Mortgage-Backed and Credit Risk Transfer Securities | Mortgage-Backed and Credit Risk Transfer Securities During the first half of 2020, we experienced unprecedented market conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and sold a substantial portion of our MBS and GSE CRT portfolio to generate liquidity and reduce leverage. We resumed investing in Agency RMBS in July 2020. The following tables summarize our MBS portfolio by asset type as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. March 31, 2021 $ in thousands Principal/ Notional Unamortized Amortized Allowance for Credit Losses Unrealized Fair Period- end Weighted Average Yield (1) Agency RMBS: 30 year fixed-rate 8,832,549 352,768 9,185,317 — (187,399) 8,997,918 1.88 % Total Agency RMBS pass-through 8,832,549 352,768 9,185,317 — (187,399) 8,997,918 1.88 % Agency-CMO (2) 18,536 (18,536) — — — — — % Non-Agency CMBS 91,427 (4,914) 86,513 (830) 5,567 91,250 8.60 % Non-Agency RMBS (3)(4)(5) 637,509 (627,312) 10,197 — 377 10,574 6.21 % Total 9,580,021 (297,994) 9,282,027 (830) (181,455) 9,099,742 1.95 % (1) Period-end weighted average yield is based on amortized cost as of March 31, 2021 and incorporates future prepayment and loss assumptions. (2) Agency collateralized mortgage obligation ("Agency-CMO") are interest-only securities ("Agency IO"). (3) Non-Agency RMBS is 65.3% fixed rate, 33.7% variable rate, and 1.0% floating rate based on fair value. Coupon payments on variable rate investments are based upon changes in the underlying Hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage ("ARM") loan coupons, while coupon payments on floating rate investments are based upon a spread to a reference index. (4) Of the total discount in non-Agency RMBS, $2.1 million is non-accretable (calculated using the principal/notional balance) based on estimated future cash flows of the securities. (5) Non-Agency RMBS includes interest-only securities ("non-Agency IO") which represent 98.5% of principal/notional balance, 48.3% of amortized cost and 37.7% of fair value. December 31, 2020 $ in thousands Principal/Notional Unamortized Amortized Allowance for Credit Losses Unrealized Fair Period- end Weighted Average Yield (1) Agency RMBS: 30 year fixed-rate 7,635,107 391,644 8,026,751 — 24,115 8,050,866 1.86 % Total Agency RMBS pass-through 7,635,107 391,644 8,026,751 — 24,115 8,050,866 1.86 % Agency-CMO (2) 19,634 (19,634) — — — — — % Non-Agency CMBS 112,549 (5,791) 106,758 (1,768) 4,593 109,583 9.40 % Non-Agency RMBS (3)(4)(5) 790,627 (779,660) 10,967 — 766 11,733 7.83 % Total 8,557,917 (413,441) 8,144,476 (1,768) 29,474 8,172,182 1.97 % (1) Period-end weighted average yield is based on amortized cost as of December 31, 2020 and incorporates future prepayment and loss assumptions. (2) All Agency-CMO are Agency IO. (3) Non-Agency RMBS is 67.3% fixed rate, 31.8% variable rate and 0.9% floating rate based on fair value. Coupon payments on variable rate investments are based upon changes in the underlying Hybrid ARM loan coupons, while coupon payments on floating rate investments are based upon a spread to a reference index. (4) Of the total discount in non-Agency RMBS, $2.1 million is non-accretable calculated using the principal/notional balance based on estimated future cash flows of the securities. (5) Non-Agency RMBS includes non-Agency IO which represent 98.8% of principal/notional balance, 49.3% of amortized cost and 41.5% of fair value. The following table presents the fair value of our available-for-sale securities and securities accounted for under the fair value option by asset type as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. We have elected the fair value option for all of our RMBS interest-only securities and our MBS purchased on or after September 1, 2016. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, approximately 99% of our MBS are accounted for under the fair value option. March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 $ in thousands Available-for-sale Securities Securities under Fair Value Option Total Available-for-sale Securities Securities under Fair Value Option Total Agency RMBS: 30 year fixed-rate — 8,997,918 8,997,918 — 8,050,866 8,050,866 Total RMBS Agency pass-through — 8,997,918 8,997,918 — 8,050,866 8,050,866 Non-Agency CMBS 91,250 — 91,250 109,583 — 109,583 Non-Agency RMBS 6,943 3,631 10,574 7,267 4,466 11,733 Total 98,193 9,001,549 9,099,742 116,850 8,055,332 8,172,182 The components of the carrying value of our MBS portfolio at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are presented below. Accrued interest receivable on our MBS portfolio, which is recorded within investment related receivable on our condensed consolidated balance sheets, was $17.5 million at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $15.4 million). March 31, 2021 $ in thousands MBS Interest-Only Securities Total Principal/notional balance 8,933,501 646,520 9,580,021 Unamortized premium 354,451 — 354,451 Unamortized discount (10,852) (641,593) (652,445) Allowance for credit losses (830) — (830) Gross unrealized gains (1) 8,297 102 8,399 Gross unrealized losses (1) (188,816) (1,038) (189,854) Fair value 9,095,751 3,991 9,099,742 December 31, 2020 $ in thousands MBS Interest-Only Securities Total Principal/notional balance 7,757,491 800,426 8,557,917 Unamortized premium 391,644 — 391,644 Unamortized discount (10,067) (795,018) (805,085) Allowance for credit losses (1,768) — (1,768) Gross unrealized gains (1) 34,539 103 34,642 Gross unrealized losses (1) (4,527) (641) (5,168) Fair value 8,167,312 4,870 8,172,182 (1) Gross unrealized gains and losses includes gains (losses) recognized in net income for securities accounted for as derivatives or under the fair value option as well as gains (losses) for available-for-sale securities which are recognized as adjustments to other comprehensive income. Realization occurs upon sale or settlement of such securities. Further detail on the components of our total gains (losses) on investments, net for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 is provided below in this Note 4. The following table summarizes our MBS portfolio according to estimated weighted average life classifications as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 . $ in thousands March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Less than one year 29,223 22,112 Greater than one year and less than five years 149,120 5,303,917 Greater than or equal to five years 8,921,399 2,846,153 Total 9,099,742 8,172,182 The following tables present the estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses of our MBS by length of time that such securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. March 31, 2021 Less than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total $ in thousands Fair Unrealized Number Fair Unrealized Number Fair Unrealized Number Agency RMBS: 30 year fixed-rate 8,592,854 (188,816) 93 — — — 8,592,854 (188,816) 93 Total Agency RMBS pass-through (1) 8,592,854 (188,816) 93 — — — 8,592,854 (188,816) 93 Non-Agency RMBS (2) 3,487 (1,014) 10 17 (24) 4 3,504 (1,038) 14 Total 8,596,341 (189,830) 103 17 (24) 4 8,596,358 (189,854) 107 (1) Fair value option has been elected for all Agency RMBS in an unrealized loss position. (2) Fair value option has been elected for all non-Agency RMBS in an unrealized loss position. December 31, 2020 Less than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total $ in thousands Fair Unrealized Number Fair Unrealized Number Fair Unrealized Number Agency RMBS: 30 year fixed-rate 1,496,279 (4,108) 20 — — — 1,496,279 (4,108) 20 Total Agency RMBS pass-through (1) 1,496,279 (4,108) 20 — — — 1,496,279 (4,108) 20 Non-Agency CMBS (2) 27,069 (419) 1 — — — 27,069 (419) 1 Non-Agency RMBS (3) 2,681 (438) 6 1,612 (203) 7 4,293 (641) 13 Total 1,526,029 (4,965) 27 1,612 (203) 7 1,527,641 (5,168) 34 (1) Fair value option has been elected for all Agency RMBS in an unrealized loss position. (2) Unrealized losses on non-Agency CMBS are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. These losses are not reflected in an allowance for credit losses based on a comparison of discounted expected cash flows to current amortized cost basis. (3) Fair value option has been elected for all non-Agency RMBS in an unrealized loss position. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we have recorded an allowance for credit losses of $830,000 and $1.8 million, respectively, on a single non-Agency CMBS on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We recorded a $938,000 decrease in the provision for credit losses on our consolidated statement of operations during the three months ended March 31, 2021. We did not record any provisions for credit losses during the three months ended March 31, 2020. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recorded impairments of $78.8 million on our condensed consolidated statement of operations because we intended to sell or more likely than not would be required to sell the securities before recovery of amortized cost basis. The following table presents a roll-forward of our allowance for credit losses. Three Months Ended March 31, $ in thousands 2021 Beginning allowance for credit losses (1,768) Additional increases or decreases to the allowance for credit losses on securities that had an allowance recorded in a previous period 938 Ending allowance for credit losses (830) The following table summarizes the components of our total gain (loss) on investments, net for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. Three Months Ended March 31, $ in thousands 2021 2020 Gross realized gains on sale of investments 201 328,128 Gross realized losses on sale of investments (117,048) (332,413) Impairment of investments the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell before recovery of amortized cost basis and other impairments — (78,834) Net unrealized gains and losses on MBS and GSE CRT accounted for under the fair value option (211,912) (666,872) Net unrealized gains and losses on commercial loan and loan participation interest (3,098) (5,492) Total gain (loss) on investments, net (331,857) (755,483) The following tables present components of interest income recognized on our MBS and GSE CRT portfolio for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. GSE CRT interest income excludes coupon interest associated with embedded derivatives of $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 that was recorded as realized and unrealized credit derivative income (loss), net. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 $ in thousands Coupon Net (Premium Interest Agency RMBS 49,555 (12,484) 37,071 Non-Agency CMBS 1,305 878 2,183 Non-Agency RMBS 624 (450) 174 Other 6 — 6 Total 51,490 (12,056) 39,434 For the three months ended March 31, 2020 $ in thousands Coupon Net (Premium Interest Agency RMBS 105,878 (20,913) 84,965 Agency CMBS 33,995 (1,666) 32,329 Non-Agency CMBS 42,218 5,058 47,276 Non-Agency RMBS 10,760 2,698 13,458 GSE CRT 8,507 (1,750) 6,757 Other 751 — 751 Total 202,109 (16,573) 185,536 |