Valley View: Safeguard moves into new Hub Parkway facility

Posted by Mark Holan/Sun News -- mholan@sunnews.com May 11, 2009 16:47PM

VALLEY VIEW -- Monday marked a new era for Safeguard Properties, the largest privately held mortgage field services company in the country. Formerly headquartered in Brooklyn Heights, the company officially moved into a new, 63,000-square-foot facility on Hub Parkway.

In this era of rampant foreclosures, Safeguard Properties has grown exponentially. With a current staff of 700 employees, the company needed more office and parking space than its old space on Safeguard Drive off Lancaster Drive.

Despite having been in Brooklyn Heights since 1999, it was imperative that new office space was secured, according to Safeguard officials. The new facility can be expanded to 75,000 square feet to accommodate even more staff members.

"Safeguard has experienced consistent 10-15 percent year-over-year growth since our founding in 1990," said Alan Jaffa, Safeguard's chief operating officer. "Our growth in 2008 and projections for 2009 are even higher. We added 200 employees in 2008 and plan to add 125 more in 2009."

Jaffa said Safeguard's investment to purchase, expand and build out the new facility was approximately $6 million, plus about $2 million in additional IT infrastructure.

The new facility will house a full-service cafeteria and fitness center for employees.

"This new facility is an investment in our clients, our employees and our community," Jaffa said. "All three have been integral to Safeguard's success, and this facility is our way to demonstrate our gratitude and our commitment today and for many years to come."

Founded by Robert Klein in 1990 (who remains as CEO), Safeguard conducts more than one million property inspections and maintenance orders on defaulted and foreclosed properties nationally for mortgage service companies, banks, financial institutions and major investors on a monthly basis.