Life does not always put you in the same town as your closing. A new job across the country, a deployment, a seller who has already moved. The good news is that Virginia gives you several ways to close without being in the room.
Written by Anthony I. Shin, Esq., Principal and real estate attorney at Prime Title & Escrow
You do not have to be physically present to buy or sell a home in Virginia. There are a few well worn paths for signing from a distance, and the right one depends on your lender, your documents, and where you will be on closing day.
A mail away closing, where your documents are sent to you, signed and notarized near you, and returned. A hybrid closing, where you sign some documents electronically and others on paper. And remote online notarization, where a notary witnesses your signing over a secure video connection.
The mail away closing
In a mail away, your closing package is couriered to you, you sign it in front of a local notary, and the documents come back to me for recording. It is the most established method and it works almost anywhere, but timing matters, because the package has to travel both ways. That is why I start a mail away early and build the courier time into the schedule.
The hybrid closing
A hybrid closing splits the package. Some lenders let you sign part of it electronically, while the documents that must be notarized are printed and signed on paper. It means fewer pages to print and ship, and a faster turnaround, when your lender allows it.
Remote online notarization
Virginia was an early adopter of remote online notarization, which lets a commissioned notary verify your identity and witness your signature over a secure audiovisual connection. It can turn a signing you would have driven hours for into an appointment from your kitchen. Not every document or every lender allows it, so we confirm what will be accepted before we plan around it.
Many of these options depend on what your lender will accept, and some require original ink signatures on certain documents. I check with your lender first, so we choose a method that will actually fund rather than one that looks convenient and then stalls at the last minute.
When a power of attorney is the better tool
Sometimes the cleanest path is not to sign from a distance at all, but to have someone you trust sign for you under a power of attorney. That has its own rules, which I cover in my guide to closing with a power of attorney. I will tell you honestly which approach fits your situation.
How I coordinate it
I line up the notary, the courier or the platform, and the lender’s requirements, and I keep the timeline tight so a distance closing still lands on schedule. For the full sequence your signing fits into, see what happens at a Virginia closing.
What to expect, whichever method you choose
All three options share a rhythm. You confirm your identity, you review the documents, you sign, and the signed package returns to me for recording. What changes is how the signing happens and how the papers travel. A mail away leans on a courier and a local notary. A hybrid leans on a secure signing platform for part of the package. Remote online notarization leans on a video session with a commissioned notary. In every case, the recording and the disbursement still follow Virginia’s rules once I have everything in hand.
A little preparation goes a long way. For a mail away, have a reliable local notary in mind and a quiet hour to sign carefully. For a hybrid or a remote signing, you will need a stable internet connection, a device with a camera, and a valid photo ID ready for the identity check. I send instructions ahead of time so nothing is a surprise on the day.
Distance closings also reward starting early. Couriers, notary schedules, and lender approvals all take time, and a date that would be comfortable for an in person signing can get tight when papers have to travel. The earlier we choose your method, the calmer your closing day will be. If you are unsure which option is realistic for your lender and your timeline, that is my job to figure out.
And if your plans change at the last minute, tell me. Switching from an in person signing to a remote one, or the other way around, is usually possible with a little notice, as long as your lender agrees to the method we land on.
Tell me where you will be and I will set up the smoothest way for you to sign.
Get Your Free Quoteor call (703) 552-4155This article is general information about distance closing options in Virginia. It is not legal advice for your specific transaction, and what is available depends on your lender and documents. Please confirm your options with me directly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I close on a house in Virginia without being there?
Yes. You can use a mail away closing, a hybrid closing, or remote online notarization, depending on what your lender and your documents allow.
What is a mail away closing?
Your closing documents are sent to you, you sign them in front of a local notary, and they are returned to the settlement agent for recording.
Does Virginia allow remote online notarization?
Yes. A commissioned notary can verify your identity and witness your signature over a secure video connection. Lender and document rules still apply, so confirm in advance.
Will my lender allow a remote or mail away closing?
It depends on the lender. Some require original ink signatures on certain documents. A good settlement agent confirms the accepted method with your lender before planning around it.
Is a power of attorney an alternative to closing remotely?
Yes. Someone you trust can sign for you under a power of attorney, as long as it is approved in advance and properly executed.