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Fair Value of Financial Instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following tables present the Company's financial instruments carried at fair value as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, based upon the valuation hierarchy (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31, 2019
 
Fair Value
Assets
Level I
 
Level II
 
Level III
 
Total
Agency CMBS
$

 
$
1,435,477

 
$

 
$
1,435,477

Agency CMBS Interest-Only Strips accounted for as derivatives, included in MBS

 
3,092

 

 
3,092

Agency RMBS

 
340,771

 

 
340,771

Agency RMBS Interest-Only Strips

 

 
10,343

 
10,343

Agency RMBS Interest-Only Strips accounted for as derivatives, included in MBS

 

 
5,572

 
5,572

Subtotal Agency MBS

 
1,779,340

 
15,915

 
1,795,255

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS

 

 
38,131

 
38,131

Non-Agency RMBS Interest-Only Strips

 

 
7,683

 
7,683

Non-Agency CMBS

 
316,019

 

 
316,019

Subtotal Non-Agency MBS

 
316,019

 
45,814

 
361,833

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other securities

 
62,965

 
17,196

 
80,161

Total mortgage-backed securities and other securities

 
2,158,324

 
78,925

 
2,237,249

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Whole Loans

 

 
1,375,860

 
1,375,860

Residential Bridge Loans

 

 
33,269

 
33,269

Commercial loans

 

 
370,213

 
370,213

Securitized commercial loans

 

 
909,040

 
909,040

Derivative assets

 
5,111

 

 
5,111

Total Assets
$

 
$
2,163,435

 
$
2,767,307

 
$
4,930,742

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivative liabilities
$

 
$
6,370

 
$

 
$
6,370

Securitized debt

 
680,586

 
1,057

 
681,643

Total Liabilities
$

 
$
686,956

 
$
1,057

 
$
688,013




 
December 31, 2018
 
Fair Value
Assets
Level I
 
Level II
 
Level III
 
Total
Agency CMBS
$

 
$
1,481,984

 
$

 
$
1,481,984

Agency CMBS Interest-Only Strips accounted for as derivatives, included in MBS

 
4,158

 

 
4,158

Agency RMBS Interest-Only Strips

 

 
12,135

 
12,135

Agency RMBS Interest-Only Strips accounted for as derivatives, included in MBS

 

 
7,702

 
7,702

Subtotal Agency MBS

 
1,486,142

 
19,837

 
1,505,979

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Agency RMBS

 

 
39,026

 
39,026

Non-Agency RMBS Interest-Only Strips

 

 
11,529

 
11,529

Non-Agency CMBS

 
200,301

 

 
200,301

Subtotal Non-Agency MBS

 
200,301

 
50,555

 
250,856

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other securities

 
50,955

 
8,951

 
59,906

Total mortgage-backed securities and other securities

 
1,737,398

 
79,343

 
1,816,741

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Whole Loans

 

 
1,041,885

 
1,041,885

Residential Bridge Loans
 
 

 
211,999

 
211,999

Commercial loans

 

 
216,123

 
216,123

Securitized commercial loan

 

 
1,013,511

 
1,013,511

Derivative assets

 
2,606

 

 
2,606

Total Assets
$

 
$
1,740,004

 
$
2,562,861

 
$
4,302,865

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities
$
4,657

 
$
5,473

 
$

 
$
10,130

Securitized debt

 
947,340

 
2,286

 
949,626

Total Liabilities
$
4,657

 
$
952,813

 
$
2,286

 
$
959,756


When available, the Company uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of an asset or liability. If quoted market prices are not available, the Company will use independent pricing services and if the independent pricing service cannot price a particular asset or liability, the Company will obtain third party broker quotes. The Manager's pricing group, which functions independently from its portfolio management personnel, reviews the third party broker quotes by comparing the broker quotes for reasonableness to alternate sources when available. If independent pricing services or third party broker quotes are not available, the Company determines the fair value of the securities using valuation techniques that use, when possible, current market-based or independently sourced market parameters, such as interest rates and when applicable, estimates of prepayments and credit losses.
In instances when the Company is required to consolidate a VIE that is determined to be a qualifying collateralized financing entity ("CFE"), under GAAP and the Company has elected the fair value option for the securitized debt, the Company will measure both the financial assets and financial liabilities of the VIE using the fair value of either the VIE’s financial assets or financial liabilities, whichever is more observable.
Mortgage-backed securities and other securities
In determining the proper fair value hierarchy or level the Company considers the amount of available observable market data for each security. Agency RMBS and Agency CMBS, given the amount of available observable market data, generally are classified in Level II. For newly issued Agency CMBS securities that have not settled at period end and do not have a CUSIP yet, the Company utilizes a broker quote due to lack of observable market data, accordingly these securities are classified in Level III. For Agency IOs, Non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and other securities, to determine whether a security should be a Level II, the
securities are grouped by security type and the Manager reviews the internal trade history, for the quarter, for each security type. If there is sufficient trade data above a predetermined threshold of a security type, the Manager determines it has sufficient observable market data and the security will be categorized as a Level II; otherwise, the security is classified as a Level III.
Values for the Company's securities are based upon prices obtained from independent third party pricing services. The valuation methodology of the third party pricing services incorporates market information and commonly used market pricing methods, which include actual trades and quoted prices for similar or identical instruments, and are designed to produce a pricing process that is responsive to market conditions. Depending on the type of asset and the underlying collateral, the primary inputs to the model include yields for TBAs, Agency RMBS, the U.S. Treasury market and floating rate indices such as LIBOR, the Constant Maturity Treasury rate and the prime rate as a benchmark yield. In addition, the model may incorporate the current weighted average maturity and additional pool level information such as prepayment speeds, default frequencies and default severities, if applicable. When the third party pricing service cannot adequately price a particular security, the Company utilizes a broker's quote which is reviewed for reasonableness by the Manager's pricing group.
Residential Whole Loans and Residential Bridge Loans
Values for the Company's Non-QM Residential Whole Loans and Bridge Loans are based upon prices obtained from an independent third party pricing service that specializes in loan valuation, utilizing a discounted cash flow valuation model that is calibrated to recent loan trade execution. Their valuation methodology incorporates commonly used market pricing methods, which include the inputs considered most significant to the determination of fair value of the Company's Residential Whole Loans and Residential Bridge Loans. The key loan inputs include loan balance, interest rate, loan to value, delinquencies and fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans. The assumption made by the independent third party pricing service includes the market discount rate, yield, default assumption and loss severity. Other inputs and assumptions relevant to the pricing of Residential Whole Loans include FICO scores and prepayment speeds.
Values for the Conforming Residential Whole Loan Portfolio, are based on a third party pricing service valuation model that assigns a loan value using TBA prices, adjusted for delivery to Fannie Mae using Fannie Mae's loan-level price adjustment matrix. In addition to pricing the underlying mortgages, the third party pricing service uses a service release premium valuation representing the sale of the right to service the mortgages. Together, the TBA price and service release premium price form the "All-In" price for these mortgages.
The Company reviews the analysis provided by pricing service as well as the key assumptions made available to the company. Due to the inherent uncertainty of such valuation, the fair values established for residential loans held by the Company may differ from the fair values that would have been established if a readily available market existed for these loans. Accordingly, the Company's loans are classified as Level III.
Commercial Loans
Values for the Company's Commercial Loans are based upon prices obtained from an independent third party pricing service that specializes in loan valuation, utilizing a valuation model that is calibrated to recent loan trade execution. Their valuation methodology incorporates commonly used market pricing methods, which include the inputs considered most significant to the determination of fair value of the Company's Commercial Loans. The assumptions made by the independent third party pricing vendor include a market discount rate, default assumption and loss severity. The Company reviews the analysis provided by pricing service as well as the key assumptions. Due to the inherent uncertainty of such valuation, the fair values established for commercial loans held by the Company may differ from the fair values that would have been established if a readily available market existed for these loans. Accordingly, the Company's commercial loans are classified as a Level III.
Securitized commercial loans
Values for the Company’s securitized commercial loans are based on the CFE valuation methodology.  Since there is an extremely limited market for the securitized commercial loans, the Company determined the securitized debt is more actively traded and therefore was more observable.  Due to the inherent uncertainty of the securitized commercial loan's valuation, the Company classifies its securitized commercial loans as Level III.
Securitized debt
Values for the Company's securitized debt are based upon prices obtained from independent third party pricing services. The valuation methodology of the third party pricing services incorporates market information and commonly used market pricing methods, which include actual trades and quoted prices for similar or identical instruments. In determining the proper fair value hierarchy or level, the Company considers the amount of available observable market data for each security. Since the securitized
debt represents traded debt securities, the Manager's pricing team reviews the trade activity during the quarter for each security to determine the appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy. If there is sufficient trade data above a predetermined volume threshold, the Manager determines it has sufficient observable market data and the debt security will be categorized as a Level II. If there is not sufficient observable market data the debt security will be categorized as a Level III.
Derivatives
Values for the Company's derivatives are based upon prices from third party pricing services, whose pricing is subject to review by the Manager's pricing committee. In valuing its over-the-counter interest rate derivatives, such as swaps and swaptions, its currency derivatives, such as swaps and forwards and credit derivatives such as total return swaps, the Company considers the creditworthiness of both the Company and its counterparties, along with collateral provisions contained in each derivative agreement, from the perspective of both the Company and its counterparties. No credit valuation adjustment was made in determining the fair value of interest rate and/or futures contracts for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Third Party Pricing Data Review
The Company performs quarterly reviews of the independent third party pricing data. These reviews may include a review of the valuation methodology used by third party valuation specialists and review of the daily change in the prices provided by the independent pricing vendor which exceed established tolerances or comparisons to executed transaction prices, utilizing the Manager's pricing group. The Manager's pricing group, which functions independently from its portfolio management personnel, reviews the price differences or changes in price by comparing the vendor price to alternate sources including other independent pricing services or broker quotations. If the price change or difference cannot be corroborated, the Manager's pricing group consults with the portfolio management team for market color in reviewing such pricing data as warranted. To the extent that the Manager has information, typically in the form of broker quotations that would indicate that a price received from the independent pricing service is outside of a tolerance range, the Manager generally challenges the independent pricing service price.
The following tables present a summary of the available quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of financial instruments for which the Company has utilized Level III inputs to determine fair value as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands).
 
 
 Fair Value at
 
 
 
 
 
Range
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2019
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
Minimum
 
Maximum
 
Weighted Average
Residential Whole-Loans(2)
 
1,200,566

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Yield
 
3.4
%
 
7.0
%
 
3.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Life
 
1.4

 
7.8

 
3.0

Residential Bridge Loans(3)
 
33,269

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Yield
 
7.5
%
 
27.0
%
(1) 
9.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Life
 
0.3

 
1.8

 
0.8

Commercial Loans
 
370,213

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Yield
 
4.7
%
 
10.9
%
 
7.5
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Lie
 
0.4

 
2.9

 
1.6


 
 
 Fair Value at
 
 
 
 
 
Range
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
Minimum
 
Maximum
 
Weighted Average
Residential Whole-Loans
 
1,041,885

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Yield
 
3.5
%
 
7.9
%
 
5.5
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Life
 
0.8

 
10.3

 
2.8

Residential Bridge Loans
 
211,999

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Yield
 
5.6
%
 
145.3
%
(1) 
11.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Life
 
0.1

 
1.6

 
0.5

Commercial Loans:
 
216,123

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Yield
 
6.7
%
 
9.2
%
 
7.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Life
 
0.9

 
2.7

 
2.1


(1)
Yield to maturity is the total return on the loan expressed as an annual rate. Delinquent Bridge Loans that are nearing maturity and with fair value that is significantly less than the principal amount have a higher yield to maturity.
(2)
Excludes $175,294 Conforming Residential Whole Loans, which are valued using TBA prices, adjusted for delivery to Fannie Mae using Fannie Mae's loan-level price adjustment matrix. As of December 31, 2019, the TBA prices used for valuing the conforming loans range from $101.39 to $107.63.
The following tables present additional information about the Company's financial instruments which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for which the Company has utilized Level III inputs to determine fair value:
 
Year ended December 31, 2019
$ in thousands
Agency MBS
 
Non-Agency MBS
 
Other Securities
 
Residential
Whole Loans
 
Residential
Bridge Loans
 
Commercial Loans
 
Securitized
Commercial Loans
 
Securitized
Debt
Beginning balance
$
19,837

 
$
50,555

 
$
8,951

 
$
1,041,885

 
$
211,999

 
$
216,123

 
$
1,013,511

 
$
2,286

Transfers into Level III from Level II

 

 
8,386

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers from Level III into Level II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

 

 
544,426

 

 
274,422

 
1,113,231

 

Sales and settlements
(401
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
3,769

Transfers to REO

 

 

 

 
(2,677
)
 

 

 

Principal repayments

 
(965
)
 
(555
)
 
(228,163
)
 
(175,422
)
 
(121,245
)
 
(1,214,688
)
 

Total net gains/losses included in net income
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Realized gains/(losses), net on assets

 

 

 

 
(351
)
 

 

 

Other than temporary impairment
(222
)
 
(1,332
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains/(losses), net on assets(1)
762

 
(229
)
 
693

 
20,887

 
397

 
(122
)
 
(1,070
)
 

Unrealized (gains)/losses, net on liabilities(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(2,373
)
Premium and discount amortization, net
(4,061
)
 
(2,215
)
 
(279
)
 
(3,175
)
 
(677
)
 
1,035

 
(1,944
)
 
(2,625
)
Ending balance
$
15,915

 
$
45,814

 
$
17,196

 
$
1,375,860

 
$
33,269

 
$
370,213

 
$
909,040

 
$
1,057

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains/(losses), net on assets held at the end of the period(1)
$
780

 
$
(229
)
 
$
693

 
$
21,768

 
$
(488
)
 
$
128

 
$
(1,042
)
 
$

Unrealized gains/(losses), net on liabilities held at the end of the period(2)
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
375

 
Year ended December 31, 2018
$ in thousands
Agency MBS
 
Non-Agency MBS
 
Other Securities
 
Residential
Whole Loans
 
Residential
Bridge Loans
 
Commercial Loans
 
Securitized Commercial Loans
 
Securitized Debt
Beginning balance
$
17,217

 
$
8,735

 
$
9,239

 
$
237,423

 
$
64,526

 
$

 
$
24,876

 
$
10,945

Transfers into Level III from Level II
22,795

 
39,084

 
9,708

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers from Level III into Level II
(16,805
)
 

 
(8,697
)
 

 

 

 

 
(10,899
)
Purchases
2,093

 
8,602

 

 
860,576

 
207,705

 
215,322

 
1,353,020

 

Sales and settlements

 
(4,180
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
12

Principal repayments
(53
)
 
(307
)
 
(604
)
 
(55,186
)
 
(57,528
)
 

 
(361,782
)
 
(44
)
Total net gains / (losses) included in net income
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Realized gains/(losses), net on assets

 
258

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other than temporary impairment
(735
)
 
(918
)
 
(161
)
 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains/(losses), net on assets(1)
(630
)
 
1,183

 
(532
)
 
(415
)
 
(1,806
)
 
631

 
(16
)
 

Unrealized (gains)/losses, net on liabilities(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,996

Premium and discount amortization, net
(4,045
)
 
(1,902
)
 
(2
)
 
(513
)
 
(898
)
 
170

 
(2,587
)
 
276

Ending balance
$
19,837

 
$
50,555

 
$
8,951

 
$
1,041,885

 
$
211,999

 
$
216,123

 
$
1,013,511

 
$
2,286

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains/(losses), net on assets held at the end of the period(1)
$
(272
)
 
$
1,184

 
$
(464
)
 
$
351

 
$
(1,370
)
 
$
631

 
$
(16
)
 
$

Unrealized gains/(losses), net on liabilities held at the end of the period(2)
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(1,998
)
 
(1)
Gains and losses are included in "Unrealized gain (loss), net" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(2)
Gains and losses on securitized debt are included in "Unrealized gain (loss), net" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Transfers between hierarchy levels for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were based on the availability of sufficient observable inputs. Movements from Level II to Level III was based on the back-testing of historical sales transactions performed by the Manager, which did not provide sufficient observable data to meet Level II versus Level III criteria, resulting in the movement from Level II to Level III. Movements from Level III to Level II was based on information received from a third party pricing service which, along with the back-testing of historical sales transactions performed by the Manager, which provided the sufficient observable data for the movement from Level III to Level II. The Company did not have transfers between either Level I and Level II or Level I and Level III for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Other Fair Value Disclosures
Certain Residential Bridge Loans, repurchase agreement borrowings, convertible senior unsecured notes and securitized debt are not carried at fair value in the consolidated financial statements. The following table presents the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments that are not carried at fair value, as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, in the consolidated financial statements (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Carrying Value
 
 Estimated Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
 Estimated Fair Value
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Bridge Loans
$
3,150

 
$
3,148

 
$
9,720

 
$
9,603

Total
$
3,150

 
$
3,148

 
$
9,720

 
$
9,603

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Borrowings under repurchase agreements
$
2,824,801

 
$
2,829,093

 
$
2,818,837

 
$
2,823,615

Convertible senior unsecured notes
197,299

 
209,172

 
110,060

 
108,531

Securitized debt(1)
801,109

 
810,914

 

 

Total
$
3,823,209

 
$
3,849,179

 
$
2,928,897

 
$
2,932,146


 
(1) Carrying value excludes $5.3 million of deferred financing costs 

"Due from counterparties" and "Due to counterparties" in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets are reflected at cost which approximates fair value.
 
Residential Bridge Loans

Values for the Company's Bridge Loans are based upon prices obtained from an independent third party pricing service that specializes in loan valuation, utilizing a discounted cash flow valuation model that is calibrated to recent loan trade execution. Their valuation methodology incorporates commonly used market pricing methods, which include the inputs considered most significant to the determination of fair value of the Residential Bridge Loans. The key loan inputs include loan balance, interest rate, loan to value, FICO score, debt to income ratio and delinquencies. The assumption made by the independent third party pricing service includes the market discount rate, prepayment, default assumption and loss severity. The Company reviews the analysis provided by pricing service as well as the key assumptions made available to the Company. Due to the inherent uncertainty of such valuation, the fair values established for residential bridge loans held by the Company may differ from the fair values that would have been established if a readily available market existed for these loans. Accordingly, the Company's loans are classified as Level III.

Borrowings under repurchase agreements

The fair values of the borrowings under repurchase agreements are based on a net present value technique. This method discounts future estimated cash flows using rates the Company determined best estimates current market interest rates that would be offered for loans with similar characteristics and credit quality. The use of different market assumptions or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the fair value amounts. This fair value measurement is based on observable inputs, and as such, are classified as Level II.

Convertible senior unsecured notes

The fair value of the convertible senior unsecured notes is based on quoted market prices. Accordingly, the Company's convertible senior unsecured notes are classified as Level I.

Securitized debt
 
Values for the Company's securitized debt, related to the securitization of a portion of its Residential Whole Loans, are based upon prices obtained from independent third party pricing services. The valuation methodology of the third party pricing services incorporates market information and commonly used market pricing methods, which include actual trades and quoted prices for similar or identical instruments. In determining the proper fair value hierarchy or level, the Company considers the amount of available observable market data for each security. Since the securitized debt represents traded debt securities, the Manager's pricing team reviews the trade activity during the quarter for each security to determine the appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy. If there is sufficient trade data above a predetermined threshold, the Manager determines it has sufficient observable market data and the debt security will be categorized as a Level II. If there is not sufficient observable market data the debt security will be categorized as a Level III. At December 31, 2019, there was not sufficient observable market data for the debt to be classified as a Level II, accordingly it was classified as a Level III.