Safeguard Properties

<- Return To Featured Resources

VA: VALERI Servicer Newsflash

Investor Update
February, 14 2020

Source: VA

Important Information

Circular 26-20-2 – Special Relief Following Puerto Rico Earthquakes, was issued on January 23, 2020. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s declared disaster counties are: Adjuntas, Arecibo, Cabo Rojo, Ciales, Corozal, Guanica, Guayanilla, Hormigueros, Jayuya, Juan Diaz Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Maricao, Mayaguez, Morovis, Orocovis, Penuelas, Ponce, Sabana Grande, San German, San Sebastian, Utuado, Villalba, and Yauco. The circular is located at https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/servicers_valeri.asp.

Inactive User Deactivation – Beginning February 25, 2020, users who have not logged into VALERI over the past 90 days will be automatically deactivated. Reactivation of a deactivated user requires the user to complete the registration and approval process again.

VALERI Announcements – This message board is a new functionality in VALERI and is accessible by selecting the Home icon located next to “VALERI” at the top left corner. Users are highly encouraged to regularly view the announcements for informational awareness.

Redeemed Properties – Servicers must refer to Circular 26-15-9 and Circular 26-15-9, Change 1 for general redemption procedures and follow the instructions located at https://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/servicers_valeri_guides.asp. Redeeming of a property by the borrower does not impact the terminated loan in VALERI. Servicers must not report any events (Invalid Sales Results or Improper Transfer of Custody) in VALERI. The loan must remain in “Terminated” status, allowing the servicer to submit the basic claim event.

Homeowner’s Association Notices and Utility Bills After Conveyance – Documents should be sent to VA’s property management contractor, Vendor Resource Management, at VA_utilitytaxhoapayoffs@vrmco.com. The “Title Documentation, Insurance and Timeframe Requirements” document has been updated to include this information and is located at https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/servicers_valeri.asp.

Technician and Regional Loan Center (RLC) Contact Information – The VALERI Technician contact list has been combined with the RLC contact list. The new contact list has three tabs: 1) VALERI Technicians 2) RLC Escalations and 3) General RLC Contacts (RLC jurisdictions, Loan Production and Construction and Valuation). The updated contact list is located as a Knowledge Article in VALERI and also at   https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/servicers_valeri.asp. The assigned loan technician should continue to be the first point of contact (VA Servicer Handbook M26-4, Chapter 1). Servicers should refer to the contact list and ensure the correct email address is being used, as there may be more than one VA employee with the same name.

Reminders

Accessing VALERI – The new VALERI application must be accessed with the Google Chrome browser.

Bulk Uploads – Servicers must use the new version 20.0 of the bulk upload templates. All inquiries related to upload issues must include the uploaded spreadsheet and the auto-generated error message received and be directed to the VALERI Data Quality team at valeridataquality.vbaspl@va.gov

VALERI Helpdesk

VA Central Office Loan Management

Related Posts

HUD Allocates More than $2 Billion to Advance Equitable Disaster Recovery, Build Climate Change Resilience

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the allocation of more than $2 billion ($2,040,617,000) in CDBG-Disaster Recovery and CDBG-Mitigation funds appropriated in the continuing resolution, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, signed into law on September 30, 2021.

Read More

HUD Employees Receive Management Excellence Award

A group of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development employees on Thursday were awarded the 2021 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.

Read More

<- Back To Newsroom Next Article ->

Cookies enable us to provide the best experience possible and help us understand how visitors use our website. By browsing our website, you agree to our use of cookies.

x

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.

x

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.

x

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.

x

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.

x

Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties