Safeguard Properties

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U.S. Foreclosure Activity Increases Slightly in May 2022

ATTOM released its May 2022 US Foreclosure Market Report showing foreclosure filings up 1% from a month ago, and 185% from a year ago.

14 Jun 2022

Elizabeth Squires Discusses Industry Challenges Amid a Rise in Natural Disasters

Elizabeth Squires, AVP, Client Account Management at Safeguard Properties discusses how the industry has risen to the challenge of dealing with an increasing number of natural disasters.

13 Jun 2022

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – Arizona Pipeline Fire

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for areas of Arizona affected by the Pipeline Fire on June 12, 2022 and continuing.

12 Jun 2022

FHFA Releases GSE’s Equitable Housing Finance Plans for 2022-2024

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has released Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Equitable Housing Finance Plans for 2022-2024.

8 Jun 2022

Mortgage Demand Falls to the Lowest Level in 22 Years

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, demand for mortgages have fallen to the lowest level in 22 years.

8 Jun 2022

Vacant Zombie Properties Rising in Second Quarter Amid Jump in Foreclosure Activity

ATTOM, a leading curator of real estate data nationwide for land and property data, today released its second-quarter 2022 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report showing that 1.3 million (1,304,007) residential properties in the United States sit vacant. That represents 1.3 percent, or one in 76 homes, across the nation.

2 Jun 2022

States of Emergency: These are the Most Disaster Prone States in the US

Based on FEMA Major Disaster Declarations since 1953, Yahoo! Finance has ranked the most disaster prone US states.

2 Jun 2022

HUD and FHA Plan Events to Amplify Message During National Homeownership Month

HUD and FHA plan to hold a series of events throughout National Homeownership Month to align with the Biden-Harris initiative to increase homeownership.

2 Jun 2022

Black Knight: Mortgage Delinquency Rate Fell to 2.8 Percent in April

The national mortgage delinquency rate fell to a new record low in April – just 2.8% of all loans – according to Black Knight’s most recent First Look report.

31 May 2022

Biden to Send Extra Community Development Grants to Underserved Neighborhoods

As part of his equity agenda, President Biden wants to give the nation’s 100 most underserved areas nearly $2 million apiece in extra Community Development Block Grant funding, which can be used for purposes ranging from increasing affordable housing to renovating local parks.

31 May 2022

Freddie Mac Announces Automation of Key Underwriting Criteria

Freddie Mac has unveiled new automated underwriting capabilities that allow lenders to verify assets, income and employment using borrower-approved bank account data.

26 May 2022

Mayor Evans, Land Bank Celebrate Revitalization of Long-Vacant Home in Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood

The city of Rochester mayor and land bank celebrated the successful revitalization of a home that has been vacant for nearly 20 years in the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood.

26 May 2022

FEMA Major Disaster Declaration – Kansas Severe Winter Storms and Straight-Line Winds

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for areas of Kansas affected by severe winter storms and straight-line winds from March 17-22, 2022.

25 May 2022

Forbearance Falls Below 1 Percent

MBA has estimated 470,000 homeowners remain in forbearance, bringing the total number of mortgage loans in forbearance below 1%.

23 May 2022

Neighborhood Groups Can Soon Apply for Vacant Land Improvement Funds

The city of Detroit and the Wayne Metro Community Agency are working to create the Neighborhood Beautification Program, which will allow Detroiters to apply for funding to repurpose vacant land in neighborhoods.

19 May 2022

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – Texas Mesquite Heat Fire

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for areas of Texas affected by the Mesquite Heat Fire on May 18, 2022.

18 May 2022

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CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

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Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

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COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

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CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

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Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties