Safeguard Properties

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – Washington Bolt Creek Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
September 10, 2022

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of Washington to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Bolt Creek Fire on September 10, 2022 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • King
  • Snohomish

 

Washington Bolt Creek Fire (FM-5455-WA)

Zip Codes of Affected Areas

 

Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process

Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts

HUD Moratorium on Foreclosure

VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters

Freddie Mac Disaster Relief Policies

Fannie Mae’s Natural Disaster Relief Policies

Bipartisan Bill Would Expand Land Banks, Increase Economic Development

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
September 8, 2022

Source:  dankildee.house.gov

Congressman Dan Kildee, Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, and Congressman Drew Ferguson (GA-03), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Republican Conference, today introduced bipartisan legislation to help strengthen neighborhoods, reduce crime and clean up blighted properties by expanding resources for land banks in communities across America.

Land banks are powerful tools to address blighted, vacant and abandoned properties and bring greater economic investment to communities. The National Land Bank Network Act would create a national network to provide resources, technical assistance and grants to help land banks nationwide implement best practices. This network would also help communities create their own land banks.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Council Working with Code Enforcement to Fight the Blight Faster in New Orleans Neighborhoods

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
September 8, 2022

Source:  wgno.com

17 years after Hurricane Katrina and abandoned properties continue to be an issue throughout New Orleans. Now the City Council is planning to fight the blight by strengthening code enforcement regulations.

“We had a win yesterday on Laurel Street. A property that had been sitting blighted for 17 years was demolished,” Councilmember for District B Lesli Harris said.

This week neighbors in the Irish Channel felt victorious when this blighted home on Laurel Street got demolished, but at a “Quality of Life” meeting Councilmembers say more work needs to be done to fight the blight and beef up Code Enforcement regulations to speed up the process.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land Bank has Demolished 8,000 Properties in Flint Over the Past 18 Years

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
September 7, 2022

Source:  nbc25news.com

Blight continues to be an issue that residents and officials in Flint are concerned about.

The Genesee County Land Bank says that since 2004, approximately 8,000 properties have been demolished in the City of Flint alone, but there is still work to be done.

According to the Beyond Blight 2022 Partnership between the City and the Genesee County Land Bank, there are nearly 8,500 residential properties that are vacant and/or blighted.

This is one-quarter of all residential properties in the city.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expanded Dallas Crime Crusade Against Blight

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
September 6, 2022

Source:  nbcdfw.com

A new Dallas crusade against overgrown vacant lots, abandoned buildings and blight launched Tuesday in the Mill City neighborhood near Dallas Fair Park.

It was fueled with donations to Mayor Eric Johnson’s Safer Communities Fund and with tax money from neighborhood Councilman Adam Bazaldua.

The show of support from Dallas City Hall in a meeting at the Juanita Craft Recreation Center on Spring Avenue in Mill City Tuesday nearly brought one neighborhood leader to tears.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – California Mosquito Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
September 9, 2022

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of California to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Mosquito Fire on September 9, 2022 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • El Dorado
  • Placer

 

California Mosquito Fire (FM-5453-CA)

Zip Codes of Affected Areas

 

Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process

Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts

HUD Moratorium on Foreclosure

VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters

Freddie Mac Disaster Relief Policies

Fannie Mae’s Natural Disaster Relief Policies

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – Idaho Ross Fork Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
September 5, 2022

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of Idaho to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Ross Fork Fire on September 5, 2022 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Blaine

 

Idaho Ross Fork Fire (FM-5452-ID)

Zip Codes of Affected Areas

 

Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process

Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts

HUD Moratorium on Foreclosure

VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters

Freddie Mac Disaster Relief Policies

Fannie Mae’s Natural Disaster Relief Policies

Affordable Housing Coalition Releases Scorecard Outlining Improvements to GSE Duty-to-Serve Plans

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
September 7, 2022

Source:  lincolninst.edu

A coalition of 21 leading national affordable housing groups is acknowledging improvements to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Duty to Serve (DTS) Underserved Market Plans for 2022-2024 but calling on the government-sponsored enterprises to go further to reach underserved housing markets.

The Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition (UMMC) released a scorecard to evaluate the enterprises’ newest Duty to Serve plans, which were produced April 27. The Scorecard for the Approved DTS Plans 2022-2024 evaluates the enterprises’ commitment to innovating and developing effective solutions to meet their responsibilities under Duty to Serve, a federal regulation that requires the enterprises to prioritize and improve affordable housing finance opportunities in three historically neglected markets: manufactured housing, affordable housing preservation, and rural housing.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage Rates Maintain their Ascent

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
September 8, 2022

Source:  Freddie Mac

Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.89 percent.

“Mortgage rates rose again as markets continue to manage the prospect of more aggressive monetary policy due to elevated inflation,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Not only are mortgage rates rising but the dispersion of rates has increased, suggesting that borrowers can meaningfully benefit from shopping around for a better rate. Our research indicates that borrowers could save an average of $1,500 over the life of a loan by getting one additional rate quote and an average of about $3,000 if they get five quotes.”

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Foreclosure Starts Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels Nationwide

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
September 8, 2022

Source:  ATTOM

ATTOM, a leading curator of real estate data nationwide for land and property data, today released its August 2022 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 34,501 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — up 14 percent from a month ago and up 118 percent from a year ago.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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