FHFA Releases 2nd Quarter 2024 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report

Industry Update
September 24, 2024

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released its second quarter 2024 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report. The report shows that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) completed 46,378 foreclosure prevention actions during the quarter, raising the total number of homeowners who have been helped to 7,004,262 since the start of conservatorships in September 2008.

The report also shows that 32 percent of loan modifications completed in the second quarter reduced borrowers’ monthly payments by more than 20 percent. The number of refinances increased from 69,877 in the first quarter of 2024 to 89,571 in the second quarter of 2024.

The Enterprises’ serious delinquency rate declined slightly from 0.51 percent at the end of the first quarter to 0.49 percent at the end of the second quarter. This compares with 3.17 percent for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, 2.07 percent for Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, and 1.43 percent for all loans (industry average).

Other highlights from the report include:

Forbearance: At the end of the quarter, there were 31,827 loans in forbearance, representing approximately 0.10 percent of the Enterprises’ single-family conventional book of business, down from 34,348 or 0.11 percent at the end of the first quarter of 2024. Approximately 1 percent of these loans have been on a forbearance plan for more than 12 months.

Mortgage Performance: The 60+ day delinquency rate remained unchanged at 0.70 percent at the end of the second quarter of 2024 compared to the end of the first quarter of 2024.

Foreclosures: The number of foreclosure starts fell 7.0 percent to 17,339 while third-party and foreclosure sales declined 7.4 percent to 2,944 in the second quarter.

Real Estate Owned (REO) Activity & Inventory: The Enterprises’ REO inventory decreased 9.2 percent from 10,404 in the first quarter of 2024 to 9,450 in the second quarter of 2024, as property dispositions outpaced acquisitions. The total number of property acquisitions decreased 14.2 percent to 1,200, while dispositions rose to 2,105 during the quarter.

FHFA’s quarterly foreclosure prevention and refinance reports include data on the Enterprises’ mortgage performance, delinquencies, and active forbearance plans, as well as forfeiture actions and refinances by state. The data included in these reports are also available on FHFA’s website as an interactive Borrower Assistance Map.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

First Look at August 2024 Mortgage Data

Industry Update
September 25, 2024

Source: ICE Mortgage Technology

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), a leading global provider of technology and data, reports the following “first look” at August 2024 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing the majority of the national mortgage market.

The national delinquency rate fell 3 basis points (bps) to 3.34% in August, dropping 0.9% for the month but up 5.1% from last year.

The number of borrowers a single payment past due dropped by -26K, while 60-day delinquencies rose marginally by 1K.

Serious delinquencies (loans 90+ days past due but not in active foreclosure) rose 14K (+3.3%) to a six-month high, but remain historically low.

Foreclosure starts fell by 9% from the month prior and remain 32% below their 2019 levels.

Active foreclosure inventory also improved in the month, with the share of mortgages in foreclosure hitting the second-lowest level on record outside of the COVID-19 moratorium.

5.6K foreclosure sales were completed nationally in August – a +2.6% month-over-month increase, yet down -18.1% from last year and 58% below 2019 levels.

Prepayment activity (SMM) rose to 0.62% – a level not seen in two years (August 2022) – on easing rates, rising by 4.7% from July and 18.0% from last year.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Increases to .31% in August

Industry Update
September 23, 2024

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) monthly Loan Monitoring Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance increased to 0.31% as of August 31, 2024. According to MBA’s estimate, 155,000 homeowners are in forbearance plans. Mortgage servicers have provided forbearance to approximately 8.2 million borrowers since March 2020.

The share of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans in forbearance increased 1 basis point to 0.13% in August 2024. Ginnie Mae loans in forbearance increased by 10 basis points to 0.66%, and the forbearance share for portfolio loans and private-label securities (PLS) increased 2 basis points to 0.35%.

“For the third consecutive month, the percentage of loans in forbearance increased across all loan types,” said Marina Walsh, CMB, MBA’s Vice President of Industry Analysis. “By investor type, Ginnie Mae loans in forbearance have increased the most – up 27 basis points since May 2024.”

Added Walsh, “Forbearance levels are much lower than they were during the first two years of the pandemic. However, a weakening in the performance of servicing portfolios and an increase in forbearance requests are both likely given the softening observed in the labor market.”

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

FEMA Emergency Management Declaration – North Carolina Hurricane Helene

FEMA Alert
September 26, 2024  

FEMA has issued an Emergency Management Declaration for areas of North Carolina to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Helene beginning September 25, 2024 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Alamance
  • Alexander
  • Alleghany
  • Anson
  • Ashe
  • Avery
  • Beaufort
  • Bertie
  • Bladen
  • Brunswick
  • Buncombe
  • Burke
  • Cabarrus
  • Caldwell
  • Camden
  • Carteret
  • Caswell
  • Catawba
  • Chatham
  • Cherokee
  • Chowan
  • Clay
  • Cleveland
  • Columbus
  • Craven
  • Cumberland
  • Currituck
  • Dare
  • Davidson
  • Davie
  • Duplin
  • Durham
  • Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina
  • Edgecombe
  • Forsyth
  • Franklin
  • Gaston
  • Gates
  • Graham
  • Granville
  • Greene
  • Guilford
  • Halifax
  • Harnett
  • Haywood
  • Henderson
  • Hertford
  • Hoke
  • Hyde
  • Iredell
  • Jackson
  • Johnston
  • Jones
  • Lee
  • Lenoir
  • Lincoln
  • Macon
  • Madison
  • Martin
  • McDowell
  • Mecklenburg
  • Mitchell
  • Montgomery
  • Moore
  • Nash
  • New Hanover
  • Northampton
  • Onslow
  • Orange
  • Pamlico
  • Pasquotank
  • Pender
  • Perquimans
  • Person
  • Pitt
  • Polk
  • Randolph
  • Richmond
  • Robeson
  • Rockingham
  • Rowan
  • Rutherford
  • Sampson
  • Scotland
  • Stanly
  • Stokes
  • Surry
  • Swain
  • Transylvania
  • Tyrrell
  • Union
  • Vance
  • Wake
  • Warren
  • Washington
  • Watauga
  • Wayne
  • Wilkes
  • Wilson
  • Yadkin
  • Yancey

 

North Carolina Hurricane Helene (EM-3617-NC)

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Emergency Declaration for North Carolina

Map of Affected Areas

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 Emergency Management Declaration – Georgia Hurricane Helene

FEMA Alert
September 26, 2024  

FEMA has issued an Emergency Management Declaration for areas of Georgia to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Helene beginning September 24, 2024 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Appling
  • Atkinson
  • Bacon
  • Baker
  • Baldwin
  • Banks
  • Barrow
  • Bartow
  • Ben Hill
  • Berrien
  • Bibb
  • Bleckley
  • Brantley
  • Brooks
  • Bryan
  • Bulloch
  • Burke
  • Butts
  • Calhoun
  • Camden
  • Candler
  • Carroll
  • Catoosa
  • Charlton
  • Chatham
  • Chattahoochee
  • Chattooga
  • Cherokee
  • Clarke
  • Clay
  • Clayton
  • Clinch
  • Cobb
  • Coffee
  • Colquitt
  • Columbia
  • Cook
  • Coweta
  • Crawford
  • Crisp
  • Dade
  • Dawson
  • DeKalb
  • Decatur
  • Dodge
  • Dooly
  • Dougherty
  • Douglas
  • Early
  • Echols
  • Effingham
  • Elbert
  • Emanuel
  • Evans
  • Fannin
  • Fayette
  • Floyd
  • Forsyth
  • Franklin
  • Fulton
  • Gilmer
  • Glascock
  • Glynn
  • Gordon
  • Grady
  • Greene
  • Gwinnett
  • Habersham
  • Hall
  • Hancock
  • Haralson
  • Harris
  • Hart
  • Heard
  • Henry
  • Houston
  • Irwin
  • Jackson
  • Jasper
  • Jeff Davis
  • Jefferson
  • Jenkins
  • Johnson
  • Jones
  • Lamar
  • Lanier
  • Laurens
  • Lee
  • Liberty
  • Lincoln
  • Long
  • Lowndes
  • Lumpkin
  • Macon
  • Madison
  • Marion
  • McDuffie
  • McIntosh
  • Meriwether
  • Miller
  • Mitchell
  • Monroe
  • Montgomery
  • Morgan
  • Murray
  • Muscogee
  • Newton
  • Oconee
  • Oglethorpe
  • Paulding
  • Peach
  • Pickens
  • Pierce
  • Pike
  • Polk
  • Pulaski
  • Putnam
  • Quitman
  • Rabun
  • Randolph
  • Richmond
  • Rockdale
  • Schley
  • Screven
  • Seminole
  • Spalding
  • Stephens
  • Stewart
  • Sumter
  • Talbot
  • Taliaferro
  • Tattnall
  • Taylor
  • Telfair
  • Terrell
  • Thomas
  • Tift
  • Toombs
  • Towns
  • Treutlen
  • Troup
  • Turner
  • Twiggs
  • Union
  • Upson
  • Walker
  • Walton
  • Ware
  • Warren
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • Webster
  • Wheeler
  • White
  • Whitfield
  • Wilcox
  • Wilkes
  • Wilkinson
  • Worth

 

Georgia Hurricane Helene (EM-3616-GA)

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Emergency Declaration for Georgia

Map of Affected Areas

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 Emergency Management Declaration – Alabama Hurricane Helene

FEMA Alert
September 26, 2024  

FEMA has issued an Emergency Management Declaration for areas of Alabama to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Helene beginning September 22, 2024 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Autauga
  • Baldwin
  • Barbour
  • Bibb
  • Blount
  • Bullock
  • Butler
  • Calhoun
  • Chambers
  • Cherokee
  • Chilton
  • Choctaw
  • Clarke
  • Clay
  • Cleburne
  • Coffee
  • Colbert
  • Conecuh
  • Coosa
  • Covington
  • Crenshaw
  • Cullman
  • Dale
  • Dallas
  • DeKalb
  • Elmore
  • Escambia
  • Etowah
  • Fayette
  • Franklin
  • Geneva
  • Greene
  • Hale
  • Henry
  • Houston
  • Jackson
  • Jefferson
  • Lamar
  • Lauderdale
  • Lawrence
  • Lee
  • Limestone
  • Lowndes
  • Macon
  • Madison
  • Marengo
  • Marion
  • Marshall
  • Mobile
  • Monroe
  • Montgomery
  • Morgan
  • Perry
  • Pickens
  • Pike
  • Randolph
  • Russell
  • Shelby
  • St. Clair
  • Sumter
  • Talladega
  • Tallapoosa
  • Tuscaloosa
  • Walker
  • Washington
  • Wilcox
  • Winston

 

Alabama Hurricane Helene (EM-3618-AL)

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Emergency Declaration for Alabama

Map of Affected Areas

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 – Vermont Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

FEMA Alert
September 26, 2024  

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Vermont to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides from July 29-31, 2024.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Individual Assistance:

  • Caledonia
  • Essex
  • Orleans

Public Assistance:

  • Caledonia
  • Essex
  • Orleans

 

Vermont Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4826-VT)

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Vermont

Map of Affected Area

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 Emergency Management Declaration – South Carolina Hurricane Helene

FEMA Alert
September 26, 2024  

FEMA has issued an Emergency Management Declaration for areas of South Carolina to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Helene beginning September 25, 2024 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Abbeville
  • Aiken
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Bamberg
  • Barnwell
  • Beaufort
  • Berkeley
  • Calhoun
  • Charleston
  • Cherokee
  • Chester
  • Chesterfield
  • Clarendon
  • Colleton
  • Darlington
  • Dillon
  • Dorchester
  • Edgefield
  • Fairfield
  • Florence
  • Georgetown
  • Greenville
  • Greenwood
  • Hampton
  • Horry
  • Jasper
  • Kershaw
  • Lancaster
  • Laurens
  • Lee
  • Lexington
  • Marion
  • Marlboro
  • McCormick
  • Newberry
  • Oconee
  • Orangeburg
  • Pickens
  • richland
  • Saluda
  • Spartanburg
  • Sumter
  • Union
  • Williamsburg
  • York

 

South Carolina Hurricane Helene (EM-3619-SC)

Map of Affected Areas

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 – New York Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby

FEMA Alert
September 24, 2024  

***Last Update: 11/18/24***

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of New York to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in areas affected by remnants of Tropical Storm Debby from August 8-10, 2024.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Allegany
  • Broome
  • Chenango
  • Delaware
  • Essex
  • Franklin
  • Jefferson
  • Ontario
  • St. Lawrence
  • Steuben
  • Yates

 

New York Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby (DR-4825-NY)

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for New York

Map of Affected Areas

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 – Georgia Tropical Storm Debby

FEMA Alert
September 24, 2024  

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Georgia to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in areas affected by Tropical Storm Debby from August 4-20, 2024.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Individual Assistance:

  • Bryan
  • Bulloch
  • Chatham
  • Effingham
  • Evans
  • Liberty
  • Long
  • Screven

Public Assistance:

  • Appling
  • Atkinson
  • Bacon
  • Berrien
  • Brantley
  • Brooks
  • Bryan
  • Bulloch
  • Burke
  • Camden
  • Candler
  • Charlton
  • Chatham
  • Clinch
  • Coffee
  • Colquitt
  • Cook
  • Echols
  • Effingham
  • Evans
  • Jeff Davis
  • Jenkins
  • Lanier
  • Long
  • Lowndes
  • McIntosh
  • Pierce
  • Screven
  • Tattnall
  • Thomas
  • Tift
  • Toombs
  • Ware
  • Wayne

 

Georgia Tropical Storm Debby (DR-4821-GA)

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Georgia

Map of Affected Areas

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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

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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