Can DocuSign be used for signing Buyer Closing docs outside US?

Question

I am buying a property but will be outside the US at the time of the closing. Can DocuSign be used to legally sign all documents for closing? I have used DocuSign for selling and purchasing agreements, but not for closing. Does anyone have any experience with DocuSign and closing remotely?

thanks in advance for responces.

Wayne Brooks · Answer

Typically, no.  Ask your title co.  The common solution is fedexing doc.s, and having your signature notarized at the local US embassy/consulate.  In some countries you need to set up an appointment in advance.

Warren Williams · Answer

Finally closed on my house in Jacksonville, Fl.

I ended up giving Power of Attorney to my brother and having him sign for me.

I would advise others to have their POA setup prior to leaving the US as I had to go to the US Embassy in Bangkok to have the POA papers notarized.   I believe that the cost at the Embassy was about $50.   I had planned to have the paper notarized at the Chiang Mai Consulate but they only do notarizing 2 days a week and the slots filled up quickly. So I had to stay in Bangkok an extra week to get the paper notarized.  You will need to make an appointment at the US Embassy in your country.   It is fairly easy to do online.   Once in the Embassy it took less than 30 minutes, but the notarizing officer had to ask for 2 witnesses from the people waiting for service there in the lobby.

Also, it cost $150 for the Attorney fees in the US to draw up the POA papers.  I could not use my own document.  It took the various attorneys a week to agree on the verbiage in the document.

I now am an International Real Estate Mogul.   Watch out Trump family, here I come!

I have looked at several properties here in northern Thailand.  There are issues in owning property outright in the Kingdom, but there are ways to own property.   Some of the laws are favorable to US Citizens.   Condos are pretty straight forward, but as a foreigner you are not allowed to own the land.  Can do it but will need legal assistance due to the Alien Business Law that prevents foreigners from owning > 49% of the business or property.

With the Chinese swarming all over Chiang Mai, it looks like a pretty good investment.

Difficulty in buying in Thailand is there are no comps that seem to be available.  Some of the banks have auctions.

I looked at property at what I call the Thailand Housing Bank GHB (think HUD or Fannie Mae).  Each Province has their own foreclosed listings as well as various banks.  There are English version of the GHB site.   Most of the properties  that I checked will need rehab.

Mark Merrion · Answer

I was just reading in Docusign and in Mexico, Docusign gas a wisird where you can close everything with digital signatures there ar is a certain procedure but the notary will get in one of the room or conference and be done. Now I'm just telling you what can be done

if there willing to do it?

Warren Williams · Answer

Maxwell.... small world... the house that we closed on while in Thailand is in St Johns, Fla.  Have only seen the house 2 times.  We will have to get together once we return from Thailand around the 1st of May.

Bangkok (BKK) is booming with high rises going up everywhere.  I would like to be in the crane renting business in Bangkok.   There is a really good website to follow regarding Thailand and issues... thaivisa.com

When ASEAN opened up the entire SE Asia started buying condos in BKK.  Looks like it is still going on now.  BKK is to crazy for me.  It's like NYC on steroids.  I love old town Chiang Mai.  Felt like I was home.  Did live there for 8 months.  Prices have gone up, but still relatively inexpensive.

The Farangs (Westerners) on ThaiVisa.com speculate (hope) that it is going to crash, but it keeps going up.

People on ThaiVisa.com could advise you on property in Cambodia.  Not sure about Laos as it is still the Peoples Republic.

Warren Williams · Answer

Sam... I do not know about CA and DocuSign, but everything was OK for Florida.  I doubt that anyone would know where you are in the world when you sign via DocuSign.  I started the DocuSign process in Virginia finished in Bangkok.  The closing does require a wet signature, which is why I did the POA with my brother.

As someone else mentioned, I probably could have done the closing at the US Embassy or Consulate.  That would take some research and talking with the Title Company and US Embassy.

Almost all documents that are needed for closing (Bank, Credit Card statements, brokerage accounts, etc) are on line.  I closed on a house a couple of years ago and I had my divorce decree scanned for that closing.  That could have been an issue if not already scanned.

Maxwell Lee · Answer

@Warren Williams

Wow what an ordeal!! Glad you were able to close in the end!

Re: Thailand, I appreciate your insights. I have a friend (lives in HK) who recently purchased a condo in Thailand. I was thinking about doing the same but just a little too chicken. I also know a guy who takes the broad view that Thailand is played out, like the Memphis of Asia, and he's on the ground in Cambodia and Myanmar buying up land and setting up teams.

It definitely is a world of opportunity if you can handle the risk. My wife and I were pretty close to moving to Asia this year and I was considering being boots on the ground like that other guy. But alas we've decided to stay in the US, literally and with our investments, for the time being. But with the dollar being so strong I'm still tempted lol...

Sam Shueh · Answer

Power of attorney, with wet(original) signature signed and notarized at US Consulate. Oversea via Docu Sign is not accepted in CA.

Warren Williams · Answer

I saw in one thread it was $50 for signing at the US Consulate.  Follow up question asked it if was $50 per signature per page or only $50 for the document.  That would be expensive for both my wife and my signing.   I will research that question.

Can DocuSign be used for signing Buyer Closing docs outside US?

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