Allowance for Loan Losses Allowance For Loan Losses (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Receivables [Abstract]

Allowance for Loan Losses Policy

Allowance for Loan 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. When losses on a loan are confirmed, typically through our receipt of property upon foreclosure of the loan or of cash proceeds upon completion of a short sale, we reduce our allowance for loan losses by recording a charge-off. 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 FHFA’s Advisory Bulletin 2012-02, “Framework for Adversely Classifying Loans, Other Real Estate Owned, and Other Assets and Listing Assets for Special Mention” (the “Advisory Bulletin”). The excess of a loan’s unpaid principal balance, accrued interest, and any applicable cost basis adjustments (“our total exposure”) over the fair value of the assets is treated as a charge-off loss that is deducted from the allowance for loan losses. The amount charged off also considers estimated proceeds from primary mortgage insurance or other credit enhancements that are either contractually attached to a loan or that were entered into contemporaneously with and in contemplation of a guaranty or loan purchase transaction as a recovery of our total exposure, up to the amount of loss recognized as a charge-off. We record additional proceeds from primary mortgage insurance and credit enhancements in excess of our total exposure as a recovery of any forgone contractually past due interest, and then as an offset to the expenses recorded in “Foreclosed property expense” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income when received.

We maintain an allowance for loan losses for HFI loans held by Fannie Mae and by consolidated Fannie Mae MBS trusts, excluding loans for which we have elected the fair value option. When calculating our allowance for loan losses, we consider the unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized premiums and discounts, and other cost basis adjustments of HFI loans at the balance sheet date.