Commercial real estate loans, excluding owner-occupied non-farm, non-residential loans, were 268.2% of total risk-based capital at June 30, 2023, as compared to 273.9% at December 31, 2022. Construction and land development loans were 58.6% of total risk-based capital at June 30, 2023, as compared to 65.7% at December 31, 2022.
At June 30, 2023, real estate mortgage loans included home equity loans of $30.4 million and residential real estate loans of $242.9 million, compared to $31.4 million and $229.9 million at December 31, 2022, respectively. Home equity loans decreased $1.0 million, or 3.2%, during the six months ended June 30, 2023, and residential real estate loans increased $13.0 million, or 5.6%, during the six months ended June 30, 2023. At June 30, 2023, commercial loans were $140.0 million, compared to $128.6 million at December 31, 2022, an increase of $11.4 million, or 8.9%, during the six months ended June 30, 2023.
The overall increase in loans from the year ended December 31, 2022 to June 30, 2023 was due primarily to an increase in organic growth, including growth of approximately $11.5 million in loans related to Partners’ expansion into the Greater Washington market.
Investment Securities. The investment securities portfolio is a significant component of the Company's total interest-earning assets. Total investment securities averaged $153.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to $146.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. This represented 10.4% and 9.0% of total average interest-earning assets for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in average total investment securities for the three months ended June 30, 2023, as compared to the same period of 2022, was primarily due to management of the investment securities portfolio in light of the Company’s liquidity needs and higher interest rates over the comparable periods. Total investment securities averaged $154.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to $140.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. This represented 10.4% and 8.7% of total average interest-earning assets for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in average total investment securities for the six months ended June 30, 2023, as compared to the same period of 2022, was primarily due to management of the investment securities portfolio in light of the Company’s liquidity needs and higher interest rates over the comparable periods.
During the year ended December 31, 2022 as well as the first half of 2023, the Company’s investment securities portfolio was negatively impacted by unrealized losses in the market value of investment securities AFS as a result of increases in market interest rates. The Company believes that further increases in market interest rates will likely result in higher unrealized losses in the market value of the investment securities AFS portfolio. The Company expects to recover its investment in debt securities through scheduled payments of principal and interest, and unrealized losses are not expected to affect the earnings or regulatory capital of the Company.
The Company classifies all of its investment securities as AFS. This classification requires that investment securities be recorded at their fair value with any difference between the fair value and amortized cost (the purchase price adjusted by any discount accretion or premium amortization) reported as a component of stockholders’ equity (accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)), net of deferred taxes. At June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, investment securities AFS, at fair value totaled $129.3 million and $133.7 million, respectively. Investment securities AFS, at fair value decreased by approximately $4.4 million, or 3.3%, during the six months ended June 30, 2023 from December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to scheduled payments of principal and an increase in unrealized losses on the investment securities AFS portfolio as a result of increases in market interest rates. The Company attempts to maintain an investment securities portfolio of high quality, highly liquid investments with returns competitive with short-term U.S. Treasury or agency obligations. This objective is particularly important as the Company focuses on growing its loan portfolio. The Company primarily invests in securities of U.S. Government agencies, municipals, and corporate obligations. The Company’s AFS investment securities portfolio, other than subordinated debt investment securities, is either covered by the explicit or implied guarantee of the United States government or one of its agencies or are generally rated investment grade or higher. Subordinated debt investments, which are not rated, are issued by financial institutions within the geographic region of the Company. In addition, the Company performs a quarterly credit review on the majority of its municipal bonds issued by states and political subdivisions. All AFS investment securities were current with no investment securities past due or on nonaccrual as of June 30, 2023 or December 31, 2022. At June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 there were no issuers, other than the U.S. Government and its agencies, whose securities owned by the Company had a book or fair value exceeding 10% of the Company's stockholders' equity.