Safeguard Properties

Flash flooding Causes Water Rescues, Road Closures Across St. Louis Region

Posted on by Ashley Shepherd

Disaster Alert
July 26, 2021

Source: KMOV4

NOTE: This has not yet been declared a FEMA Disaster.

Heavy rains and flash flooding impacted the St. Louis region Tuesday.

At 3:30 a.m., first responders blocked off all lanes of eastbound Interstate 64 near Grand. It reopened just before 7 a.m. Tuesday. On Interstate 55, drivers were diverted off the highway before Potomac. Eastbound Interstate 44 is the third interstate affected. All lanes were closed at Hampton

Just past 6 a.m., the St. Louis Fire Department reported several cars stranded on Interstate 44 near Jefferson Avenue.

Drivers needed to find an alternate route on eastbound Interstate 70 near Natural Bridge and Jennings Station Road. In addition, Interstate 70 was closed in both directions near Mid Rivers Mall in St. Charles.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

Rising Waters Trap People in Eastern KY; One Death Confirmed in Perry County

Posted on by Safeguard

Disaster Alert
July 28, 2021

Source: Lexington Herald Leader

NOTE: This has not yet been declared a FEMA Disaster.

Several people in Southeastern Kentucky reported being trapped inside their homes early Thursday by rising waters as “catastrophic” flash flooding hit the region.

“We are dealing with a catastrophic and historic flash flooding situation in parts of the region,” WYMT anchor Steve Hensley said on Twitter. “I’ve never seen water come off the hill behind my house like this. There are people trapped and homes and roads flooded. A flash flood emergency continues for several counties. I pray nobody has lost their life. I’m afraid the devastation we will see after daybreak will be significant.”

There is flooding reported in several southeastern Kentucky counties, including Breathitt, Floyd, Perry, Knott, Leslie, Pike and Magoffin.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

FEMA Major Disaster Declaration – Alaska Landslide

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 26, 2022

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Alaska to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by a landslide on May 7, 2022.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Kenai Peninsula

 

Alaska Landslide (DR-4661-AK)

Map of Affected Areas

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 Major Disaster Declaration – Nebraska Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 27, 2022

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Nebraska to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storms and straight-line winds on May 12, 2022.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Antelope
  • Boone
  • Burt
  • Cedar
  • Cuming
  • Custer
  • Dixon
  • Garfield
  • Greeley
  • Holt
  • Knox
  • Logan
  • Pierce
  • Polk
  • Sherman
  • Thurston
  • Valley
  • Wayne
  • Wheeler
  • York

 

Nebraska Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds (DR-4662-NE)

Map of Affected Areas

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

Freddie Mac: Mortgage Serious Delinquency Rate Decreased in June

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 26, 2022

Source: Calculated Risk

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in June was 0.76%, down from 0.80% May. Freddie’s rate is down year-over-year from 1.86% in June 2021.

Freddie’s serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.17% in August 2020 during the pandemic.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 27, 2022

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association

Mortgage applications decreased 1.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 22, 2022.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 1.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 2 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 4 percent from the previous week and was 83 percent lower than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 0.4 percent compared with the previous week and was 18 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ginnie Mae Solicits Feedback on Enhancements to the Title I Manufactured Housing Program

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 27, 2022

Source: Ginnie Mae

Ginnie Mae, in coordination with the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), published a Request for Input (RFI) on enhancements to the Title I Manufactured Home Loan Program. The RFI follows publication earlier this year of the Biden-Harris “Housing Supply Action Plan” and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic ​Plan, each of which identifies manufactured housing as an important means of increasing the supply of affordable housing.

The RFI seeks input on how both the FHA Title I manufactured housing program and the Ginnie Mae securitization program that supports it can be made more competitive, and references specific program features such as loan limits or lender eligibility requirements. It also seeks commentary on how proposed changes would improve the financing market for manufactured housing.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Knight’s First Look: Mortgage Delinquencies and Foreclosure Starts Edge Higher in June

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 25, 2022

Source: Cision PR Newswire

Black Knight, Inc. reports the following “first look” at June 2022 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing the majority of the national mortgage market.

Total U.S. loan delinquency rate (loans 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure): 2.84%

Month-over-month change: 3.31%

Year-over-year change: -35.10%

Total U.S. foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: 0.36%

Month-over-month change: 8.73%

Year-over-year change: 30.05%

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEMA Emergency Declaration – Virgin Islands Water Shortage and Health Impact From Unprecedented Sargassum Seagrass Influx

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 25, 2022

FEMA has issued an Emergency Declaration for the U.S. Virgin Islands to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by a water shortage and health impact from unprecedented sargassum seagrass influx on July 15, 2022 and continuing.  The following islands/counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • St. Croix

 

Virgin Islands Water Shortage and Health Impact from Unprecedented Sargassum Seagrass Influx (EM-3581-VI)

Map of Affected Area

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 – California Oak Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 23, 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 Oak Fire on July 22, 2022 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Mariposa

 

California Oak Fire (FM-5445-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

Cookies enable us to provide the best experience possible and help us understand how visitors use our website. By browsing our website, you agree to our use of cookies.

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