Safeguard Properties

Safeguard Executives Featured in Panel Discussions at Five Star Conference

Posted on by Safeguard

Safeguard in the News
September 19-21, 2021

Source: Five Star Institute

Members of the Safeguard executive team were featured as experts in multiple panel discussions at the 2021 Five Star Conference and Expo this past September.  The event held in Dallas, Texas focused on the mortgage industry’s most pressing topics, providing insight into property management, services, and compliance within the industry.

Safeguard CFO Joe Iafigliola participated on a panel titled Lessons Learned: Adapting Business Practices and Finding a Way Forward.  He provided detail into how the COVID-19 health crisis has affected the property preservation industry, and shared insight into recent innovations that will help to move the industry forward.

Elizabeth Squires, Director of Client Account Management spoke on the challenge of keeping up-to-date on the complex network of federal, state and local regulations that directly impact the mortgage field service industry.  Elizabeth was featured on the panel Rules and Regulations: A State-by-State Update.

Steve Meyer, AVP of High Risk and Investor Compliance shared his thoughts on key concerns for both servicers and vendors as the industry waits for the backlog of foreclosures to start moving again.  He also touched on the responsibility of maintaining these properties as they wait for foreclosure to take place during the panel titled Nobody Home: Property Management for an Industry on Pause.

Safeguard Properties is also a Star Sponsor of the Five Star Conference and Expo.

FEMA Declared Disaster California Alisal Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
October 13, 2021

FEMA issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for areas in California affected by the Alisal Fire that started October 12, 2021 and continues. The following county has been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance
  • Santa Barbara

California Alisal Fire

 

 

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

Mortgage Delinquency Stats Revealed in Latest CoreLogic Report

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 13, 2021

Source: mpamag.com

Mortgage delinquency rates in the US dropped 2.3% year over year in July, according to CoreLogic’s latest Loan Performance Insights Report.

Data showed that the share of mortgages in some stage of delinquency was down to 4.2% in July – the lowest rate since March 2020.

For full report, please click the source link above. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q3 2021 U.S. Foreclosure Activity Begins to See Significant Increases as Foreclosure Moratorium is Lifted

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 13, 2021

Source: blackhillsfox.com

ATTOM, licensor of the nation’s most comprehensive foreclosure data and parent company to RealtyTrac, the largest online marketplace for foreclosure and distressed properties, released its Q3 2021 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 45,517 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — up 34 percent from the previous quarter and 68 percent from a year ago.

The report also shows there were a total of 19,609 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings in September 2021, up 24 percent from the previous month and up 102 percent from September 2020.

For full report, please click the source link above. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Davis: 472 Properties in Danger of Foreclosure

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 12, 2021

Source: PressRepublican.com

The Clinton County Treasurer’s Office has filed the combined notice and petition of foreclosure, giving official notice to those who have not paid their property taxes for 2020 or prior years.

At the Clinton County Legislature’s Finance Committee meeting last week, County Treasurer Kimberly Davis explained that those being notified include not only the delinquent taxpayers, but also anyone considered an interested party, such as someone who has a mortgage or lien against a property.

Letters to people who fall into both groups were mailed out last week.

For full report, please click the source link above. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New HUD Rule Aims to Prevent Public Housing Evictions

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 11, 2021

Source: FloridaRealtors.org

The Biden administration is trying to prevent evictions from public housing for nonpayment of rent, seeking to shore up protections following the end of the nationwide eviction moratorium.

Under a new rule from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), tenants in HUD-subsidized public housing cannot be evicted for nonpayment without providing them 30 days’ notice and providing information about available federal emergency rental assistance. The rule was scheduled to be published Thursday in the Federal Register.

For full report, please click the source link above. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over Half of Delinquent Homeowners have Missed Six Payments

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 12, 2021

Source: Mortgage News Daily

While one million homeowners have not made a mortgage payment in 12 months, CoreLogic says about half of the nation’s delinquencies are borrowers who are six months or more past due. Many of these are still leaning on options such as forbearance, loan modifications and other government provisions to keep from entering foreclosure.

For full report, please click the source link above. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albany City Commission Considers Vacant Property Registry

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 05, 2021

Source: Albany Herald

Under the vacant property registration proposal presented to commissioners during a Tuesday work session, owners of vacant structures and foreclosed properties would pay a $100 registration fee.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As 1.2 Million Mortgage Holders Exit Forbearance, Unexpected Hurdles

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 08, 2021

Source: Bankrate.com

In the 18 months since the CARES Act first passed, over a million American homeowners took advantage of the forbearance protections the law provided for.

After a few extensions, the mortgage payment pause officially ended — or will be ending soon — for 1.2 million out of an estimated 1.7 million loans that remained in forbearance as of August, according to CoreLogic.

While experts say market conditions should prevent a wave of foreclosures, some borrowers are still struggling to get back on track.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Knight: Number of Homeowners in COVID-19- Related Forbearance Plans “Largest Weekly Decline in 12 Months”

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
October 08, 2021

Source: Calculated Risk

According to McDash Flash daily forbearance tracking dataset, the population dropped by 11% since last Tuesday, marking the largest weekly decline in 12 months.

The number of active forbearance plans fell by 177,000 this week with declines seen across all investor classes, led by an 84,000 plan drop among FHA/VA loans. Plans among GSE loans and those held in bank portfolios and private label securities also fell, seeing 50,000 (-11%) and 43,000 (-8%) declines respectively.

As of October 5, 1.39 million mortgage holders remain in COVID-19 related forbearance plans, representing 2.6% of all active mortgages, including 1.4% of GSE, 4.3% of FHA/VA and 3.6% of portfolio held and privately securitized loans.

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