Lument Finance Trust, Inc.

Previous report

A prolonged economic recession and declining real estate values could impair our assets and harm our operations.

Previous report

The risks associated with our business are more severe during economic recessions and are compounded by declining real estate values. The transitional multifamily and other CRE loans in which we may invest will be particularly sensitive to these risks. Declining real estate values will likely reduce the level of new mortgage loan originations since borrowers often use appreciation in the value of their existing properties to support the purchase of additional properties. Borrowers will also be less able to pay principal and interest on loans underlying the securities in which we invest if the value of residential real estate weakens further. Further, declining real estate values significantly increase the likelihood that we will incur losses on the transitional multifamily and other CRE loans in the event of default because the value of collateral on the mortgages underlying such securities may be insufficient to cover the outstanding principal amount of the loan. Any sustained period of increased payment delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

Previous report

In addition, political leaders in the U.S. and certain foreign countries have recently been elected on protectionist platforms, fueling doubts about the future of global free trade. The U.S. government has indicated its intent to alter its approach to international trade policy and in some cases to renegotiate certain existing trade agreements with foreign countries. In addition, the U.S. government has recently imposed tariffs on imports of foreign goods and has indicated a willingness to impose additional tariffs on imports of non-U.S. products. Some foreign governments, including China, have instituted retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods and have indicated a willingness to impose additional tariffs on U.S. products. Global trade disruption, significant introductions of trade barriers and bilateral trade frictions, together with any future downturns in the global economy therefrom, could result in an economic recession and a decline in real estate values which could impair the value of our loans and harm our operations and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.