Safeguard Properties

Archives For: Industry Updates

Foreclosures See Hard Spike as Federal Protections End

As expected, the end of federal protections in September has coincided with a significant uptick in foreclosures, as default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions spiked 34% in Q3 of this year according to a new report from ATTOM Data Solutions®, potentially foreshadowing a difficult winter for homeowners still struggling through the pandemic.

20 Oct 2021

MBA Raises Volume Forecast even with Uncertainty Over Fiscal Policy

The Mortgage Bankers Association raised its genesis forecast for 2021, but the outlook of its economists remains more conservative than that of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

19 Oct 2021

FHFA Announces Changes to Low Income Refi Programs and Appraisal Requirements

Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs) will be expanding their low-income refinance programs to include those making at or below 100 percent of an area’s median income (AMI).

19 Oct 2021

New Intercontinental Exchange Inc. Indices Track Daily Mortgage Rates

Capitalizing on its growing capabilities in mortgage tech, the company behind the New York Stock Exchange is making it easier to track daily fluctuations in mortgage rates.

19 Oct 2021

MBA Launches Member Action Pledge to Promote Minority Homeownership, Affordable Rental Housing, DEI

Kristy Fercho, MBA Chairman, and Executive Vice President and Head of Home Lending at Wells Fargo, today announced the Home for All Pledge, a Mortgage Bankers Association member company action pledge to promote minority homeownership; affordable rental housing; and company diversity, equity, and inclusion.

18 Oct 2021

MBA Survey: “Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Decreases to 2.28%”

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest Forbearance and Call Volume Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 34 basis points from 2.62% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior week to 2.28% as of October 10, 2021.

18 Oct 2021

FHFA Announces Two Measures Advancing Housing Sustainability and Affordability

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced two measures to sustainably advance the affordability of homeownership for mortgage borrowers across the nation, especially those in underserved communities

18 Oct 2021

Ginnie Mae Issued Record MBS Volume in FY2021

The Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) issued a record $939 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) during fiscal year 2021, the association said today.

14 Oct 2021

Mortgage Rates Jump to Highest Level Since April – and Inflation Concerns Could Push Them Higher

Mortgage rates rose back above the 3% mark, hitting the highest level since April, over the past week.

14 Oct 2021

Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease to 293,000

In the week ending October 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 293,000, a decrease of 36,000 from the previous week’s revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000.

14 Oct 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