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The concept of a public notary has been around for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Roman times. An official called a "notaries" had duties that included recording court proceedings or working with magistrates as they issued judgments and decrees.

Did you know that at the time the modern mortgage first came into being, only 4 in 10 households actually owned their home? At the time, loan terms were not friendly, demanding high down payments and short terms for the loan.

The Notary shall record every notarial act in a bound journal or other secure recording device and safeguard it as an important public record. Principle VIII of the Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility.

What is one of the main benefits of having a contract notarized? A notarized contract, under the Federal Rules of Evidence, is considered to be self-authenticating. This means that the people who signed the contract do not have to verify in court that the signatures are authentic.

In an Acknowledgement notarization, the signer appears before the notary in person, is identified by the notary, and acknowledges to the notary that the document is signed freely and with full knowledge. All blanks must be filled before meeting with the notary; wait to sign it in front of the notary.

Lower interest rates make refinancing a mortgage a no-brainer for many people, since this offers the opportunity to reduce the amount that will be repaid for the mortgage. A mortgage specialist can work with you to figure out whether you're eligible for refinancing.

Did you know there are actually three difference parts of the notarial process? First are the requirements to become a notary in the first. Then, a notary must certify the identification of anyone looking to have a document notarized. Finally, that process is recorded.

A notary can create a certified copy of a document that is not associated with any governmental entity. An example would be a letter. By having the notary create a copy, there can be no questions whether the copy is accurate.

Do you ever worry that you could lose your home because you owe more than its worth and are having trouble making the payments? It may be possible to refinance your home while it’s underwater in order to get you a payment you can afford.

For documents used in a foreign country, it is the responsibility of the document custodian to obtain certification of the notary’s signature. These can usually be obtained at the clerk’s office of the county court in which the notary’s oath of office was filed.

The word "mortgage" is derived from a word that meant "death contract," but it's not as morbid as it seems. Death in this case refers to the end of the obligation rather than the borrower, whether that occurs through the repayment of the loan or foreclosure.

The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) is a government effort sponsored by the US Treasury and US Housing and Urban Development departments. Introduced in 2009, it was designed to help homeowners who had lost home equity when housing prices declined in 2008.

Did you know that the first mortgages weren’t initiated by banks but rather insurance companies? Interestingly, the insurance companies were not so much interested in making money through fees and interest but rather were looking to gain ownership of properties if borrowers failed to keep up with the payments.