Fair Value

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

NOTE 13. FAIR VALUE

Authoritative accounting literature establishes a framework for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities and defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) as opposed to the price that would be paid to acquire the asset or received to assume the liability (an entry price). A fair value measure should reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including the assumptions about the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique, the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset and the risk of non-performance. Required disclosures include stratification of balance sheet amounts measured at fair value based on inputs the Company uses to derive fair value measurements. These stratifications are:

Level 1 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets (which include exchanges and over-the-counter markets with sufficient volume),
Level 2 valuations, where the valuation is based on quoted market prices for similar instruments traded in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market, and
Level 3 valuations, where the valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market, but observable based on Company-specific data. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company’s own estimates for assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques typically include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, but may also include the use of market prices of assets or liabilities that are not directly comparable to the subject asset or liability.

The Company’s MBS are valued using Level 2 valuations, and such valuations currently are determined by the Company based on independent pricing sources and/or third-party broker quotes, when available. Because the price estimates may vary, the Company must make certain judgments and assumptions about the appropriate price to use to calculate the fair values. Alternatively, the Company could opt to have the value of all of our MBS positions determined by either an independent third-party or do so internally.

MBS, retained interests, Eurodollar futures contracts, Orchid common stock and interest rate swaptions were recorded at fair value on a recurring basis during the nine and three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. When determining fair value measurements, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset. When possible, the Company looks to active and observable markets to price identical assets. When identical assets are not traded in active markets, the Company looks to market observable data for similar assets. Fair value measurements for the retained interests are generated by a model that requires management to make a significant number of assumptions.

The following table presents financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

(in thousands)
				Quoted Prices
				in Active		Significant
				Markets for		Other		Significant
				Identical		Observable		Unobservable
		Fair Value		Assets		Inputs		Inputs
		Measurements		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
September 30, 2015
Mortgage-backed securities	$	123,114	$	-	$	123,114	$	-
Eurodollar futures contracts		447		447		-		-
Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock		9,080		9,080		-		-
Retained interests		1,634		-		-		1,634
December 31, 2014
Mortgage-backed securities	$	117,831	$	-	$	117,831	$	-
Eurodollar futures contracts		476		476		-		-
Orchid Island Capital, Inc. common stock		12,811		12,811		-		-
Retained interests		1,900		-		-		1,900

The following table illustrates a roll forward for all assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

(in thousands)
		Retained Interests
		2015		2014
Balances, January 1	$	1,900	$	2,531
Gain included in earnings		2,739		2,643
Collections		(3,005)		(3,187)
Balances, September 30	$	1,634	$	1,987

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, there were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities between levels 1, 2 or 3.

Our retained interests are valued based on a discounted cash flow approach. These values are sensitive to changes in unobservable inputs, including: estimated prepayment speeds, default rates and loss severity, weighted-average life, and discount rates. Significant increases or decreases in any of these inputs may result in significantly different fair value measurements.

The following table summarizes the significant quantitative information about our level 3 fair value measurements as of September 30, 2015.

Retained interests fair value (in thousands)			$	1,634
		CPR Range
Prepayment Assumption		(Weighted Average)
Constant Prepayment Rate		10% (10%)
		Severity
Default Assumptions	Probability of Default	(Weighted Average)		Range Of Loss Timing
Real Estate Owned	100%	42%		Next 10 Months
Loans in Foreclosure	100%	42%		Month 4 - 13
Loans 90 Day Delinquent	100%	45%		Month 11-28
Loans 60 Day Delinquent	85%	45%		Month 11-28
Loans 30 Day Delinquent	75%	45%		Month 11-28
Current Loans	2.5%	45%		Month 29 and Beyond
		Remaining Life Range		Discount Rate Range
Cash Flow Recognition	Valuation Technique	(Weighted Average)		(Weighted Average)
Nominal Cash Flows	Discounted Cash Flow	0.2 - 15.1 (6.6)		27.50% (27.50%)
Discounted Cash Flows	Discounted Cash Flow	0.2 - 9.7 (1.1)		27.50% (27.50%)

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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