Company: RWT-PA
Filing Date: 2025-03-03
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000930236-25-000007
Chunk: 353

Company: REDWOOD TRUST INC
Filing Date: 2025-03-03
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 7
Chunk 353
---
 in assumptions regarding future projected home values, changes in assumptions regarding future projected prepayment rates of residential mortgage loans, as well as changes in the rate and magnitude of defaults on the portfolio. Significant inputs used to estimate the fair value of these assets include certain unobservable inputs (e.g., those requiring our own data or assumptions) that require significant judgment to develop, and changes in these estimates have had and are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our reported earnings and financial condition.

Changes in Fair Values of Derivative Financial Instruments 

We generally use derivatives as part of our mortgage banking activities (e.g., to manage risks associated with loans we plan to acquire and subsequently sell or securitize), in relation to our residential investments (to manage risks associated with our securities, MSRs, and held-for-investment loans), and to manage variability in debt interest expense indexed to adjustable rates, and cash flows on assets and liabilities that have different coupon rates (fixed rates versus floating rates, or floating rates based on different indices). Significant inputs used to estimate the fair value of certain of our derivatives include unobservable inputs (e.g., those requiring our own data or assumptions) that require significant judgment to develop, and changes in these estimates have had and are reasonably likely to have a material effect on reported earnings and our financial condition. 

Additionally, the nature of the instruments we use and the accounting treatment for the specific assets, liabilities, and derivatives may therefore lead to volatility in our periodic earnings, even when we are meeting our hedging objectives. Most of our derivatives are accounted for as trading instruments with associated changes in value recorded through our consolidated statements of income (loss). Changes in value of the assets and liabilities we manage by using derivatives may not be accounted for similarly. This could lead to reported income and book values in specific periods that do not necessarily reflect the economics of our risk management strategy. Even when the assets and liabilities are similarly accounted for as trading instruments, periodic changes in their values may not coincide as other market factors (e.g., supply and demand) may affect certain instruments and not others at any given time. 

Changes in Values of Real Estate Owned ("REO")

REO property acquired through, or in lieu of, foreclosure is initially recorded at fair value, and subsequently reported at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value (less estimated costs to sell). We generally obtain third-party valuations to assist in determining the initial fair value of REO properties, and will obtain updated valuations when we believe market conditions may have meaningfully changed. While