Safeguard Properties

Thousands Could Soon Lose – or Sell – Their Homes as Covid Mortgage Bailouts Expire

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
December 2, 2021

Source: CNBC

Hundreds of thousands of homeowners could soon lose or sell their homes as Covid-related mortgage bailout programs expire.

The federal government, big banks and mortgage servicers started emergency programs when the pandemic hit early last year, shutting down vast swaths of the economy. The bailouts allowed millions of homeowners to miss payments, some for up to 18 months.

“We’re in the midst of the largest transition out of forbearance we’re likely to see, with three-quarters of a million homeowners leaving plans over the past 60 days,” said Andy Walden, vice president of market research for Black Knight.

The programs were largely successful.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Knight: Number of Mortgages in Forbearance “Drops Below the Million Mark”

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
December 3, 2021

Source: Calculated Risk

Daily tracking data through December 1 shows the number of active forbearance plan totals dropping below 1 million for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

According to our McDash Flash daily forbearance tracking dataset, the number of active forbearance plans fell by 23,000 (-2.3%) this week, led by a 14,000 (-3.9%) drop in FHA/VA loans. Both GSE (-7K/-2%) and PLS/portfolio (-2K/-.6%) plan volumes also improved.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage Lending Declines at Unusually Fast Pace Across U.S. During Third Quarter of 2021

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
December 2, 2021

Source: Cision PR Newswire

ATTOM, curator of the nation’s premier property database, today released its third-quarter 2021 U.S. Residential Property Mortgage Origination Report.  The report shows that 3.59 million mortgages secured by residential property (1 to 4 units) were originated in the third quarter of 2021 in the United States. That figure was up 3 percent from the third quarter of 2020, but down 8 percent from the second quarter of 2021 – the largest quarterly dip in over a year

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 FHA Loan Limits: Floor Rises to $420,680; Ceiling to $970,800

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
December 1, 2021

Source: www.thetruthaboutmortgage.com

Similar to the FHFA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces maximum loan limits each year for FHA loans.

Today, they unveiled the 2022 FHA loan limits, which like the 2022 conforming loan limits, will be significantly higher than the limits in effect this year.

This is thanks to continued home price appreciation, and the fact that the calculation of the FHA loan limits is driven by the conforming loan limit itself.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freddie Mac Addresses Cryptocurrency in the Mortgage Qualification Process

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
December 1, 2021

Source: LexBlog

In Bulletin 2021-36 Freddie Mac addresses cryptocurrency in the mortgage qualification process. Freddie Mac indicated that it is providing guidance “due to the high level of uncertainty associated with cryptocurrency.”

Freddie Mac advises that the Seller/Servicer Guide is updated to include the following guidance:

  • Income paid to the borrower in cryptocurrency may not be used to qualify for the mortgage.
  • For income types that require evidence of sufficient remaining assets to establish likely continuance (e.g., retirement account distributions, trust income and dividend and interest income, etc.), those assets may not be in the form of cryptocurrency.
  • Cryptocurrency may not be included in the calculation of assets as a basis for repayment of obligations.
  • Monthly payments on debts secured by cryptocurrency must be included in the borrower’s debt payment-to-income ratio and are not subject to the guide provisions regarding installment debts secured by financial assets.
  • Cryptocurrency must be exchanged for U.S. dollars if it will be needed for the mortgage transaction (i.e., any funds required to be paid by the borrower and borrower reserves).

Freddie Mac notes that it “will continue to monitor cryptocurrency developments and may update these requirements as appropriate in the future.”

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage Giant Fannie Mae Promotes Controller to Finance Chief

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
December 1, 2021

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored enterprise that guarantees mortgage loans, has promoted Chryssa Halley, from controller to chief financial officer.

Ms. Halley’s appointment took effect Monday, Fannie Mae said in a press release on Wednesday. She joined the government-sponsored enterprise in 2006 and has held several senior-level roles with it since then.

Ms. Halley succeeds Celeste Brown, who left in May after about three years as Fannie Mae’s finance chief to become CFO of New York-based financial company Evercore Inc. David Benson, Fannie Mae’s president, served as interim CFO before Ms. Halley’s appointment.

“Chryssa is an inspirational leader with deep knowledge of Fannie Mae’s finance operations gained over many years,” Hugh Frater, Fannie Mae’s chief executive, said in a press release.

Fannie Mae declined to make Ms. Halley available for an interview.

Jim Holmberg succeeded Ms. Halley as controller. He joined Fannie Mae in 2009 and has served as its vice president of finance accounting.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sky High Home Prices Push Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Back Loans of Nearly $1 Million

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
November 30, 2021

Source: CNN

Home prices across the US have seen stratospheric increases within the past year as demand for homes spiked and inventory tanked.

And those higher prices have pushed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to raise the limits of government-backed loans to a record level for 2022, with the maximum loan limit at nearly $1 million for high-cost areas.

Third quarter home prices increased 18.5% from a year ago, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s House Price Index, released Tuesday, marking the largest annual home price increase in the history of the index.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fannie Mae: Mortgage Serious Delinquency Rate Decreased in October

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
November 30, 2021

Source: Calculated Risk

Fannie Mae reported that the Single-Family Serious Delinquency decreased to 1.46% in October, from 1.62% in September. The serious delinquency rate is down from 3.05% in October 2020.

These are mortgage loans that are “three monthly payments or more past due or in foreclosure”.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Knight’s First Look: Mortgage Delinquencies; Foreclosure Activity

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
November 22, 2021

Source: Cision PR Newswire

Black Knight, Inc. reports the following “first look” at October 2021 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): 3.74% 
Month-over-month change: -4.25% 
Year-over-year change: -41.90%

Total U.S. foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: 0.26% 
Month-over-month change: 2.16% 
Year-over-year change: -22.03%

Total U.S. foreclosure starts: 4,000           
Month-over-month change:  2.56% 
Year-over-year change: -14.89%

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The State Where the Most People are Behind on their Mortgage

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
November 28, 2021

Source: 24/7 Wall St.

The American housing market is in the midst of a period of extraordinary price increases, driven by historically high demand. The carefully followed S&P Corelogic Case-Shiller Index shows that in August home prices rose 19.8% nationwide compared to the same month a year ago. Among the 20 cities the report tracks, the city with the largest jump was Phoenix at 33.3%.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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