Skip to main content

Transaction Security: Enabling MFA for Real Estate Transactions

Casey Birkholz
  • Updated

Notarize supports Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) via zip code or SMS authentication for Real Estate transactions.

If you'd like to set up MFA when your team signs in to Notarize, check out Use Multi-Factor Authentication When Signing In for Real Estate.)

Set up MFA in your account as another security layer that will re-confirm your signer's identity. This change will take effect for signers on all future active transactions and must be set by your account Admin. The benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication are:

  • Stronger security
  • Reduce fraud
  • Stronger protection for online transactions
🎯Primary Audience: Title Agents & Lenders

Update Your Settings | Set Up MFA | Signer Experience | FAQ

Update Your Settings

  1. Sign in to your Notarize account.
  2. Click your name in the upper right corner and click Account Settings.
  3. Click Transaction Settings in the menu on the left.
    transaction_mfa_realestate.png
  4. Select SMS authentication or ZIP Code authentication:
    • This change will take effect for Signers on all future active transactions.
      Note: You must be your organization's Admin to make this change.

Set Up MFA

Transactions requiring zip code authentication

Transactions requiring zip code MFA

  • Provide the property address, including a valid ZIP code. 

MFA-4.png

Transactions requiring SMS authentication

Transactions requiring SMS Multi-Factor Authentication

  • Provide the signer's mobile phone number:
    • All transactions require the signer's phone number to send the SMS code:
      • You can uncheck SMS authentication to remove SMS verification on this transaction

MFA-8.png

Signer Experience

Your Signers can conveniently complete transactions from a computer or mobile device (using the Notarize app).

Transactions requiring zip code authentication

For transactions requiring zip code authentication, signers must:

  • Click the transactional link sent to their email.
  • Create a password.
  • Log in to their account.

MFA-5.png

  • Click Sign Now.

MFA-6.png

  • Provide the zip code to access the MFA-enabled transaction:
    • The zip code is required before signing the documents or viewing the details of a completed transaction.

MFA-7.png

🚨 Signers remain authenticated for 24 hours. If they provide the wrong zip code four (4) times, they will be locked out for two (2) minutes before they can try again.

Transactions requiring SMS authentication

For transactions requiring SMS authentication, the signer must:

  • Click the transactional link sent to their email.
  • Create a password.
  • Log in to their account.

MFA-9.png

  • Click Get it Notarized to start the transaction.

MFA-10.png

  • Click Send verification text to send themselves an SMS code to the number provided:
    • SMS verification is required before signing the documents or viewing the details of a completed transaction.

MFA-11.png

  • Provide the 6-digit verification code sent via SMS to their mobile phone number.

MFA-12.png

FAQs

What if a signer is not receiving an SMS code even though their number is correct and they're blocked from accessing a transaction?

Contact Notarize Support.

What if the signer’s phone number is incorrect?

As your organization's Admin, you can edit a signer's phone number from the Transaction Details screen. The next time the signer attempts SMS authentication, Notarize will use the new number. You can also always contact Notarize Support for additional help.

MFA-15.png

To learn about MFA at the login level rather than the transaction level, see Login Multi-Factor Authentication for Real Estate

Still have questions you can't find answers to? Click the chat icon in the corner of your screen to start a chat or email us at support@notarize.com!

CONFIDENTIAL. © 2022-2023 Notarize, Inc.

Related articles