Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] | 6. Fair value measurements As described in Note 2, the fair value of financial instruments that are recorded at fair value will be determined by the Manager, subject to oversight of the Company’s board of directors, and in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” When possible, the Company determines fair value using independent data sources. ASC 820 establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques giving the highest priority to readily available unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements) when market prices are not readily available or reliable. Values for the Company’s securities, Excess MSRs, securitized debt, derivatives and U.S. Treasury securities are based upon prices obtained from third party pricing services, which are indicative of market activity. The fair value of the Company’s obligation to return securities borrowed under reverse repurchase agreements is based upon the value of the underlying borrowed U.S. Treasury securities as of the reporting date. The evaluation methodology of the Company’s third-party pricing services incorporates commonly used market pricing methods, including a spread measurement to various indices such as the one-year constant maturity treasury and LIBOR, which are observable inputs. The evaluation also considers the underlying characteristics of each investment, which are also observable inputs, including: coupon; maturity date; loan age; reset date; collateral type; periodic and life cap; geography; and prepayment speeds. The Company collects and considers current market intelligence on all major markets, including benchmark security evaluations and bid-lists from various sources, when available. As part of the Company’s risk management process, the Company reviews and analyzes all prices obtained by comparing prices to recently completed transactions involving the same or similar investments on or near the reporting date. If, in the opinion of the Manager, one or more prices reported to the Company are not reliable or unavailable, the Manager reviews the fair value based on characteristics of the investment it receives from the issuer and available market information. In valuing its derivatives, the Company considers the creditworthiness of both the Company and its counterparties, along with collateral provisions contained in each derivative agreement, from the perspective of both the Company and its counterparties. All of the Company’s derivatives are either subject to bilateral collateral arrangements or clearing in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd Frank Act”). For swaps cleared under the Dodd Frank Act, a Central Counterparty Clearing House (“CCP”) now stands between the Company and the over-the-counter derivative counterparties. In order to access clearing, the Company has entered into clearing agreements with Futures Commissions Merchants (“FCMs”). Beginning in the first quarter of 2017, as a result of a CME amendment to its rule book governing central clearing activities, the daily exchange of variation margin associated with a CME centrally cleared derivative instrument is legally characterized as the daily settlement of the derivative instrument itself, as opposed to a pledge of collateral. Accordingly, beginning in 2017, the Company accounts for the daily receipt or payment of variation margin associated with its centrally cleared interest rate swaps and futures as a direct reduction to the carrying value of the interest rate swap and future derivative asset or liability, respectively. Beginning in 2017, the carrying amount of centrally cleared interest rate swaps and futures reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets is equal to the unsettled fair value of such instruments. See Note 8 for more information. The fair value of the Company’s Company’s The Manager may also engage specialized third party valuation service providers to assess and corroborate the valuation of a selection of investments in the Company’s loan portfolio on a periodic basis. These specialized third party valuation service providers conduct independent valuation analyses based on a review of source documents, available market data, and comparable investments. The analyses provided by valuation service providers are reviewed and considered by the Manager. TBA instruments are similar in form to the Company’s Agency RMBS portfolio, and the Company therefore estimates fair value based on similar methods. The Company entered into a resecuritization transaction that resulted in the Company consolidating a VIE created with the SPE which was used to facilitate the transaction. The Company categorizes the fair value measurement of the consolidated tranche as Level 3. In December 2015, the Company, alongside private funds under the management of Angelo, Gordon, through AG Arc, formed Arc Home. The Company invests in Arc Home through AG Arc. In June 2016, Arc Home closed on the acquisition of a Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA and Ginnie Mae seller/servicer of residential mortgages. Through this subsidiary, Arc Home originates conforming, Government, Jumbo and other non-conforming residential mortgage loans, retains the mortgage servicing rights associated with the loans it originates, and purchases additional mortgage servicing rights from third-party sellers. As a result of this acquisition, the Company transferred its investment in AG Arc from Level 1 into Level 3. In February 2016, the Company originated a $ 12.0 15 The following table presents the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value as of June 30, 2018: Fair Value at June 30, 2018 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets: Agency RMBS: 30 Year Fixed Rate $ - $ 1,772,114,363 $ - $ 1,772,114,363 Fixed Rate CMO - 48,165,203 - 48,165,203 ARM - 110,780,577 - 110,780,577 Interest Only - 113,729,659 - 113,729,659 Credit Investments: Non-Agency RMBS - 32,968,019 786,107,756 819,075,775 Non-Agency RMBS Interest Only - - 2,871,154 2,871,154 ABS - - 37,755,352 37,755,352 CMBS - 7,321,017 159,831,842 167,152,859 CMBS Interest Only - - 43,182,305 43,182,305 Residential mortgage loans - - 93,129,269 93,129,269 Commercial loans - - 43,216,666 43,216,666 Excess mortgage servicing rights - - 29,281,765 29,281,765 Derivative assets - 4,222,706 - 4,222,706 AG Arc - - 18,352,632 18,352,632 Total Assets Carried at Fair Value $ - $ 2,089,301,544 $ 1,213,728,741 $ 3,303,030,285 Liabilities: Securitized debt $ - $ - $ (13,984,245) $ (13,984,245) Derivative liabilities - (625,990) - (625,990) Total Liabilities Carried at Fair Value $ - $ (625,990) $ (13,984,245) $ (14,610,235) The following table presents the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value as of December 31, 2017: Fair Value at December 31, 2017 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets: Agency RMBS: 30 Year Fixed Rate $ - $ 1,929,032,996 $ - $ 1,929,032,996 Fixed Rate CMO - 52,950,756 - 52,950,756 ARM - 176,387,396 - 176,387,396 Interest Only - 88,789,887 - 88,789,887 Credit Investments: Non-Agency RMBS - 156,170,350 845,423,742 1,001,594,092 Non-Agency RMBS Interest Only - - 2,661,566 2,661,566 ABS - - 40,957,553 40,957,553 CMBS - 8,216,506 161,250,065 169,466,571 CMBS Interest Only - - 50,701,934 50,701,934 Residential mortgage loans - - 18,889,693 18,889,693 Commercial loans - - 57,520,646 57,520,646 Excess mortgage servicing rights - - 5,083,514 5,083,514 Derivative assets 110,063 2,017,007 - 2,127,070 AG Arc - - 17,911,091 17,911,091 Total Assets Carried at Fair Value $ 110,063 $ 2,413,564,898 $ 1,200,399,804 $ 3,614,074,765 Liabilities: Securitized debt $ - $ - $ (16,477,801) $ (16,477,801) Securities borrowed under reverse repurchase agreements - (24,379,356) - (24,379,356) Derivative liabilities - (450,208) - (450,208) Total Liabilities Carried at Fair Value $ - $ (24,829,564) $ (16,477,801) $ (41,307,365) The Company did not have any transfers of assets or liabilities between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017. Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Non-Agency Non-Agency ABS CMBS CMBS Interest Residential Commercial Excess AG Arc Securitized Beginning balance $ 730,919,118 $ 2,912,380 $ 35,838,056 $ 182,970,152 $ 48,624,976 $ 19,872,126 $ 57,665,864 $ 30,746,462 $ 18,438,220 $ (15,496,402) Transfers (1): Transfers into level 3 93,950,988 - - - - - - - - - Purchases/Transfers 2,290,922 - 2,628,040 26,056,250 - 105,041,253 - (209,070) - - Proceeds from sales/redemptions (6,683,073) - - - (4,658,476) (30,831,907) - - - - Proceeds from settlement (31,612,092) - (736,946) (48,240,806) - (1,072,865) (14,521,806) (178,576) - 1,487,850 Total net gains/(losses) (2) Included in net income (2,758,107) (41,226) 26,202 (953,754) (784,195) 120,662 72,608 (1,077,051) (85,588) 24,307 Ending Balance $ 786,107,756 $ 2,871,154 $ 37,755,352 $ 159,831,842 $ 43,182,305 $ 93,129,269 $ 43,216,666 $ 29,281,765 $ 18,352,632 $ (13,984,245) Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for level 3 assets/liabilities still held as of June 30, 2018 (3) $ (2,721,807) $ (41,226) $ 26,202 $ (1,026,231) $ (550,652) $ (581,143) $ (145,218) $ (1,077,051) $ (85,588) $ 24,307 (1) Transfers are assumed to occur at the beginning of the period. During the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company transferred 7 Non-Agency RMBS securities into the Level 3 category from the Level 2 category under the fair value hierarchy of ASC 820. (2) Gains/(losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statement of operations: Unrealized gain/(loss) on real estate securities and loans, net $ (5,771,704) Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative and other instruments, net (427,515) Net realized gain/(loss) 828,665 Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates (85,588) Total $ (5,456,142) (3) Unrealized gains/(losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statement of operations: Unrealized gain/(loss) on real estate securities and loans, net $ (5,665,304) Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative and other instruments, net (427,515) Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates (85,588) Total $ (6,178,407) June 30, 2017 Non-Agency Non-Agency ABS CMBS CMBS Interest Residential Commercial Excess AG Arc Securitized Beginning balance $ 762,089,348 $ 3,557,950 $ 21,165,442 $ 122,215,294 $ 52,921,927 $ 36,255,911 $ 58,274,488 $ 1,056,123 $ 13,010,453 $ (19,948,739) Transfers (1): Transfers into level 3 70,603,992 - - - - - - - - Transfers out of level 3 (51,307,381) - - - - - - - - Purchases/Transfers 215,073,421 - 39,717,021 15,000,001 - - - 1,858,979 - Capital contributions - - - - - - - - 4,459,000 Proceeds from sales/redemptions (61,084,219) - (9,311,530) - - (9,248,143) - - - Proceeds from settlement (86,015,924) - (3,984,154) (108,799) - (4,631,367) (1,176,506) (176,923) - 1,171,856 Total net gains/(losses) (2) Included in net income 13,661,665 (344,553) 330,577 551,831 (116,288) 1,078,832 196,124 48,322 243,104 (1,286) Ending Balance $ 863,020,902 $ 3,213,397 $ 47,917,356 $ 137,658,327 $ 52,805,639 $ 23,455,233 $ 57,294,106 $ 2,786,501 $ 17,712,557 $ (18,778,169) Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for level 3 assets/liabilities still held as of June 30, 2017 (3) $ 14,997,601 $ (344,553) $ (95,002) $ 897,090 $ (116,288) $ (913,062) $ 196,124 $ 48,322 $ 243,104 $ (1,286) (1) Transfers are assumed to occur at the beginning of the period. During the three months ended June 30, 2017, the Company transferred 6 Non-Agency RMBS securities into the Level 3 category from the Level 2 category and 5 Non-Agency RMBS securities into the Level 2 category from the Level 3 category under the fair value hierarchy of ASC 820. (2) Gains/(losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statement of operations: Unrealized gain/(loss) on real estate securities and loans, net $ 15,783,215 Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative and other instruments, net (1,286) Net realized gain/(loss) (376,705) Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates 243,104 Total $ 15,648,328 (3) Unrealized gains/(losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statement of operations: Unrealized gain/(loss) on real estate securities and loans, net $ 14,670,232 Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative and other instruments, net (1,286) Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates 243,104 Total $ 14,912,050 Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Non-Agency Non-Agency ABS CMBS CMBS Interest Residential Commercial Excess AG Arc Securitized Beginning balance $ 845,423,742 $ 2,661,566 $ 40,957,553 $ 161,250,065 $ 50,701,934 $ 18,889,693 $ 57,520,646 $ 5,083,514 $ 17,911,091 $ (16,477,801) Transfers (1): Transfers into level 3 101,985,493 - - - - - - - - - Transfers out of level 3 - - - (6,951,115) - - - - - - Purchases/Transfers 93,876,423 - 5,596,268 56,256,250 - 105,041,253 - 25,162,285 - - Proceeds from sales/redemptions (184,804,178) - - - (4,658,476) (30,831,907) - - - - Proceeds from settlement (69,562,698) - (8,710,793) (49,144,767) - (1,255,512) (14,521,806) (512,212) - 2,481,926 Total net gains/(losses) (2) Included in net income (811,026) 209,588 (87,676) (1,578,591) (2,861,153) 1,285,742 217,826 (451,822) 441,541 11,630 Ending Balance $ 786,107,756 $ 2,871,154 $ 37,755,352 $ 159,831,842 $ 43,182,305 $ 93,129,269 $ 43,216,666 $ 29,281,765 $ 18,352,632 $ (13,984,245) Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for level 3 assets/liabilities still held as of June 30, 2018 (3) $ (1,697,476) $ 229,918 $ (69,140) $ (1,651,068) $ (2,627,610) $ 583,937 $ - $ (451,822) $ 441,541 $ 11,630 (1) Transfers are assumed to occur at the beginning of the period. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company transferred 8 Non-Agency RMBS securities into the Level 3 category from the Level 2 category and 1 CMBS security into the Level 2 category from the Level 3 category under the fair value hierarchy of ASC 820. (2) Gains/(losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statement of operations: Unrealized gain/(loss) on real estate securities and loans, net $ (9,095,280) Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative and other instruments, net (440,192) Net realized gain/(loss) 5,469,990 Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates 441,541 Total $ (3,623,941) (3) Unrealized gains/(losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statement of operations: Unrealized gain/(loss) on real estate securities and loans, net $ (5,231,439) Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative and other instruments, net (440,192) Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates 441,541 Total $ (5,230,090) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Non-Agency Non-Agency ABS CMBS CMBS Interest Residential Commercial Excess AG Arc Securitized Loan Beginning balance $ 717,760,534 $ 3,761,446 $ 21,231,956 $ 130,789,615 $ 52,136,726 $ 38,195,576 $ 60,068,800 $ 412,648 $ 12,894,819 $ (21,491,710) $ (1,800,000) Transfers (1): Transfers into level 3 156,247,235 - - - - - - - - - - Transfers out of level 3 (87,193,669) - - - - - - - - - - Purchases/Transfers 257,276,811 - 46,447,667 18,568,750 - - 10,270,833 2,565,344 - - - Capital contributions - - - - - - - - 4,459,000 - - Proceeds from sales/redemptions (84,759,581) - (16,977,157) (4,533,594) - (10,102,590) - - - - - Proceeds from settlement (115,376,445) - (3,984,154) (8,594,055) - (5,297,349) (13,534,402) (187,287) - 2,747,475 1,954,927 Total net gains/(losses) (2) Included in net income 19,066,017 (548,049) 1,199,044 1,427,611 668,913 659,596 488,875 (4,204) 358,738 (33,934) (154,927) Ending Balance $ 863,020,902 $ 3,213,397 $ 47,917,356 $ 137,658,327 $ 52,805,639 $ 23,455,233 $ 57,294,106 $ 2,786,501 $ 17,712,557 $ (18,778,169) $ - Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for level 3 assets still held as of June 30, 2017 (3) $ 20,392,109 $ (548,049) $ 743,730 $ 1,857,762 $ 668,913 $ (1,401,691) $ 432,666 $ (4,204) $ 358,738 $ (33,934) $ - (1) Transfers are assumed to occur at the beginning of the period. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company transferred 12 Non-Agency RMBS securities into the Level 3 category from the Level 2 category and 8 Non-Agency RMBS securities into the Level 2 category from the Level 3 category under the fair value hierarchy of ASC 820. (2) Gains/(losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statement of operations Unrealized gain/(loss) on real estate securities and loans, net $ 23,619,676 Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative and other instruments, net (188,861) Net realized gain/(loss) (661,873) Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates 358,738 Total $ 23,127,680 (3) Gains/(losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statement of operations: Unrealized gain/(loss) on real estate securities and loans, net $ 22,141,236 Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative and other instruments, net (33,934) Equity in earnings/(loss) from affiliates 358,738 Total $ 22,466,040 Refer to the tables above for details on transfers between the Level 3 and Level 2 categories under ASC 820. Transfers into the Level 3 category of the fair value hierarchy occur due to instruments exhibiting indications of reduced levels of market transparency. Transfers out of the Level 3 category of the fair value hierarchy occur due to instruments exhibiting indications of increased levels of market transparency. Indications of increases or decreases in levels of market transparency include a change in observable transactions or executable quotes involving these instruments or similar instruments. Changes in these indications could impact price transparency, and thereby cause a change in level designations in future periods. Asset Class Fair Value at Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range Yield 2.74% - 31.75% (4.66%) Non-Agency RMBS $ 761,543,614 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 0.00% - 30.00% (11.60%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.00% - 30.00% (2.69%) Projected Collateral Severities 0.00% - 100.00% (31.67%) $ 24,564,142 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 75.25 - 98.56 (83.28) Yield 7.00% - 25.00% (22.10%) Non-Agency RMBS Interest Only $ 2,871,154 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 9.50% - 18.00% (16.75%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.75% - 1.50% (1.41%) Projected Collateral Severities 10.00% - 65.00% (17.43%) Yield 6.19% - 6.19% (6.19%) ABS $ 32,925,013 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 20.00% - 40.00% (23.27%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Projected Collateral Severities 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) $ 4,830,339 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 100.00 - 100.00 (100.00) Yield 5.58% - 8.66% (6.93%) CMBS $ 156,869,879 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Projected Collateral Severities 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) $ 2,961,963 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 4.28 - 8.77 (7.64) Yield 3.48% - 6.31% (4.74%) CMBS Interest Only $ 43,182,305 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 99.00% - 100.00% (99.90%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Projected Collateral Severities 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Yield 6.50% - 9.00% (7.93%) Residential Mortgage Loans $ 16,822,776 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 3.65% - 4.82% (4.22%) Projected Collateral Losses 3.60% - 6.01% (3.90%) Projected Collateral Severities 14.69% - 31.45% (18.29%) $ 76,306,493 Recent Transaction Cost N/A Yield 7.14% - 7.14% (7.14%) Commercial Loans $ 32,800,000 Discounted Cash Flow Credit Spread 4.75 bps - 4.75 bps (4.75 bps) Recovery Percentage (1) 100.00% - 100.00% (100.00%) $ 10,416,666 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 100.00 - 100.00 (100.00) Yield 8.50% - 11.57% (9.19%) Excess Mortgage Servicing Rights $ 29,025,616 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 6.20% - 10.01% (8.07%) $ 256,149 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 0.03 - 0.53 (0.50) AG Arc $ 18,352,632 Comparable Multiple Book Value Multiple 1.0x - 1.0x (1.0x) Liability Class Fair Value at Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range Yield 3.98% - 3.98% (3.98%) Securitized debt $ (13,984,245) Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 10.00% - 10.00% (10.00%) Projected Collateral Losses 3.00% - 3.00% (3.00%) Projected Collateral Severities 45.00% - 45.00% (45.00%) (1) Represents the proportion of the principal expected to be collected relative to the loan balances as of June 30, 2018. Asset Class Fair Value at Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range Yield 0.94% - 31.75% (4.49%) Non-Agency RMBS $ 783,880,884 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 0.00% - 35.00% (10.50%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.00% - 50.00% (3.25%) Projected Collateral Severities 0.00% - 100.00% (34.77%) $ 14,794,010 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 74.75 - 74.75 (74.75) $ 46,748,848 Recent Transaction Recent Transaction N/A Yield 7.00% - 25.00% (22.34%) Non-Agency RMBS Interest Only $ 2,661,566 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 10.50% - 18.00% (16.89%) Projected Collateral Losses 1.50% - 2.00% (1.57%) Projected Collateral Severities 10.00% - 40.00% (14.43%) Yield 4.62% - 9.83% (7.56%) ABS $ 40,957,533 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 20.00% - 40.00% (22.62%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.00% - 2.00% (1.74%) Projected Collateral Severities 0.00% - 50.00% (43.45%) Yield -1.45% - 8.35% (6.24%) CMBS $ 157,684,840 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Projected Collateral Severities 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) $ 3,565,225 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 6.20 - 7.60 (7.12) Yield 2.93% - 5.90% (4.43%) CMBS Interest Only $ 50,701,934 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 100.00% - 100.00% (100.00%) Projected Collateral Losses 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Projected Collateral Severities 0.00% - 0.00% (0.00%) Yield 6.25% - 9.00% (7.81%) Residential Mortgage Loans $ 18,889,693 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 2.98% - 5.05% (3.93%) Projected Collateral Losses 3.88% - 6.91% (4.27%) Projected Collateral Severities 20.21% - 37.25% (22.00%) Yield 6.52% - 6.52% (6.52%) Commercial Loans $ 32,800,000 Discounted Cash Flow Credit Spread 4.75 bps - 4.75 bps (4.75 bps) Recovery Percentage (1) 100.00% - 100.00% (100.00%) $ 24,720,646 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 98.50 - 100.00 (99.13) Yield 9.12% - 11.74% (10.29%) Excess Mortgage Servicing Rights $ 4,800,708 Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 7.59% - 11.85% (9.67%) $ 282,806 Consensus Pricing Offered Quotes 0.04 - 0.52 (0.48) AG Arc $ 17,911,091 Comparable Multiple Book Value Multiple 1.0x - 1.0x (1.0x) Liability Class Fair Value at Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range Yield 3.23% - 3.23% (3.23%) Securitized debt $ (16,477,801) Discounted Cash Flow Projected Collateral Prepayments 14.00% - 14.00% (14.00%) Projected Collateral Losses 7.00% - 7.00% (7.00%) Projected Collateral Severities 40.00% - 40.00% (40.00%) (1) Represents the proportion of the principal expected to be collected relative to the loan balances as of December 31, 2017. As further described above, values for the Company’s securities portfolio are based upon prices obtained from third-party pricing services. Broker quotations may also be used. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s securities are prepayment rates, probability of default, and loss severity in the event of default. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Generally, a change in the assumption used for the probability of default is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for the loss severity and a directionally opposite change in the assumption used for prepayment rates. Also, as described above, valuation of the Company’s loan portfolio is determined by the Manager using third-party pricing services where available, specialized third party valuation service providers, or model-based pricing. The evaluation considers the underlying characteristics of each loan, which are observable inputs, including: coupon, maturity date, loan age, reset date, collateral type, periodic and life cap, geography, and prepayment speeds. These valuations also require significant judgments, which include assumptions regarding capitalization rates, re-performance rates, leasing, creditworthiness of major tenants, occupancy rates, availability of financing, exit plan, loan sponsorship, actions of other lenders and other factors deemed necessary by management. Changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of our investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the valuations currently estimated. If applicable, analyses provided by valuation service providers are reviewed and considered by the Manager. |