Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

We are required to disclose fair value information with regard to certain of our financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, for which it is practical to estimate fair value. The FASB guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. We measure and/or disclose the estimated fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities based on a hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions. This hierarchy consists of three broad levels: Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date; Level 2 - inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and Level 3 - unobservable inputs for the asset or liability that are used when little or no market data is available. We follow this hierarchy for our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis. In instances in which the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of the particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The following tables set forth the assets and liabilities that we measure at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis by their levels in the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Marketable securities available-for-sale	$	16,522	$	—	$	16,522	$	—
Interest rate cap and swap agreements (included in Other assets)	17,026		—		17,026		—
Real estate loans held by consolidated securitization vehicles	586,823		—		586,823		—
Liabilities:
Interest rate cap and swap agreements (included in Other liabilities)	$	29,372	$	—	$	29,372	$	—
Senior obligations of consolidated securitization vehicles	571,711		—		571,711		—
Secured borrowing (1)	237,454		—		—		237,454

(1)The Company admitted an additional partner to the One Madison Avenue development project with the partner's indirect ownership in the joint venture totaling 25.0%. The transaction did not meet sale accounting under ASC 860 and, as a result, was treated as a secured borrowing for accounting purposes and is included in Other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

	December 31, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Marketable securities available-for-sale	$	9,591	$	—	$	9,591	$	—
Interest rate cap and swap agreements (included in Other assets)	33,456		—		33,456		—
Liabilities:
Interest rate cap and swap agreements (included in Other liabilities)	$	17,108	$	—	$	17,108	$	—

We evaluate real estate investments and debt and preferred equity investments, including intangibles, for potential impairment primarily utilizing cash flow projections that apply, among other things, estimated revenue and expense growth rates, discount rates and capitalization rates, as well as sales comparison approach, which utilizes comparable sales, listings and sales contracts, all of which are classified as Level 3 inputs.

In March 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire its partner's 45.0% interest in the 10 East 53rd Street joint venture. As a result of the contract terms, it was concluded that the joint venture is a VIE in which the Company is the primary beneficiary, and the investment was consolidated in our financial statements. Upon consolidating the entity, the assets and liabilities of the entity were recorded at fair value which resulted in the recognition of a fair value adjustment of ($55.7 million), which is included in Purchase price and other fair value adjustments in the consolidated statements of operations. This fair value was determined using a third-party valuation which primarily utilized cash flow projections that apply, among other things, estimated revenue and expense growth rates, discount rates and capitalization rates, as well as the sales comparison approach, which utilizes comparable sales, listings, and sales contracts. All of which are classified as Level 3 inputs.

Marketable securities classified as Level 1 are derived from quoted prices in active markets. The valuation technique used to measure the fair value of marketable securities classified as Level 2 were valued based on quoted market prices or model driven valuations using the significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data. We do not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases.

The fair value of derivative instruments is based on current market data received from financial sources that trade such instruments and are based on prevailing market data and derived from third party proprietary models based on well-recognized financial principles and reasonable estimates about relevant future market conditions, which are classified as Level 2 inputs.

The senior obligations of consolidated securitization vehicles represent CMBS that are not owned by the Company. A majority of these securities are either traded in the marketplace or are similar to other securities that are traded in the marketplace. As the valuation of these amounts are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, we generally utilize third party pricing service providers to determine the fair value. The Company evaluates and assesses the third party pricing by referring to recent trades of similar securities, ratings, subordination levels, current market data and credit issues. The Company maximizes the use of observable inputs over unobservable inputs and uses the value of the senior obligations of consolidated securitization vehicles as an indicator of the fair value of the real estate loans held by consolidated securitization vehicles. Depending on the significance of the fair value inputs used in determining the fair value, these securities are classified in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. As such, these investments may move between Level 2 and Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy if the significant fair value inputs used to price the CMBS become or cease to be observable.

The fair value of our secured borrowing is determined by projecting future cash flows, which takes into consideration various factors including discount rate and exit capitalization rate, as well as related asset performance and local or macro real estate performance. The inputs used in determining the Company's secured borrowing are considered Level 3.

The financial assets and liabilities that are not measured at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, debt and preferred equity investments, mortgages and other loans payable and other secured and unsecured debt. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued expenses reported in our consolidated balance sheets approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of debt and preferred equity investments, which is classified as Level 3, is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using current interest rates at which similar loans with the same maturities would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. The fair value of borrowings, which is classified as Level 3, is estimated by discounting the contractual cash flows of each debt instrument to their present value using adjusted market interest rates, which is provided by a third-party specialist.

The following table provides the carrying value and fair value of these financial instruments as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
	Carrying Value (1)		Fair Value		Carrying Value (1)		Fair Value
Debt and preferred equity investments	$	293,924	(2)		$	346,745	(2)
Fixed rate debt	$	3,287,898	$	3,252,374	$	3,237,386	$	3,184,338
Variable rate debt (3)	545,900		545,282		270,000		268,787
	$	3,833,798	$	3,797,656	$	3,507,386	$	3,453,125

(1)Amounts exclude net deferred financing costs.

(2)As of September 30, 2024, debt and preferred equity investments had an estimated fair value of approximately $0.3 billion. As of December 31, 2023, debt and preferred equity investments had an estimated fair value of approximately $0.3 billion.

(3)As of September 30, 2024, variable rate debt with a carrying value of $60.9 million and fair value of $60.1 million is included in the Company's alternative strategy portfolio.

Disclosures regarding fair value of financial instruments was based on pertinent information available to us as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since that date and current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.