrant needed. There should of course be probable cause. We must notify the Sec. of State within 24 hrs of our journals being seized.

Reminder these are just a few, Not all of the New laws are in this blog. 

If you live in the Antelope Valley I suggest taking a course from Jan Tatangelo.

 AV Notary Network look on the web site.

Hopes that you have a successful 2008.
Maureen Lazar Mobile Notary Public in Lancaster, Ca