Potential increase in loan signing volume.

With the lowering of interest rates for loans, many borrowers both corporate and individual will begin the process of comparing rates from lenders in order to secure new lines of financing. This could mean a significant up-tick in the number of loan signings in the next few months of the new year. Why is this sudden shift such a boon for notaries public? Because borrowers essentially have a limited time when rates drop to see if they will have the opportunity to save immediately on their loan payments or potentially thousands of dollars over their loan’s time frame. According to Forbes Advisor online, mortgage rates are influenced by a mix of national policy matters, individual lender practices and the borrowers’ personal factors. Signing platforms such as Notary Dash and Snapdocs are used by multiple signing services to hire notaries public that are also certified Notary Signing Agents to perform the loan document signing with the borrowers. Some states are already completing these signings electronically or remotely, but here in California we still have a few years to go before our remote online notarization is rolled out. So if a notary public is educated in loan signings and has good relationships with signing services and/or title companies, an increase in notary appointments for these types of signings may be on the rise.

Maxed out real estate values mean moves.

Even with a relatively flat real estate market, home values in California have increased year over year. And at some point, families and investors alike see the opportunity to cash in on this equity growth. I’ve chatted with many in my generation that have parents or other family members who can no longer  live on their own and now is the time to ready that property for the market. Now that the winter holidays have passed, the up-tick for the spring and summer selling season is just around the corner. That also coincides with many families that are seeking a job change and relocation when younger children are between grade levels in schools. The California Association of Realtors expects 2026 to see a slightly more balanced, stable and selective housing market with buyers having a slight edge over sellers. Commercial real estate will also likely see stabilization due to interest rate uniformity and also added value to investment properties. Many commercial properties are still “mom & pop” owned but now as they age out of the business without additional family to take over, they too are looking to cash in and sell to conglomerates or investment funds.

Families’ future preparedness.

In order to avoid probate and ensure that assets are distributed according to a person’s specific wishes, estate plans and family trusts are excellent strategizing tools. The managing of financial accounts and personal healthcare are safeguarded through the use of several documents that mostly certainly require notarization. These documents include trust certifications, powers of attorney, healthcare directives and grant deeds, just to name a few. Anyone can benefit from estate planning, not just the wealthy with large asset portfolios. Many attorney offices will have notaries as part of their team ready to assist with notarization when the documents are ready for execution, ensuring the signatures legal validity and preventing fraud or future disputes . But mobile and on demand notarial services are still very much in demand since the pandemic days. The signing of estate documents can take quite a bit of time – especially if certain documents regarding end of life choices or incapacitation decisions have not been confirmed in writing with the estate planners before a signing appointment. If a client is hesitant to spend an hour or more at the attorney or estate planner’s office, sending a mobile notary to meet with the homebound or extremely busy client at a location of their choice provides that extra level of care and service.