Safeguard Properties

Archives For: Industry Updates

Julia Gordon Confirmed as FHA Commissioner

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Julia Gordon as commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration and assistant secretary of housing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

12 May 2022

U.S. Foreclosure Activity in April 2022 Declines Slightly

ATTOM’s April US Foreclosure Market Report showed that foreclosure filings were down 8% from the previous month, but up 160% from a year ago.

10 May 2022

Fannie Mae Earns ENERGY STAR Recognition for 2022 Environmental Sustainability Achievements

Fannie Mae announced it earned the 2022 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy

6 May 2022

MBA: Mortgage Delinquencies Decrease in First Quarter

MBA reports that the delinquency rate decreased 54 basis points from the 4th quarter of 2021 and was down 227 basis points from one year ago.

5 May 2022

Agencies Issue Joint Proposal to Strengthen and Modernize Community Reinvestment Act Regulations

Federal bank regulatory agencies today jointly issued a proposal to strengthen and modernize regulations implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to better achieve the purposes of the law.

5 May 2022

ICE to Buy Mortgage-Software Firm Black Knight for $13.1 Billion

Intercontinental Exchange Inc. has agreed to buy Black Knight Inc. in a deal valuing the mortgage software provider at about $13.1 billion

4 May 2022

Fannie REO Inventory Increased in Q1 YoY; Expected to Increase Further in 2022

Fannie Mae reported the number of REO increased to 7,430 at the end of Q1 2022 compared to 6,918 at the end of Q1 2021.

3 May 2022

FHFA to Make Supplemental Consumer Information Form Mandatory

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will now require lenders to use the Supplemental Consumer Information Form, which collects information about the borrower’s language preference among other things.

3 May 2022

Freddie Mac Promotes Longtime Exec to Lead Multifamily Unit

Freddie Mac announced it has promoted company veteran Kevin Palmer to head its Multifamily business beginning May 9.

3 May 2022

Home Affordability is Nearly the Worst on Record as Mortgage Rates Spike

Mortgage rates just hit their highest level since 2009, and home prices are continuing to experience double-digit gains. Now, nearly all of the major housing markets in the United States are less affordable than they have been historically, and affordability is near its worst point on record.

2 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