Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. We may from time to time be exposed to interest rate risk inherent in our financial instruments, but we are not currently subject to foreign currency or commodity price risk. We manage exposure to these market risks through our regular operating and financing activities.
The Company's operations are interest rate sensitive. As overall manufactured housing demand can be adversely affected by increases in interest rates, a significant increase in wholesale or mortgage interest rates may negatively affect the ability of distributors and home buyers to secure financing. Higher interest rates could unfavorably impact revenues, gross margins and net earnings.
We are exposed to market risk related to the accessibility and terms of long-term financing of our consumer loans. In the past, we have accessed the asset-backed securities market to provide term financing of home-only and non-conforming mortgage originations. At present, independent asset-backed and mortgage-backed securitization markets are not readily available to us or other manufactured housing lenders. Accordingly, we have not continued to securitize our loan originations as a means to obtain long-term funding.
We are also exposed to market risks related to the consumer and commercial loan notes receivables. For fixed and step rate instruments, changes in interest rates do not change future earnings and cash flows. However, changes in interest rates could affect the fair value of these instruments. Assuming the level of these instruments as of April 3, 2021 is held constant, a 1% (100 basis points) unfavorable change in average interest rates would adversely impact the fair value of these instruments, as follows:
($ in thousands) Reduction in Fair Value
Consumer loans receivable $ 3,317
Commercial loans receivable 344
Securitized financings
462
40
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In originating loans for sale, we issue interest rate lock commitments ("IRLCs") to prospective borrowers and third-party originators. These IRLCs represent an agreement to extend credit to a loan applicant, whereby the interest rate on the loan is set prior to loan closing or sale. These IRLCs bind us to fund the approved loan at the specified rate regardless of whether interest rates or market prices for similar loans have changed between the commitment date and the closing date. As such, outstanding IRLCs are subject to interest rate risk and related loan sale price risk during the period from the date of the IRLC through the earlier of the loan sale date or IRLC expiration date. The loan commitments generally range between 30 and 180 days; however, borrowers are not obligated to close the related loans. As a result, we are also subject to fallout risk related to IRLCs, which is realized if approved borrowers choose not to close on the loans within the terms of the IRLCs. As of April 3, 2021, we had outstanding IRLCs with a notional amount of $37.7 million recorded at fair value in accordance with FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging . The estimated fair values of IRLCs are based on quoted market values and are recorded in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of IRLCs is based on the value of the underlying loan adjusted for: (i) estimated cost to complete and originate the loan and (ii) the estimated percentage of IRLCs that will result in closed loans. The initial and subsequent changes in the value of IRLCs are a component of current income. Assuming the level of IRLCs is held constant, a 1% (100 basis points) increase in average interest rates would decrease the fair value of the obligations by approximately $340,000.