Loan signing agents cannot explain documents to borrowers, so homebuyers sign 150 pages they do not understand

Notary signing agents who facilitate mortgage closings are legally prohibited in most states from explaining the loan documents to borrowers because doing so constitutes practicing law without a license. A first-time homebuyer sits at a closing table with 100-150 pages of legal documents and is told to "sign here" repeatedly by someone who is forbidden from answering "what does this clause mean?" Borrowers routinely sign adjustable-rate riders, prepayment penalties, and escrow waivers without understanding their implications, only discovering the consequences months later when their payment spikes or they cannot refinance. Title companies and lenders could solve this by having an attorney present at closing, but they use signing agents specifically because they cost $125-$200 per appointment versus $500+ for an attorney. The structural incentive is to minimize closing costs, not to ensure borrower comprehension.