Safeguard Properties

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – New Mexico Echo Ridge Fire, Nm Fmag

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
April 2, 2023

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of New Mexico to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts in areas affected by the Echo Ridge Fire beginning April 2, 2023 and continuing.  The following areas have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

  • Torrance

 

New Mexico Echo Ridge Fire, Nm Fmag (FM-5461-NM)

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 – Arkansas Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
April 2, 2023

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Arkansas to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storms and tornadoes on March 31, 2023.  The following areas have been approved for assistance:

Individual Assistance:

  • Cross
  • Lonoke
  • Pulaski

Public Assistance:

  • Cross
  • Lonoke
  • Pulaski

 

Arkansas Severe Storms and Tornadoes (DR-4698-AR)

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

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

How Ohio is Tackling the Crumbling Homes Left Vacant and Forgotten

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 28, 2023

Source: news5cleveland.com

After nature powered its own slow demolition for years, it only took crews about an hour to tear down a vacant home on West 38th Street, which was the first in what’s expected to be a dozen demolitions across the city.

The demolition comes after the state awarded Ashtabula County Land Bank $609,000 through its still relatively-new Demolition and Site Revitalization Program.

“We had a good inventory of the bad that we were able to come to the table when they said [to] get our list together,” said Ashtabula City Manager Jim Timonere.

The handful of crumbling foundations across Ashtabula only adds up to a small fraction of the nearly 3,700 similar demolition projects approved across 87 of Ohio’s counties through the program.

Timonere pointed out that blighted homes often reduce the property value of neighboring homes, which can make it difficult even in a prosperous housing market.

“I’ve seen the worst of the worst,” Timonere said. “There have been remnants from the 2008 mortgage crisis that we’re still dealing with today.”

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissioners Discuss Abandoned Homes, Eyesores

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 25, 2023

Source: dailyadvance.com

If abandoned houses, dilapidated barns and piles of trash, junk and clutter are blurring your vision of bucolic Bertie County, there may be help on the horizon.

The housing dilemma and how to solve it is a top priority for the Bertie County Commissioners as they contend with the challenges of more affordable housing, cleaning up parcels and property that could cause health concerns, while attracting people interested in repairing and living in houses in need of attention.

While housing diversity in Bertie County is a priority for the commissioners, agreeing on what steps to take first may be as much of a challenge.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bakersfield is Coming for Blighted Lots, in the Name of Housing

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 6, 2023

Source: bakersfield.com

After failing to win bids earlier this month on 16 dilapidated properties deemed a nuisance to residents, the city of Bakersfield is considering option B: How to help out those who did buy them?

It’s a position the city has apparently never found itself in before, because as far as anyone can remember, it has never tried to become so directly involved. But its frustrations are not new.

In recent years, more properties considered derelict and abandoned have festered throughout the city’s urban core, especially in Ward 2.

“Chronic nuisance properties are problematic for a lot of reasons,” Vice Mayor and Ward 2 Councilman Andrae Gonzales said. “They create a negative externality for the whole neighborhood, making it less safe. And we get a lot of complaints from residents.”

These are the homes with boarded-up windows and doors, overgrown yards and collapsed roofs — the kind of properties that have incurred a structure fire or are a regular site for transients.

After five years of neglect, and usually because of unpaid property taxes, the county taxman can assert authority to sell the property and auction it the following year.

Local leaders want those lots dealt with, especially the ones they have watched, year after year, sit on the auction list and go unsold.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Knight: Early Stage Mortgage Delinquencies Increased in February

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 27, 2023

Source:  MortgageOrb

Roughly 3.45% of all U.S. mortgages were delinquent in February – an increase of 1.96% compared with January but down 12.56% compared with February 2022, according to Black Knight’s First Look report.

Most of the increase was early stage delinquencies.

As of the end of February roughly 1.81 million mortgages were 30 days or more past due, but not in foreclosure, according to the report. That’s an increase of about 36,000 compared with the previous month but down by about 235,000 compared with a year earlier.

Serious delinquencies (90 days or more past due but not in foreclosure) numbered about 562,000, down about 17,000 compared with the previous month and down by about 383,000 compared with a year earlier.

As of the end of the month there were about 240,000 properties in the foreclosure pre-sale inventory – an increase of 2,000 or 0.81% compared with the previous month and up about 34,000 or 15.8% compared with February 2022.

There were about 29,000 foreclosure starts in February, down about 9.35% compared with January and down about 4.15% compared with February 2022.

The monthly prepayment rate was 0.35%. That’s up 6.23% compared with the previous month but down 71.46% compared with a year earlier. This increase broke a four-month streak of record lows, with relief likely to extend as the spring homebuying season takes hold, Black Knight says.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEMA Major Disaster Declaration – Mississippi Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
March 26, 2023

***UPDATED 4/3/23***

FEMA has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Mississippi to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storm, straight-line winds, and tornadoes from March 24-25, 2023.  The following areas have been approved for assistance:

Individual Assistance:

  • Carroll
  • Humphreys
  • Monroe
  • Montgomery
  • Panola
  • Sharkey

Public Assistance:

  • Carroll
  • Humphreys
  • Monroe
  • Montgomery
  • Panola
  • Sharkey
  • Washington

 

Mississippi Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (DR-4697-MS)

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

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

Biden Issues Emergency Declaration in Mississippi and Alabama Tornado that Killed Dozens

Posted on by Safeguard

Disaster Alert
March 26, 2022

Source:  CBS News

President Joe Biden early Sunday issued an emergency declaration for Mississippi, making federal funding available to Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties, the areas hardest hit Friday night by a deadly tornado that ripped through the Mississippi Delta, one of the poorest regions of the U.S.

CBS News has confirmed at least 26 people were killed in Mississippi and Alabama as the massive storm ripped through several towns on its hour-long path. Dozens others were injured.

Search and recovery crews on Sunday resumed the daunting task of digging through the debris of flattened and battered homes, commercial buildings and municipal offices after hundreds of people were displaced.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell are scheduled to travel to Mississippi Sunday to evaluate the damage.

At Least 26 Dead After Devastating Tornadoes Tear Through Mississippi

FEMA Coordinating Officer John Boyle has been appointed to oversee federal recovery operations. Following Biden’s declaration, federal funding can be used for recovery efforts including temporary housing, home repairs, loans covering uninsured property losses and other individual and business programs, the White House said in a statement.

The twister flattened entire blocks, obliterated houses, ripped a steeple off a church and toppled a municipal water tower. Even with recovery just starting, the National Weather Service warned of a risk of more severe weather Sunday — including high winds, large hail and possible tornadoes — in eastern Louisiana, south central Mississippi and south central Alabama.

Dangerous tornado outbreak heads to the South: Latest forecast - neweu

For full report, please click the source links above.

Wounded Former U.S. Army Specialist Gets Mortgage-Free Home in Ohio

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 16, 2023

Source: www.wchstv.com

A military veteran living in Colorado has moved to Lawrence County, Ohio, and his new home is mortgage free.

It’s part of a program that is a partnership with Wells Fargo and the Military Warriors Support Foundation based in San Antonio, Texas.

“I like it. It’s cool,” former U.S. Army specialist Aaron Hart said as he saw his new home for the first time.

Hart is receiving the new home through a program called Homes 4 Wounded Heroes.

“Honestly, I never really thought I would be able to own a home. It kind of seemed out of reach for me. In that aspect, this is the greatest thing that could happen to me,” Hart said.

For full report, please click the source link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TNP Partners with Warren to Demolish 100+ Vacant Properties

Posted on by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 16, 2023

Source: businessjournaldaily.com

Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership has partnered with the city of Warren to demolish a vacant commercial property at 418 Main Ave. SW in the city’s downtown.

It is one of more than 100 properties that TNP and Trumbull County Land Bank have partnered with the city to demolish through Ohio’s commercial demolition and brownfield remediation fund.

“That is a $7 million allocation we received last year,” says Matt Martin, executive director of TNP. “There was a match requirement for that, and the city of Warren did pay the 25 percent match for the buildings in the city of Warren. This commemorates a significant partnership between TNP and the city of Warren to demolish vacant properties.”

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