Fair Value (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy

Fair Value of Financial InstrumentsThe following table displays the carrying value and estimated fair value of our financial instruments. The fair value of financial instruments we disclose includes commitments to purchase multifamily and single-family mortgage loans that we do not record in our consolidated balance sheets. The fair values of these commitments are included as “Mortgage loans held for investment, net of allowance for loan losses.”

Fair Value Measurements

We use fair value measurements for the initial recording of certain assets and liabilities and periodic remeasurement of certain assets and liabilities on a recurring or nonrecurring basis.

Fair Value Measurement

Fair value measurement guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and sets forth disclosures around fair value measurements. This guidance applies whenever other accounting guidance requires or permits assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. The guidance establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs into the valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority, Level 1, to measurements based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The next highest priority, Level 2, is given to measurements of assets and liabilities based on limited observable inputs or observable inputs for similar assets and liabilities. The lowest priority, Level 3, is given to measurements based on unobservable inputs.

In our consolidated balance sheets certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when we evaluate loans for impairment).

Fair Value Option

We elected the fair value option for loans and debt that contain embedded derivatives that would otherwise require bifurcation. Additionally, we elected the fair value option for our credit risk-sharing securities accounted for as debt of Fannie Mae issued under our CAS series prior to January 1, 2016. Under the fair value option, we elected to carry these instruments at fair value instead of bifurcating the embedded derivative from such instruments.

Interest income for the mortgage loans is recorded in “Interest income—Mortgage loans” and interest expense for the debt instruments is recorded in “Interest expense—Long-term debt” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.