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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Notes) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] | 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES USE OF ESTIMATES In presenting the consolidated financial statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and related disclosures. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and available information. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from those estimates. LEASES See Note 3, "Leases", for discussion. REVENUE RECOGNITION See Note 4, "Revenue Recognition", for discussion. CONSOLIDATION The Company consolidates any variable interest entity ("VIE") for which it is the primary beneficiary with a controlling financial interest. Also, the Company consolidates an entity not deemed a VIE if its ownership, direct or indirect, exceeds 50% of the outstanding voting shares of an entity and/or it has the ability to control the financial or operating policies through its voting rights, board representation or other similar rights. For entities where the Company does not have a controlling interest (financial or operating), the investments in such entities are accounted for using the equity method or at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, as appropriate. The Company applies the equity method of accounting when it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of an investee. The Company measures all other investments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income or in the case that an equity investment does not have readily determinable fair values, at cost minus impairment (if any) plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS The Company considers highly liquid investments with remaining maturities not exceeding three months at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. RESTRICTED CASH Restricted cash primarily relates to amounts specifically designated as collateral for the repayment of outstanding borrowings under the Company’s securitization facilities. Such amounts approximated $3 million at both December 31, 2020 and 2019. ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS The Company estimates the allowance necessary to provide for uncollectible accounts receivable. The estimate is based on historical experience, combined with a review of current conditions and forecasts of future losses, and includes specific accounts for which payment has become unlikely. The process by which the Company calculates the allowance begins in the individual business units where specific problem accounts are identified and reserved primarily based upon the age profile of the receivables and specific payment issues, combined with reasonable and supportable forecasts of future losses. ADVERTISING EXPENSES Advertising costs are generally expensed in the period incurred. Advertising expenses, recorded within the marketing expense line item on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations, were approximately $157 million, $197 million and $207 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS Debt issuance costs include costs incurred in connection with obtaining debt and extending existing debt. These financing costs are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount, with the exception of the debt issuance costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility and securitization obligations which are classified as a deferred financing asset within other assets. The debt issuance costs are amortized via the effective interest method and the amortization period is the life of the related debt. INCOME TAXES The Company’s provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated based upon the temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using currently enacted tax rates. These differences are based upon estimated differences between the book and tax basis of the assets and liabilities for the Company. Certain tax assets and liabilities of the Company may be adjusted in connection with the finalization of income tax audits. The Company’s deferred tax assets are recorded net of a valuation allowance when, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the recorded deferred tax balances will not be realized in future periods. Decreases to the valuation allowance are recorded as reductions to the Company’s provision for income taxes and increases to the valuation allowance result in additional provision for income taxes. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS The Company records derivatives and hedging activities on the balance sheet at their respective fair values. The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to future interest rate volatility associated with its variable rate borrowings. The Company has not elected to utilize hedge accounting for these instruments; therefore, any change in fair value is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. However, the fluctuations in the value of these instruments generally offset the impact of changes in the value of the underlying risk that they are intended to economically hedge. See Note 17, "Risk Management and Fair Value of Financial Instruments", for further discussion. INVESTMENTS Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC ("Guaranteed Rate Affinity") originates and markets its mortgage lending services to the Company's real estate brokerage as well as other real estate brokerage companies across the country. Guaranteed Rate, Inc. ("Guaranteed Rate") owns a controlling 50.1% stake of Guaranteed Rate Affinity and the Company owns 49.9%. The Company has certain governance rights related to the joint venture, however it does not have control of the day-to-day operations of Guaranteed Rate Affinity. The equity earnings or losses related to Guaranteed Rate Affinity are included in the financial results of Realogy Title Group. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had various equity method investments which are recorded within other non-current assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company's former 49.9% mortgage joint venture with PHH Home Loans LLC, which was reported in Realogy Brokerage Group, was sold during the first quarter of 2018. The Company's investment in Guaranteed Rate Affinity at Realogy Title Group had investment balances of $90 million and $60 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recorded equity earnings of $126 million, earnings of $15 million and losses of $8 million related to its investment in Guaranteed Rate Affinity during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company received $96 million in cash dividends from Guaranteed Rate Affinity during the year ended December 31, 2020 and no cash dividends during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. The Company invested $2 million and $4 million of cash into Guaranteed Rate Affinity during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company's other equity method investments had investment balances totaling $10 million and $9 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recorded equity earnings from the operations of these equity method investments of $5 million, $3 million and $4 million during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company received $5 million in cash dividends from these equity method investments during each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Property and equipment (including leasehold improvements) are initially recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation, recorded as a component of depreciation and amortization on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, is computed utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements, also recorded as a component of depreciation and amortization, is computed utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated benefit period of the related assets or the lease term, if shorter. Useful lives are 30 years for buildings, up to 20 years for leasehold improvements, and from 3 to 7 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. The Company capitalizes the costs of software developed for internal use which commences during the development phase of the project. The Company amortizes software developed or obtained for internal use on a straight-line basis, generally from 1 to 5 years, when such software is ready for use. The net carrying value of software developed or obtained for internal use was $118 million at both December 31, 2020 and 2019. IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL, INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND OTHER LONG-LIVED ASSETS Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of the net tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Other indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of trademarks acquired in business combinations. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets are not amortized, but are subject to impairment testing. The aggregate carrying values of our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets were $2,910 million and $705 million, respectively, at December 31, 2020 and are subject to an impairment assessment annually as of October 1, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. This assessment compares carrying values of the goodwill reporting units and other indefinite lived intangible assets to their respective fair values and, when appropriate, the carrying value is reduced to fair value. In testing goodwill, the fair value of each reporting unit is estimated using the income approach, a discounted cash flow approach. For the other indefinite lived intangible assets, fair value is estimated using the relief from royalty method. Management utilizes long-term cash flow forecasts and the Company's annual operating plans adjusted for terminal value assumptions. The fair value of the Company's reporting units and other indefinite lived intangible assets are determined utilizing the best estimate of future revenues, operating expenses, including commission expense, market and general economic conditions, trends in the industry, as well as assumptions that management believes marketplace participants would utilize including discount rates, cost of capital, trademark royalty rates, and long-term growth rates. The trademark royalty rate was determined by reviewing similar trademark agreements with third parties. Although management believes that assumptions are reasonable, actual results may vary significantly. These impairment assessments involve the use of accounting estimates and assumptions, changes in which could materially impact our financial condition or operating performance if actual results differ from such estimates and assumptions. To address this uncertainty, a sensitivity analysis is performed on key estimates and assumptions. Significant negative industry or economic trends, disruptions to the business, unexpected significant changes or planned changes in use of the assets, a decrease in business results, growth rates that fall below management's assumptions, divestitures, and a sustained decline in the Company's stock price and market capitalization may have a negative effect on the fair values and key valuation assumptions. Such changes could result in changes to management's estimates of the Company's fair value and a material impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company determined that the impact on future earnings related to the COVID-19 pandemic qualified as a triggering event for all of our reporting units and accordingly, the Company performed an impairment assessment of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets as of March 31, 2020. This assessment resulted in the recognition of an impairment of Realogy Franchise Group trademarks of $30 million and a goodwill impairment of $413 million for Realogy Brokerage Group. The primary drivers of the impairments were a significant increase in the weighted average cost of capital due to the volatility in the capital and debt markets due to COVID-19 and the related lower projected financial results. The Company recorded $133 million of reserves during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 (while Cartus Relocation Services was held for sale) to reduce the net assets to the estimated proceeds. Upon reclassification of Cartus Relocation Services to held and used on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in the fourth quarter of 2020, the reserves (including $105 million related to goodwill) were included in the Impairments line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company performed an impairment assessment upon reclassification during the fourth quarter of 2020 and the impairment assessment indicated that the carrying value of Cartus Relocation Services exceeded its estimated fair value. The Company believes that the reduced fair value is a result of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis resulting in lower relocation activity which has negatively impacted the operating results of the relocation services. Furthermore, recent U.S. immigration and visa restrictions have exacerbated these trends. As a result, during the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recognized an additional goodwill impairment charge of $22 million and a trademark impairment charge of $34 million related to Cartus Relocation Services (which is reported within the Realogy Franchise Group reportable segment). The impairment charges are recorded on a separate line in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and are non-cash in nature. The results of the Company's annual impairment assessment indicated no other impairment charges were required for the other reporting units or other indefinite-lived intangibles. Management evaluated the effect of lowering the estimated fair value for each of the passing reporting units by 10% and determined no impairment of goodwill. Due to the impairments during 2020 for the Realogy Franchise Group and Cartus Relocation Service trademarks, there was little to no excess fair value over carrying value as of December 31, 2020. The Company evaluates the recoverability of its other long-lived assets, including amortizable intangible assets, if circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. This assessment is performed by comparing the respective carrying values of the assets to the current and expected future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, to be generated from such assets. If such assessment indicates that the carrying value of these assets is not recoverable, then the carrying value of such assets is reduced to fair value through a charge to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS The Company reports the results of operations of a business as discontinued operations if a disposal represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the Company's operations and financial results when the business is sold and classified as held for sale, in accordance with the criteria of Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205 Presentation of Financial Statements ("ASC 205") and ASC Topic 360 Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”). Assets and liabilities of a business classified as held for sale are recorded at the lower of its carrying amount or estimated fair value, less cost to sell, and depreciation ceases on the date that the held for sale criteria are met. If the carrying amount of the business exceeds its estimated fair value less cost to sell, a loss is recognized. Assets and liabilities related to a business classified as held for sale are segregated in the current and prior balance sheets in the period in which the business is classified as held for sale. The results of discontinued operations are reported in "Net (loss) income from discontinued operations" in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the current and prior periods commencing in the period in which the business meets the criteria, and includes any gain or loss recognized on closing, or adjustment of the carrying amount to fair value less cost to sell. Transactions between the businesses held for sale and businesses held for use that are expected to continue to exist after the disposal are not eliminated to appropriately reflect the continuing operations and balances held for sale. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION The Company grants stock-based awards to certain senior management members, employees and directors including non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units. In 2020, the Company shifted away from granting non-qualified options. The fair value of non-qualified stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model on the grant date and is recognized as expense over the service period based on the vesting requirements. The fair value of restricted stock units and performance share units without a market condition is measured based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date and is recognized as expense over the service period of the award, or when requisite performance metrics or milestones are probable of being achieved. The fair value of awards with a market condition are estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation method and expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur. Determining the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires considerable judgment, including estimating expected volatility and expected term, risk-free rate. RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS The Company adopted the new accounting standard on Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) effective January 1, 2020. The new standard amends the guidance for measuring credit losses on certain financial instruments and financial assets, including trade receivables. The standard requires that companies recognize an allowance that reflects the current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the financial instrument. The valuation allowance for credit losses should be recognized and measured based on historical experience, current conditions and expectations of the future. The initial adoption of this guidance did not have an impact to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements upon adoption on January 1, 2020. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS The Company considers the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standards Updates. Recently issued standards were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. The FASB issued a new standard on Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity which simplifies the accounting for instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible debt. The new standard reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock resulting in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract and the interest rate of more convertible debt instruments being closer to the coupon interest rate, as compared with current guidance. The new standard also amends the derivative guidance for the “own stock” scope exception, which exempts qualifying instruments from being accounted for as derivatives if certain criteria are met. In addition, the standard changes the diluted earnings per share calculation for instruments that may be settled in cash or shares and for convertible instruments. The new standard is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2021 with early adoption permitted as of January 1, 2021. The new standard requires adoption using either a full or modified retrospective approach and is not expected to have an impact on the Company's financial statements. The FASB issued a new standard on Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes which clarifies and simplifies aspects of the accounting for income taxes to help promote consistent application of GAAP by eliminating certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Depending on the amendment, adoption may be applied on a retrospective, modified retrospective or prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period, with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning of fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements but does not believe the adoption will have a material effect.

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