Electronic signatures have been among the hottest technologies in real estate this year. In chatting with Prabakar Mahalingam of GoPaperless Solutions, a leading provider of electronic signatures, I was curious about what obstacles, if any, stand in the way of further industry adoption. His response: lack of information.

Real estate professionals and their clients may be reluctant to adopt this technology if they have unanswered questions. With all the benefits of electronic signatures – financial, environmental, practical – these questions should be answered. So, with Prabakar's help, I'm going to provide answers to some of the top electronic signature FAQs. These questions are primarily from the agent's perspective, however consumers share many of these concerns.

How do electronic signatures work?

There is a surprising array of different types of electronic signatures. Perhaps you've heard the term "digital signatures" tossed around – this is actually a subset of electronic signatures, one that uses a digital code that is unique to the signer and the document. Digital signatures are click-to-sign, as opposed to handwritten. Electronic signatures, unlike digital signatures, can be handwritten using a stylus. These are often called "wet" or "biometric" electronic signatures.

Need help understanding this distinction? Check out our article, Not All Electronic Signatures Are Created Equal.