Safeguard Properties

FHFA Releases 1st Quarter 2022 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
June 28, 2022

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its first quarter 2022 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report​. The report shows that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) completed 129,779 foreclosure prevention actions during the quarter, raising the total number of homeowners who have been helped to 6,494,057 since the start of conservatorships in September 2008.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increased Foreclosure Activity in First Six Months of 2022 Approaches Pre-Covid Levels

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 14, 2022

Source: ATTOM

ATTOM, a leading curator of real estate data nationwide for land and property data, today released its Midyear 2022 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 164,581 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — in the first six months of 2022. That figure is up 153 percent from the same time period a year ago but down just one percent from the same time period two years ago.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vinay Singh Sworn In as HUD Chief Financial Officer

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 5, 2022

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Vinay Singh has been sworn in as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Chief Financial Officer.

HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman issued the oath of office to Chief Financial Officer (CFO)Vinay Singh during a ceremony at HUD’s headquarters. CFO Singh was confirmed by the Senate on June 22, 2022.

“I’m pleased to have Vinay Singh join the HUD team as Chief Financial Officer,” said Deputy Secretary Todman. “The Office of the Chief Financial Officer plays a critical role in carrying out HUD’s mission, and, with his vast experience, Vinay will be integral to our success.”

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEMA Major Disaster Declaration – Minnesota Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 8, 2022

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Minnesota to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by a severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding on May 8-13, 2022.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Aitkin
  • Big Stone
  • Cass
  • Chippewa
  • Cottonwood
  • Douglas
  • Grant
  • Kandiyohi
  • Lac qui Parle
  • Lincoln
  • Morrison
  • Nobles
  • Pope
  • Redwood
  • Renville
  • Stearns
  • Stevens
  • Swift
  • Todd
  • Traverse
  • Wadena
  • Wilkin
  • Yellow Medicine

 

Minnesota Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4658-MN)

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 Fire Management Assistance Declaration – Texas Hard Castle Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 7, 2022

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of Texas to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Hard Castle Fire on July 7, 2022 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Bosque

 

Texas Hard Castle Fire (FM-5443-TX)

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 – Alaska Clear Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
June 26, 2022

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of Alaska to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Clear Fire on June 21, 2022 and continuing.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Denali
  • Yukon-Koyukuk

 

Alaska Clear Fire (FM-5442-AK)

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 – Oklahoma Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
June 29, 2022

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Oklahoma to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by a severe storms, tornadoes and flooding on May 2-8, 2022.  The following counties have been approved for assistance:

individual Assistance:

  • Adair
  • Cherokee
  • Muskogee
  • Okmulgee
  • Pottawatomie
  • Seminole
  • Tulsa

 

Oklahoma Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4657-OK)

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

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 – South Dakota Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
June 29, 2022

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

Public Assistance:

  • Aurora
  • Beadle
  • Bon Homme
  • Brookings
  • Clay
  • Codington
  • Day
  • Deuel
  • Flandreau Indian Reservation
  • Grant
  • Hamlin
  • Hanson
  • Hutchinson
  • Kingsbury
  • Lake
  • Lake Traverse (Sisseton) Indian Reservation
  • McCook
  • Miner
  • Minnehaha
  • Moody
  • Roberts
  • Turner

 

South Dakota Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4656-SD)

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

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

New FHA Head Details Plans for More Affordable Housing and Foreclosure Prevention

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
June 28, 2022

Source: Forbes

Newly elected Federal Housing Administration (FHA) commissioner Julia Gordon is on a mission to help people access and retain affordable housing. But record-high home prices, extremely low inventory, high demand and rising mortgage rates have created a Herculean task.

“We want to provide alternatives to plain, vanilla single-family housing,” says Gordon, in an exclusive interview with Forbes Advisor after being sworn in as FHA Commissioner and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) last month. “Right now, single-family housing is upward of $400,000, which is well out of reach for most households.”

The median home sales price in the U.S. jumped nearly 16% to $428,700 in the first quarter, or $58,900 more than just a year ago, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve. And with 30-year mortgage rates rising to 5.81% in mid-June from 3.22% at the start of the year, even the middle class is getting priced out of the market.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCC Reports Improvement in Overall Mortgage Performance

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
June 27, 2022

Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported that the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system improved during the first quarter of 2022.

The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, First Quarter 2022 showed that 96.9 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, compared to 94.2 percent a year earlier.

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