Note 5 – Advances



	September 30, 2018			December 31, 2017
Principal and interest	$	16,385		$	20,207
Taxes and insurance	105,633			144,454
Foreclosures, bankruptcy and other	59,759			63,597
	181,777			228,258
Allowance for losses	(15,753		)	(16,465		)
	$	166,024		$	211,793

Advances at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 include $8.2 million and $18.1 million, respectively, of advances relating to sales of loans that did not qualify for sale accounting.

The following table summarizes the activity in net advances:



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018			2017
Beginning balance	$	211,793		$	257,882
Sales of advances	(4,777		)	(399		)
Collections of advances, charge-offs and other, net	(41,704		)	(63,320		)
Decrease in allowance for losses	712			3,790
Ending balance	$	166,024		$	197,953



Allowance for Losses	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018			2017		2018			2017
Beginning balance	$	16,485		$	20,328	$	16,465		$	37,952
Provision	2,696			13,756		6,197			17,054
Net (charge-offs) recoveries and other	(3,428		)	78		(6,909		)	(20,844		)
Ending balance	$	15,753		$	34,162	$	15,753		$	34,162