Fannie Mae: SVC-2020-04: Servicing Guide Updates

Investor Update
September 9, 2020

Source: Fannie Mae

The Servicing Guide has been updated to include changes to the following:

Allowable foreclosure attorney fees*: updates the allowable foreclosure attorney fees for Hawaii.

▪ Miscellaneous revisions**:

▪ incorporates disaster payment deferral policies as well as adds references to payment deferral throughout the Servicing Guide,

▪ updates the authority to offer an initial forbearance plan of up to three months without achieving Quality Right Party Contact (QRPC) in connection with a disaster event, and

▪ removes outdated references to Master Agreements from the Selling and Servicing Guides.

*Policy change applies only to HomeKeeper® loans and is not applicable to Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
loans.

**Policy change not applicable to reverse mortgage loans.

Allowable foreclosure attorney fees

We have updated the Allowable Foreclosure Attorney Fees Allowable Foreclosure Attorney Exhibit to reflect a change to the
maximum allowable foreclosure attorney fees for mortgage loans secured by properties in Hawaii.

Effective: These new fees apply to all matters referred to counsel for initiation of foreclosure proceedings, regardless of referral date, as long as the matter is still active as of Sept. 9, 2020. Servicers are encouraged to implement new fees for the impacted files as soon as possible, but must do so no later than Dec. 1, 2020. Servicers may exercise reasonable discretion in determining how to implement the fees, including working as needed with the law firm or an applicable invoicing technology provider.

Miscellaneous revisions

Incorporation of disaster payment deferral. We have incorporated the disaster payment deferral workout option introduced on Jul. 15, 2020 in LL-2020-11, and subsequently updated on Aug. 27, 2020, into the Servicing Guide. In connection with this incorporation, we have also added references to payment deferral throughout the Guide as applicable.

Effective: As of Oct. 1, 2020, servicers must evaluate borrowers for a disaster payment deferral in lieu of Extend Modification for Disaster Relief and Cap and Extend Modification for Disaster Relief, which will be retired as of said date.

Forbearance without achieving QRPC in a disaster event. We have updated the authority to offer an initial forbearance plan of up to three months without achieving QRPC in connection with a disaster event.

Master Agreements. As a result of the simplification of our lender contract process, we no longer issue Master Agreements for the delivery or servicing of certain special mortgage loan products or other mortgage loans that are at variance with standard Fannie Mae policies. Therefore, we have removed all references to Master Agreements from our Selling and Servicing Guides.

For full update, please click the source link above.

x

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.

x

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.

x

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.

x

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.

x

Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties