Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements The Company uses fair value measurements to record certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, such as MSRs, derivatives, MLHS and Early buyout loans (“EBOs”). The Company has elected fair value accounting for MLHS and MSRs 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 uses a three-level fair value hierarchy that categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value 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 financial statements. Fair Value of Certain Assets and Liabilities The following describes the methods used in estimating the fair values of certain assets and liabilities: Mortgage loans held for sale. The majority of the Company's MLHS 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 MLHS consist of loans repurchased from the GSEs that have subsequently been deemed to be non-saleable to GSEs and Ginnie Mae when certain representations and warranties are breached. These loans, however, are saleable to other entities and are classified on the consolidated balance sheets as Mortgage loans held for sale. These repurchased loans are considered Level 3 and are valued based on recent sales prices of similar loans. Interest rate lock commitments. The Company estimates the fair value of IRLCs based on the value of the underlying mortgage loan, quoted MBS prices and estimates of the fair value of the MSRs and the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the IRLC. The average pull-through rate for IRLCs was 65.2% and 77.5%as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Given the significant and unobservable nature of the pull-through factor, IRLCs are classified as Level 3. Forward sales and purchase commitments. The Company treats forward mortgage-backed securities purchase and sale commitments that have not settled as derivatives and recognizes them at fair value. These forward commitments will be fulfilled with loans not yet sold or securitized and new originations and purchases. The forward commitments allow the Company to reduce the risk related to market price volatility. The Company estimates the fair value of forward commitments based on quoted MBS prices. These derivatives are classified as Level 2. Interest rate swap futures contracts. The Company uses options on swap contracts to offset changes in the fair value of MSRs. The Company estimates the fair value of these MSR-related derivatives using quoted prices for similar instruments. These derivatives are classified as Level 2. 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 quarterly basis to support the reasonableness of the fair value estimate. Key assumptions used in measuring the fair value of MSRs include, but are not limited to, discount rates, prepayment speeds, and cost to service. Other assumptions such as delinquencies, are also considered resulting in a Level 3 classification. The following presents the major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis: March 31, 2023 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (dollars in thousands) Assets: Mortgage loans held for sale $ — $ 466,853 $ 6,137 $ 472,990 Interest rate lock commitments — — 3,235 3,235 Forward sale contracts — 350 — 350 Forward purchase contracts — 82 — $ 82 Mortgage servicing rights — — 1,251,600 1,251,600 Total $ — $ 467,285 $ 1,260,972 $ 1,728,257 Liabilities: Interest rate lock commitments $ — $ — $ 166 $ 166 Forward sale contracts — 2,547 — 2,547 Forward purchase contracts — 143 — 143 Total $ — $ 2,690 $ 166 $ 2,856 December 31, 2022 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total (dollars in thousands) Assets: Mortgage loans held for sale $ — $ 629,108 $ 13,885 $ 642,993 Interest rate lock commitments — — 2,231 2,231 Forward sale contracts — 6,107 — 6,107 Mortgage servicing rights — — 1,402,542 1,402,542 Total $ — $ 635,215 $ 1,418,658 $ 2,053,873 Liabilities: Interest rate lock commitments $ — $ — $ 2,504 $ 2,504 Forward sale contracts — 1,200 — 1,200 Forward purchase contracts — 400 — 400 Total $ — $ 1,600 $ 2,504 $ 4,104 The following presents a reconciliation of Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis: Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 MSRs IRLC-Asset MLHS IRLC-Liability (dollars in thousands) Balance at beginning of period $ 1,402,542 $ 2,231 $ 13,885 $ 2,504 Purchases, sales, issuances, contributions, and settlements 18,984 — (4,237) — Change in fair value (169,926) 1,004 (1,146) (2,338) Transfers out (a) — — (2,365) — Balance at end of period $ 1,251,600 $ 3,235 $ 6,137 $ 166 Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 MSRs IRLC-Asset MLHS IRLC-Liability (dollars in thousands) Balance at beginning of period $ 1,525,103 $ 29,887 $ 20,218 $ 2,843 Purchases, sales, issuances, contributions, and settlements (262,915) — (1,564) 42,615 Change in fair value 228,036 (17,746) (52) — Transfers in (a) — — (826) — Balance at end of period $ 1,490,224 $ 12,141 $ 17,776 $ 45,458 (a) Transfers in (out) represents transfers between Levels 2 and 3, and reclassifications to Real estate owned (“REO”), foreclosure or claims. The following presents the fair value and UPB of MLHS that have contractual principal amounts and for which the Company has elected the fair value option. The fair value option was elected for MLHS as the Company believes fair value best reflects its expected future economic performance: Fair Value Principal Difference (a) (dollars in thousands) March 31, 2023 $ 472,990 $ 506,872 $ (33,882) December 31, 2022 $ 642,993 $ 680,315 $ (37,322) (a) Represents the amount of (losses) gains related to changes in fair value of items accounted for using the fair value option included in Gain on loans, net within the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company had no other significant assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The following is a summary of the key unobservable inputs used in the valuation of the Level 3 assets: March 31, 2023 Assets: Key Input Range Weighted Mortgage servicing rights Discount rate 9.8% - 14.0% 10.0% Prepayment speeds 5.4% - 9.0% 5.7% Cost to service $109 - $229 $113 Interest rate lock commitments Pull-through rate 15% - 100% 65.2% Mortgage loans held for sale Investor pricing 60.4% - 101.6% 74.4% December 31, 2022 Assets: Key Input Range Weighted Mortgage servicing rights Discount rate 9.3% - 14.0% 9.7% Prepayment speeds 4.6% - 8.2% 5.4% Cost to service $74 - $133 $77 Interest rate lock commitments Pull-through rate 21.0% - 100.0% 77.5% Mortgage loans held for sale Investor pricing 65.0% - 103.6% 93.3% |