Archives For: Industry Updates

Freddie Mac Announces 2023 SHARP Award Winners

Freddie Mac announces the nine winners of the 2023 SHARP program, which recognizes mortgage loan servicers for superior portfolio performance.

15 Feb 2024

Hearing Set on Vacant Property Maintenance

The Garden City Board of Trustees will discuss a proposed law aimed at requiring owners to maintain vacant and abandoned properties during a hearing on March 7th.

15 Feb 2024

City Council Approves Vacant-Building Ordinance: Owners of Empty Buildings Must Provide Plans or Face Fines

The Bakersfield City Council has approved a vacant nuisance registry ordinance that requires owners of unused, empty buildings to register with the city.

15 Feb 2024

U.S. Foreclosure Activity Sees Notable Increase in January 2024

ATTOM has released its January 2024 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, showing foreclosure filings up 5% from a year ago.

13 Feb 2024

Fannie Mae Recognizes 32 High-Performing Mortgage Servicers

Fannie Mae announced its 2023 STAR Program results, recognizing 32 mortgage servicers for competency, capacity and overall performance.

12 Feb 2024

Mortgage Delinquencies Increase in the Fourth Quarter of 2023

The Mortgage Bankers Association reports the mortgage delinquency rate increased to 3.88% of all loans in the fourth quarter of 2023.

8 Feb 2024

FHFA Unveils 2024 Scorecard for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

FHFA recently released its 2024 Scorecard, outlining strategic objectives for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and their joint venture, CSS.

6 Feb 2024

Fannie and Freddie: Single Family Serious Delinquency Rate Increased Slightly, Multi-family Unchanged in December

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac single-family delinquencies increased slightly in December while multi-family delinquencies remained unchanged.

30 Jan 2024

Cleveland’s Crackdown on Blight Might Hit Snag with Controversial Proposal

A plan aimed at improving Cleveland’s housing stock through a major overhaul of code enforcement was largely praised by City Council this week.

26 Jan 2024

ICE Report: December 2023 Delinquency Rate Hits 3.57%

In December 2023, the national delinquency rate experienced a slight increase, reaching 3.57% according to the ICE mortgage performance report.

24 Jan 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