VA: VALERI Servicer Newsflash

Investor Update
May 17, 2019

Source: VA

Important Information

Debris Removal Clarification – Servicers are required to remove exterior trash from properties, any other materials that violate applicable codes, or if a violation has been issued.  For clarification, examples of health and safety hazards include, but are not limited to, highly flammable chemicals, decaying food or other organic matter, interior wet or moldy debris, dead animals, broken glass or other sharp objects, and large quantities of paint or paint products.

Adequacy of Servicing Process – In an effort to complete pending VALERI processes prior to the transition into the redesigned system, VA technicians may be reaching out during the initial 10-day timeframe, typically allowed to receive documents/responses to the AOS questions.

United States Foreclosure Network (USFN) – Rita Falcioni and Katie Graham will be attending the June USFN conference in Nashville, TN. They will be hosting a learning lounge on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, and will also be available to meet with industry partners upon request. To request a meeting time with VA outside of the learning lounge event, please contact the VALERI Helpdesk at valerihelpdesk.vbaco@va.gov.

VALERI Live Servicer Training – VA Central Office is hosting a VALERI live webinar training on May 17, 2019, from 11:00 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST. Training invites have been disseminated to servicer company administrators, and due to limited webinar space, servicers are strongly encouraged to coordinate viewing the training in groups. The training will also be recorded and available for viewing at a later date (details forthcoming). If you have not received a training invite, but would like to attend the training, please reach out to your company administrator. The following training topics will be covered during VALERI training:

• Servicer Web Portal Navigation
• Administrative functions
• Adding and editing Points of Contact
• Reporting of events/claims/appeals
• Uploading and submitting documents associated with a claim or appeal
•Accessing and filtering reports

VALERI Redesign Updates – The following information is provided to assist our program partners in anticipation of the transition into the redesigned VALERI system:

• Appeals – The ability to file appeals in the current VALERI system ended on April 27, 2019. For cases that would have been eligible for appeal, the 30-day appeal timeframe will reset on May 28, 2019. Servicers can also pull the Claim Details Report prior to May 23, 2019, and include that information in the appeal justification to aid in the review of transition cases.

• Transfer of Custody – From May 15, 2019, through May 28, 2019, servicers will not have the ability to convey properties to VA. As a result, servicers will need to confirm prior to May 28, 2019, that the property is in the same condition as the date they intended to convey the property to VA. While VA does not require repairs to a property prior to conveyance, if damage occurs after the sale and before May 28, 2019, the servicer must notify the assigned VA Loan Technician. Additionally, if an insurance claim can be filed, the servicer should pursue an insurance claim and subsequently forward funds to VA. Furthermore, VA will review for the reimbursement of an inspection during the blackout period, on a claim appeal or supplemental with supporting documentation.

• Pre-Approval Process – For loans that are less than 61 days delinquent or unassigned in VALERI and require VA pre-approval, servicers are encouraged to wait to submit pre-approval requests to VA until the VALERI go-live date of May 28, 2019, when feasible. For those requests that need to be expedited (before May 28, 2019), please reach out to the Loan Administration Officer (LAO) at the office of geographical jurisdiction. The Regional Loan Center Contact List is located on the VALERI internet at https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/servicers_valeri.asp.

• VALERI Reports – Reports will be unavailable after 2:00 PM EST on May 23, 2019, therefore servicers should generate and save all reports prior to this cut off time.

• VALERI System – VALERI will be unavailable from May 24, 2019, through May 27, 2019. The redesigned VALERI application will go live on May 28, 2019.

• VALERI Assistance After Go-Live – Effective May 28, 2019, any VALERI system related inquiries should be directed to valeri.vbaco@va.gov. Loan Management policy inquiries should still be directed to the VALERI Helpdesk at valerihelpdesk.vbaco@va.gov.

VALERI HelpDesk

VA Central Office Loan Management

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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