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Your closing team says you can sign some mortgage documents online. Will you still need to meet a notary? Will you sign the promissory note on paper? Ask about each step separately. An electronic closing can combine online document review, electronic signatures and an in-person appointment.
This guide covers US residential mortgage closings. Sources checked November 7, 2026.
What is a mortgage eClosing?
An eClosing uses technology to let borrowers review closing documents online and sign at least some electronically. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau used that broad meaning in its eClosing pilot, which included hybrid closings. A hybrid closing can mix electronic signatures with paper documents. Ask your closing team for the signing plan for your specific loan. CFPB eClosing pilot.
Three decisions that shape the appointment
| Decision | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| How you sign | Which documents can you sign electronically, and which need a pen-and-ink signature? |
| How the notary participates | Will the notary meet you in person or join a live video session? Which documents will they notarize? |
| How the note is created | Will the lender use an original paper promissory note or an electronic original, called an eNote? |
Electronic signing records your signature on a document. Notarization is a separate step for documents that require it. With in-person electronic notarization, the signer and notary are physically together and use electronic documents. With remote online notarization (RON), the signer and notary are in different locations and use live two-way audio and video. The notary applies an electronic seal. Fannie Mae Selling Guide, electronic records and notarization.
Where the eNote fits
The promissory note sets out your promise to repay the loan. An eNote is a promissory note created and stored electronically as the original record. Fannie Mae describes an eMortgage as a loan with an eNote and potentially other electronic documents. Some eMortgages can still have a paper security instrument. That distinction matters because the note and the security instrument serve different purposes, and the closing team may handle them differently. Fannie Mae Selling Guide, general information on eMortgages.
For lenders delivering eMortgages to Fannie Mae, the eVault holds the electronic note, and the MERS eRegistry supports tracking who controls the authoritative copy and where it is held. Those steps are part of the lender’s delivery workflow. Borrowers can ask where to obtain their copy of the signed note and the rest of their closing package. Fannie Mae Selling Guide, eMortgage delivery.
A fictional hybrid closing
Fictional example. Maya receives a link to review her closing package. Her settlement agent asks her to e-sign several forms before an appointment. At the appointment, she signs the paper promissory note and meets a notary for the documents that need notarization. Her next step is to confirm which forms she can complete before arriving, what identification to bring and when signed copies will be available. Another lender might use an eNote for a similar transaction, so the label “hybrid” alone would not tell Maya how her note will be signed.
What can affect availability?
Ask the lender and settlement agent to confirm the available format for the property, loan and documents involved. Fannie Mae’s requirements apply to loans delivered under its guide. For example, its RON rules address applicable state law and county recorder acceptance when a document must be recorded. Your closing team can tell you which requirements apply to your transaction and what format it can support. Fannie Mae’s remote online notarization requirements.
Questions to send your closing team
- Which documents can I review ahead of time, and when will I receive them?
- Which signatures can I complete before the appointment?
- Which documents require notarization, and where will each signer need to be?
- Will I sign a paper note or an eNote?
- What identification, device or browser will I need?
- Who should I contact if the portal, identity check or video connection fails?
- How and when can I get a complete copy of the signed documents?
Ask for time to review the documents and raise discrepancies with your lender or settlement agent before signing. If you are comparing the figures on your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, start with our guide to closing costs and cash to close. CFPB closing preparation guide.
Mortgage lenders and fintech teams can make closing instructions clearer by explaining what borrowers need to do at each step. AditsBlogs writes borrower guides, product explainers and other finance content around your audience and review requirements. Explore AditsBlogs content-writing services.
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