Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivatives, Methods of Accounting, Hedging Derivatives

Fair value hedge accounting

In January 2021, to reduce earnings volatility related to changes in benchmark interest rates, we began applying fair value hedge accounting to certain pools of single-family mortgage loans and certain issuances of our funding debt by designating such instruments as the hedged item in hedging relationships with interest-rate swaps. In these relationships, we have designated the change in the benchmark interest rate, either the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), as the risk being hedged. We have elected to use the last-of-layer method to hedge certain pools of single-family mortgage loans. This election involves establishing fair value hedging relationships on the portion of each loan pool that is not expected to be affected by prepayments, defaults and other events that affect the timing and amount of cash flows. The term of each hedging relationship is generally one business day and we establish hedging relationships daily to align our hedge accounting with our risk management practices.

If a hedging relationship qualifies for hedge accounting, the change in the fair value of the interest-rate swaps and the change in the fair value of the hedged item for the risk being hedged are recorded through net interest income. A corresponding basis adjustment is recorded against the hedged item, either the pool of mortgage loans or the debt, for the changes in the fair value attributable to the risk being hedged. For hedging relationships that hedge pools of single-family mortgage loans, basis adjustments are allocated to individual single-family loans based on the relative unpaid principal balance of each loan at the termination of the hedging relationship. The cumulative basis adjustments on the hedged item are amortized into earnings using the effective interest method over the contractual life of the hedged item, with amortization beginning upon termination of the hedging relationship.

All changes in fair value of the designated portion of the derivative hedging instrument (i.e., interest-rate swap), including interest accruals, are recorded in the same line item in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income used to record the earnings effect of the hedged item. Therefore, changes in the fair value of the hedged mortgage loans and debt attributable to the risk being hedged are recognized in “Interest income” or “Interest expense,” along with the changes in the fair value of the respective derivative hedging instruments.

The recognition of basis adjustments on the hedged item and the subsequent amortization are noncash activities and are reported in “Net cash provided by operating activities” in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Cash on derivative instruments paid or received while the derivative is designated in a hedging relationship is reported as “Net cash provided by operating activities” in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Pursuant to this program, we may designate certain interest-rate swaps as hedging instruments in hedges of the change in fair value attributable to the designated benchmark interest rate for certain closed pools of fixed-rate, single-family mortgage loans or our funding debt. For hedged items in qualifying fair value hedging relationships, changes in fair value attributable to the designated risk are recognized as a basis adjustment to the hedged item. We also report changes in the fair value of the derivative hedging instrument in the same condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income line item used to recognize the earnings effect of the hedged item’s basis adjustment.