Archives For: Industry Updates

Top 10 Counties with Greatest Number of REOs in August 2024

Based on data from the August 2024 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, ATTOM breaks down the top 10 counties with the highest number of REO properties.

13 Sep 2024

U.S. Foreclosure Activity Declines Both Monthly and Annually in August 2024

ATTOM released the August 2024 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, showing foreclosure filings down 5.3% from a month ago and 11% from a year ago.

11 Sep 2024

City of Jackson has Nearly a Quarter of Mississippi’s Abandoned Properties

Within the state of Mississippi, the city of Jackson has approximately 25% of the state’s total abandoned properties.

9 Sep 2024

Allegheny County Accepting Applications for Blight Removal Funds

Allegheny County, PA is working to reduce vacant property rates and create a path to community revitalization through blight removal funding.

8 Sep 2024

Mission Possible: Cuyahoga Land Bank Battles Blight to Improve Neighborhoods

The Cuyahoga Land Bank is working to acquire vacant, blighted properties to bring them back to productive use throughout the city of Cleveland.

1 Sep 2024

ICE: 32% Jump in Foreclosures in July Not a Sign of Market Stress

ICE First Look reports that while foreclosures increased 32% in July over the previous month, it is not a sign of underlying stress on the market.

26 Aug 2024

Top 10 Zombie Foreclosure Zip Codes in Q3 2024

ATTOM breaks down the Q3 2024 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report to reveal the top 10 zip codes with the highest zombie foreclosure rates.

23 Aug 2024

FHFA Proposed 2025-2027 Housing Goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

FHFA issued a proposed rule that would establish the housing goals for 2025-2027 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be required to meet annually.

22 Aug 2024

Zombie Foreclosure Rate Continues to Decline in 3rd Quarter of 2024, Marking Lowest Level Since 2021

ATTOM released its 3rd quarter 2024 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report showing 1.4 million residential properties in the US are vacant.

21 Aug 2024

Birmingham Receives Aid to Implement, Educate on New Code Enforcement Practices

The Center for Community Progress is awarding Birmingham $50K in technical assistance to help revamp its code enforcement practices.

20 Aug 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.

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.

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.

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.

Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties