Archives For: Industry Updates

Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest Weekly Survey

Data from the MBA’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey reports an increase of 1.2% over the previous week for week ending July 29.

3 Aug 2022

Servicers Anticipate Further Ramp-up in Foreclosure Activity

Servicers are anticipating a ramp-up in foreclosure activity over the coming year according to a new survey by Auction.com.

3 Aug 2022

Ginnie Mae Solicits Feedback on Enhancements to the Title I Manufactured Housing Program

Ginnie Mae, in coordination with FHA, published a Request for Input on enhancements to the Title I Manufactured Home Loan Program.

27 Jul 2022

Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications decreased 1.8 percent from one week earlier, according to the MBA Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 22, 2022.

27 Jul 2022

Freddie Mac: Mortgage Serious Delinquency Rate Decreased in June

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in June was 0.76%, down from 0.80% May.

26 Jul 2022

Black Knight’s First Look: Mortgage Delinquencies and Foreclosure Starts Edge Higher in June

Black Knight’s month-end mortgage performance statistics show mortgage delinquencies and foreclosure starts edged higher in June 2022.

25 Jul 2022

FHFA Sharpens Focus on Fintech, Creates New Office

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has set up a new office that will enable FHFA to expand its focus on financial technology.

19 Jul 2022

New Tool May Become Available for Steubenville Inspectors

Steubenville code inspectors may receive a tool to help them identify vacant properties and the owners of them.

19 Jul 2022

MBA Survey: “Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Decreases Slightly to .81% in June”

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s monthly Loan Monitoring Survey states forbearance decreased only slightly May over June 2022, from .85% to .81%.

18 Jul 2022

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Announces $50 Million Available to Help Land Banks Eradicate Blight

New York State Homes and Community Renewal announced a $50 million Land Bank Initiative aimed at reducing blight throughout the state.

15 Jul 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.

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