Why Loan Officers and Real Estate Agents Need to Think Digital

Updated May 1, 2026

Borrowers and buyers expect to close on their terms. Here's why loan officers and agents need digital tools, and how to keep deals moving.

Real estate doesn't wait, but outdated closing processes do. Borrowers expect to complete transactions from anywhere, on any device, at any time. When loan officers and agents can't offer that, deals stall, customers walk, and risk creeps in. For loan officers and agents, that means offering your borrowers and buyers the opportunity to complete their transactions virtually, not as a perk, but as a requirement.

eClosings are no longer emerging; they're the standard. By utilizing technology for each step of the process, including eNotes, eSigning, document preview, and video conferencing, it's an efficient and secure way to get business done. Online notarization is a critical facet of that digital closing workflow. What was once a transaction completed exclusively in person is now widely used across the real estate industry. Notarize's platform has facilitated over 5 million notarizations to date, with 24/7 access to notaries and acceptance in all 50 states.

Online notarization isn't a convenience anymore; it's a compliance and competitive necessity. Here's what's driving adoption, and what it means for your workflow.

Online notarization is legal

In 2011, with the passage of House Bill 2318/Senate Bill 827, Virginia became the first state to authorize its notaries to notarize documents remotely via live audio-video technology. Since then, the vast majority of U.S. states have passed permanent laws authorizing their notaries to perform online notarizations. These online notarizations are accepted across the country due to a long-standing body of laws in each state that specifically provides for recognition and acceptance of out-of-state notarizations. Importantly, under these state frameworks, an electronic document notarized through an online notarization is considered an original document, carrying the same legal weight as its paper counterpart.

This means that as long as the online notary is based in a state that has legalized online notarization, they can legally notarize a document.

Notarize's digital platform connects users via video conferencing with notaries who can legally notarize documents online. The process includes multiple layers of identity verification, including remote presentation of a government-issued photo ID, credential analysis, and identity proofing, so your clients never have to worry about the legality or security of the process.

While online notarization is legal, you should always double check that the parties you are working with will accept a digitally-notarized document.

Digital and safer are not mutually exclusive

Real estate transactions are often high-pressure and stressful, especially for buyers. By utilizing a fully-digital closing process, you eliminate the need for your clients to run around to banks or to UPS to get a document notarized. By using Notarize's platform for online notarization, your customers can connect with a licensed notary anytime and anywhere. That flexibility dramatically accelerates the timeline. Signers complete their notarization in less than 10 minutes on average, with no commute, no scheduling hassles, and no delays.

At first glance, you might think that completing closing documents in person and on paper is the best way to ensure your client's transaction is secure. Paper, however, can easily be spilled on, misplaced, accidentally thrown out, or fall into the wrong hands. Keeping important documents on a digital platform actually enables better security.

Mitigate security and fraud risks before a closing even begins by using a trusted, digital platform like Notarize. Every session is encrypted and produces a detailed audit trail: a complete, verifiable record of who signed, when, and how their identity was confirmed. The platform uses multi-factor authentication, credential analysis, knowledge-based authentication, and biometric comparison to verify signer identity before the notarization even starts. Notarize's digital platform is built to be compliant regardless of which state the buyer is in, so you and your clients can trust that every transaction is safe, secure, and defensible.

Digital closings are becoming the norm, and it's important for loan officers and agents to have processes in place to help their clients execute deals virtually. From eSigning to online notarization, these capabilities improve the experience for your customers and ensure that every transaction moves forward with the speed, security, and compliance your clients deserve.