Safeguard Properties

Delinquencies Continue to Decline but Forbearances Still a Concern

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 22, 2021

Source:  Mortgage Daily News

The national delinquency rate has fallen below 4.0 percent for the first time since COVID-19 started messing up the world. Black Knight, in its “first look” at September’s mortgage performance data, says the rate in September, 3.91 percent, represents a reduction of more than 41 percent from September of 2020 and is 2.25 percent below the August level. Delinquencies have moved lower in 14 of the last 17 months.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HUD Issues ANPR on New Non-LIBOR Index Rate for ARMs

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 21, 2021

Source: JDSupra.com

HUD issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking regarding adoption of a new index rate for FHA-insured adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), as the previously-used London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is set to be discontinued.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freddie Mac: Mortgage Serious Delinquency Rate Decreased in September

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 25, 2021

Source: Calculated Risk Finance & Economics

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in September was 1.46%, down from 1.62% in August. Freddie’s rate is down year-over-year from 3.04% in September 2020.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEMA Declared Disaster Delaware Remnants of Hurricane Ida

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
October 24, 2021

FEMA issued a Major Disaster Declaration for areas of Delaware affected by remnants of Hurricane Ida from Sept. 1 – 7, 2021. The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance
  • New Castle

 

Delaware Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4627-DE)

Map of Delaware Designated 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 Declared Disaster Mississippi Hurricane Ida

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
October 22, 2021

FEMA issued a Major Disaster Declaration for areas of Mississippi to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts affected by Hurricane Ida from Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2021. The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Individual Assistance:
  • Amite
  • Hancock
  • Harrison
  • Jackson
  • Pearl River
  • Pike
  • Walthall
  • Wilkinson
Public Assistance:
  • Adams
  • Alcorn
  • Amite
  • Attala
  • Benton
  • Bolivar
  • Calhoun
  • Carroll
  • Chickasaw
  • Choctaw
  • Claiborne
  • Clarke
  • Clay
  • Coahoma
  • Copiah
  • Covington
  • DeSoto
  • Forrest
  • Franklin
  • George
  • Greene
  • Genada
  • Hancock
  • Harrison
  • Hinds
  • Holmes
  • Humphreys
  • Issaquena
  • Itawamba
  • Jackson
  • Jasper
  • Jefferson
  • Jefferson Davis
  • Jones
  • Kemper
  • Lafayette
  • Lamar
  • Lauderdale
  • Lawrence
  • Leake
  • Lee
  • Leflore
  • Lincoln
  • Lowndes
  • Madison
  • Marion
  • Marshall
  • Monroe
  • Montgomery
  • Neshoba
  • Newton
  • Noxubee
  • Oktibbeha
  • Panola
  • Pearl River
  • Perry
  • Pike
  • Pontotoc
  • Prentiss
  • Quitman
  • Rankin
  • Scott
  • Sharkey
  • Simpson
  • Smith
  • Stone
  • Sunflower
  • Tallahatchie
  • Tate
  • Tippah
  • Tishomingo
  • Tunica
  • Union
  • Walthall
  • Warren
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • Webster
  • Wilkinson
  • Winston
  • Yalobusha
  • Yazoo

Mississippi Hurricane Ida (DR-4626-MS)

List of Affected Zip Codes

Map 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

Illinois, New Jersey and Delaware have Most Markets at Elevated Risk from Pandemic Fallout

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 20, 2021

Source: KPVI.com

ATTOM, curator of the nation’s premier property database, today released its third-quarter 2021 Special Coronavirus Report spotlighting county-level housing markets around the United States that are more or less vulnerable to damage from the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic still endangering the U.S. economy.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreclosures See Hard Spike as Federal Protections End

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 20, 2021

Source: RisMedia.com

As expected, the end of federal protections in September has coincided with a significant uptick in foreclosures, as default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions spiked 34% in Q3 of this year according to a new report from ATTOM Data Solutions®, potentially foreshadowing a difficult winter for homeowners still struggling through the pandemic.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Intercontinental Exchange Inc. Indices Track Daily Mortgage Rates

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 19, 2021

Source: Inman.com

Capitalizing on its growing capabilities in mortgage tech, the company behind the New York Stock Exchange is making it easier to track daily fluctuations in mortgage rates and hone in on particular market segments with a new suite of residential mortgage rate indices.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FHFA Announces Changes to Low Income Refi Programs and Appraisal Requirements

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 19, 2021

Source: Mortgage Daily News

Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs) will be expanding their low-income refinance programs to include those making at or below 100 percent of an area’s median income (AMI). The threshold on the programs is currently at 80 percent of AMI.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FHFA Announces Two Measures Advancing Housing Sustainability and Affordability

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 18, 2021

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced two measures to sustainably advance the affordability of homeownership for mortgage borrowers across the nation, especially those in underserved communities.

 

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