Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements The Company uses fair value measurements in fair value disclosures and to record certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, such as mortgage loans held for sale, derivative financial instruments, MSRs and loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA, or on a nonrecurring basis, such as when measuring intangible assets and long-lived assets. The Company has elected fair value accounting for loans held for sale to more closely align the Company’s accounting with its interest rate risk strategies without having to apply the operational complexities of hedge accounting. The Company groups its assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. These levels are: Level Input: Input Definition: Level 1 Unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 Prices determined using other significant observable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that other market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. These may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk and others. Level 3 Prices determined using significant unobservable inputs. In situations where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable (for example, when there is little or no market activity), unobservable inputs may be used. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions about the factors that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and are based on the best information available in the circumstances. An asset or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. While the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with those used by other market participants, the use of different methods or assumptions to estimate the fair value of certain financial statement items could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date. Those estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market for such items existed, or had such items been liquidated, and those differences could be material to the consolidated financial statements. Management incorporates lack of liquidity into its fair value estimates based on the type of asset or liability measured and the valuation method used. The Company uses discounted cash flow techniques to estimate fair value. These techniques incorporate forecasting of expected cash flows discounted at appropriate market discount rates that are intended to reflect the lack of liquidity in the market. The following describes the methods used in estimating the fair values of certain financial statement items: Mortgage Loans Held for Sale: The majority of the Company's mortgage loans held for sale at fair value are saleable into the secondary mortgage markets and their fair values are estimated using observable quoted market or contracted prices or market price equivalents, which would be used by other market participants. These saleable loans are considered Level 2. A smaller portion of the Company's mortgage loans held for sale consist of 1) loans deemed non-saleable prior to sale to the GSEs; 2) loans repurchased from the GSEs that have subsequently been deemed to be non-saleable to GSEs when certain representations and warranties are breached; and 3) loans actually repurchased from GNMA securities pursuant to the Company's unilateral right, as servicer, to repurchase such GNMA loans it had previously sold. The fair values of the loans deemed non-saleable to the GSEs are estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis with significant unobservable inputs, such as prepayment speeds, default rates, the spread between bid and ask prices and loss severities, which are identified as Level 3 inputs. Loans repurchased from GNMA pools are estimated in the manner described in the Loans Eligible for Repurchase from GNMA discussion below. These loans are also considered Level 3. Derivative Financial Instruments: The Company estimates the fair value of interest rate lock commitments based on the value of the underlying mortgage loan, quoted MBS prices, estimates of the fair value of the MSRs and an estimate of the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the interest rate lock commitment, net of commission expenses. The Company estimates the fair value of forward sales commitments based on quoted MBS prices. With respect to its IRLCs, management determined that a Level 3 classification was most appropriate based on the various significant unobservable inputs utilized in estimating the fair value of its IRLCs. Mortgage Servicing Rights: The Company uses a discounted cash flow approach to estimate the fair value of MSRs. This approach consists of projecting servicing cash flows discounted at a rate that management believes market participants would use in their determinations of value. The Company obtains valuations from an independent third party on a monthly basis, to support the reasonableness of the fair value estimate generated by the internal model. Therefore, the Company classifies MSRs as Level 3. The key assumptions used in the estimation of the fair value of MSRs include prepayment speeds, discount rates, default rates, cost to service, contractual servicing fees and escrow earnings. In valuing the fair value of MSRs, the Company uses a forward yield curve as an input which will impact pre-pay estimates and the value of escrows as compared to a flat rate environment. The Company believes that the use of the forward yield curve better represents fair value of MSRs because the forward yield curve is the market’s expectation of future interest rates based on its expectation of inflation and other economic conditions. Loans Eligible for Repurchase from GNMA: The Company uses a liquidation based discounted cash flow analysis to estimate the fair value of the assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for certain delinquent government guaranteed or insured mortgage loans from GNMA guaranteed pools in its servicing portfolio. Therefore, the Company classifies loans from GNMA as Level 3. The Company's right to purchase such loans arises as the result of the borrower's failure to make payments for at least 90 days preceding the month of repurchase by the Company and provides an alternative to the Company's obligation to continue advancing principal and interest at the coupon rate of the related GNMA security. The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analysis include the Company's historical ability to make the GNMA loan salable, by becoming current either through the borrower's performance or through completion of a modification of the loan's terms, and the Company's historical ability to receive insurance reimbursements for related claims filed. The following are the major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2016 : Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets: Mortgage loans held for sale $ — $ 603,542 $ — $ 603,542 Mortgage loans held for sale - non-saleable to GSEs — — 59,207 59,207 Mortgage loans held for sale - repurchased GNMA loans — — 34,945 34,945 Derivative assets (IRLCs) — — 16,999 16,999 Derivative assets (MBS forward trades) — 682 — 682 MSRs — — 171,676 171,676 Loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA $ — $ — $ 84,006 84,006 Total assets $ — $ 604,224 $ 366,833 $ 971,057 Liabilities: Derivative liabilities (IRLCs) $ — $ — $ 77 $ 77 Derivative liabilities (MBS forward trades) — 8,899 — 8,899 Liability for loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA — — 84,006 84,006 Total liabilities $ — $ 8,899 $ 84,083 $ 92,982 The following are the major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 : Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets: Mortgage loans held for sale $ — $ 549,561 $ — $ 549,561 Mortgage loans held for sale - non-saleable to GSEs — — 58,799 58,799 Mortgage loans held for sale - repurchased GNMA loans — — 37,336 37,336 Derivative assets (IRLCs) — — 10,596 10,596 Derivative assets (MBS forward trades) — 1,564 — 1,564 MSRs — — 199,637 199,637 Loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA — — 80,794 80,794 Total assets $ — $ 551,125 $ 387,162 $ 938,287 Liabilities: Derivative liabilities (IRLCs) $ — $ — $ 334 $ 334 Derivative liabilities (MBS forward trades) — 2,183 — 2,183 Liability for loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA — — 80,794 80,794 Total liabilities $ — $ 2,183 $ 81,128 $ 83,311 A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the Company’s assets and liabilities classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015 are as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - non-saleable to GSEs Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - Repurchased GNMA Loans Derivative Assets Derivative Liabilities Loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA Liability for loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA Balance at beginning of period $ 58,799 $ 37,336 $ 10,596 $ 334 $ 80,794 $ 80,794 Changes in fair value recognized in earnings 1,095 357 6,403 (257 ) (346 ) (346 ) Purchases 6,673 2,208 — — — — Sales (9,985 ) (1,784 ) — — (2,207 ) (2,207 ) Issuances — — — — — — Settlements (5,051 ) (2,087 ) — — 5,765 5,765 Transfers into Level 3 1 7,676 — — — Transfers out of Level 3 2 — (1,085 ) — — — — Balance at end of period $ 59,207 $ 34,945 $ 16,999 $ 77 $ 84,006 $ 84,006 1 On an ongoing basis, for Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - measured at fair value, transfers into Level 3 represent those deemed unsaleable to GSEs in the current period. For Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - Repurchased GNMA Loans, transfers into Level 3 represent those purchased out of Loans Eligible for Repurchase from GNMA, and the related liability, in the current period. For the Company's Derivative Financial Instruments, transfers into Level 3 represent interest rate lock commitments. Management determined in the current period that a Level 3 classification was most appropriate based on the various significant unobservable inputs utilized in estimating the fair value of its IRLCs. Transfers between levels are deemed to have occurred on the last day of the quarter in which a change in classification is determined. 2 On an ongoing basis, for Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - Repurchased GNMA Loans, transfers out of Level 3 represent those which the Company has made saleable. Year Ended December 31, 2015 Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - non-saleable to GSEs Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - Repurchased GNMA Loans Derivative Assets Derivative Liabilities Loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA Liability for loans eligible for repurchase from GNMA Balance at beginning of period $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 109,397 $ 109,397 Changes in fair value recognized in earnings (5,580 ) (1,089 ) — — (2,314 ) (2,314 ) Purchases 45,688 40,209 — — — — Sales (5,581 ) (1,560 ) — — (40,209 ) (40,209 ) Issuances — — — — — — Settlements (19,750 ) (1,204 ) — — 13,920 13,920 Transfers into Level 3 1 45,308 1,286 10,596 334 — — Transfers out of Level 3 2 (1,286 ) (306 ) — — — — Balance at end of period $ 58,799 $ 37,336 $ 10,596 $ 334 $ 80,794 $ 80,794 1 On an ongoing basis, for Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - measured at fair value, transfers into Level 3 represent those deemed unsaleable to GSEs in the current period. For Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - Repurchased GNMA Loans, transfers into Level 3 represent those purchased out of Loans Eligible for Repurchase from GNMA and the related liability, in the current period. For the Company's Derivative Financial Instruments, transfers into Level 3 represent interest rate lock commitments. Management determined in the current period that a Level 3 classification was most appropriate based on the various significant unobservable inputs utilized in estimating the fair value of its IRLCs. Transfers between levels are deemed to have occurred on the last day of the quarter in which a change in classification is determined. 2 On an ongoing basis, for Mortgage Loans Held for Sale - Repurchased GNMA Loans, transfers out of Level 3 represent those which the Company has made saleable. Refer to Note 7, "Mortgage Servicing Rights", for a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the period ending March 31, 2016 , as well as a discussion of significant observable inputs related to the Company's MSRs and relative ranges of those used in determining their fair value. Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , all financial instruments were either recorded at fair value or the carrying value approximated fair value. For assets and liabilities that were not recorded at fair value, such as cash, restricted cash, servicing advances, subordinated loan receivable, short-term secured borrowings, warehouse and operating lines of credit, accounts payable and accrued expenses, their carrying values approximated fair value due to the short-term nature of such instruments. For our long-term secured borrowings not recorded at fair value, the carrying value approximated fair value due to the collateralization of such borrowings. |