Risks and Uncertainties (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]

Financing Receivable, Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure

Acquired Property, Net

We recognize foreclosed property (i.e., “Acquired property, net”) upon the earlier of the loan foreclosure event or when we take physical possession of the property (i.e., through a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure transaction). We initially measure foreclosed property at its fair value less its estimated costs to sell. We treat any excess of our amortized cost in the loan over the fair value less estimated costs to sell the property as a write-off to the “Allowance for loan losses” in our consolidated balance sheets. Any excess of the fair value less estimated costs to sell the property over our amortized cost in the loan is recognized first to recover any previously written-off amounts, then to recover any forgone, contractually due interest, and lastly to “Foreclosed property expense” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

We classify foreclosed properties as HFS when we intend to sell the property and the following conditions are met at either acquisition or within a relatively short period thereafter: we are actively marketing the property and it is available for immediate sale in its current condition such that the sale is reasonably expected to take place within one year. We report these properties at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less estimated selling costs. We do not depreciate these properties.

We recognize a loss for any subsequent write-down of the property to its fair value less its estimated costs to sell through a valuation allowance with an offsetting charge to “Foreclosed property expense” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. We recognize a recovery for any subsequent increase in fair value less estimated costs to sell up to the cumulative loss previously recognized through the valuation allowance. We recognize gains or losses on sales of foreclosed property through “Foreclosed property expense” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Properties that do not meet the criteria to be classified as HFS are classified as held for use and are recorded in “Other assets” in our consolidated balance sheets. These properties are depreciated and are evaluated for impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the property is no longer recoverable.

When an insured loan held in our retained mortgage portfolio subsequently goes into foreclosure, we charge off the loan, eliminating any previously-recorded loss reserves, and record REO and a mortgage insurance receivable for the claim proceeds deemed probable of recovery, as appropriate. However, if a mortgage insurer rescinds, cancels or denies insurance coverage, the initial receivable becomes due from the mortgage seller or servicer.