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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

NOTE 2—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Walker & Dunlop, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiaries, and its majority owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The Company consolidates entities in which it has a controlling financial interest based on either the variable interest entity (“VIE”) or the voting interest model. The Company is required to first apply the VIE model to determine whether it holds a variable interest in an entity, and if so, whether the entity is a VIE. If the Company determines it holds a variable interest in a VIE and has a controlling financial interest and therefore is considered the primary beneficiary, the Company consolidates the entity. In instances where the Company holds a variable interest in a VIE but is not the primary beneficiary, the Company uses the equity-method of accounting.

If the Company determines it does not hold a variable interest in a VIE, it then applies the voting interest model. Under the voting interest model, the Company consolidates an entity when it holds a majority voting interest in an entity. If the Company does not have a majority voting interest but has significant influence, it uses the equity-method of accounting. In instances where the Company owns less than 100% of the equity interests of an entity but owns a majority of the voting interests or has control over an entity, the Company accounts for the portion of equity not attributable to Walker & Dunlop, Inc. as Noncontrolling interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the portion of net income not attributable to Walker & Dunlop, Inc. as Net income from noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Subsequent Events—The Company has evaluated the effects of all events that have occurred subsequent to December 31, 2021. The Company has made certain disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of events that have occurred subsequent to December 31, 2021. There have been no other material subsequent events that would require recognition in the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates—The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, allowance for risk-sharing obligations, capitalized mortgage servicing rights, derivative instruments, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may vary from these estimates.

Transfers of Financial Assets—Transfers of financial assets are reported as sales when (i) the transferor surrenders control over those assets, (ii) the transferred financial assets have been legally isolated from the Company’s creditors, (iii) the transferred assets can be pledged or exchanged by the transferee, and (iv) consideration other than beneficial interests in the transferred assets is received in exchange. The transferor is considered to have surrendered control over transferred assets if, and only if, certain conditions are met. The Company determined that all loans sold during the periods presented met these specific conditions and accounted for all transfers of loans held for sale as completed sales, except as otherwise noted.

Derivative Assets and Liabilities—Loan commitments that meet the definition of a derivative are recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets upon the executions of the commitments to originate a loan with a borrower and to sell the loan to an investor, with a corresponding amount recognized as revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The estimated fair value of loan commitments includes (i) the fair value of loan origination fees and premiums on the anticipated sale of the loan, net of co-broker fees (included in Derivative assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and as a component of Loan origination and debt brokerage fees, net in the Consolidated Income Statements), (ii) the fair value of the expected net cash flows associated with the servicing of the loan, net of any estimated net future cash flows associated with the guarantee obligation (included in Derivative assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in Fair value of expected net cash flows from servicing, net in the Consolidated Income Statements), and (iii) the effects of interest rate movements between the trade date and balance sheet date. Loan commitments are generally derivative assets but can become derivative liabilities if the effects of the interest rate movement between the trade date and the balance sheet date are greater than the combination of (i) and (ii) above. Forward sale commitments that meet the definition of a derivative are recorded as either derivative assets or derivative liabilities depending on the effects of the interest rate movements between the trade date and the balance sheet date. Adjustments to the fair value are reflected as a component of income within Loan origination and debt brokerage fees, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Co-broker fees, which are netted against Loan origination and debt brokerage fees, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income, were $21.0 million, $33.1 million and $20.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Mortgage Servicing Rights—When a loan is sold and the Company retains the right to service the loan, the aforementioned derivative asset is reclassified and capitalized as an individual originated mortgage servicing right (“OMSR”) at fair value. The initial capitalized amount is equal to the estimated fair value of the expected net cash flows associated with servicing the loans, net of the expected cash flows associated with any guaranty obligations. The following describes the principal assumptions used in estimating the fair value of capitalized OMSRs.

Discount Rate—Depending upon loan type, the discount rate used is management's best estimate of market discount rates. The rates used for loans sold were between 8% and 14% during 2021 and between 10% and 15% during 2020 and varied based on loan type.

Estimated Life—The estimated life of the OMSRs is derived based upon the stated term of the prepayment protection provisions of the underlying loan and may be reduced by six to 12 months based upon the expiration or reduction of the prepayment provisions prior to the stated maturity date. The Company’s model for OMSRs assumes no prepayment while the prepayment provisions have not expired and full prepayment of the loan at or near the point where the prepayment provisions have expired. The Company’s historical experience is that the prepayment provisions typically do not provide a significant deterrent to a borrower’s paying off the loan within six to 12 months of the expiration of the prepayment provisions.

Escrow Earnings—The estimated earnings rate on escrow accounts associated with the servicing of the loans for the life of the OMSR is added to the estimated future cash flows.

The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of capitalized OMSRs at loan sale are based on internal models and are compared to assumptions used by other market participants periodically. When such comparisons indicate that these assumptions have changed significantly, the Company adjusts its assumptions accordingly. For example, during the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company adjusted the escrow

earnings rate assumptions twice based on changes observed from other market participants. Additionally, the Company made adjustments to the discount rate and escrow earnings rate in 2021 based on observations from other market participants and economic conditions.

Subsequent to the initial measurement date, OMSRs are amortized using the interest method over the period that servicing income is expected to be received and presented as a component of Amortization and depreciation in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The individual loan-level OMSR is written off through a charge to Amortization and depreciation when a loan prepays, defaults, or is probable of default. The Company evaluates all MSRs for impairment quarterly. The predominant risk characteristic affecting the OMSRs is prepayment risk, and we do not believe there is sufficient variation within the portfolio to warrant stratification. Therefore, we assess OMSR impairment at the portfolio level. The Company engages a third party to assist in determining an estimated fair value of our existing and outstanding MSRs on at least a semi-annual basis. The Company tests for impairment on purchased stand-alone servicing portfolios (“PMSRs”) separately from the Company’s OMSRs.  

The fair value of PMSRs is equal to the purchase price paid. For PMSRs, the Company records a portfolio-level MSR asset and determines the estimated life of the portfolio based on the prepayment characteristics of the portfolio. The Company subsequently amortizes such PMSRs and tests for impairment quarterly as discussed in more detail above.

For PMSRs, a constant rate of prepayments and defaults is included in the determination of the portfolio’s estimated life (and thus included as a component of the portfolio’s amortization). Accordingly, prepayments and defaults of individual loans do not change the level of amortization expense recorded for the portfolio unless the pattern of actual prepayments and defaults varies significantly from the estimated pattern. When such a significant difference in the pattern of estimated and actual prepayments and defaults occurs, the Company prospectively adjusts the estimated life of the portfolio (and thus future amortization) to approximate the actual pattern observed. For the periods reported, there were no material MSR purchases.

Guaranty Obligation, net—When a loan is sold under the Fannie Mae DUS program, the Company undertakes an obligation to partially guarantee the performance of the loan. Upon loan sale, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guaranty is recognized and presented as Guaranty obligation, net of accumulated amortization on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The recognized guaranty obligation is the fair value of the Company’s obligation to stand ready to perform and credit risk over the term of the guaranty.

Generally, the estimated fair value of the guaranty obligation is based on the present value of the cash flows expected to be paid under the guaranty over the estimated life of the loan discounted using a rate consistent with what is used for the calculation of the mortgage servicing right for each loan. The life of the guaranty obligation is the estimated period over which the Company believes it will be required to stand ready under the guaranty. Subsequent to the initial measurement date, the liability is amortized over the life of the guaranty period using the straight-line method as a component of and reduction to Amortization and depreciation in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Allowance for Risk-Sharing Obligations—Substantially all loans sold under the Fannie Mae DUS program contain partial or full risk-sharing guaranties that are based on the performance of the loan serviced in the at-risk servicing portfolio. The Company records an estimate of the loss reserve for the current expected credit losses (“CECL”) for all loans in our Fannie Mae at-risk servicing portfolio and presents this loss reserve as Allowance for Risk-Sharing Obligations on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Prior to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 (“ASU 2016-13”), Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) on January 1, 2020, the Company recognized credit losses on risk-sharing loans and loans held for investment under the incurred loss model.

Overall Current Expected Credit Losses Approach

The Company uses the weighted-average remaining maturity method (“WARM”) for calculating its allowance for risk-sharing obligations, the Company’s liability for the off-balance-sheet credit exposure associated with the Fannie Mae at-risk DUS loans. WARM uses an average annual charge-off rate that contains loss content over multiple vintages and loan terms and is used as a foundation for estimating the CECL reserve. The average annual charge-off rate is applied to the unpaid principal balance (“UPB”) over the contractual term, adjusted for estimated prepayments and amortization to arrive at the CECL reserve for the entire current portfolio as described further below.

The Company maximizes the use of historical internal data because the Company has extensive historical data servicing Fannie Mae DUS loans from which to calculate historical loss rates and principal paydown by loan term type for its exposure to credit loss on its homogeneous portfolio of Fannie Mae DUS multifamily loans. Additionally, the Company believes its properties, loss history, and underwriting standards are not similar to public data such as loss histories for loans originated for collateralized mortgage-backed securities conduits.

Runoff Rate

One of the key inputs into a WARM calculation is the runoff rate, which is the expected rate at which loans in the current portfolio will prepay and amortize in the future. As the loans the Company originates have different original lives and run off over different periods, the Company groups loans by similar origination dates (vintage) and contractual maturity terms for purposes of calculating the runoff rate. The Company originates loans under the DUS program with various terms generally ranging from several years to 15 years; each of these various loan terms has a different runoff rate.

The Company uses its historical runoff rate for each of the different loan term pools as a proxy for the expected runoff rate. The Company believes that borrower behavior and macroeconomic conditions will not deviate significantly from historical performance over the approximately ten-year period in which the Company has compiled the actual loss data. The ten-year period captures the various cycles of industry performance and provides a period that is long enough to capture sufficient observations of runoff history. In addition, due to the prepayment protection provisions for Fannie Mae DUS loans, the Company has not seen significant volatility in historical prepayment rates due to changes in interest rates and would not expect this to change materially in future periods.

The historical annual runoff rate is calculated for each year of a loan’s life for each vintage in the portfolio and aggregated with the calculated runoff rate for each comparable year in every vintage. For example, the annual runoff rate for the first year of loans originated in 2010 is aggregated with the annual runoff rate for the first year of loans originated in 2011, 2012, and so on to calculate the average annual runoff rate for the first year of a loan. This average runoff calculation is performed for each year of a loan’s life for each of the various loan terms to create a matrix of historical average annual runoffs by year for the entire portfolio.

The Company segments its current portfolio of at-risk DUS loans outstanding by original loan term type and years remaining and then applies the appropriate historical average runoff rates to calculate the expected remaining balance at the end of each reporting period in the future. For example, for a loan with an original ten-year term and seven years remaining, the Company applies the historical average annual runoff rate for a ten-year loan for year four to arrive at the estimated remaining UPB one year from the current period, the historical average runoff rate for year five to arrive at the estimated remaining UPB two years from the current period, and so on up to the loan’s maturity date.

CECL Reserve Calculation

Once the Company has calculated the estimated outstanding UPB for each future year until maturity for each loan term type, the Company then applies the average annual charge-off rate (as further described below) to each future year’s estimated UPB. The Company then aggregates the allowance calculated for each year within each loan term type and for all different maturity years to arrive at the CECL reserve for the portfolio.

The weighted-average annual charge-off rate is calculated using a ten-year look-back period, utilizing the average portfolio balance and settled losses for each year. A ten-year period is used as the Company believes that this period of time includes sufficiently different economic conditions to generate a reasonable estimate of expected results in the future, given the relatively long-term nature of the current portfolio. This approach captures the adverse impact of the years following the great financial crisis of 2007-2010 because multifamily commercial loans have a lag period from the time of initial distress indications through the timing of loss settlement. The same loss rate is utilized across each loan term type as the Company has not observed any historical or industry-published data to indicate there is any difference in the occurrence probability or loss severity for a loan based on its loan origination term.

Reasonable and Supportable Forecast Period

The Company currently uses one year for its reasonable and supportable forecast period (the “forecast period”). The Company uses a forecast of unemployment rates, historically a highly correlated indicator for multifamily occupancy rates, to assess what macroeconomic and multifamily market conditions are expected to be like over the coming year. The Company then associates the forecasted conditions with a similar historical period over the past ten years, which could be one or several years, and uses the Company’s average loss rate for that historical period as a basis for the loss rate used for the forecast period. The Company reverts to a historical loss rate over a one-year period on a straight-line basis. For all remaining years until maturity, the Company uses the weighted-average annual charge-off rate as described above to estimate losses. The average loss rate from a historical period used for the forecast period may be adjusted as necessary if the forecasted macroeconomic and industry conditions differ materially from the historical period.

Identification of Collateral-Based Reserves for Defaulted Loans

The Company monitors the performance of each risk-sharing loan for events or conditions which may signal a potential default. The Company’s process for identifying which risk-sharing loans may be probable of default consists of an assessment of several qualitative and quantitative factors, including payment status, property financial performance, local real estate market conditions, loan-to-value ratio, debt-service-coverage ratio (“DSCR”), property condition, and financial strength of the borrower or key principal(s). In instances where payment under the guaranty on a specific loan is determined to be probable (as the loan is probable of foreclosure or has foreclosed), the Company separately measures the expected loss through an assessment of the underlying fair value of the asset, disposition costs, and the risk-sharing percentage (the “collateral-based reserve”) through a charge to the provision for risk-sharing obligations, which is a component of Provision (benefit) for credit losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. These loans are removed from the WARM calculation described above, and the associated loan-specific mortgage servicing right and guaranty obligation are written off. The expected loss on the risk-sharing obligation is dependent on the fair value of the underlying property as the loans are collateral dependent. Historically, initial recognition of a collateral-based reserve occurs at or before a loan becomes 60 days delinquent.

The amount of the collateral-based reserve considers historical loss experience, adverse situations affecting individual loans, the estimated disposition value of the underlying collateral, and the level of risk sharing. The estimate of property fair value at initial recognition of the collateral-based reserve is based on appraisals, broker opinions of value, or net operating income and market capitalization rates, depending on the facts and circumstances associated with the loan. The Company regularly monitors the collateral-based reserves on all applicable loans and updates loss estimates as current information is received. The settlement with Fannie Mae is based on the actual sales price of the property and selling and property preservation costs and considers the Fannie Mae loss-sharing requirements. The maximum amount of the loss the Company absorbs at the time of default is generally 20% of the origination UPB of the loan.

Loans Held for Investment, netLoans held for investment are multifamily loans originated by the Company through the Interim Loan Program for properties that currently do not qualify for permanent GSE or HUD (collectively, the “Agencies”) financing. These loans have terms of up to three years and are all interest-only, multifamily loans with similar risk characteristics and no geographic concentration. The loans are carried at their unpaid principal balances, adjusted for net unamortized loan fees and costs, and net of any allowance for loan losses.

As of December 31, 2021, Loans held for investment, net consisted of 12 loans with an aggregate $274.5 million of unpaid principal balance less $1.2 million of net unamortized deferred fees and costs and $4.2 million of allowance for loan losses. As of December 31, 2020, Loans held for investment, net consisted of 18 loans with an aggregate $366.3 million of unpaid principal balance less $1.1 million of net unamortized deferred fees and costs and $4.8 million of allowance for loan losses

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company transferred a portfolio of participating interests in loans held for investment to a third party that was paid off in the second quarter of 2021. The Company accounted for the transfer as a secured borrowing, with the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the loans of $81.5 million presented as a component of Loans held for investment, net and the secured borrowing of $73.3 million presented within Other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020.

The Company assesses the credit quality of loans held for investment in the same manner as it does for the loans in the Fannie Mae at-risk portfolio as described above and records an allowance for these loans as necessary. The allowance for loan losses is estimated collectively for loans with similar characteristics. The collective allowance is based on the same methodology that the Company uses to estimate its allowance for risk-sharing obligations under the CECL standard for at-risk Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (“DUS”) loans (with the exception of a reversion period) because the nature of the underlying collateral is the same, and the loans have similar characteristics, except they are significantly shorter in maturity. The reasonable and supportable forecast period used for the CECL allowance for loans held for investment is one year.

The loss rate for the forecast period was 15 basis points and 36 basis points as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The loss rate for the remaining period until maturity was nine basis points as of both December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

One loan held for investment with an unpaid principal balance of $14.7 million was delinquent and on non-accrual status as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The Company had $3.7 million in collateral-based reserves for this loan as of both December 31, 2021 and 2020 and has not recorded any interest related to this loan since it went on non-accrual status. All other loans were current as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The amortized cost basis of loans that were current as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $258.6 million and $350.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, $231.5 million and $28.3 million of the loans that were current were originated in 2021 and 2019,

respectively. No loans originated in 2020 were outstanding as of December 31, 2021. Prior to 2019, the Company had not experienced any delinquencies related to loans held for investment.

Provision (Benefit) for Credit Losses—The Company records the income statement impact of the changes in the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for risk-sharing obligations within Provision (benefit) for credit losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. NOTE 4 contains additional discussion related to the allowance for risk-sharing obligations. Provision (benefit) for credit losses consisted of the following activity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019:

Components of Provision (Benefit) for Credit Losses (in thousands)

 

2021

    

2020

    

2019

 

Provision (benefit) for loan losses

$

(610)

$

3,739

$

875

Provision (benefit) for risk-sharing obligations

 

(12,677)

 

33,740

 

6,398

Provision (benefit) for credit losses

$

(13,287)

$

37,479

$

7,273

Business Combinations—The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, under which the purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using the fair values determined by management as of the acquisition date. The Company recognizes identifiable assets acquired and liabilities (both specific and contingent) assumed at their fair values at the acquisition date. Furthermore, acquisition-related costs, such as due diligence, legal and accounting fees, are not capitalized or applied in determining the fair value of the acquired assets. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of (i) the assets acquired, (ii) the identifiable intangible assets, and (iii) the liabilities assumed is recognized as goodwill. During the measurement period, the Company records adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with corresponding adjustments to goodwill in the reporting period in which the adjustment is identified. After the measurement period, which could be up to one year after the transaction date, subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

Goodwill—The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment annually. In addition to the annual impairment evaluation, the Company evaluates at least quarterly whether events or circumstances have occurred in the period subsequent to the annual impairment testing which indicate that it is more likely than not an impairment loss has occurred. The Company currently has only one reporting unit; therefore, all goodwill is allocated to that one reporting unit. The Company performs its impairment testing annually as of October 1. For the 2021 assessment, the Company performed a qualitative assessment and also considered the comparison of the Company’s market capitalization to its net assets. Based on the October 1, 2021 qualitative assessment performed, the Company’s market capitalization exceeded its net asset value by $2.4 billion or 173%. As of December 31, 2021, there have been no events subsequent to that analysis that are indicative of an impairment loss.

Loans Held for Sale—Loans held for sale represent originated loans that are generally transferred or sold within 60 days from the date that a mortgage loan is funded. The Company elects to measure all originated loans at fair value, unless the Company documents at the time the loan is originated that it will measure the specific loan at the lower of cost or fair value for the life of the loan. Electing to use fair value allows a better offset of the change in fair value of the loan and the change in fair value of the derivative instruments used as economic hedges. During the period prior to its sale, interest income on a loan held for sale is calculated in accordance with the terms of the individual loan. There were no loans held for sale that were valued at the lower of cost or fair value or on a non-accrual status at December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Share-Based Payment—The Company recognizes compensation costs for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including restricted stock, restricted stock units, and employee stock options based on the grant date fair value. Restricted stock awards are granted without cost to the Company’s officers, employees, and non-employee directors, for which the fair value of the award is calculated as the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

Stock option awards were granted to executive officers in the past, with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant, and were granted with a ten-year exercise period, vesting ratably over three years dependent solely on continued employment. To estimate the grant-date fair value of stock options, the Company used the Black-Scholes pricing model. The Company has not granted any stock option awards since 2017 and does not expect to issue stock options for the foreseeable future.

Generally, the Company’s restricted stock awards for its officers and employees vest ratably over a three-year period based solely on continued employment. Restricted stock awards for non-employee directors fully vest after one year. Awards issued to the Company's production personnel often times vest over a period greater than three years.

The Company offers a performance share plan (“PSP”) principally for the Company’s executives and certain other members of senior management. The performance period for each PSP is three full calendar years beginning on January 1 of the grant year. Participants in the PSP receive restricted stock units (“RSUs”) on the grant date for the PSP in an amount equal to achievement of all performance targets at a maximum level. If the performance targets are met at the end of the performance period and the participant remains employed by the Company, the participant fully vests in the RSUs, which immediately convert to unrestricted shares of common stock. If the performance targets are not met at the maximum level, the participant generally forfeits a portion of the RSUs. If the participant is no longer employed by the Company, the participant forfeits all of the RSUs. The performance targets for all the PSPs issued by the Company are based on meeting diluted earnings per share, return on equity, and total revenues goals. The Company records compensation expense for the PSP based on the grant-date fair value in an amount proportionate to the service time rendered by the participant and the expected achievement level of the goals.

Compensation expense for restricted shares is adjusted for actual forfeitures and is recognized on a straight-line basis, for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award were in substance multiple awards, over the requisite service period of the award. Share-based compensation is recognized within the income statement as Personnel, the same expense line as the cash compensation paid to the respective employees.

Net Warehouse Interest Income—The Company presents warehouse interest income net of warehouse interest expense. Warehouse interest income is the interest earned from loans held for sale and loans held for investment. Generally, a substantial portion of the Company’s loans is financed with matched borrowings under one of its warehouse facilities. The remaining portion of loans not funded with matched borrowings is financed with the Company’s own cash. The Company also fully funds a small number of loans held for sale or loans held for investment with its own cash. Warehouse interest expense is incurred on borrowings used to fund loans solely while they are held for sale or for investment. Warehouse interest income and expense are earned or incurred on loans held for sale after a loan is closed and before a loan is sold. Warehouse interest income and expense are earned or incurred on loans held for investment after a loan is closed and before a loan is repaid. Included in Net warehouse interest income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and 2019 are the following components:

For the year ended December 31, 

Components of Net Warehouse Interest Income (in thousands)

 

2021

    

2020

    

2019

Warehouse interest income - loans held for sale

$

42,480

$

53,090

$

48,211

Warehouse interest expense - loans held for sale

 

(28,084)

 

(35,154)

 

(46,294)

Net warehouse interest income - loans held for sale

$

14,396

$

17,936

$

1,917

Warehouse interest income - loans held for investment

$

12,406

$

17,741

$

32,059

Warehouse interest expense - loans held for investment

 

(4,694)

 

(6,351)

 

(8,277)

Warehouse interest income - secured borrowings

1,748

3,449

3,549

Warehouse interest expense - secured borrowings

(1,748)

(3,449)

(3,549)

Net warehouse interest income - loans held for investment

$

7,712

$

11,390

$

23,782

Statement of Cash Flows—The Company records the fair value of premiums and origination fees as a component of the fair value of derivative assets on the loan commitment date and records the related income within Loan origination and debt brokerage fees, net within the Consolidated Statements of Income. The cash for the origination fee is received upon closing of the loan, and the cash for the premium is received upon loan sale, resulting in a timing mismatch of the recognition of income and the receipt of cash in a given period when the derivative or loan held for sale remains outstanding at period end.

The Company accounts for this mismatch by recording an adjustment called Change in the fair value of premiums and origination fees within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The amount of the adjustment reflects a reduction to cash provided by or used in operations for the amount of income recognized upon rate lock (i.e., non-cash income) for derivatives and loans held for sale outstanding at period end and an increase to cash provided by or used in operations for cash received upon loan origination or sale for derivatives and loans held for sale that were outstanding at prior period end. When income recognized upon rate lock is greater than cash received upon loan origination or sale, the adjustment is a negative amount. When income recognized upon rate lock is less than cash received upon loan origination or loan sale, the adjustment is a positive amount.

For presentation in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers pledged cash and cash equivalents (as detailed in NOTE 10) to be restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. The following table presents a reconciliation of the total of cash, cash

equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the related captions in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

December 31,

(in thousands)

2021

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

305,635

$

321,097

$

120,685

$

90,058

Restricted cash

42,812

19,432

8,677

20,821

Pledged cash and cash equivalents (NOTE 10)

 

44,733

 

17,473

 

7,204

 

9,469

Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents

$

393,180

$

358,002

$

136,566

$

120,348

Income Taxes—The Company files income tax returns in the applicable U.S. federal, state, and local jurisdictions and generally is subject to examination by the respective jurisdictions for three years from the filing of a tax return. The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the new rate is enacted.

Deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be realizable based on consideration of available evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies.

The Company had an immaterial accrual for uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Pledged Securities—As collateral against its Fannie Mae risk-sharing obligations (NOTES 4 and 10), certain securities have been pledged to the benefit of Fannie Mae to secure the Company's risk-sharing obligations. Substantially all of the balance of Pledged securities, at fair value within the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 was pledged against Fannie Mae risk-sharing obligations. The Company’s investments included within Pledged securities, at fair value consist primarily of money market funds and Agency debt securities. The investments in Agency debt securities consist of multifamily Agency mortgage-backed securities (“Agency MBS”) and are all accounted for as available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities. The Company does not record an allowance for credit losses for its AFS securities, including those whose fair value is less than amortized cost, when the AFS securities are issued by the GSEs. The contractual cash flows of these AFS securities are guaranteed by the GSEs, which are government-sponsored enterprises under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Accordingly, it is expected that the securities would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of these securities. The Company does not intend to sell any of the Agency MBS, nor does the Company believe that it is more likely than not that it would be required to sell these investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity.

Asset Management Fees—The Company provides investment management services to investors in low-income housing tax credits (“LIHTC”) funds and earns an asset management fee. The asset management fees are earned each year over the 15-year compliance period of the properties held by the fund; however, due to the uncertainty of the timing and collectability of the asset management fees, the Company only recognizes a receivable for the amount expected to be collected from the funds over the following year. The receivable is based on the Company’s estimates of the ability of the funds to pay the asset management fees using a combination of historical and projected cash proceeds from the funds’ investments. The receivable is reduced as actual cash is received during the quarter. At quarter end, the Company reassesses the amount expected to be collected as described above and recognizes revenue for the difference between the receivable net of cash collections and the receivable based on expected collections. The asset management fee receivable was $42.3 million as of December 31, 2021 and zero as of December 31, 2020 as the Company did not have LIHTC operations prior to the acquisition of Alliant as defined and described in NOTE 7. The asset management fee receivable is included within Receivables, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Contracts with Customers—A majority of the Company’s revenues are derived from the following sources, all of which are excluded from the accounting provisions applicable to contracts with customers: (i) financial instruments, (ii) transfers and servicing, (iii) derivative transactions, and (iv) investments in debt securities/equity-method investments. The remaining portion of revenues is derived from contracts with customers. The Company’s contracts with customers generally do not require significant judgment or material estimates that affect the determination of the transaction price (including the assessment of variable consideration, except as noted above), the allocation of the transaction price to performance obligations, and the determination of the timing of the satisfaction of performance obligations. Additionally, the earnings process for the Company’s contracts with customers is generally not complicated and is generally completed in a short period of time.

The following table presents information about the Company’s contracts with customers for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019:

Description (in thousands)

 

2021

    

2020

    

2019

 

Statement of income line item

Certain loan origination fees

$

186,986

$

64,528

$

75,599

Loan origination and debt brokerage fees, net

Property sales broker fees

119,981

38,108

30,917

Property sales broker fees

Investment management fees, application fees, subscription revenues, revenues from LIHTC operations, and other

 

56,557

 

22,999

 

20,968

Other revenues

Total revenues derived from contracts with customers

$

363,524

$

125,635

$

127,484

Cash and Cash Equivalents—The term cash and cash equivalents, as used in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, includes currency on hand, demand deposits with financial institutions, and short-term, highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less. The Company had no cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Restricted Cash—Restricted cash represents primarily good faith deposits from borrowers and cash held in a collection account to be used to fund the repayment of the Alliant note payable as described more fully in NOTE 6. The Company records a corresponding liability for the good faith deposits from borrowers within Performance deposits from borrowers in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Receivables, Net—Receivables, net represents amounts currently due to the Company pursuant to contractual servicing agreements, investor good faith deposits held in escrow by others, general accounts receivable, advances to and notes receivable from the developers of affordable housing projects, asset management fees receivable, and advances of principal and interest payments and tax and insurance escrow amounts if the borrower is delinquent in making loan payments, to the extent such amounts are determined to be reimbursable and recoverable. Substantially all of these receivables are expected to be collected within a short period of time and are with counterparties with high credit quality (such as the Agencies). Additionally, the Company has not experienced any credit losses related to these receivables. Consequently, the Company has not recorded an allowance for credit losses associated with its receivables as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Concentrations of Credit Risk—Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, loans held for sale, and derivative financial instruments.

The Company places the cash and temporary investments with high-credit-quality financial institutions and believes no significant credit risk exists. The counterparties to the loans held for sale and funding commitments are owners of residential multifamily properties located throughout the United States. Mortgage loans are generally transferred or sold within 60 days from the date that a mortgage loan is funded. There is no material residual counterparty risk with respect to the Company's funding commitments as each potential borrower must make a non-refundable good faith deposit when the funding commitment is executed. The counterparty to the forward sale is Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or a broker-dealer that has been determined to be a credit-worthy counterparty by us and our warehouse lenders. There is a risk that the purchase price agreed to by the investor will be reduced in the event of a late delivery. The risk for non-delivery of a loan primarily results from the risk that a borrower does not close on the funding commitment in a timely manner. This risk is generally mitigated by the non-refundable good faith deposit.

Leases—In the normal course of business, the Company enters into lease arrangements for all of its office space. All such lease arrangements are accounted for as operating leases. The Company initially recognizes a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The lease liability is measured at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The ROU asset is measured at the lease liability amount, adjusted for lease prepayments, accrued

rent, lease incentives received, and the lessee’s initial direct costs. Lease expense is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

These operating leases do not provide an implicit discount rate; therefore, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rate of its note payable at lease commencement to calculate lease liabilities as the terms on this debt most closely resemble the terms on the Company’s largest leases. The Company’s lease agreements often include options to extend or terminate the lease. Single lease cost related to these lease agreements is recognized on the straight-line basis over the term of the lease, which includes options to extend when it is reasonably certain that such options will be exercised and the Company knows what the lease payments will be during the optional periods.

Litigation—In the ordinary course of business, the Company may be party to various claims and litigation, none of which the Company believes is material. The Company cannot predict the outcome of any pending litigation and may be subject to consequences that could include fines, penalties, and other costs, and the Company’s reputation and business may be impacted. The Company believes that any liability that could be imposed on the Company in connection with the disposition of any pending lawsuits would not have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations, liquidity, or financial condition.

Recently Adopted and Recently Announced Accounting Pronouncements—There were no recently announced but not yet effective accounting pronouncements issued that have the potential to impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company did not adopt any new accounting policies except those related to the acquisition of Alliant (as defined in NOTE 7). The significant policies resulting from the acquisition of Alliant are discussed above.

Reclassifications—The Company has made immaterial reclassifications to prior-year balances to conform to current-year presentation. The Company also included fair value disclosures over contingent consideration liabilities in NOTE 9 as of December 31, 2020. Previously, the Company’s fair value adjustments over its contingent consideration liabilities were not material and therefore not included in the fair value disclosures. With the acquisition of Alliant (as defined in NOTE 7) and the earn-out included as part of the purchase consideration, the Company has made comparative disclosures of prior-year fair values to conform to current-year presentation.