Safeguard Properties

Black Knight: “Seriously Delinquent Mortgages Hit Lowest Level Since 2006” in June

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 21, 2023

Source: Calculated Risk

According to Black Knight’s First Look report, the percent of loans delinquent increased 0.55% in June compared to May and decreased 2.8% year-over-year.

Black Knight reported the U.S. mortgage delinquency rate (loans 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure) was 3.12% in June, down from 3.10% the previous month.

The percent of loans in the foreclosure process decreased in June to 0.42%, from 0.43% the previous month.

The number of delinquent properties, but not in foreclosure, is down 24,000 properties year-over-year, and the number of properties in the foreclosure process is down 5,000 properties year-over-year.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – Oregon Golden Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 23, 2023

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of Oregon to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts in areas affected by the Golden Fire beginning July 22, 2023 and continuing.  The following areas have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Klamath

 

Oregon Golden Fire (FM-5471-OR)

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 – Washington Newell Road Fire

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 23, 2023

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of Washington to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts in areas affected by the Newell Road Fire beginning July 21, 2023 and continuing.  The following areas have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Klickitat

 

Washington Newell Road Fire (FM-5470-WA)

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 – New York Severe Storms and Flooding

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 22, 2023

***LAST UPDATED 8/10/23***

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for areas of the state of New York to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from July 9 – July 10, 2023.  The following areas has been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Clinton
  • Dutchess
  • Essex
  • Franklin
  • Hamilton
  • Ontario
  • Orange
  • Putnam
  • Rockland

 

New York Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4723-NY)

Map of Affected Areas

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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 – Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 19, 2023

***LAST UPDATED 9/12/23***

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for areas of the state of Minnesota to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from April 11 – April 30, 2023.  The following areas has been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Aitkin
  • Big Stone
  • Carlton
  • Chippewa
  • Clay
  • Grant
  • Houston
  • Kittson
  • Lac qui Parle
  • Lake of the Woods
  • Mahnomen
  • Marshall
  • Mille Lacs
  • Morrison
  • Norman
  • Pine
  • Pope
  • Prairie Island Community (Indian Reservation)
  • Renville
  • Roseau
  • St. Louis
  • Stevens
  • Swift
  • Traverse
  • Wabasha
  • Wilkin

 

Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4722-MN)

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

Map of Affected Areas

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
July 19, 2023

***LAST UPDATED 9/12/23***

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for areas of the state of Oklahoma to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes from June 14 – June 18, 2023.  The following areas has been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Atoka
  • Beaver
  • Choctaw
  • Cimarron
  • Comanche
  • Cotton
  • Craig
  • Creek
  • Delaware
  • Harper
  • Jefferson
  • Love
  • Major
  • Mayes
  • McCurtain
  • McIntosh
  • Muskogee
  • Pawnee
  • Payne
  • Pushmataha
  • Rogers
  • Stephens
  • Tulsa
  • Wagoner
  • Woodward

 

Oklahoma Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (DR-4721-OK)

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

Map of Affected Area

List of Affected Zip Codes

 

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

Park Forest and South Suburban Land Bank Working to Address Abandoned Homes

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 16, 2023

Source: enewspf.com

To reduce the number of abandoned homes, this year, the Village of Park Forest added 31 houses to the South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority (SSLBDA) inventory. The Land Bank has 33 Park Forest houses and one vacant parcel of land in its inventory. Of the approximately 30 communities associated with the SSLBDA, Park Forest has, by far, the greatest number of Land Bank houses available for purchase.

The goal is to have these abandoned and dilapidated homes restored, occupied, and returned to the village tax rolls.

Village of Park Forest Planner Andrew Brown is hopeful that, by the end of the year, over 50 properties will be back on the tax rolls through this process. “Theoretically, if these houses all had a $5,000 property tax bill, we could be talking about $250,000 in taxes on homes that were not generating any taxes previously. This could help alleviate property tax burdens on other property taxpayers in the community.”

After the village identifies a vacant and dilapidated property, it performs due diligence. The goal here is to determine its potential as a legally declared abandoned home.

The state abandonment criteria have three components:

  • The property is two years in arrears in property taxes and/or water bills;
  • It is unoccupied by the person legally in possession of the property;
  • Or it impairs public health, safety, or welfare.

If the investigation reveals the property meets the criteria, the village works with the SSLBDA legal team to secure the deed.

A recent change in state law allows the court to issue the deed directly to the Land Bank. Before, the court issued the deed first to the village. The new process expedites the sales process. Once secured by the Land Bank, all delinquent property taxes are absolved.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baltimore’s Vacant Home Crisis: Committee Plans on Obtaining Billions to Combat Issue

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 16, 2023

Source: CBS News Baltimore

A new initiative will bring together Baltimore leaders and faith organizations to help combat the city’s vacant home crisis.

WJZ has been covering this issue extensively for years.

The announcement of the partnership was made Sunday in a packed church in East Baltimore.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is partnering with organizations to build a steering committee together with a goal to get $7.5 billion to invest in vacant properties in Baltimore.

Currently, there are more than 14,000 vacant homes in Baltimore.

The crisis hit a major breaking point in January of 2022 when three city firefighters died while battling a fire at a vacant row home on Stricker Street.

“Baltimore, It’s time. In fact, it’s past time for us to come together to tackle this issue,” Mayor Scott said.

Mayor Scott joined The Greater Baltimore Committee, a non-profit focused on improving the region’s business climate, and BUILD, an inter-faith development group.

Together, they pledged to work together to reduce the number of vacant homes in Baltimore City.

“One person can’t do it. One entity can’t do it. One organization can’t do it” said Pastor Brent Brown, from BUILD, which stands for Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development. “One politician can’t do it. It’s going to take community.”

BUILD conducted a study that found it will take a $7.5 billion investment to solve the problem, with $5 billion of that coming from private investors.

Brown said having the faith community a part of this effort is key to getting the job done.

“The power of the church encompasses community,” Brown said. “It encompasses people from all walks of life that are affected in some way, shape, or form by this issue of vacant homes.”

Now that this new partnership has been formed, the group’s next step is to come up with an implementation plan and get lawmakers on board during the next legislative session.

A real estate broker who attended Sunday’s announcement said addressing the vacant home crisis will open many doors for everyone in Baltimore.

“It will allow us as real estate professionals an opportunity to get in front of individuals and show them the best that Baltimore has to offer,” said Hope Mims, from Mims Realty Group.

The group hopes to have their implementation plan complete by this Fall.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US House Proposal Would Send $7.9M to Mid-Michigan Blight, Parks, Transit Projects

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 17, 2023

Source: mlive.com

A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee recently advanced $7.9 million for seven public service-centric projects based in mid-Michigan.

The proposed investments would fund blight elimination efforts, influence housing availability, broaden access to public parks, and impact transit services across Bay, Genesee, Midland and Saginaw counties, officials said.

The funding is far from a certainty, however, as legislative compromises could alter the proposals before they land in the White House for the president’s consideration.

All seven mid-Michigan-based proposals were submitted by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint Township) as part of the 2024 budget for the House Appropriations Committee-based Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Kildee said in a statement.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreclosure Activity in First Half of 2023 Ticks Upwards Toward Pre-Covid Levels

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
July 13, 2023

Source: attomdata.com

ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released its Midyear 2023 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 185,580 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — in the first six months of 2023. That figure is up 13 percent from the same time period a year ago and up 185 percent from the same time period two years ago.

“Similar to the first half of 2022, foreclosure activity across the United States maintained its upward trajectory, gradually approaching pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2023,” stated Rob Barber, CEO for ATTOM. “Although overall foreclosure activity remains below historical norms, the notable surge in foreclosure starts indicates that we may continue to see a rise in foreclosure activity in the coming years.”

States that saw the greatest increase in foreclosure activity compared to a year ago in the first half of 2023 included Maryland (up 100 percent); Oregon (up 99 percent); Alaska (up 95 percent); West Virginia (up 83 percent); and Arkansas (up 72 percent).

 

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