DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation were included. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Annual Report of loanDepot, Inc. on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (“2020 Form 10-K”). Nature of Operations loanDepot, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on November 6, 2020 to facilitate the initial public offering (“IPO”) of its Class A common stock and related transactions in order to carry on the business of LD Holdings Group LLC (“LD Holdings”) and its consolidated subsidiaries loanDepot.com, LLC (“LDLLC”), Artemis Management, LLC (“ART”), LD Settlement Services, LLC (“LDSS”), mello Holdings, LLC (“Mello”), and mello Credit Strategies LLC (“MCS”). Unless otherwise noted or indicated by the context, the term the “Company” refers (1) prior to the consummation of the IPO and Reorganization described below, to LD Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries, and (2) after the IPO and reorganization described below, to loanDepot, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including LD Holdings. The Company engages in the originating, financing, selling, securitizing, and servicing of residential mortgage loans, and engages in title, escrow, and settlement services for mortgage loan transactions. The Company derives income primarily from gains on the origination and sale of loans to investors, income from loan servicing, and fees charged for settlement services related to the origination and sale of loans. Initial Public Offering The Company's common stock began trading on The New York Stock Exchange on February 11, 2021 under the ticker symbol “LDI.” The IPO consisted of 3,850,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share, at an offering price of $14.00 per share, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1. Prior to the IPO, the Company completed a reorganization by which it changed its equity structure to create a single class of LLC units in LD Holdings. Prior to that transaction, the capital structure consisted of different classes of membership interests held by certain members of LD Holdings (“Continuing LLC Members”). The LLC units were then exchanged on a one-for-one basis for Holdco Units and Class C common stock. The Continuing LLC Members have the right to exchange one Holdco Unit and one share of Class B common stock or Class C common stock, as applicable, together for cash or one share of Class A common stock at the Company’s election, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, and reclassifications. The reorganization is considered a transaction between entities under common control, therefore, the financial statements for the periods prior to the IPO and reorganization have been adjusted to combine the previously separate entities for presentation. Prior to the reorganization and IPO, the Company had not engaged in any business or other activities, except in connection with its formation. As a result of the IPO and reorganization: •loanDepot, Inc. is a holding company and its sole material asset is an equity interest in LD Holdings. LD Holdings continues to be a holding company and has no material assets other than its equity interests in its direct subsidiaries consisting of a 99.99% ownership in LDLLC (the majority asset of the group), and 100% equity ownership in ART, LDSS, Mello, and MCS. loanDepot, Inc. is the sole managing member of LD Holdings, and indirectly operates and controls all of LD Holdings’ business and affairs and consolidates the financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries. The financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries are consolidated with loanDepot, Inc., and the consolidated net earnings or loss are allocated to the noncontrolling interest to reflect the entitlement of the Continuing LLC Members. •The Company has entered into a tax receivable agreement (“TRA”) with certain funds managed by Parthenon Capital Partners, (the “Parthenon Stockholders”), Parthenon affiliates owning Holdco Units, and certain Continuing LLC Members, whereby loanDepot, Inc. will be obligated to pay such parties or their permitted assignees, 85% of the amount of cash tax savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, and local taxes that loanDepot, Inc. realizes, or is deemed to realize as a result of future tax benefits from increases in tax basis. The TRA liability is accounted for as a contingent liability with amounts accrued when deemed probable and estimable. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Our accounting policies are described below and in Note 1- Description of Business, Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2020 Form 10-K. Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP as codified in the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC” or the “Codification”). ASC 250 requires that a change in the reporting entity or the consummation of a transaction accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests, i.e., a reorganization of entities under common control, be retrospectively applied to the financial statements of all prior periods when the financial statements are issued for a period that includes the date the change in reporting entity or the transaction occurred. The IPO and reorganization were considered transactions between entities under common control, therefore, the financial statements for the periods prior to the IPO and reorganization have been adjusted to combine the previously separate entities for presentation. The financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries were therefore combined with loanDepot, Inc., and the consolidated net earnings or loss has been allocated to the noncontrolling interest to reflect the entitlement of the Continuing LLC Members. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all of the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the Company and consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. VIEs are entities that have a total equity investment at risk that is insufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, whose equity investors at risk lack the ability to control the entity's activities, or is structured with non-substantive voting rights. The Company evaluates its associations with VIEs, both at inception and when there is a change in circumstance that requires reconsideration, to determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidation is required. A primary beneficiary is defined as a variable interest holder that has a controlling financial interest. A controlling financial interest requires both: (a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of a VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company has not provided financial or other support during the periods presented to any VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide. Other entities that the Company does not consolidate, but for which it has significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain items in prior periods were reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Financing lease obligations are included as part of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Gain on the origination and sale of loans, net was adjusted to exclude the change in fair value of forward sale contracts, including pair offs hedging MSRs, which are now included in the change in fair value of servicing rights, net on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company determined that this change would more appropriately reflect the hedged item and better align with industry practice. Gain on origination and sale of loans, net and change in fair value of servicing rights, net, in the current and prior periods along with the related financial statement disclosures were adjusted to reflect this reclassification in reports beginning after the first quarter of 2021. The Company has evaluated subsequent events for recognition or disclosure through the date of this report and has not identified any recordable or disclosable events that were not already reported in these consolidated financial statements or notes thereto. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Management has made significant estimates in certain areas, including determining the fair value of loans held for sale, servicing rights, derivative assets and derivative liabilities, awards granted under the incentive equity plan, assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, and determining the loan loss obligation on sold loans. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Non-controlling interests loanDepot, Inc. is a holding company and its sole material asset is an equity interest in LD Holdings. LD Holdings continues to be a holding company and has no material assets other than its equity interests in its direct subsidiaries consisting of a 99.99% ownership in LDLLC (the majority asset of the group), and 100% equity ownership in ART, LDSS, Mello, and MCS. loanDepot, Inc. is the sole managing member of LD Holdings, and indirectly operates and controls all of LD Holdings’ business and affairs and consolidates the financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries. The financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries are consolidated with loanDepot, Inc., and the consolidated net earnings or loss will be allocated to the noncontrolling interest to reflect the entitlement of the Continuing LLC Members. Income Taxes The Company’s provision for income taxes is made for current and deferred income tax on pretax net income adjusted for permanent and temporary differences based on enacted tax laws and applicable statutory tax rates. The Company accounts for interest and penalties associated with income tax obligations as a component of income tax expense. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates for the periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the change. Deferred tax assets are recorded in prepaid expenses and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Deferred tax liabilities are recorded in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Following the IPO and Reorganization, the Company’s purchase of Holdco Units and any future exchanges of Holdco Units for cash or Class A Common Stock are expected to result in increases to the Company’s allocable tax basis in its assets. These increases in tax basis are expected to increase (for tax purposes) depreciation and amortization deductions allocable to the Company, and therefore reduce the amount of tax that the Company would otherwise be required to pay in the future. As a result, the Company has entered into a TRA with Parthenon Stockholders and certain Continuing LLC Members, whereby loanDepot, Inc. will be obligated to pay such parties or their permitted assignees, 85% of the amount of cash tax savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, and local taxes that loanDepot, Inc. realizes, or is deemed to realize as a result of future tax benefits from increases in tax basis. The TRA liability is accounted for as a contingent liability within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with amounts accrued when deemed probable and estimable. The Company evaluates tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions deemed to meet the more-likely than-not threshold of being sustained would be recorded as a tax benefit in the current period. Stock-Based Compensation Effective upon the completion of the IPO, the Company adopted the loanDepot, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan allows for the grant of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and stock appreciation rights. There are currently only RSUs granted under the 2021 Plan. The Company uses the grant-date fair value of equity awards to determine the compensation cost associated with each award. Compensation cost for service-based equity awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. Compensation cost for awards with only service conditions that have graded vesting schedules is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award such that compensation cost recognized at any date is at least equal to the portion of the grant-date value of the award that is vested at that date. Expense is reduced for actual forfeitures as they occur. The cost of stock-based compensation is recorded to personnel expense. Earnings per share Basic net income per common share is calculated using the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each share of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (distributed earnings) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Distributed and undistributed earnings are allocated between common and participating security shareholders based on their respective rights to receive dividends. According to the Company’s certificate of incorporation, the holders of Class A common stock and Class D common stock are entitled to share equally, on a per share basis, in dividends and other distributions of cash, property or shares of stock of the Company as may be declared by the board of directors. Diluted net income per common share is calculated using the more dilutive of either the treasury stock method or the two-class method. The dilutive calculation considers common stock issuable under the assumed conversion of Class C common stock to Class A common stock as well as restricted stock units granted under the Corporation’s stock plans using the treasury stock method, if dilutive. Concentration of Risk The Company has concentrated its credit risk for cash by maintaining deposits in several financial institutions, which may at times exceed amounts covered by insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk related to cash. Due to the nature of the mortgage lending industry, changes in interest rates may significantly impact revenue from originating mortgages and subsequent sales of loans to investors, which are the primary source of income for the Company. The Company originates mortgage loans on property located throughout the United States, with loans originated for property located in California totaling approximately 29% and 33% of total loan originations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. The Company sells mortgage loans to various third-party investors. Three investors accounted for 41%, 33%, and 14% of the Company’s loan sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. No other investors accounted for more than 5% of the loan sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. The Company funds loans through warehouse lines of credit. As of September 30, 2021, 19% and 16% of the Company's warehouse lines were payable to two separate lenders.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation were included. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Annual Report of loanDepot, Inc. on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (“2020 Form 10-K”).

loanDepot, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on November 6, 2020 to facilitate the initial public offering (“IPO”) of its Class A common stock and related transactions in order to carry on the business of LD Holdings Group LLC (“LD Holdings”) and its consolidated subsidiaries loanDepot.com, LLC (“LDLLC”), Artemis Management, LLC (“ART”), LD Settlement Services, LLC (“LDSS”), mello Holdings, LLC (“Mello”), and mello Credit Strategies LLC (“MCS”). Unless otherwise noted or indicated by the context, the term the “Company” refers (1) prior to the consummation of the IPO and Reorganization described below, to LD Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries, and (2) after the IPO and reorganization described below, to loanDepot, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including LD Holdings.

The Company engages in the originating, financing, selling, securitizing, and servicing of residential mortgage loans, and engages in title, escrow, and settlement services for mortgage loan transactions. The Company derives income primarily from gains on the origination and sale of loans to investors, income from loan servicing, and fees charged for settlement services related to the origination and sale of loans.

Prior to the IPO, the Company completed a reorganization by which it changed its equity structure to create a single class of LLC units in LD Holdings. Prior to that transaction, the capital structure consisted of different classes of membership interests held by certain members of LD Holdings (“Continuing LLC Members”). The LLC units were then exchanged on a one-for-one basis for Holdco Units and Class C common stock. The Continuing LLC Members have the right to exchange one Holdco Unit and one share of Class B common stock or Class C common stock, as applicable, together for cash or one share of Class A common stock at the Company’s election, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, and reclassifications.

The reorganization is considered a transaction between entities under common control, therefore, the financial statements for the periods prior to the IPO and reorganization have been adjusted to combine the previously separate entities for presentation. Prior to the reorganization and IPO, the Company had not engaged in any business or other activities, except in connection with its formation.

•loanDepot, Inc. is a holding company and its sole material asset is an equity interest in LD Holdings. LD Holdings continues to be a holding company and has no material assets other than its equity interests in its direct subsidiaries consisting of a 99.99% ownership in LDLLC (the majority asset of the group), and 100% equity ownership in ART, LDSS, Mello, and MCS. loanDepot, Inc. is the sole managing member of LD Holdings, and

indirectly operates and controls all of LD Holdings’ business and affairs and consolidates the financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries. The financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries are consolidated with loanDepot, Inc., and the consolidated net earnings or loss are allocated to the noncontrolling interest to reflect the entitlement of the Continuing LLC Members.

•The Company has entered into a tax receivable agreement (“TRA”) with certain funds managed by Parthenon Capital Partners, (the “Parthenon Stockholders”), Parthenon affiliates owning Holdco Units, and certain Continuing LLC Members, whereby loanDepot, Inc. will be obligated to pay such parties or their permitted assignees, 85% of the amount of cash tax savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, and local taxes that loanDepot, Inc. realizes, or is deemed to realize as a result of future tax benefits from increases in tax basis. The TRA liability is accounted for as a contingent liability with amounts accrued when deemed probable and estimable.

ASC 250 requires that a change in the reporting entity or the consummation of a transaction accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests, i.e., a reorganization of entities under common control, be retrospectively applied to the financial statements of all prior periods when the financial statements are issued for a period that includes the date the change in reporting entity or the transaction occurred. The IPO and reorganization were considered transactions between entities under common control, therefore, the financial statements for the periods prior to the IPO and reorganization have been adjusted to combine the previously separate entities for presentation. The financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries were therefore combined with loanDepot, Inc., and the consolidated net earnings or loss has been allocated to the noncontrolling interest to reflect the entitlement of the Continuing LLC Members.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all of the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the Company and consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. VIEs are entities that have a total equity investment at risk that is insufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, whose equity investors at risk lack the ability to control the entity's activities, or is structured with non-substantive voting rights. The Company evaluates its associations with VIEs, both at inception and when there is a change in circumstance that requires reconsideration, to determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidation is required. A primary beneficiary is defined as a variable interest holder that has a controlling financial interest. A controlling financial interest requires both: (a) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of a VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company has not provided financial or other support during the periods presented to any VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide. Other entities that the Company does not consolidate, but for which it has significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Gain on the origination and sale of loans, net was adjusted to exclude the change in fair value of forward sale contracts, including pair offs hedging MSRs, which are now included in the change in fair value of servicing rights, net on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company determined that this change would more appropriately reflect the hedged

item and better align with industry practice. Gain on origination and sale of loans, net and change in fair value of servicing rights, net, in the current and prior periods along with the related financial statement disclosures were adjusted to reflect this reclassification in reports beginning after the first quarter of 2021.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Management has made significant estimates in certain areas, including determining the fair value of loans held for sale, servicing rights, derivative assets and derivative liabilities, awards granted under the incentive equity plan, assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, and determining the loan loss obligation on sold loans. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

loanDepot, Inc. is a holding company and its sole material asset is an equity interest in LD Holdings. LD Holdings continues to be a holding company and has no material assets other than its equity interests in its direct subsidiaries consisting of a 99.99% ownership in LDLLC (the majority asset of the group), and 100% equity ownership in ART, LDSS, Mello, and MCS. loanDepot, Inc. is the sole managing member of LD Holdings, and indirectly operates and controls all of LD Holdings’ business and affairs and consolidates the financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries. The financial results of LD Holdings and its subsidiaries are consolidated with loanDepot, Inc., and the consolidated net earnings or loss will be allocated to the noncontrolling interest to reflect the entitlement of the Continuing LLC Members.

The Company’s provision for income taxes is made for current and deferred income tax on pretax net income adjusted for permanent and temporary differences based on enacted tax laws and applicable statutory tax rates. The Company accounts for interest and penalties associated with income tax obligations as a component of income tax expense.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates for the periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the change. Deferred tax assets are recorded in prepaid expenses and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Deferred tax liabilities are recorded in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Following the IPO and Reorganization, the Company’s purchase of Holdco Units and any future exchanges of Holdco Units for cash or Class A Common Stock are expected to result in increases to the Company’s allocable tax basis in its assets. These increases in tax basis are expected to increase (for tax purposes) depreciation and amortization deductions allocable to the Company, and therefore reduce the amount of tax that the Company would otherwise be required to pay in the future. As a result, the Company has entered into a TRA with Parthenon Stockholders and certain Continuing LLC Members, whereby loanDepot, Inc. will be obligated to pay such parties or their permitted assignees, 85% of the amount of cash tax savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, and local taxes that loanDepot, Inc. realizes, or is deemed to realize as a result of future tax benefits from increases in tax basis. The TRA liability is accounted for as a contingent liability within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with amounts accrued when deemed probable and estimable.

Effective upon the completion of the IPO, the Company adopted the loanDepot, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan allows for the grant of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and stock appreciation rights. There are currently only RSUs granted under the 2021 Plan. The Company uses the grant-date fair value of equity awards to determine the compensation cost associated with each award. Compensation cost for service-based equity awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. Compensation cost for awards with only service conditions that have graded vesting schedules is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award such that compensation cost recognized at any date is at least equal to the portion of the grant-date value of the award that is vested at that date. Expense is reduced for actual forfeitures as they occur. The cost of stock-based compensation is recorded to personnel expense.

Basic net income per common share is calculated using the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each share of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (distributed earnings) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Distributed and undistributed earnings are allocated between common and participating security shareholders based on their respective rights to receive dividends. According to the Company’s certificate of incorporation, the holders of Class A common stock and Class D common stock are entitled to share equally, on a per share basis, in dividends and other distributions of cash, property or shares of stock of the Company as may be declared by the board of directors.

Diluted net income per common share is calculated using the more dilutive of either the treasury stock method or the two-class method. The dilutive calculation considers common stock issuable under the assumed conversion of Class C common stock to Class A common stock as well as restricted stock units granted under the Corporation’s stock plans using the treasury stock method, if dilutive.

The Company has concentrated its credit risk for cash by maintaining deposits in several financial institutions, which may at times exceed amounts covered by insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk related to cash.

Due to the nature of the mortgage lending industry, changes in interest rates may significantly impact revenue from originating mortgages and subsequent sales of loans to investors, which are the primary source of income for the Company. The Company originates mortgage loans on property located throughout the United States, with loans originated for property located in California totaling approximately 29% and 33% of total loan originations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively.