Safeguard Properties

Archives For: COVID-19

HUD Secretary Announces Major Milestone of Assisting Nearly 2 Million Homeowners Stay in their Homes

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced that, thanks to FHA programs, approximately 2 million homeowners with FHA mortgages were able to stay in their homes from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic through December 2022.

8 Feb 2023

FHA Expands Mortgage Eligibility for Borrowers Previously Affected by COVID-19

FHA announced new flexibility for lenders when qualifying borrowers who experienced previous employment gaps or loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

7 Jul 2022

CFPB Report: Many Borrowers Still Behind on Mortgage Payments After COVID-19 Forbearance

A report from the CFPB revealed many homeowners are struggling to make mortgage payments after exiting Covid-19 forbearance.

17 Jun 2022

CFPB Report Analyzes Servicer Data on Borrowers Exiting COVID Forbearance

CFPB reports that just 0.2% of loans are exiting COVID forbearance with a status of foreclosure, short sale or deed in lieu.

16 May 2022

More People are Skipping Housing Payments Now that Protections are Over

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, protections were put into place to help homeowners and tenants who couldn’t keep up with their mortgage and rent payments. Homeowners were allowed to put their mortgages into forbearance and pause payments for up to 18 months, while eviction bans protected tenants who couldn’t pay rent due to job loss or another financial hardship.

20 Dec 2021

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

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

2 Dec 2021

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Lending Industry

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent recession, households, businesses, and entire nations struggled to determine where to find capital. A massive shock wave hit the public, and sustaining regular operations often seemed bleak. As a result, the United States saw GDP fall 32.9% in Q2 of 2020.

11 Nov 2021

As 1.2 Million Mortgage Holders Exit Forbearance, Unexpected Hurdles

COVID-19 forbearance protections have 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 2021, according to CoreLogic.

11 Oct 2021

Black Knight: Number of Homeowners in COVID-19- Related Forbearance Plans “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. Overall, forbearances have declined by 17% over the past 30 days.

8 Oct 2021

Various States Ease COVID-19 Consumer Protections

An update of state and federal actions for COVID-19 related moratoriums, including California, DC, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia.

7 Sep 2021

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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