Insights from ServiceLink touch on some of the benefits of remote online notarization (RON) adoption for home equity lenders and detail why it’s a game changer for home equity closings specifically.

While market conditions continually change, two priorities remain nearly constant for today’s lenders: improving the borrower’s experience and increasing operational efficiencies. Adopting eClosings helps lenders achieve both goals, and the right partner can help to ease implementation challenges along the way.

A better borrower experience

Data continues to show that the digital expectations of borrowers are rising as they are seeking a better origination experience. Respondents from the 2026 ServiceLink State of Homebuying Report identified several key benefits of technology in the mortgage process, citing time savings (57%), the convenience and ease of use that technology provides (52%) and the flexibility it provides to make progress on their own schedule (43%) as the top three benefits. eClosings meet these needs by providing a high level of flexibility and convenience.

Among the digital experiences buyers are looking for from their mortgage lenders, 78% of respondents from the same ServiceLink survey said the opportunity to conduct the entire process digitally with no in-person appointments would influence their decision to work with a specific lender. Implementing remote online notarizations (RON) addresses this desire, eliminating the need for in-person meetings.

Streamlined operations

Meanwhile, 37% of lenders recently surveyed in Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey®  cited streamlining business processes as a top priority, and 29% said cost-cutting topped their list. RON closings address both priorities, as it streamlines both the closing and post-closing phases.

RON frees notaries to certify more documents in less time, and results in fewer errors — inconsistencies including missed signatures, initials and dates — which can significantly reduce turnaround time. The process provides executed documents back in real-time, allowing lenders to start post-closing and funding processes sooner.

ServiceLink’s unique solution also streamlines the process of determining RON eligibility. It does this by automatically assessing state and county acceptance requirements and, with lender approval, automatically giving borrowers who are eligible the immediate option to schedule their closing online.

Studies conducted by eClosing providers also found that lenders can save as much as $500 a loan when they opt for a virtual closing over a traditional, in-person one, making it a win-win for both the lenders' bottom line and the borrower experience.

Time savings

Additionally, RON provides executed documents back in real-time, allowing lenders to start post-closing and funding processes sooner. Streamlined solutions specific to ServiceLink include an on-demand RON panel. This enables lenders or borrowers to select a desired closing day, rather than a specific time slot, for their RON closing. Borrowers can simply sign onto the closing platform at any time on their selected day of choice. If lender parameters permit, they can even select a same-day closing. Streamlining the process allows lenders to reduce their turn times and offer time-saving benefits to their borrowers, too.

RON closings also address logistical challenges. For example, when a military spouse is deployed, it may be impossible to arrange a timely in-person joint signing. This is possible as RON enables both spouses to sign at once, from two different locations. There have also been situations where sending a notary to the borrower’s location for an in-person signing — for example remote Alaskan islands — would be exponentially more expensive than an online closing.

Learn more about ServiceLink’s RON offerings here.

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