FEMA Alert
March 17, 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 wildfires on March 17, 2022. The following counties have been approved for assistance:
Public Assistance:
Additional Resources
FEMA’s web site
FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process
Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts
VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters
FEMA Alert
March 15, 2022
FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Maine to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storm and flooding from October 30-31, 2021. The following counties have been approved for assistance:
Public Assistance:
Maine Severe Storm and Flooding (DR-4647-ME)
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Maine
Additional Resources
FEMA’s web site
FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process
Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts
VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters
Industry Update
March 14, 2022
Source: whas11.com
Louisville faces an ongoing housing crisis, including hundreds of abandoned properties in need of repair and renovation.
Laura Grabowski, Director of the city’s Office of Housing and Community Development, said a new state law took effect in January and gave them a new tool to rehab properties.
“Conservatorship is essentially for houses what guardianship is for people,” she said.
For full report, please click the source link above.
Industry Update
March 10, 2022
Source: alstonconsumerfinance.com
On February 24, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Assembly Bill 8771 (2022 N.Y. Laws 48), amending single point of contact requirements for certain delinquent borrowers.
For full report, please click the source link above.
Industry Update
March 11, 2022
Source: mpamag.com
The Senate has passed a $1.5 trillion spending bill that provides funding for all federal agencies, including the Treasury and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The FY2022 omnibus bill, which is now cleared to be signed into law by President Joe Biden, also provides $13.6 billion to address the crisis in Ukraine, according to the House Appropriations Committee.
For HUD funding, the omnibus provides $65.7 billion, a sequential $5.34 billion increase from a year ago. However, it is $3 billion less than the FY2022 request, $2.74 billion less than the FY2022 House THUD bill, and $304 million more than the Senate draft FY 2021 THUD bill, according to accounting services organization Novogradac.
For full report, please click the source link above.
FEMA Alert
March 14, 2022
FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Alaska to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm and straight-line winds from January 1-4, 2022. The following counties have been approved for assistance:
Public Assistance:
Alaska Severe Winter Storm and Straight-line Winds (DR-4646-AK)
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Alaska
Additional Resources
FEMA’s web site
FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process
Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts
VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters
FEMA Alert
March 11, 2022
FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Tennessee to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm on February 3-4, 2022. The following counties have been approved for assistance:
Public Assistance:
Tennessee Severe Winter Storm (DR-4645-TN)
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Tennessee
Additional Resources
FEMA’s web site
FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process
Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts
VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters
FEMA Alert
March 11, 2022
FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Virginia to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm from January 2-3, 2022. The following counties have been approved for assistance:
Public Assistance:
Virginia Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (DR-4644-VA)
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia
Additional Resources
FEMA’s web site
FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process
Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts
VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters
Industry Update
March 10, 2022
Source: Cision PR Newswire
ATTOM, licensor of the nation’s most comprehensive foreclosure data and parent company to RealtyTrac, the largest online marketplace for foreclosure and distressed properties, today released its February 2022 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 25,833 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — up 11 percent from a month ago and 129 percent from a year ago.
For full report, please click the source link above.
Industry Update
March 10, 2022
Source: Washington Post
After two weeks of declines, mortgage rates resumed their upward march this week.
According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average increased to 3.85 percent with an average 0.8 point. (A point is a fee paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. It is in addition to the interest rate.) It was 3.76 percent a week ago and 3.05 percent a year ago.
For full report, please click the source link above.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Business Development
Carrie Tackett
Business Development Safeguard Properties
