Note 8 — Investments in Equity Affiliates

We account for all investments in equity affiliates under the equity method. The following is a summary of our investments in equity affiliates (in thousands):


					UPB of Loans to
	Investments in Equity Affiliates at				Equity Affiliates at
Equity Affiliates	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017		September 30, 2018
Arbor Residential Investor LLC	$	19,781	$	19,193	$	—
Lightstone Value Plus REIT L.P.		1,895		1,895		—
JT Prime		425		425		—
West Shore Café		—		2,140		1,688
East River Portfolio		—		—		—
Lexford Portfolio		—		—		280,500
Total	$	22,101	$	23,653	$	282,188

Arbor Residential Investor LLC (“ARI”). During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded income of $0.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded a loss of $1.3 million and $1.9 million, respectively, to (loss) income from equity affiliates in our consolidated statements of income related to our investment in this residential mortgage banking business. In addition, during the first quarter of 2018, we made a $2.4 million payment for our proportionate share of a litigation settlement related to this investment, which was distributed back to us by our equity affiliate.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we received cash distributions totaling $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively, (which were classified as returns of capital) in connection with a joint venture that invests in non-qualified residential mortgages purchased from ARI’s origination platform. The income associated with this investment for all periods presented were de minimus.

West Shore Café. We own a 50% noncontrolling interest in the West Shore Lake Café, a restaurant/inn lakefront property in Lake Tahoe, California. We provided a $1.7 million first mortgage loan to an affiliated entity to acquire property adjacent to the original property, which is scheduled to mature in May 2019 and bears interest at LIBOR plus 4.0%. Current accounting guidance requires investments in equity affiliates to be evaluated periodically to determine whether a decline in their value is other-than-temporary, though it is not intended to indicate a permanent decline in value. During the three months ended September 30, 2018, we determined that this investment exhibited indicators of impairment and, as a result of an impairment analysis performed; we recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of $2.2 million for the full carrying amount of this investment, which was recorded in (loss) income from equity affiliates in the consolidated statement of income. In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a provision for loan loss of $1.7 million, fully reserving the first mortgage loan.

Lexford Portfolio. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we received distributions of $0.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively, and, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we received distributions of $0.7 million and $2.0 million, respectively, from this equity investment, which was recognized as income. See Note 18 - Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties for details.

Equity Participation Interest. In the third quarter of 2017, we received $1.5 million from the redemption of a 25% equity participation interest we held in a multifamily property, which is included in (loss) income from equity affiliates on the consolidated statements of income. Prior to this transaction, our basis in this investment was zero.