Safeguard Properties

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Mortgage Giant Fannie Mae Promotes Controller to Finance Chief

Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored enterprise that guarantees mortgage loans, has promoted Chryssa Halley, from controller to chief financial officer.

1 Dec 2021

Freddie Mac Addresses Cryptocurrency in the Mortgage Qualification Process

In Bulletin 2021-36 Freddie Mac addresses cryptocurrency in the mortgage qualification process. Freddie Mac indicated that it is providing guidance “due to the high level of uncertainty associated with cryptocurrency.”

1 Dec 2021

2022 FHA Loan Limits: Floor Rises to $420,680; Ceiling to $970,800

Similar to the FHFA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces maximum loan limits each year for FHA loans.
Today, they unveiled the 2022 FHA loan limits, which like the 2022 conforming loan limits, will be significantly higher than the limits in effect this year.

1 Dec 2021

Fannie Mae: Mortgage Serious Delinquency Rate Decreased in October

Fannie Mae reported that the Single-Family Serious Delinquency decreased to 1.46% in October, from 1.62% in September. The serious delinquency rate is down from 3.05% in October 2020.

30 Nov 2021

Sky High Home Prices Push Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Back Loans of Nearly $1 Million

Higher prices have pushed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to raise the limits of government-backed loans to a record level for 2022, with the maximum loan limit at nearly $1 million for high-cost areas.

30 Nov 2021

The State Where the Most People are Behind on their Mortgage

The American housing market is in the midst of a period of extraordinary price increases, driven by historically high demand.

28 Nov 2021

Freddie Mac: Mortgage Serious Delinquency Rate Decreased in October

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in October was 1.32%, down from 1.46% in September. Freddie’s rate is down year-over-year from 2.89% in October 2020.

23 Nov 2021

Mortgage Delinquencies Continued to Drop in October, but Foreclosure Starts Inched Up

Mortgage delinquencies continued to drop during October, falling to just 3.74% of all loans, according to Black Knight’s First Look report.

22 Nov 2021

Fannie Mae Forecast Sees Fed Rate Increase in 2022; Offers Other Economic Predictions

Not surprisingly, inflation is a key forecast concern for the economy, according to the November 2021 commentary from the Fannie Mae Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group, which predicts the Federal Reserve will likely move to raise rates in 2022.

22 Nov 2021

Black Knight’s First Look: Mortgage Delinquencies; Foreclosure Activity

Black Knight, Inc. reports the following “first look” at October 2021 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing the majority of the national mortgage market.  

22 Nov 2021

Is the Housing Boom Ending?

New data from LegalShield reveals that consumers are shifting their focus away from real estate and home purchases toward accelerating inflation and a looming foreclosure crisis.

16 Nov 2021

Ginnie Mae Extends Features of Digital Collateral Program to Paper Mortgages

Ginnie Mae announced today in All Participants Memorandum (APM 21-07 that it is expanding the use of certain features found in its digital collateral program to paper mortgages

15 Nov 2021

Flush with Capital, FHA Resists Call to Cut Insurance Premiums

Despite a 14-year high of 8.03% for the capital ratio of the agency’s mutual mortgage insurance fund — stoked by the recovery of the reverse mortgage program — the FHA did not signal immediate plans in its annual actuarial report to cut insurance premiums.

15 Nov 2021

The Federal Government May Guarantee Mortgages of Nearly $1 Million

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will raise lending ceilings in the next few weeks, making it more straightforward for buyers of more expensive homes to obtain financing.

15 Nov 2021

Black Knight: Number of Mortgages in Forbearance Declines

Forbearance plan exit volumes increased week-over-week heading into November as the share of mortgage loans in forbearance fell below 2% for the first time since the early stages of the pandemic.

12 Nov 2021

Post-Moratorium Foreclosure Activity Rises Modestly

Foreclosure filings increased in the fourth month following the July 31 expiration of the pandemic related moratorium. ATTOM says those filings were up 5.0 percent in October compared to September with 20,587 properties the subject of a default notice, scheduled auction, or actual bank repossession.

12 Nov 2021

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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