Safeguard Properties

Archives For: zombie property

Top 10 Counties with the Highest Zombie Foreclosure Rates in Q2 2025

ATTOM dives into the data behind their Q2 2025 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report to uncover the top counties with the highest zombie foreclosure rates.

30 May 2025

U.S. Home Vacancy Rate Steady for 13th Straight Quarter

ATTOM released the second-quarter 2025 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report, showing the vacancy rate remains around 1.3%.

29 May 2025

City of Jackson has Nearly a Quarter of Mississippi’s Abandoned Properties

Within the state of Mississippi, the city of Jackson has approximately 25% of the state’s total abandoned properties.

9 Sep 2024

New York Enacts Statewide Law Superseding Local Requirements for Registration of Mortgages in Default

New York Assembly Bill A3081, signed by Governor Hochul on November 21, effectively preempts any local law that would require mortgage lenders to register mortgages in default at any point prior to the filing of a notice of pendency in foreclosure proceedings.

20 Dec 2022

Following NY Zombie Home Law, Fewer Abandoned, Unsightly Homes on Staten Island

Since a 2016 state law was enacted to help reduce the zombie property epidemic across New York, there are 311 fewer abandoned properties on Staten Island.

13 Dec 2022

Niskayuna Partners with Land Bank, County to Address Zombie Properties

Niskayuna is partnering with the Capital Region Land Bank and Schenectady County on a pilot program designed to swiftly address zombie properties in the town.

25 Nov 2022

Zombie Property Count Inches Up Again in Third Quarter of 2022 Across U.S. Amid Continued Rise in Foreclosure Activity

ATTOM’s 3rd quarter 2022 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report revealed that the number of properties in foreclosure increased by 4.4% over 2nd quarter.

18 Aug 2022

Zombie Property Remediation Bill Proposed in West Virginia

West Virginia Senate Bill 42 was approved by Governor Jim Justice and is scheduled to take effect on June 16, 2021.

29 Mar 2021

Proposed New York Bill Aims to Ban Plywood Property Boarding

NY A6519 was introduced in the The New York State Senate. The bill would prohibit the use of plywood, wood composite, wood veneer or similar wood-based products to secure any real property that is deemed vacant and abandoned.

19 Mar 2021

City Launches ‘Zombie Team’ to Track Neighborhood Eyesores

PIX 11 published an article discussing a New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development initiative that aims to monitor abandoned properties throughout the city and transform them into affordable housing.

1 Aug 2019

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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