CHFC 2017 Annual Report

are generally originated as interest only with the intention that the loan principal balance will be repaid through the sale of finished properties by the developers within twelve months of the completion date. Real estate construction and land development lending involves a higher degree of risk than commercial real estate lending and residential mortgage lending because of the uncertainties of construction, including the possibility of costs exceeding the initial estimates, the need to obtain a tenant or purchaser of the property if it will not be owner-occupied or the need to sell developed properties. We generally attempt to mitigate the risks associated with real estate construction and land development lending by, among other things, lending primarily in our market areas, using prudent underwriting guidelines and closely monitoring the construction process. Consumer Loan Portfolio Residential Mortgage Our residential mortgage loans consist primarily of one- to four-family residential loans with fixed interest rates of 15 years or less, with amortization periods generally from 15 to 30 years. The loan-to-value ratio at the time of origination is generally 80% or less. Loans with more than an 80% loan-to-value ratio generally require private mortgage insurance. Residential mortgage loans also include loans to consumers for the construction of single family residences that are secured by these properties. The mortgage loans that we originate to be held by us in our portfolio have generally been priced competitively with current market rates for such loans. We currently offer a number of ARM loans with terms of up to 30 years and interest rates that adjust at scheduled intervals based on the product selected. These interest rates can adjust annually, or remain fixed for an initial period of three, five or seven years and thereafter adjust annually. The interest rates for ARM loans are generally indexed to the one-year U.S. Treasury Index or the one year LIBOR rate. The ARM loans generally provide for periodic (not more than 2%) and overall (not more than 6%) caps on the increase or decrease in the interest rate at any adjustment date and over the life of the loan. Because the majority of loans originated and retained in the residential portfolio are adjustable-rate one- to four-family mortgage loans, we limit our exposure to fluctuations in interest income due to rising interest rates. However, adjustable-rate loans generally pose credit risks not inherent in fixed-rate loans, primarily because as interest rates rise, the underlying payments of the borrower rise, thereby increasing the potential for default. Periodic and lifetime caps on interest rate increases help to reduce the credit risks associated with adjustable-rate loans but also limit the interest rate sensitivity of such loans. We require that adjustable- rate loans held in the loan portfolio have payments sufficient to amortize the loan over its term and the loans do not have negative principal amortization. Consumer Installment Our consumer installment loans consist of relatively small loan amounts to consumers to finance personal items (primarily automobiles, recreational vehicles and marine vehicles) and are comprised primarily of indirect loans purchased from dealerships. We originate consumer installment loans utilizing a computer-based credit scoring analysis to supplement the underwriting process. Consumer rates are both fixed and variable, with negotiable terms. Our consumer installment loans typically amortize over periods up to 60 months. Although we typically require monthly payments of interest and a portion of the principal on our loan products, we may offer consumer loans with a single maturity date when a specific source of repayment is available. Consumer loans not secured by real estate are generally considered to have greater risk than first or second mortgages on real estate because they may be unsecured, or, if they are secured, the value of the collateral may be difficult to assess and more likely to decrease in value, and is more difficult to control, than real estate. Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit Our home equity loans and lines of credit are comprised of loans to consumers who utilize equity in their personal residence, including junior lien mortgages, as collateral to secure the loan or line-of-credit. The majority of our home equity lines of credit are comprised of loans with payments of interest only and original maturities of up to ten years. These home equity lines of credit include junior lien mortgages whereby the first lien mortgage is held by a nonaffiliated financial institution. We also originate home equity loans utilizing a computer-based credit scoring analysis to supplement the underwriting process. Mortgage Banking Activity Sale of Residential Real Estate Loans We engage in mortgage banking as part of an overall strategy to deliver loan products to customers. As a result, we sell a large portion of the residential loans we originate to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or, to a lesser extent, private investors, while 6