Fair Value

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Fair Value

Fair Value

3. Fair Value

Fair Value Measurement

        The Company follows fair value guidance in accordance with U.S. GAAP to account for its financial instruments. The Company categorizes its financial instruments based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique into a three-level fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). If the inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

        Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1.	Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market.
Level 2.	Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:
	a)	Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets.
	b)	Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets.
	c)	Pricing models whose inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
	d)	Pricing models whose inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3.	Prices or valuation techniques based on inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

Determination of Fair Value

        The following is a description of the valuation techniques used to measure fair value and the general classification of these instruments pursuant to the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Ventures

        The Company accounts for its investment in the PE Fund JV at fair value which is determined based on a valuation model using assumptions such as discount rate and timing of expected future cash flows. This fair value measurement is generally based on unobservable inputs and, as such, is classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Real Estate Securities

        CRE securities are generally valued using a third-party pricing service or broker quotations. These quotations are not adjusted and are based on observable inputs that can be validated, and as such, are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Certain CRE securities may be valued based on a single broker quote or an internal price which may have less observable pricing, and as such, would be classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Management determines the prices are representative of fair value through a review of available data, including observable inputs, recent transactions as well as its knowledge of and experience in the market.

Fair Value Hierarchy

        Financial assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following table presents financial assets that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 by level within the fair value hierarchy (dollars in thousands):

	March 31, 2013								December 31, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Asset type:
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated ventures	$	—	$	—	$	112,280	$	112,280	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Real estate securities		—		53,999		—		53,999		—		29,582		—		29,582

        As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had no financial assets or liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

        For the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company did not recognize any unrealized gains (losses) for financial assets for which the fair value option was elected. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recognized unrealized gains (losses) of $0.5 million for financial assets for which the fair value option was elected. These amounts are recorded as unrealized gain (loss) on investments and other in the consolidated statements of operations.

        As of March 31, 2013, the Company's investment in the PE Fund JV was accounted for at fair value for which the Company utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value. Refer to Note 5 for disclosure regarding recurring fair value measurement related to the PE Fund JV.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

        In addition to the above disclosures regarding financial assets or liabilities which are recorded at fair value, U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of fair value about all financial instruments. The following disclosure of estimated fair value of financial instruments was determined by the Company, using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize on disposition of the financial instruments. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on estimated fair value.

        The following table presents the principal amount, carrying value and fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (dollars in thousands):

	March 31, 2013							December 31, 2012
	Principal Amount			Carrying Value		Fair Value		Principal Amount		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Financial assets:(1)
Real estate debt investments, net	$	623,684	(2)	$	624,377	$	623,684	$	513,833	$	514,058	$	513,833
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated ventures(3)		112,280			112,280		112,280		—		—		—
Real estate securities, available for sale(3)		104,542			53,999		53,999		30,575		29,582		29,582
Financial liabilities:(1)
Securitization bonds payable	$	124,659		$	124,559	$	124,892	$	124,659	$	124,491	$	124,862
Credit facilities		180,371			180,371		180,371		126,321		126,321		126,321

(1)

The fair value of other financial instruments not included in this table is estimated to approximate their carrying amounts.

(2)

Excludes future funding commitments of $25.9 million.

(3)

Refer to the "Determination of Fair Value" above for a discussion of methodologies used to determine fair value.

        Disclosure about fair value of financial instruments is based on pertinent information available to management as of the reporting date. Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect fair value, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these consolidated financial statements since that date and current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.

Real Estate Debt Investments

        For CRE debt investments, fair value was approximated by comparing the current yield to the estimated yield for newly originated loans with similar credit risk or the market yield at which a third party might expect to purchase such investment but not to exceed principal amount. Prices were calculated assuming fully-extended maturities regardless of structural or economic tests required to achieve such extended maturities. These fair value measurements of CRE debt are generally based on unobservable inputs and, as such, are classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Securitization Bonds Payable

        Securitization bonds payable are valued using quotations from nationally recognized financial institutions that generally acted as underwriter for the transactions. These quotations are not adjusted and are generally based on observable inputs that can be validated, and as such, are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Credit Facilities

        The Company has amounts outstanding under five credit facilities all of which bear floating rates of interest. As of the reporting date, the Company believes the carrying value approximates fair value. These fair value measurements are based on observable inputs and, as such, are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.