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Allowance for Loan Losses Allowance For Loan Losses (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Receivables [Abstract]  
Allowance for Loan Losses [Policy Text Block]
Allowance for Loan Losses and Reserve for Guaranty Losses
Our allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance that reflects an estimate of incurred credit losses related to our recorded investment in both single-family and multifamily HFI loans. This population includes both HFI loans held by Fannie Mae and by consolidated Fannie Mae MBS trusts. When calculating our allowance for loan losses, we consider only our net recorded investment in the loan at the balance sheet date, which includes the loan’s unpaid principal balance and any applicable cost basis adjustments. We record charge-offs as a reduction to the allowance for loan losses when losses are confirmed through the receipt of assets in satisfaction of a loan, such as the underlying collateral upon foreclosure or cash upon completion of a short sale. Additionally, we record charge-offs as a reduction to our allowance for loan losses when a loan is determined to be uncollectible, upon the redesignation of loans from HFI to HFS and pursuant to the charge-off provisions of the Advisory Bulletin.
The reserve for guaranty losses is a liability account which is a component of “Other liabilities” in our consolidated balance sheets that reflects an estimate of incurred credit losses related to our guaranty to each unconsolidated Fannie Mae MBS trust that we will supplement amounts received by the Fannie Mae MBS trust as required to permit timely payments of principal and interest on the related Fannie Mae MBS and our agreements to purchase credit-impaired loans from lenders under the terms of our long-term standby commitments. As a result, the reserve for guaranty losses considers not only the principal and interest due on the loan at the current balance sheet date, but also any additional interest payments due to the trust from the current balance sheet date until the point of loan acquisition or foreclosure.
We maintain an allowance for loan losses for HFI loans held by Fannie Mae and loans backing Fannie Mae MBS issued from consolidated trusts. When calculating our allowance for loan losses, we consider the unpaid principal balance, net of amortized premiums and discounts, and other cost basis adjustments of HFI loans at the balance sheet date.