Safeguard Properties

Archives For: Industry Updates

HUD Awards $1.4 Million to Support Housing Counseling Programs in New Jersey

HUD has awarded $1.4 million in housing counseling grants to help agencies in NJ in their critical work to stem the tide of the pandemic’s impact on housing.

26 Jan 2022

VA Extends Suspension of Certain Property Inspection Requirements for Covid-19 Forbearance Cases

VA has extended the temporary suspension of certain property inspections for borrowers who have requested a CARES Act forbearance through Oct. 1, 2022.

25 Jan 2022

Freddie Mac: Mortgage Serious Delinquency Rate Decreased in December

Freddie Mac has reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate has decreased from 1.24% in November to 1.12% in December 2021.

25 Jan 2022

Ginnie Mae Removes a Step for Servicers on some FHA Loan Modifications

New documentation requirements will allow companies to skip certain requirements when modifying mortgages insured by Ginnie Mae.

24 Jan 2022

New State Initiative Offers Info, Resources on Zombie Homes

Columbia Law students have set up a new website with information to help small governments and communities gain information on zombie homes.

19 Jan 2022

MBA Survey: “Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Decreases to 1.41% in December 2021

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) new monthly Loan Monitoring Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 26 basis points from 1.67% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior month to 1.41% as of December 31, 2021. According to MBA’s estimate, 705,000 homeowners are in forbearance plans.

18 Jan 2022

FHA Expands Real-Estate Owned Property Purchase Opportunities for Owner-Occupant Buyers

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Thursday announced it is increasing its exclusive listing period on certain HUD single-family real-estate owned (REO) homes to allow more time for owner occupants, HUD-approved nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities to submit bids for the purchase of these homes before they become eligible for purchase by investors.

13 Jan 2022

U.S. Foreclosure Activity Drops to an All-Time Low in 2021

ATTOM, licensor of the nation’s most comprehensive foreclosure data and parent company to RealtyTrac (www.realtytrac.com), the largest online marketplace for foreclosure and distressed properties, today released its Year-End 2021 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows foreclosure filings— default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on 151,153 U.S. properties in 2021, down 29 percent from 2020 and down 95 percent from a peak of nearly 2.9 million in 2010, to the lowest level since tracking began in 2005.

13 Jan 2022

Proposed New Hampshire Bill will Allow Municipalities to Establish a Vacant Building Registration

A proposed New Hampshire bill will allow municipalities to establish a vacant property registration with requirements set forth by the state. The new bill will be enacted on January 1, 2023.

12 Jan 2022

Fannie Mae Launches Free Online Education Course, Empowering Aspiring Homebuyers to Become Confident, Successful Homeowners

Fannie Mae today announced the launch of HomeView™, the company’s new online homeownership education course, to help consumers navigate the mortgage and homebuying process confidently and responsibly.

12 Jan 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