Archives For: Industry Updates

CFPB: Mortgage Servicing Changes to Prevent COVID-19 Foreclosures

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a set of rule changes intended to help prevent avoidable foreclosures as emergency federal foreclosure protections expire.

5 Apr 2021

CFPB: Compliance Bulletin Warns Mortgage Servicers

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a bulletin warning mortgage servicers to take all necessary steps now to prevent a wave of avoidable foreclosures later this year.

1 Apr 2021

CFPB: Temporary Policy Statements Rescinded to Ensure Compliance

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it is rescinding seven policy statements issued in 2020 that provided temporary flexibilities to financial institutions in consumer financial markets, including mortgages. The rescissions will become on effective April 1, 2021,

31 Mar 2021

Zombie Property Remediation Bill Proposed in West Virginia

West Virginia Senate Bill 42 was approved by Governor Jim Justice and is scheduled to take effect on June 16, 2021.

29 Mar 2021

CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium Until June 30

CNN issued a report detailing the CDC’s decision to extend its federal moratorium on eviction for non-payment of rent until June 30, 2021.

29 Mar 2021

CFPB: Report Highlights More Than a Half-Million Complaints in 2020

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued its Consumer Response Annual Report for 2020. The report reflects issues consumers reported to the bureau throughout the year as influenced by numerous factors, including changing market conditions.

24 Mar 2021

Proposed New York Bill Aims to Ban Plywood Property Boarding

NY A6519 was introduced in the The New York State Senate. The bill would prohibit the use of plywood, wood composite, wood veneer or similar wood-based products to secure any real property that is deemed vacant and abandoned.

19 Mar 2021

Flood Risk is Growing for U.S. Homeowners Due to Climate Change

CNN recently published a report offering a detailed look at the increasing threat for flooding across the country and the associated risk of financial loss for affected homeowners.

16 Mar 2021

ATTOM: U.S. Foreclosure Activity Sees Uptick in February 2021

ATTOM Data Solutions released its February 2021 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. The report shows that there were a total of 11,281 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions).

11 Mar 2021

Senate Vote Confirms Marcia Fudge as HUD Secretary

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that Marcia L. Fudge has been sworn in as the eighteenth department secretary.

10 Mar 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.

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