Velocity Financial, Inc. Fair Value Disclosure

Note 27 — Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Determination

ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value including a three-level valuation hierarchy, and requires disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the exchange 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 reflecting assumptions that a market participant would use when pricing an asset or liability. The hierarchy uses three levels of inputs to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities as follows:

Transfers to/from Levels 1, 2 and 3 are recognized at the beginning of the reporting period in which a change in valuation technique or methodology occurs. Given the nature of some of the Company’s assets and liabilities, clearly determinable market-based valuation inputs are often not available; therefore, these assets and liabilities are valued using internal estimates. As subjectivity exists with respect to the valuation estimates used, the fair values disclosed may not equal prices that can ultimately be realized if the assets are sold or the liabilities are settled with third parties.

Below is a description of the valuation methods for the assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis and for estimating fair value of financial instruments not recorded at fair value for disclosure purposes. While management believes the valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the measurement date.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and restricted cash are recorded at historical cost. The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value as these instruments have short-term maturities and interest rates that approximate market, a Level 1 measurement.

Loans Held for Investment at Amortized Cost and Loans Held for Investment at Fair Value

The Company uses a third-party loan valuation specialist to estimate the fair value of its nonperforming mortgage loans, a Level 3 measurement. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s nonperforming mortgage loans are interest rates, market yield requirements, the probability of default, loss given default, voluntary prepayment speed and loss timing. The Company uses a third-party loan valuation model to estimate the fair value of its performing mortgage loans, a Level 3 measurement. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s performing mortgage loans are discount rate, constant prepayment rate, constant default rate, and loss severity rate. Significant changes in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significant change to the mortgage loans’ fair value measurement.

Collateral Dependent or Loans Individually Evaluated

Nonaccrual loans held for investment are evaluated individually and are adjusted to the fair value of the collateral when the fair value of the collateral is below the carrying value of the loan. To the extent such a loan is collateral dependent, the Company determines the allowance for credit losses based on the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral. The fair value of each loan’s collateral is generally based on appraisals or broker price opinions obtained, less estimated costs to sell, a Level 3 measurement.

Loans Held for Sale, at Fair Value

The Company elected to account for certain loans originated with the intent to sell at fair value using FASB ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments (ASC 825). The FVO loans held for sale are measured based a discounted cash flow model, or on the fair value of securities backed by similar mortgage loans, adjusted for certain factors to approximate the fair value, including the value attributable to mortgage servicing and credit risk, and current commitments to purchase loans, a Level 2 measurement. Management identified all loans to be accounted for at estimated fair value at the instrument level. Changes in fair value are reflected in income as they occur.

Real Estate Owned, Net (“REO”)

Real estate owned, net, is initially recorded at the property’s estimated fair value, based on appraisals or broker price opinions obtained, less estimated costs to sell at the acquisition date, a Level 3 measurement. From time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments are made to real estate owned, net, based on the current updated appraised value of the property, or management’s judgment and estimation of value based on recent market trends or negotiated sales prices with potential buyers.

Mortgage Servicing Rights

The Company determined the fair values based on a third-party valuation specialist using a model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income, a Level 3 measurement.

Derivative Instruments

Derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value using readily observable market inputs and the overall fair value measurement is classified as Level 2.

Secured Financing, Net (“Corporate Debt”)

The Company determined the fair values estimate of the secured financing using the estimated cash flows discounted at an appropriate market rate, a Level 3 measurement.

Warehouse Repurchase Facilities, Net

Warehouse repurchase facilities are recorded at historical cost. The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value as these instruments have short-term maturities of one-year or less and interest rates that approximate market plus a spread, a Level 2 measurement.

Securitized Debt at Amortized Cost and Securitized Debt at Fair Value

The Company obtains the fair value estimates at instrument level from a third-party broker dealer based on trader input on benchmark securities. The fair values take into consideration input factors such as bond structure and collateral characteristics, and performance and pricing factors such as yield, spread, average life, prepayment speeds, default rate, and severity. The fair values are considered a Level 2 measurement. Significant changes in any of the input factors in isolation could result in a significant change to securitized debt’s fair value measurement.

Accrued Interest Receivable and Accrued Interest Payable

The carrying amounts of accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments, a Level 1 measurement.

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet financial instruments.

Receivables Due From Servicers

The carrying amounts of receivables due from servicers approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments, a Level 1 measurement.

Fair Value Disclosures

The Company estimates the fair value of certain financial instruments on a quarterly basis. These instruments are recorded at fair value using a valuation allowance only if they are individually evaluated. As described above, these adjustments to fair value usually result from the application of lower of cost or fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value include loans held for investment at fair value, loans held for sale at fair value, mortgage servicing rights, derivative instruments, and securitized debt at fair value. Financial assets measured at the lower of cost or estimated fair value include certain individually evaluated loans held for investment and REO, which were measured using unobservable inputs, including appraisals and broker price opinions on the values of the underlying collateral. Individually evaluated loans requiring an allowance were carried at approximately $11.9 million and $8.5 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, net of specific allowance for credit losses of approximately $1.0 million for each of those years.

A financial instrument is cash, evidence of an ownership interest in an entity, or a contract that creates a contractual obligation or right to deliver or receive cash or another financial instrument from a second entity on potentially favorable terms. The methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are described above.