FHFA Kicks Off #HARPNow Social Media Campaign – HARP Expires in December

Investor Update
February 17, 2016

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is kicking off a new social media campaign, #HARPNow, to let more than 367,600 homeowners across the U.S. know that now is the time to take advantage of the Home Affordable Refinance Program®, or HARP®, before it expires on December 31, 2016.

Beginning today, FHFA will use Twitter, LinkedIn? and YouTube?, to reach homeowners in the Top 10 states with the greatest concentration of borrowers who are eligible for HARP and stand to save money by refinancing through the program: 

1) Florida – 51,100
2) Illinois – 32,169
3) Michigan – 28,825
4) Ohio – 27,299
5) Georgia – 23,658
 

6) California – 16,733
7) Pennsylvania – 15,290
8) New Jersey – 13,798
9) New York – 12,234
10) Maryland – 11,879

While more than 3.3 million U.S. homeowners have already refinanced their homes through HARP, FHFA estimates that 367,695 additional borrowers in the U.S. could save as much as $200 per month, or $2,400 per year, with a HARP refinance. ?[1] ?This is real savings to families.

HARP was created by FHFA and the U.S. Department of the Treasury during the financial crisis to help homeowners with little to no equity refinance into a more stable and affordable mortgage.  HARP was designed for borrowers who have remained current on their mortgage payments.

As part of our HARP outreach efforts, FHFA has teamed up with the Treasury Department, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and local housing experts for town hall-style events in Chicago, Miami, Detroit, Phoenix, AtlantaNewark and Columbus.  Throughout 2016, FHFA will continue to get the word out about HARP and will hold webinars for states with the highest numbers of remaining HARP-eligible borrowers.  The webinars are designed to educate trusted local sources about HARP and encourage eligible homeowners to take advantage of the real savings available to them through a HARP refinance.

We are asking for your help to get the word out about HARP.  You can retweet and favorite our Twitter posts and share our LinkedIn posts and YouTube videos.  You can also get more information about how to apply for HARP on our website, www.HARP.gov, or view our updated, interactive map of HARP-eligible borrowers by state, metropolitan statistical area, county and zip code.  Follow @FHFA on TwitterLinkedIn and YouTube and help us get the information to those who could #HARPNow and save on their mortgage.

More information at http://www.harp.gov/HARPNow
[?1]? Data as of September 2015.  Source: HARP.gov?

Tagged: Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)

By: Megan Moore

Special Advisor to FHFA Director

Source: FHFA

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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