HUD Announces Changes to Mortgage and Loan Insurance Programs

On January 23, the Federal Register posted a notice from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regarding mortgage and loan insurance programs.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5766-N-01]

Mortgage and Loan Insurance Programs Under the National Housing
Act–Debenture Interest Rates

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing–Federal Housing
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces changes in the interest rates to be paid
on debentures issued with respect to a loan or mortgage insured by the
Federal Housing Administration under the provisions of the National
Housing Act (the Act). The interest rate for debentures issued under section
221(g)(4) of the Act during the 6-month period beginning January 1, 2014,
is 2 1/2 percent. The interest rate for debentures issued under any other
provision of the Act is the rate in effect on the date that the commitment to
insure the loan or mortgage was issued, or the date that the loan or
mortgage was endorsed (or initially endorsed if there are two or more
endorsements) for insurance, whichever rate is higher. The interest rate
for debentures issued under these other provisions with respect to a
loan or mortgage committed or endorsed during the 6-month period
beginning January 1, 2014, is 3 5/8 percent. However, as a result of
an amendment to section 224 of the Act, if an insurance claim relating
to a mortgage insured under sections 203 or 234 of the Act and
endorsed for insurance after January 23, 2004, is paid in cash, the
debenture interest rate for purposes of calculating a claim shall be the
monthly average yield, for the month in which the default on the
mortgage occurred, on United States Treasury Securities adjusted to
a constant maturity of 10 years.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yong Sun, Department of Housing and
Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 5148, Washington, DC
20410-8000; telephone (202) 402-4778 (this is not a toll-free number).
Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may access this number
through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 224 of the National Housing Act (12
U.S.C. 1715o) provides that debentures issued under the Act with
respect to an insured loan or mortgage (except for debentures issued
pursuant to section 221(g)(4) of the Act) will bear interest at the
rate in effect on the date the commitment to insure the loan or
mortgage was issued, or the date the loan or mortgage was endorsed (or
initially endorsed if there are two or more endorsements) for
insurance, whichever rate is higher. This provision is implemented in
HUD’s regulations at 24 CFR 203.405, 203.479, 207.259(e)(6), and
220.830. These regulatory provisions state that the applicable rates of
interest will be published twice each year as a notice in the Federal
Register.
    Section 224 further provides that the interest rate on these
debentures will be set from time to time by the Secretary of HUD, with
the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, in an amount not in
excess of the annual interest rate determined by the Secretary of the
Treasury pursuant to a statutory formula based on the average yield of
all outstanding marketable Treasury obligations of maturities of 15 or
more years.
    The Secretary of the Treasury (1) has determined, in accordance
with the provisions of section 224, that the statutory maximum interest
rate for the period beginning January 1, 2014, is 3 5/8 percent; and
(2) has approved the establishment of the debenture interest rate by
the Secretary of HUD at 3 5/8 percent for the 6-month period
beginning January 1, 2014. This interest rate will be the rate borne by
debentures issued with respect to any insured loan or mortgage (except
for debentures issued pursuant to section 221(g)(4)) with insurance
commitment or endorsement date (as applicable) within the first 6
months of 2014.

Please click here to view the notice in its entirety.

About Safeguard 
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders,  and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally. Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.

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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