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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
    
Definitions – The following defines certain of the commonly used terms in these financial statements: 

“RMBS” refers to residential mortgage-backed securities backed by adjustable-rate, hybrid adjustable-rate, or fixed-rate residential loans;
“Agency RMBS” refers to RMBS representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of residential loans guaranteed by a government sponsored enterprise (“GSE”), such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), or an agency of the U.S. government, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”);
“non-Agency RMBS” refers to RMBS that are not guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government or GSE;
“IOs” refers collectively to interest only and inverse interest only mortgage-backed securities that represent the right to the interest component of the cash flow from a pool of mortgage loans;
“POs” refers to mortgage-backed securities that represent the right to the principal component of the cash flow from a pool of mortgage loans;
“ARMs” refers to adjustable-rate residential loans;
“Agency ARMs” refers to Agency RMBS comprised of adjustable-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate RMBS;
“Agency fixed-rate RMBS” refers to Agency RMBS comprised of fixed-rate RMBS;
“ABS” refers to debt and/or equity tranches of securitizations backed by various asset classes including, but not limited to, automobiles, aircraft, credit cards, equipment, franchises, recreational vehicles and student loans;
“CMBS” refers to commercial mortgage-backed securities comprised of commercial mortgage pass-through securities issued by a GSE, as well as PO, IO or mezzanine securities that represent the right to a specific component of the cash flow from a pool of commercial mortgage loans;
“CDO” refers to collateralized debt obligation and includes debt that permanently finances the residential loans held in Consolidated SLST, the Company's residential loans held in securitization trusts and a non-Agency RMBS re-securitization that we consolidate, or consolidated, in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP;
“business purpose loans” refers to (i) short-term loans that are collateralized by residential properties and are made to investors who intend to rehabilitate and sell the residential property for a profit or (ii) loans that finance (or refinance) non-owner occupied residential properties that are rented to one or more tenants;
“Consolidated Real Estate VIEs” refers to Consolidated VIEs that own multi-family properties;
“Consolidated SLST” refers to Freddie Mac-sponsored residential loan securitizations, comprised of seasoned re-performing and non-performing residential loans, of which we own the first loss subordinated securities and certain IOs that we consolidate in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP;
“Consolidated VIEs” refers to VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary, as it has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE and that we consolidate in our financial statements in accordance with GAAP;
“SOFR” refers to Secured Overnight Funding Rate; and
“Variable Interest Entity” or “VIE” refers to an entity in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties.

Basis of Presentation – On March 9, 2023, the Company effected a one-for-four reverse stock split of its issued, outstanding and authorized shares of common stock (the "Reverse Stock Split"). Accordingly, all common share and per common share data for all periods presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted on a retroactive basis to reflect the impact of the Reverse Stock Split.
The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 has been derived from audited financial statements. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024, the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 and the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited. In our opinion, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been made. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-Q. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, significant accounting policies and other disclosures have been omitted since such items are disclosed in Note 2 in the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Provided in this section is a summary of additional accounting policies that are significant to, or newly adopted by, the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with GAAP. 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management has made significant estimates in several areas, including fair valuation of its financial instruments reported at fair value, real estate held by Consolidated VIEs and redemption value of redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated VIEs. Although the Company’s estimates contemplate current conditions and how it expects those conditions to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be different than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially impact the Company’s results of operations and its financial condition.
    
Reclassifications – Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements to conform to current period presentation. In particular, prior period disclosures have been adjusted for the aforementioned Reverse Stock Split.

Additionally, prior period disclosures have been conformed to the current period presentation of net loss from real estate. Beginning in the third quarter of 2023, the components of net loss from real estate, inclusive of rental income and other real estate income and interest expense, mortgages payable on real estate, depreciation and amortization and other real estate expenses, are presented as total net loss from real estate on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. Previously, rental income, other real estate income and total income from real estate was presented in other income (loss) and interest expense, mortgages payable on real estate, depreciation and amortization, other real estate expenses and total expenses related to real estate were presented in general, administrative and operating expenses on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Also beginning in the third quarter of 2023, unrealized gains (losses) and realized gains (losses) on derivative instruments are presented in gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. Previously, unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments were presented in unrealized gains (losses), net and realized gains (losses) on derivative instruments were presented in realized gains (losses), net on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Principles of Consolidation and Variable Interest Entities – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of all its subsidiaries which are majority-owned, controlled by the Company or a VIE where the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation (see Note 7).
A VIE is an entity that lacks one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A VIE is defined as an entity in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The Company consolidates a VIE in accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation ("ASC 810") when it is the primary beneficiary of such VIE, herein referred to as a Consolidated VIE. As primary beneficiary, the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and a right to receive benefits or absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE. The Company is required to reconsider its evaluation of whether to consolidate a VIE each reporting period, based upon changes in the facts and circumstances pertaining to the VIE.

The Company evaluates the initial consolidation of each Consolidated VIE, which includes a determination of whether the VIE constitutes the definition of a business in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations ("ASC 805"), by considering if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets within the VIE are concentrated in either a single identifiable asset or group of single identifiable assets. Upon consolidation, the Company recognizes the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any third-party ownership of membership interests as non-controlling interest as of the consolidation or acquisition date, measured at their relative fair values (see Note 7). Non-controlling interest in Consolidated VIEs is adjusted prospectively for its share of the allocation of income or loss and equity contributions and distributions from each respective Consolidated VIE. The third-party owners of certain of the non-controlling interests in Consolidated VIEs have the ability to sell their ownership interests to the Company, at their election, subject to certain conditions. The Company has classified these third-party ownership interests as redeemable non-controlling interest in Consolidated VIEs in mezzanine equity on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Collateralized Debt Obligations – The Company records collateralized debt obligations used to permanently finance the residential loans held in Consolidated SLST, a portion of the Company's net investment in Consolidated SLST and the Company's residential loans held in securitization trusts as debt on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. For financial reporting purposes, the loans and investment securities held as collateral for these obligations are recorded as assets of the Company. The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825, Financial Instruments ("ASC 825") with respect to the CDOs issued by Consolidated SLST and CDOs issued by the Company after January 1, 2024. The Company elected the fair value option for CDOs issued by the Company after January 1, 2024 because the Company determined that such presentation represents the underlying economics of the respective financing. Changes in fair value of CDOs subject to the fair value election are recorded in current period earnings in unrealized gains (losses), net on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. Interest expense on such CDOs is recorded based on the current stated interest rate and outstanding principal balance in effect and is included in interest expense on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. In accordance with ASC 825, costs associated with the issuance of CDOs subject to the fair value election are recognized in earnings as they are incurred and are included in debt issuance costs on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Senior Unsecured Notes – On April 27, 2021, the Company issued its 5.75% Senior Notes due 2026 to originate new investments, repay outstanding indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. The Company evaluated the call option feature of these notes for embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging ("ASC 815") and determined that the call option feature should not be bifurcated from the notes.

On June 28, 2024, the Company issued its 9.125% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "9.125% Senior Notes") for general corporate purposes, which included acquiring single-family residential assets. The Company evaluated the call option feature of these notes for embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC 815 and determined that the call option feature should not be bifurcated from the notes. The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 with respect to the 9.125% Senior Notes because the Company determined that such presentation represents the underlying economics of the respective financing. Changes in fair value of the 9.125% Senior Notes are recorded in current period earnings in unrealized gains (losses), net on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations (or other comprehensive income, to the extent the change results from a change in instrument-specific credit risk). Interest expense on such 9.125% Senior Notes is recorded based on the current stated interest rate and outstanding principal balance in effect and is included in interest expense on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. In accordance with ASC 825, costs associated with the issuance of the 9.125% Senior Notes are recognized in earnings as they are incurred and are included in debt issuance costs on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Summary of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures ("ASU 2023-09"). ASU 2023-09 requires enhanced disclosures in connection with an entity's effective tax rate reconciliation and additional disclosures about income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company expects that the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will result in additional income tax disclosures in its notes to consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures ("ASU 2023-07"). ASU 2023-07 requires disclosure of incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis. The amendments also require companies with a single reportable segment to provide all disclosures required by ASU 2023-07 as well as existing segment disclosures in accordance with ASC 280. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company expects that the adoption of ASU 2023-07 will result in additional disclosures in its notes to consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting ("ASU 2020-04"). ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions to GAAP requirements for modifications to debt agreements, leases, derivatives and other contracts, related to the expected market transition from LIBOR, and certain other floating rate benchmark indices, or collectively, IBORs, to alternative reference rates. ASU 2020-04 generally considers contract modifications related to reference rate reform to be an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date nor a reassessment of a previous accounting determination. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848 ("ASU 2022-06"), which allows ASU 2020-04 to be adopted and applied prospectively to contract modifications made on or before December 31, 2024. In light of the cessation of the publication of LIBOR after June 30, 2023, the Company’s material contracts that were indexed to LIBOR have been amended to transition to an alternative benchmark and any other unmodified agreements that incorporate LIBOR as the referenced rate have provisions in place that provide for identification of an alternative benchmark or specify an alternative benchmark, or by operation of law specify an alternative benchmark, to LIBOR upon its phase-out.