Who must sign the deed in a real estate transaction?

In a real estate transaction, the deed is a legal document that conveys ownership of property from one party to another. The grantor, or seller, is the individual or entity transferring the property and is therefore required to sign the deed to validate the transaction.

The reason the grantor's signature is necessary is that it provides legal confirmation that the grantor consents to the transfer of ownership and has the legal authority to do so. Without the grantor's signature, the deed would not be effective, and the transfer of property may be challenged or deemed invalid, as it requires a demonstration of clear intent to sell.

The buyer, while a key participant in the transaction, does not need to sign the deed because their role is to receive ownership of the property rather than to convey it. The mortgage lender might be involved in financing the purchase, but they do not sign the deed itself as their role pertains to the loan process rather than the transfer of property ownership. Finally, while a notary may witness the signing of the deed to authenticate it, the notary's role does not include signing the deed as a party to the transaction.