Fair Values

Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The following fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to be used in valuation techniques to measure fair value:

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

Certain of the Company's assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value either on a recurring or non-recurring basis. Assets required to be marked-to-market and reported at fair value every reporting period are classified as being valued on a recurring basis. Assets not required to be recorded at fair value every period may be recorded at fair value if a specific provision or other impairment is recorded within the period to mark the carrying value of the asset to market as of the reporting date. Such assets are classified as being valued on a non-recurring basis.

The following fair value hierarchy table summarizes the Company's assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis by the above categories ($ in thousands):



			Fair Value Using
	Total		Quoted market prices in active markets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
As of December 31, 2015
Recurring basis:
Derivative assets⁽¹⁾	$	1,522	$	—	$	1,522	$	—
Derivative liabilities⁽¹⁾	131		—		131		—
Available-for-sale securities⁽¹⁾	1,161		—		—		1,161
Non-recurring basis:
Impaired loans⁽²⁾	3,200		—		—		3,200
As of December 31, 2014
Recurring basis:
Derivative assets⁽¹⁾	$	6,361	$	—	$	6,361	$	—
Derivative liabilities⁽¹⁾	478		—		478		—
Available-for-sale securities⁽¹⁾	7,906		7,906		—		—
Non-recurring basis:
Impaired loans⁽³⁾	37,169		—		—		37,169
Impaired real estate⁽⁴⁾	7,102		—		—		7,102

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(1)	The fair value of the Company's derivatives and available-for-sale securities are based upon third-party broker quotes.


(2)	The Company recorded a provision for loan losses on one loan with a fair value of $3.2 million based on a discounted cash flow analysis.

(3)

The Company recorded a recovery of loan losses on one loan with a fair value of $8.5 million based on the loan's remaining term of 1.5 years and interest rate of 4.7% using discounted cash flow analysis. The Company also recorded a provision for loan losses on one loan with a fair value of $5.2 million based on an appraisal. In addition, the Company recorded a provision for loan losses on one loan, collateralized by a land asset, with a fair value of $23.5 million based upon a foreclosure sale agreement. The land asset was acquired by an unconsolidated entity in which the Company is a partner.


(4)	The Company recorded impairment on one real estate asset with a fair value of $7.1 million based on a discount rate of 15.0% using discounted cash flows over a 10 year lease term.

Fair values of financial instruments—The Company's estimated fair values of its loans receivable and other lending investments and outstanding debt was $1.6 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and $1.4 billion and $4.1 billion, respectively, as of December 31, 2014. The Company determined that the significant inputs used to value its loans receivable and other lending investments and debt obligations fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The carrying value of other financial instruments including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accrued interest receivable and accounts payable, approximate the fair values of the instruments. Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash values are considered Level 1 on the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of other financial instruments, including derivative assets and liabilities, are included in the fair value hierarchy table above.

Given the nature of certain assets and liabilities, clearly determinable market based valuation inputs are often not available, therefore, these assets and liabilities are valued using internal valuation techniques. Subjectivity exists with respect to these internal valuation techniques, therefore, the fair values disclosed may not ultimately be realized by the Company if the assets were sold or the liabilities were settled with third parties. The methods the Company used to estimate the fair values presented in the table above are described more fully below for each type of asset and liability.

Derivatives—The Company uses interest rate swaps, interest rate caps and foreign exchange contracts to manage its interest rate and foreign currency risk. The valuation of these instruments is determined using discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates, and implied volatilities. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own non-performance risk and the respective counterparty's non-performance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of non-performance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts and guarantees. The Company has determined that the significant inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Impaired loans—The Company's loans identified as being impaired are nearly all collateral dependent loans and are evaluated for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, less costs to sell, to the carrying value of each loan. Due to the nature of the individual properties collateralizing the Company's loans, the Company generally uses a discounted cash flow methodology through internally developed valuation models to estimate the fair value of the collateral. This approach requires the Company to make judgments in respect to significant unobservable inputs, which may include discount rates, capitalization rates and the timing and amounts of estimated future cash flows. For income producing properties, cash flows generally include property revenues, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for market rate growth and occupancy levels. For other real estate, cash flows may include lot and unit sales that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for annual revenue growth, operating costs, costs of completion and the inventory sell out pricing and timing. The Company will also consider market comparables if available. In more limited cases, the Company obtains external "as is" appraisals for loan collateral, generally when third party participations exist, and appraised values may be discounted when real estate markets rapidly deteriorate. The Company has determined that significant inputs used in its internal valuation models and appraisals fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Impaired real estate—If the Company determines a real estate asset available and held for sale is impaired, it records an impairment charge to adjust the asset to its estimated fair market value less costs to sell. Due to the nature of individual real estate properties, the Company generally uses a discounted cash flow methodology through internally developed valuation models to estimate the fair value of the assets. This approach requires the Company to make judgments with respect to significant unobservable inputs, which may include discount rates, capitalization rates and the timing and amounts of estimated future cash flows. For income producing properties, cash flows generally include property revenues, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for market rate growth and occupancy levels. For other real estate, cash flows may include lot and unit sales that are based on current observable market rates and estimates for annual market rate growth, operating costs, costs of completion and the inventory sell out pricing and timing. The Company will also consider market comparables if available. In more limited cases, the Company obtains external "as is" appraisals for real estate assets and appraised values may be discounted when real estate markets rapidly deteriorate. The Company has determined that significant inputs used in its internal valuation models and appraisals fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Additionally, in certain cases, if the Company is under contract to sell an asset, it will mark the asset to the contracted sales price less costs to sell. The Company considers this to be a Level 3 input under the fair value hierarchy.

Loans receivable and other lending investments—The Company estimates the fair value of its performing loans and other lending investments using a discounted cash flow methodology. This method discounts estimated future cash flows using rates management determines best reflect current market interest rates that would be offered for loans with similar characteristics and credit quality. The Company determined that the significant inputs used to value its loans and other lending investments fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. For certain lending investments, the Company uses market quotes, to the extent they are available, that fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy or broker quotes that fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Debt obligations, net—For debt obligations traded in secondary markets, the Company uses market quotes, to the extent they are available, to determine fair value and are considered Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy. For debt obligations not traded in secondary markets, the Company determines fair value using a discounted cash flow methodology, whereby contractual cash flows are discounted at rates that management determines best reflect current market interest rates that would be charged for debt with similar characteristics and credit quality. The Company has determined that the inputs used to value its debt obligations under the discounted cash flow methodology fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.