Archives For: Industry Updates

HUD Makes Over $469 Million Available to Protect Families from Home Health and Safety Hazards

HUD announced the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program’s NOFO that makes over $469M available to support safer affordable housing.

24 Jun 2024

FHFA Releases 1st Quarter 2024 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report

FHFA released the 1st quarter 2024 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report, showing Fannie and Freddie completed 52,154 foreclosure prevention acts during the quarter.

21 Jun 2024

ICE First Look: Mortgage Performance Remains Strong as Delinquencies, Foreclosures Continue to Improve in May

ICE reports its “first look” at May 2024 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing the majority of the national mortgage market.

21 Jun 2024

U.S. Foreclosure Activity Sees a Monthly Increase in May 2024

ATTOM released the May 2024 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, showing foreclosure filings up 3% from one month ago.

11 Jun 2024

FHFA Seeks Public Input on the GSE’s Proposed Duty to Serve Plans for 2025-2027

FHFA issued an RFI on the proposed 2025-2027 Underserved Markets Plans submitted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the Duty to Serve program.

11 Jun 2024

Mayor Parker Wants to Reform Dysfunctional Philadelphia Land Bank

Proposed changes to the beleaguered Philadelphia Land Bank could make it a vital pipeline for affordable housing in the city.

11 Jun 2024

Georgia Bill Combats Squatting and Tenant Delinquency

Georgia has passed House Bill 1017 to address the issue of squatting by defining the offense as a criminal matter for law enforcement.

7 Jun 2024

Brainerd to Combat Vacant Buildings

Brainerd City Council is considering a new ordinance that would require owners of vacant buildings to register with the city and pay a fee.

6 Jun 2024

Seattle Mayor to Sign Legislation to Expedite Demolition of Dangerous Vacant Buildings

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is set to sign anticipated legislation to expedite the demolition of dangerous vacant buildings.

6 Jun 2024

Cuyahoga Land Bank Leads $122 Million Redevelopment Plan

The Cuyahoga Land Bank is leading a $122 million redevelopment plan that will add more than 200 homes to the east Cleveland area.

5 Jun 2024

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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