UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

(212) 753-5100

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(Title of Class)

WITH COPIES TO:

Jay L. Bernstein, Esq.

Jacob Farquharson, Esq.

Clifford Chance US LLP

31 W. 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Tel (212) 878-8000

Fax (212) 878-8375  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Except as otherwise specified in this registration statement, the terms: “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company” and the “company” refer to Terra Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, together with its subsidiaries. Additionally, the following defined terms are used in this registration statement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Various statements contained in this registration statement, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the availability of loan origination and acquisition opportunities, the potential returns from such investment opportunities and the availability of financing. Our forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by words such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "potential," "plan," "goal," or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. The forward-looking statements in this registration statement speak only as of the date of this registration statement; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements unless required by law, and we caution you not to rely on them unduly. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While we consider these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and "Item 2. Financial Information — Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

The risks, contingencies and uncertainties associated with our forward-looking statements relate to, among other matters, the following:

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

We are filing this Form 10 to voluntarily register our shares of common stock pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. As a result of the registration of our shares of common stock pursuant to the Exchange Act, following the effectiveness of this Form 10, we will be subject to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. In particular, we will be required to file Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and Current Reports on Form 8-K and otherwise comply with the disclosure obligations of the Exchange Act applicable to issuers filing registration statements to register a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.

Overview

We are a real estate credit focused company that originates, structures, funds and manages high yielding commercial real estate credit investments, including mezzanine loans, first mortgage loans, subordinated mortgage loans and preferred equity investments throughout the United States, which we collectively refer to as our targeted assets. Our loans finance the acquisition, construction, development or redevelopment of quality commercial real estate in the United States. We focus on the origination of middle market loans in the approximately $10 million to $50 million range, to finance properties in primary and secondary markets. We believe loans of this size are subject to less competition, offer higher risk adjusted returns than larger loans with similar risk metrics and facilitate portfolio diversification. Our objective is to continue to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders, primarily through regular distributions. There can be no assurances that we will be successful in meeting our objective.

As of June 30, 2019, we held a net investment portfolio (gross investments less obligations under participation agreements) comprised of 25 investments in 11 states with an aggregate net principal balance of $289.7 million, a weighted average coupon rate of 10.2%, a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 69.1% and a weighted average remaining term to maturity of 2.1 years.

Each of our loans was originated by Terra Capital Partners or its affiliates. Our portfolio is diversified geographically with underlying properties located in 25 markets across 11 states and by loan structure and property type. The portfolio includes diverse property types such as multifamily housing, condominiums, hotels, student housing commercial offices, medical offices and mixed use properties. The profile of these properties ranges from stabilized and value-added properties to pre-development and construction. Our loans are structured across mezzanine debt, first mortgages, and preferred equity investments.

We are externally managed by Terra REIT Advisors, LLC, or our Manager, a subsidiary of Terra Capital Partners. Terra Capital Partners is a real estate credit focused investment manager with a 16-year track record focused primarily on the origination and management of mezzanine loans, as well as first mortgage loans, bridge loans, and preferred equity investments in all major property types through multiple public and private pooled investment vehicles. Terra Capital Partners has consistently originated such loans other than during the period from June 2007, when it sold 100% of its investment management interests prior to the global financial crisis, until July 2009 when it re-entered the lending market. The financings provided by all vehicles managed by Terra Capital Partners from January 2004 through June 30, 2019 have been secured by approximately 11.9 million square feet of office properties, 3.5 million square feet of retail properties, 3.8 million square feet of industrial properties, 4,457 hotel rooms and 25,664 apartment units. The value of the properties underlying this capital was approximately $7.7 billion based on appraised values as of the closing dates of each financing. To date, all of the loans originated by our Manager and its affiliates have generated a positive return, which we believe is attributable to our Manager’s rigorous origination, underwriting and selection process.

We believe there are compelling opportunities available to us in the commercial real estate lending market as a result of high demand for property financing, constraints on the availability of credit from banks and other traditional commercial mortgage lenders due to the regulatory environment, and a generally conservative real estate credit culture that evolved in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Demand for property acquisition and development financing continues to be fueled by healthy economic conditions, population growth and the adaptive re-use of properties to accommodate new technologies and lifestyles. In addition, there continues to be a large volume of commercial real estate loans that mature each year that require refinancing proceeds. The confluence of these conditions — reduced lending by traditional lenders and strong demand for commercial real estate financing — has created opportunities for experienced alternative lenders such as us, particularly those with a focus on providing commercial real estate loans to creditworthy borrowers.

We believe that we are well positioned to capitalize on these opportunities through our relationship with our Manager and Terra Capital Partners. Our Manager's debt finance professionals maintain extensive relationships within the real estate industry, including with real estate developers, institutional real estate sponsors and investors, real estate funds, investment and commercial banks, private equity funds, asset originators and broker-dealers, as well as the capital and financing markets generally. We leverage the many years of experience and well-established contacts of our Manager's debt finance professionals to grow our portfolio and expand our business.

Through December 31, 2015, our business was conducted through a series of predecessor private partnerships. At the beginning of 2016, we completed the merger of these private partnerships into a single entity as part of our plan to reorganize our business as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes, or the REIT formation transaction. We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2016. So long as we qualify as a REIT, we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on our net taxable income to the extent that we annually distribute all of our net taxable income to our stockholders.

Our Manager and Terra Capital Partners

We are externally managed by our Manager, which is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or the Advisers Act.

Our Manager is a subsidiary of Terra Capital Partners, a real estate credit focused investment manager based in New York City with a 16-year track record focused primarily on the origination and management of mezzanine loans, as well as first mortgage loans, bridge loans, and preferred equity investments in all major property types through multiple public and private pooled investment vehicles. Since its formation in 2001 and its commencement of operations in 2002, Terra Capital Partners has been engaged in providing financing on commercial properties of all major property types throughout the United States. In the lead up to the global financial crisis in 2007, believing that the risks associated with commercial real estate markets had grown out of proportion to the potential returns from such markets, Terra Capital Partners sold 100% of its investment management interests prior to the global financial crisis. It was not until mid-2009, after its assessment that commercial mortgage markets would begin a period of stabilization and growth, that Terra Capital Partners began to sponsor new investment vehicles, which included the predecessor private partnerships, to again provide debt capital to commercial real estate markets. The financings provided by all vehicles managed by Terra Capital Partners from January 2004 through June 30, 2019 have been secured by approximately 11.9 million square feet of office properties, 3.5 million square feet of retail properties, 3.8 million square feet of industrial properties, 4,457 hotel rooms and 25,664 apartment units. The value of the properties underlying this capital was approximately $7.7 billion based on appraised values as of the closing dates of each financing. In addition to its extensive experience originating and managing debt financings, Terra Capital Partners and its affiliates owned and operated over six million square feet of office and industrial space between 2005 and 2007, and this operational experience further informs its robust origination and underwriting standards and enables our Manager to effectively operate property underlying a financing upon a foreclosure.

Terra Capital Partners has been wholly owned by an affiliate of Axar Capital Management L.P., or Axar Capital Management, since November 30, 2018. Axar Capital Management is an investment manager registered under the Advisers Act with over $850 million in assets under management as of September 30, 2019, headquartered in New York City and founded by Andrew M. Axelrod. Axar Capital Management focuses on value-oriented and opportunistic investing across the capital structure and multiple sectors. The firm seeks attractive prices relative to intrinsic value and invests in event-driven situations with clear catalysts and asymmetric return potential. Axar Capital Management’s senior real estate team, which joined Terra Capital Partners in February 2018, has worked together for over five years, having previously built the $3 billion real estate business at Mount Kellett Capital Management, LP. Axar Capital Management has a deep network of industry relationships including institutional investors (for both public and private investments), operators, advisers and senior lenders.

Terra Capital Partners is led by Vikram S. Uppal (Chief Executive Officer), Gregory M. Pinkus (Chief Financial Officer) and Daniel Cooperman (Chief Originations Officer). Mr. Uppal was a Partner of Axar Capital Management and its Head of Real Estate. Prior to Axar Capital Management, Mr. Uppal was a Managing Director on the Investment Team at Fortress Investment Group’s Credit and Real Estate Funds and Co-Head of North American Real Estate Investments at Mount Kellett Capital Management. Members of the Terra Capital Partners management team have broad based, long-term relationships with major financial institutions, property owners and commercial real estate service providers. The entire senior management team has held leadership roles at many top international real estate and investment banking firms, including Mount Kellett Capital Management and Fortress Investment Group.

Market Opportunity

Commercial real estate is a capital-intensive business that relies heavily on the availability of credit to develop, acquire, maintain, and refinance commercial properties. The financial crisis of 2008 created a significant void for capital in the U.S. commercial real estate industry that lasted several years and generated many opportunities for investors like Terra Capital Partners. However, with the economy in the eleventh year of the upcycle, there are record levels of liquidity in both the equity and debt capital markets. Despite the competitive environment, two fundamental trends have allowed Terra Capital Partners and its affiliates to remain active originators of subordinated debt. First, the historically high volume of mortgage originations indicates an abundance of potential opportunities. Second, and more important, the recession catalyzed a secular shift among banks to a more conservative credit culture that limits loan proceeds available to real estate borrowers. This has created an opportunity for lenders such as Terra Capital Partners to originate bridge loans, subordinated loans, and preferred equity investments with attractive risk-reward profiles.

Historically High Volumes of Mortgage Originations

Commercial mortgage origination volume reached a record $549 billion in 2018, catalyzed by near-record levels of transactions and refinancings.

Sources: HFF, SWF Institute, and Willis Towers Watson

Source: RCA

Terra Capital Partners and its affiliates originated many loans by taking advantage of the “wall of maturities” of five- and ten-year loans originated at the prior market peak. Borrowers faced significant difficulties refinancing these loans, which often had excessive leverage and/or weak structures, in the significantly more conservative post-recession environment. This created the opportunity for Terra Capital Partners and its affiliates to finance these projects at materially lower valuations, as they were often being sold or recapitalized at values at or near the original loan amounts. While the supply of pre-recession loan maturities has diminished, total maturities will remain above the historic average for the next several years. Furthermore, Terra Capital Partners and its affiliates continue to benefit from exclusive follow-on opportunities with existing borrowers to finance additional projects.

Sources: HFF, Trepp, and Federal Reserve

Changes in the Senior Lender Landscape

Terra Capital Partners and its affiliates continue to benefit from the fundamental change in the composition of senior lenders and the proceeds they are willing to provide. In the early-to-mid 2000s, CMBS and bank lenders dominated the market for originations of loans secured by riskier projects, such as assets located in non-primary markets and/or involving construction. These loans, which were often underwritten with loose underwriting standards, increased the severity of the recession and led to significant financial regulations, such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and the High Volatility Commercial Real Estate regulation, that permanently altered the lending environment. CMBS and large national/international banks, which accounted for approximately three-quarters of all U.S. commercial mortgage originations in 2007, accounted for approximately half that figure in 2018; the decline is even more pronounced for higher-risk projects. This void has been primarily filled by regional banks and alternative lenders, the latter of whom have accounted for approximately 13% of originations from 2017-2018 compared to 7% in 2007. Moreover, alternative lenders have captured an even greater share of the financing for more complex or geographically diverse projects, which regional banks have often been more restricted from pursuing.

Source: HFF

The stricter regulatory environment has also forced traditional senior lenders to tighten their underwriting standards, largely by offering lower leverage (average loan-to-value ratios have declined by approximately 9 points since 2007) and/or by demanding more recourse from borrowers, even if the project and market fundamentals remain sound. This has created an attractive opportunity for alternative lenders such as Terra Capital Partners and its affiliates to improve the risk-reward profiles of their investments by attaching lower in the capital stack, backfilling the void left by the traditional lenders.

Sources: HFF, Federal Reserve, and Morgan Stanley

While equity and debt capital is flowing freely to U.S. commercial real estate on the whole, Terra believes the capital is often being allocated inefficiently, creating compelling opportunities to finance projects with attractive risk-reward profiles but that may be more complex (e.g., development).

Operating real estate:

(12) In September 2019, this loan was repaid in full.

The following tables set forth certain information regarding our portfolio, as of June 30, 2019:

The following table sets forth certain information regarding loans we have originated from July 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019.

(1) Total commitment for this loan is $61.5 million. We funded $9.6 million at closing.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our loans that were repaid from July 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019.

(1) Amount included PIK repayment of $0.9 million. 

(2) Amount included PIK repayment of $1.2 million.

Our Business Strengths and Competitive Advantages

In executing our business strategy, we believe that we benefit from our affiliation with Terra Capital Partners, given its strong track record and extensive experience and capabilities as a real estate investment manager. We have constructed, through our Manager, and actively manage a portfolio of commercial real estate loans, including mezzanine loans, first mortgage loans, subordinated mortgage loans, preferred equity investments and other loans related to high quality commercial real estate in the U.S. We believe the following core strengths enable us to realize our objectives and provide us with significant competitive advantages in the marketplace, and allow us to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders.

Significant Experience of Our Management Team

Terra Capital Partners has developed a reputation within the commercial real estate finance industry as a leading sophisticated real estate investment and asset management company with a 16-year track record in originating, underwriting and managing commercial real estate and real estate-related loans, preferred equity investments and investments with similar characteristics to the assets that we acquire. We believe we benefit from the depth and the disciplined approach Terra Capital Partners brings to its underwriting and investment management processes to structure and manage investments prudently. In addition to its extensive experience originating and managing debt financings, Terra Capital Partners and its affiliates have owned and operated over six million square feet of office and industrial space between 2005 and 2007, and this operational experience has further informed its robust origination and underwriting standards.

Attractive Portfolio of High Yielding Diversified Loans

As of June 30, 2019, we held a net investment portfolio (gross investments less obligations under participation agreements) comprised of 25 investments in 11 states with an aggregate net principal balance of $289.7 million, a weighted average coupon rate of 10.2%, a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 69.1% and a weighted average remaining term to maturity of 2.1 years. We focus on the origination of middle market loans in the approximately $10 million to $50 million range, to finance properties in primary and secondary markets. We believe loans of this size are subject to less competition, offer higher risk adjusted returns than larger loans with similar risk metrics and facilitate portfolio diversification. Our portfolio is diversified geographically with underlying properties located in 25 markets across 11 states and by loan structure and property type. Our portfolio includes diverse property types such as multifamily housing, condominiums, hotels, student housing commercial offices, medical offices and mixed-use properties. The profile of these properties ranges from stabilized and value-added properties to pre-development and construction. Our investments are structured across mezzanine debt, first mortgages, and preferred equity investments. The loans are structured based on the size and scope of the properties and needs of the borrower. All loans were originated, negotiated, underwritten and documented by our Manager or its affiliates. All loans are being managed and serviced by our Manager or its affiliates.

Disciplined Investment Process

Our Manager follows a disciplined investment origination, underwriting and selection process focused on long-term credit performance and capital protection. This investment approach involves a multi-phase evaluation, structuring and monitoring process for each potential investment opportunity. Our Manager originates loans only on assets that our company would feel comfortable owning and operating. After investment, our Manager continuously monitors the performance and composition of our portfolio, and proactively takes steps to address any potential credit quality deterioration. Our Manager services our investments, including the management (e.g., calculation, collection and remittance) of payments, escrow accounts, and insurance claims. Our Manager utilizes a “high-touch” model to establish and maintain borrower contact and facilitate loss-prevention strategies. We believe this approach maintains current income and reduces capital loss.

Our Manager also conducts an extensive evaluation of the numerous factors that affect our potential assets, including: (i) a top-down review of both the current macroeconomic environment generally and the real estate and commercial real estate loan market specifically; (ii) a detailed evaluation of the real estate industry and its sectors; (iii) a bottom-up review of each individual asset’s attributes and risk/reward profile relative to the macroeconomic environment; (iv) quantitative cash flow analysis and a review of the impact of the potential investment on our portfolio; and (v) ongoing management and monitoring of all assets to assess changing conditions on our original investment assumptions.

To date, all of the loans originated by our Manager and its affiliates have generated a positive return, which we believe is attributable to our Manager’s rigorous origination, underwriting and selection process.

Access to Robust Origination Platform

Our portfolio benefits from our Manager’s commercial real estate loan origination platform, which has originated an aggregate of approximately $1.2 billion of loans on more than 369 properties with an appraised value of approximately $7.7 billion since 2004.

Our Manager employs a diverse, relationship-focused approach to sourcing. Our Manager's debt finance professionals utilize an extensive network of senior lenders, mortgage brokers and sponsors to maximize market penetration. These relationships have been cultivated over our Manager’s professionals’ many years of experience in the real estate finance industry and Terra Capital Partners’ 16 year operating history. We believe the strength and duration of these relationships and the credibility of Terra Capital Partners in mezzanine and bridge lending facilitates strong deal flow.

We believe our Manager’s thorough due diligence prior to issuance of a term sheet is a competitive advantage, since it gives lenders, brokers and borrowers confidence in likelihood of execution. Senior lenders provide strong deal flow to our Manager based on its track record of closing, strong credit background and property operations expertise. We believe the fact that our Manager originates, services and we generally hold our loans to maturity provides borrowers with additional comfort and facilitates repeat borrowers.

Extensive Strategic Relationships

Our Manager's debt finance professionals maintain extensive relationships within the real estate industry, including with real estate developers, institutional real estate sponsors and investors, real estate funds, investment and commercial banks, private equity funds, asset originators and broker-dealers, as well as the capital and financing markets generally. We leverage the many years of experience and well-established contacts of our Manager's debt finance professionals for the benefit of our stockholders. We believe these relationships enhance our ability to source and finance our investments and to mitigate our credit and interest rate risk.

Our Investment Strategy

We focus on providing commercial real estate loans to creditworthy borrowers and seek to generate an attractive and consistent low volatility cash income stream. Our focus on originating debt and debt-like instruments emphasizes the payment of current returns to investors and the preservation of invested capital.

As part of our investment strategy, we:

Our Financing Strategy

We have historically utilized only limited amounts of borrowings as part of our financing strategy. One of the reasons we completed the REIT formation transactions, as described under "—Overview," is to expand our financing options, access to capital and capital flexibility in order to position us for future growth. We deploy moderate amounts of leverage as part of our operating strategy, which consists of borrowings under first mortgage financings and repurchase agreements. We may in the future also deploy leverage through other credit facilities and we may divide the loans we originate into senior and junior tranches and dispose of the more senior tranches as an additional means of providing financing to our business. In addition, we intend to match our use of floating rate leverage with floating rate investments.

In December 2018, we entered into a master repurchase agreement with Goldman Sachs Bank USA (the “master repurchase agreement”) that provides for advances of up to $150 million in the aggregate, which we expect to use to finance certain secured performing commercial real estate loans, primarily senior mortgage loans. In June 2019, we entered into a credit facility with Israeli Discount Bank that provides for revolving credit loans of up to $35.0 million in the aggregate, which we expect to use for short term financing needed to bridge the timing of anticipated loan repayments and funding obligations.

As of June 30, 2019, we had outstanding indebtedness, consisting of borrowings under a mortgage loan of $44.9 million and borrowings under our master repurchase agreement of $82.1 million. As of June 30, 2019, the amount remaining available under the master repurchase agreement was $67.9 million. As of June 30, 2019, the amount remaining available under the credit facility was $35.0 million.

Additionally, as of June 30, 2019, we had obligations under participation agreements with an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $98.0 million. However, we do not have direct liability to a participant under the participation agreements with respect to the underlying loan and the participants’ share of the investments is repayable only from the proceeds received from the related borrower/issuer of the investments and, therefore, the participants also are subject to credit risk (i.e., risk of default by the underlying borrower/ issuer). With its larger size and enhanced access to capital and capital flexibility, our company expects to deemphasize its use of participation arrangements. For additional information concerning our indebtedness, see “Item 2. Financial Information—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this registration statement.

Targeted Assets

Real Estate-Related Loans

We originate, structure, fund and manage commercial real estate loans, including mezzanine loans, first mortgage loans, subordinated mortgage loans and preferred equity investments related to high-quality commercial real estate in the United States. We may also, to the extent consistent with our qualification as a REIT, acquire equity participations in the underlying collateral of some of such loans. We originate, structure and underwrite most if not all of our loans. We, in reliance on our Manager, use what we consider to be conservative underwriting criteria, and our underwriting process involves comprehensive financial, structural, operational and legal due diligence to assess the risks of financings so that we can optimize pricing and structuring. By originating, not purchasing, loans, we are able to structure and underwrite financings that satisfy our standards, utilize our proprietary documentation and establish a direct relationship with our borrower. Described below are some of the types of loans we own and seek to originate with respect to high-quality properties in the United States. We continue to see attractive lending opportunities, and we expect market conditions to remain favorable for our strategy for the foreseeable future.

Mezzanine Loans.  These are loans secured by ownership interests in an entity that owns commercial real estate and that generally finance the acquisition, refinancing, rehabilitation or construction of commercial real estate. Mezzanine loans may be either short-term (one to five years) or long-term (up to 10 years) and may be fixed or floating rate. We may own mezzanine loans directly or we may hold a participation in a mezzanine loan or a sub-participation in a mezzanine loan. These loans generally pay interest on a specified due date (although there may be a portion of the interest that is deferred) and may, to the extent consistent with our qualification as a REIT, provide for participation in the value or cash flow appreciation of the underlying property as described below. Generally, we invest in mezzanine loans with last dollar loan-to-value ratios ranging from 60% to 75%. As of June 30, 2019, we owned ten mezzanine loans with a total net principal amount of $44.0 million, which constituted 15.2% of our net investment portfolio.

Preferred Equity Investments.  These are investments in preferred membership interests in an entity that owns commercial real estate and generally finance the acquisition, refinancing, rehabilitation or construction of commercial real estate. These investments are expected to have characteristics and returns similar to mezzanine loans. As of June 30, 2019, we owned nine preferred equity investments with a total net principal amount of $104.4 million, which constituted 36.0% of our net investment portfolio.

First Mortgage Loans.  These loans generally finance the acquisition, refinancing, rehabilitation or construction of commercial real estate. First mortgage loans may be either short-term (one to five years) or long-term (up to 10 years), may be fixed or floating rate and are predominantly current-pay loans. Our Manager originates current-pay first mortgage loans backed by high-quality properties in the United States that fit our investment strategy. Certain of our first mortgage loans finance the acquisition, rehabilitation and construction of infill land property and for these loans we target a weighted average last dollar loan-to-value of 60%. We may selectively syndicate portions of our first mortgage loans, including senior or junior participations to provide third party financing for a portion of the loan or optimize returns which may include retained origination fees.

First mortgage loans are expected to provide for a higher recovery rate and lower defaults than other debt positions due to the lender’s senior position. However, such loans typically generate lower returns than subordinate debt such as mezzanine loans, B-notes, or preferred equity investments. As of June 30, 2019, we owned six first mortgage loans with a total net principal amount of $141.3 million, which constituted 48.8% of our portfolio. As of June 30, 2019, we used $125.8 million of senior mortgage loans as collateral for $82.1 million of borrowings under our master repurchase agreement.

Subordinated Mortgage Loans (B-notes).  B-notes include structurally subordinated mortgage loans and junior participations in first mortgage loans or participations in these types of assets. Like first mortgage loans, these loans generally finance the acquisition, refinancing, rehabilitation or construction of commercial real estate. B-notes may be either short-term (one to five years) or long-term (up to 10 years), may be fixed or floating rate and are predominantly current-pay loans. We may create B-notes by tranching our directly originated first mortgage loans generally through syndications of senior first mortgages or buy these loans directly from third-party originators. As a result of the current credit market disruption related to the most recent recession and the decrease in capital available in this part of the capital structure, we believe that the opportunities to both directly originate and to buy these types of loans from third-parties on favorable terms will continue to be attractive.

Investors in B-notes are compensated for the increased risk of such assets from a pricing perspective but still benefit from a mortgage lien on the related property. Investors typically receive principal and interest payments at the same time as senior debt unless a default occurs, in which case any such payments are made only after any senior debt is made whole. Rights of holders of B-notes are usually governed by participation and other agreements that, subject to certain limitations, typically provide the holders of subordinated positions of the mortgage loan with the ability to cure certain defaults and control certain decisions of holders of senior debt secured by the same properties (or otherwise exercise the right to purchase the senior debt), which provides for additional downside protection and higher recoveries. As of June 30, 2019, we did not own any B-notes.

Equity Participations.  In connection with our loan origination activities, we may pursue equity participation opportunities, or interests in the projects being financed, in instances when we believe that the risk-reward characteristics of the loan merit additional upside participation because of the possibility of appreciation in value of the underlying properties securing the loan. Equity participations can be paid in the form of additional interest, exit fees or warrants in the borrower. Equity participation can also take the form of a conversion feature, permitting the lender to convert a loan or preferred equity investment into equity in the borrower at a negotiated premium to the current net asset value of the borrower. We expect to obtain equity participations in certain instances where the loan collateral consists of a property that is being repositioned, expanded or improved in some fashion which is anticipated to improve future cash flow. In such case, the borrower may wish to defer some portion of the debt service or obtain higher leverage than might be merited by the pricing and leverage level based on historical performance of the underlying property. We can generate additional revenues from these equity participations as a result of excess cash flows being distributed or as appreciated properties are sold or refinanced. As of June 30, 2019, we did not own any equity participations.

Other Real Estate-Related Investments.  We may invest in other real estate-related investments, which may include commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) or other real estate debt or equity securities, so long as such investments do not constitute more than 15% of our assets. Certain of our real estate-related loans require the borrower to make payments of principal on the fully committed principal amount of the loan regardless of whether the full loan amount is outstanding. As of June 30, 2019, we did not own any other real estate-related investments.

Operating Real Estate

From time to time, we might acquire operating real estate properties, including properties acquired in connection with foreclosures or deed in lieu of foreclosure. In July 2018, we acquired a multi-tenant office building through foreclosure of a first mortgage loan. In January 2019, we acquired a 4.9 acre development parcel through deed in lieu of foreclosure. As of June 30, 2019, the office building and the development parcel had a carrying value of $67.8 million, and the mortgage loan payable encumbering the office building had a principal amount of $44.9 million.

Investment Guidelines

Our board of directors adopts investment guidelines from time to time relating to the criteria to be used by the Manager’s senior management team to evaluate specific investments as well as our overall portfolio composition. Our board of directors will review our compliance with the investment guidelines periodically and receive an investment report at each quarter-end in conjunction with the review of our quarterly results by our board of directors.

Our board of directors adopted the following investment guidelines:

These investment guidelines may be changed from time to time by a majority of our board of directors without the approval of our stockholders.

Disposition Policies

The period we hold our investments in real estate-related loans varies depending on the type of asset, interest rates and other factors. Our Manager has developed a well-defined exit strategy for each investment we make. Our Manager continually performs a hold-sell analysis on each asset in order to determine the optimal time to hold the asset and generate a strong return to our stockholders. Economic and market conditions may influence us to hold investments for different periods of time. We may sell an asset before the end of the expected holding period if we believe that market conditions have maximized its value to us or the sale of the asset would otherwise be in our best interests. We intend to make any such dispositions in a manner consistent with our qualification as a REIT and our desire to avoid being subject to the “prohibited transaction” penalty tax.

Operating and Regulatory Structure

REIT Qualification

We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2016. We believe that we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and that our manner of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, we must meet on a continuing basis, through our organization and actual investment and operating results, various requirements under the Code relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our distribution levels and the diversity of ownership of shares of our stock. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and do not qualify for certain statutory relief provisions, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates and may be precluded from qualifying as a REIT for the subsequent four taxable years following the year during which we failed to qualify as a REIT. Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to some U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income or property. In addition, subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, a portion of our business may be conducted through, and a portion of our income may be earned with respect to, our taxable REIT subsidiaries, or TRSs, should we decide to form TRSs in the future, which are subject to corporate income tax. Any distributions paid by us generally will not be eligible for taxation at the preferential U.S. federal income tax rates that currently apply to certain distributions received by individuals from taxable corporations, unless such distributions are attributable to dividends received by us from our TRSs, should we form a TRS in the future.

1940 Act Exclusion

We are not registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. If we were obligated to register as an investment company, we would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the 1940 Act that impose, among other things:

We conduct our operations so that neither we nor our subsidiaries are required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 defines an investment company as any issuer that is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the 1940 Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of such issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Excluded from the term “investment securities,” among other things, are U.S. government securities and securities issued by majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on the exclusion from the definition of investment company set forth in Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. The value of the “investment securities” held by us must be less than 40% of the value of our total assets on an unconsolidated basis (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items). In addition, we conduct our operations so that neither we nor our subsidiaries will be considered an investment company under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, as neither we nor our subsidiaries are engaged primarily nor do we hold ourselves out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Rather, we are primarily engaged in the non-investment company businesses of our subsidiaries.

Certain of our subsidiaries rely primarily on the exclusion from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act, or any other exclusions that may be available to us (other than the exclusions under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7)). Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act is available for entities primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate. This exclusion generally requires that at least 55% of our portfolio must be comprised of “qualifying real estate” assets and at least 80% of our portfolio must be comprised of “qualifying real estate” assets and “real estate-related” assets (and no more than 20% comprised of miscellaneous assets). For purposes of the Section 3(c)(5)(C) exclusion, we classify our investments based in large measure on no-action letters issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and other SEC interpretive guidance and, in the absence of SEC guidance, on our view of what constitutes a “qualifying real estate” asset and a “real estate-related” asset. These no-action positions were issued in accordance with factual situations that may be substantially different from the factual situations we may face, and a number of these no-action letters were issued more than twenty years ago. Pursuant to this guidance, and depending on the characteristics of the specific investments, certain mortgage loans, participations in mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities, mezzanine loans, joint venture investments, preferred equity and the equity securities of other entities may not constitute qualifying real estate assets and therefore our investments in these types of assets may be limited. No assurance can be given that the SEC or its staff will concur with our classification of the assets we hold for purposes of the 3(c)(5)(C) exclusion or any other exclusion or exemption under the 1940 Act. Future revisions to the 1940 Act or further guidance from the SEC or its staff may cause us to lose our exclusion from registration or force us to re-evaluate our portfolio and investment strategy. Such changes may prevent us from operating our business successfully.

In order to maintain an exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act, we may be unable to sell assets that we would otherwise want to sell and may need to sell assets we would otherwise wish to retain. In addition, we may have to acquire additional income or loss generating assets that we might not otherwise have acquired or may have to forgo opportunities to acquire assets that we would otherwise want to acquire and would be important to our strategy.

Although we monitor our portfolio periodically and prior to each acquisition and disposition, we may not be able to maintain an exclusion from registration as an investment company. If we were required to register as an investment company, but failed to do so, we would be prohibited from engaging in our business, and legal proceedings could be instituted against us. In addition, our contracts may be unenforceable, and a court could appoint a receiver to take control of us and liquidate our business, all of which would have an adverse effect on our business.

Emerging Growth Company Status

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act, and as such we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. A number of these exemptions are not relevant to us, and in any event we do not currently intend to take advantage of any of these exemptions.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This permits an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to take advantage of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for other public companies.

We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest to occur of  (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1.07 billion, (ii) the date on which we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three-year period, and (iv) the end of the year in which the five year anniversary of our initial public offering of our common stock occurs.

Competition

We compete with other REITs, numerous regional and community banks, specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations and other entities, and we expect that others may be organized in the future. The effect of the existence of additional REITs and other institutions may be increased competition for the available supply of our targeted assets suitable for purchase, which may cause the price for such assets to rise.

In the face of this competition, we expect to have access to our Manager’s professionals and their industry expertise, which may provide us with a competitive advantage in sourcing transactions and help us assess origination and acquisition risks and determine appropriate pricing for potential assets. The more conservative underwriting standards used by many large commercial banks and traditional providers of commercial real estate capital following the 2008 downturn has and we believe will continue to constrain the lending capacity of these institutions. However, we may not be able to achieve our business goals or expectations due to the competitive risks that we face. For additional information concerning these competitive risks, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors — New entrants in the market for commercial loan originations and acquisitions could adversely impact our ability to originate and acquire real estate-related loans at attractive risk-adjusted returns” in this registration statement.

Staffing

We are supervised by our board of directors consisting of eight directors. We have entered into a management agreement with our Manager pursuant to which certain services are provided by our Manager and paid for by us. Our Manager is not obligated under the management agreement to dedicate any of its personnel exclusively to us, nor is it or its personnel obligated to dedicate any specific portion of its or their time to our business. We are responsible for the costs of our own employees; however, we do not currently have any employees and do not currently expect to have any employees.

Corporate Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 550 Fifth Avenue, 6^th Floor, New York, New York 10036. Our telephone number is (212) 753-5100.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors and all other information contained in this registration statement. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the value of our common stock could decline, and you may lose some or all of their investment. Some statements in this section constitute forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to Our Business

Changes in national, regional or local economic, demographic or real estate market conditions may adversely affect our results of operations, the value of our assets and returns to our investors.

We are subject to risks incident to the ownership of real estate-related assets including: changes in national, regional or local economic, demographic or real estate market conditions; changes in supply of, or demand for, similar properties in an area; increased competition for real estate assets targeted by our investment strategy; bankruptcies, financial difficulties or lease defaults by property owners and tenants; changes in interest rates and availability of financing; and changes in government rules, regulations and fiscal policies, including changes in tax, real estate, environmental and zoning laws. Our assets are also subject to the risk of significant adverse changes in financial market conditions that can result in a deleveraging of the global financial system and the forced sale of large quantities of mortgage-related and other financial assets. Concerns over economic recession, geopolitical issues, including events such as the United Kingdom's decision to exit from the European Union, unemployment, the availability and cost of finance, or a prolonged government shutdown may contribute to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and markets, which could result in an increase in mortgage defaults or a decline in the value of our assets. In addition, any increase in mortgage defaults in the residential market may have a negative impact on the credit markets generally as well as on economic conditions generally. We do not know whether the values of the property securing our real estate-related loans will remain at the levels existing on the dates of origination of such loans, and we are unable to predict future changes in national, regional or local economic, demographic or real estate market conditions. These conditions, or others we cannot predict, may adversely affect the value of our assets, our results of operations, cash flow and returns to our investors.

The lack of liquidity of our assets may adversely affect our business, including our ability to value and sell our assets.

A portion of the real estate-related loans and other assets we originate or acquire may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly-traded securities. The illiquidity of our assets may make it difficult for us to sell such assets if the need or desire arises. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less value than the value at which we have previously recorded our assets. As a result, our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be relatively limited, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Our investments are selected by our Manager and our stockholders will not have input into investment decisions.

Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement between us and our Manager, our Manager is responsible for, among other services, managing the investment and reinvestment of our assets, subject to the oversight and supervision of our board of directors. Our stockholders will not have input into investment decisions. This will increase the uncertainty, and thus the risk, of investing in our common stock, as we may make investments with which you may not agree. Our Manager intends to conduct due diligence with respect to each investment and suitable investment opportunities may not be immediately available. The failure of our Manager to find investments that meet our investment criteria in sufficient time or on acceptable terms could result in unfavorable returns, could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and ability to make distributions to our stockholders, and could cause the value of our common stock to decline. Even if investment opportunities are available, there can be no assurance that the due diligence processes of our Manager will uncover all relevant facts or that any particular investment will be successful.

From time to time, before appropriate real estate-related investments can be identified, our Manager may choose to have us invest in interest-bearing, short-term investments, including money market accounts and/or funds, that are consistent with our intention to maintain our qualification as a REIT. These short-term, non-real estate-related investments, if any, are expected to provide a lower net return than we will seek to achieve from investments in real estate-related loans and other commercial real estate assets. Furthermore, when our Manager does identify suitable real estate- related loans and other commercial real estate assets that are the types of assets which we target, you will be unable to influence the decision of our Manager ultimately to invest in, or refrain from investing in, such assets.

Our Manager’s due diligence of potential real estate-related loans and other commercial real estate assets may not reveal all of the liabilities associated with such assets and may not reveal other weaknesses in our assets, which could lead to investment losses.

Before originating or acquiring a financing, our Manager calculates the level of risk associated with the real estate-related loans and other commercial real estate assets to be originated or acquired based on several factors which include the following: top-down reviews of both the current macroeconomic environment generally and the real estate and commercial real estate loan market specifically; detailed evaluation of the real estate industry and its sectors; bottom-up reviews of each individual investment’s attributes and risk/reward profile relative to the macroeconomic environment; and quantitative cash flow analysis and impact of the potential investment on our portfolio. In making the assessment and otherwise conducting customary due diligence, we employ standard documentation requirements and require appraisals prepared by local independent third party appraisers selected by us. Additionally, we seek to have borrowers or sellers provide representations and warranties on loans we originate or acquire, and if we are unable to obtain representations and warranties, we factor the increased risk into the price we pay for such loans. Despite our review process, there can be no assurance that our Manager’s due diligence process will uncover all relevant facts or that any investment will be successful.

If our Manager underestimates the borrower’s credit analysis or originates loans by using an exception to its loan underwriting guidelines, we may experience losses.

Our Manager values our real estate-related loans based on an initial credit analysis and the investment’s expected risk adjusted return relative to other comparable investment opportunities available to us, taking into account estimated future losses on the loans, and the estimated impact of these losses on expected future cash flows. Our Manager’s loss estimates may not prove accurate, as actual results may vary from estimates. In the event that our Manager underestimates the losses relative to the price we pay for a particular investment, we may experience losses with respect to such investment.

Further, from time to time and in the ordinary course of business, our Manager may make exceptions to our predetermined loan underwriting guidelines. Loans originated with exceptions may result in a higher number of delinquencies and defaults, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Deficiencies in appraisal quality in the mortgage loan origination process may result in increased principal loss severity.

During the loan underwriting process, appraisals are generally obtained on the collateral underlying each prospective loan. The quality of these appraisals may vary widely in accuracy and consistency. The appraiser may feel pressure from the broker or lender to provide an appraisal in the amount necessary to enable the originator to make the loan, whether or not the value of the property justifies such an appraised value. Inaccurate or inflated appraisals may result in an increase in the severity of losses on the loans, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our Manager utilizes analytical models and data in connection with the valuation of our real estate-related loans and other commercial real estate assets, and any incorrect, misleading or incomplete information used in connection therewith would subject us to potential risks.

As part of the risk management process our Manager uses detailed proprietary models, including loan level non-performing loan models, to evaluate collateral liquidation timelines and price changes by region, along with the impact of different loss mitigation plans. Additionally, our Manager uses information, models and data supplied by third parties. Models and data are used to value potential targeted assets. In the event models and data prove to be incorrect, misleading or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose us to potential risks. For example, by relying on incorrect models and data, especially valuation models, our Manager may be induced to buy certain targeted assets at prices that are too high, to sell certain other assets at prices that are too low or to miss favorable opportunities altogether. Similarly, any hedging based on faulty models and data may prove to be unsuccessful.

Changes in interest rates could adversely affect the demand for our target loans, the value of our loans, CMBS and other real-estate debt or equity assets and the availability and yield on our targeted assets.

We invest in real estate-related loans and other commercial real estate assets, which are subject to changes in interest rates. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations and other factors beyond our control. Rising interest rates generally reduce the demand for mortgage loans due to the higher cost of borrowing. A reduction in the volume of mortgage loans originated may affect the volume of our targeted assets available to us, which could adversely affect our ability to originate and acquire assets that satisfy our objectives. Rising interest rates may also cause our targeted assets that were issued prior to an interest rate increase to provide yields that are below prevailing market interest rates. If rising interest rates cause us to be unable to originate or acquire a sufficient volume of our targeted assets with a yield that is above our borrowing cost, our ability to satisfy our objectives and to generate income and make distributions may be materially and adversely affected. Conversely, if interest rates decrease, we will be adversely affected to the extent that real estate-related loans are prepaid, because we may not be able to make new loans at the previously higher interest rate.

The relationship between short-term and longer-term interest rates is often referred to as the “yield curve.” Ordinarily, short-term interest rates are lower than longer-term interest rates. If short-term interest rates rise disproportionately relative to longer-term interest rates (a flattening of the yield curve), our borrowing costs may increase more rapidly than the interest income earned on our assets. Because our loans and CMBS assets generally will bear, on average, interest based on longer-term rates than our borrowings, a flattening of the yield curve would tend to decrease our net income and the fair market value of our net assets. Additionally, to the extent cash flows from loans and CMBS assets that return scheduled and unscheduled principal are reinvested, the spread between the yields on the new loans and CMBS assets and available borrowing rates may decline, which would likely decrease our net income. It is also possible that short-term interest rates may exceed longer-term interest rates (a yield curve inversion), in which event our borrowing costs may exceed our interest income and we could incur operating losses.

The values of our loans and CMBS assets may decline without any general increase in interest rates for a number of reasons, such as increases or expected increases in defaults, or increases or expected increases in voluntary prepayments for those loans and CMBS assets that are subject to prepayment risk or widening of credit spreads.

In addition, in a period of rising interest rates, our operating results will depend in large part on the difference between the income from our assets and our financing costs. We anticipate that, in most cases, the income from such assets will respond more slowly to interest rate fluctuations than the cost of our borrowings. Consequently, changes in interest rates, particularly short-term interest rates, may significantly influence our net income. Increases in these rates will tend to decrease our net income.

Uncertainty regarding LIBOR may adversely impact our assets and borrowings.

In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it would phase out LIBOR as a benchmark by the end of 2021. Our master repurchase agreement and our bridge facility are, and other future financing may be, linked to this benchmark rate. When LIBOR ceases to exist, we may need to amend the debt agreements that utilize LIBOR as a factor in determining the interest rate based on a new standard that is established, if any. In addition, any resulting differences in interest rate standards among our assets and our financing arrangements may result in interest rate mismatches between our assets and the borrowings used to fund such assets. There is no guarantee that a transition from LIBOR to an alternative will not result in financial market disruptions, significant increases in benchmark rates, or borrowing costs to borrowers, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and the market price of our common stock.

Future recessions, downturns, disruptions or instability could have a materially adverse effect on our business.

From time to time, the global capital markets may experience periods of disruption and instability, which could cause disruptions in liquidity in the debt capital markets, significant write-offs in the financial services sector, the re-pricing of credit risk in the broadly syndicated credit market and the failure of major financial institutions. Despite actions of U.S. and foreign governments, these events could contribute to worsening general economic conditions that materially and adversely impact the broader financial and credit markets and reduce the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole and financial services firms in particular.

Deterioration of economic and market conditions in the future could negatively impact credit spreads as well as our ability to obtain financing, particularly from the debt markets.

New entrants in the market for commercial loan originations and acquisitions could adversely impact our ability to originate and acquire real estate-related loans at attractive risk-adjusted returns.

New entrants in the market for commercial loan originations and acquisitions could adversely impact our ability to execute our investment strategy on terms favorable to us. In originating and acquiring our targeted assets, we may compete with other REITs, numerous regional and community banks, specialty finance companies, savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, mutual funds, institutional investors, investment banking firms, other lenders and other entities, and we expect that others may be organized in the future. The effect of the existence of additional REITs and other institutions may be increased competition for the available supply of assets suitable for investment by us, which may cause the price for such assets to rise, which may limit our ability to generate desired returns. Additionally, origination of our target loans by our competitors may increase the availability of such loans which may result in a reduction of interest rates on these loans. Some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that may not be available to us. Many of our competitors are not subject to the operating constraints associated with REIT tax compliance or maintenance of an exemption from the 1940 Act. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of real estate-related loans and establish more relationships than us.

We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures we may face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, as a result of this competition, desirable investments in our targeted assets may be limited in the future and we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, as we can provide no assurance that we will be able to identify and make investments that are consistent with our investment objectives.

Our loans are dependent on the ability of the commercial property owner to generate net income from operating the property, which may result in the inability of such property owner to repay a loan, as well as the risk of foreclosure.

Our loans may be secured by office, retail, mixed use, commercial or warehouse properties and are subject to risks of delinquency, foreclosure and of loss that may be greater than similar risks associated with loans made on the security of single-family residential property. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured by an income-producing property typically is dependent primarily upon the successful operation of such property rather than upon the existence of independent income or assets of the borrower. If the net operating income of the property is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Net operating income of an income-producing property can be adversely affected by, among other things:

In the event of any default under a mortgage loan held directly by us, we bear a risk of loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the principal and accrued interest of the mortgage loan, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow from operations and limit amounts available for distribution to our stockholders. In the event of the bankruptcy of a mortgage loan borrower, the mortgage loan to such borrower will be deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of the underlying collateral at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by the bankruptcy court), and the lien securing the mortgage loan will be subject to the avoidance powers of the bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession to the extent the lien is unenforceable under state law.

Foreclosure can be an expensive and lengthy process, and foreclosing on certain properties where we directly hold the mortgage loan and the borrower’s default under the mortgage loan is continuing could result in actions that could be costly to our operations, in addition to having a substantial negative effect on our anticipated return on the foreclosed mortgage loan. If property securing or underlying loans become real estate owned as a result of foreclosure, we bear the risk of not being able to sell the property and recovering our investment and of being exposed to the risks attendant to the ownership of real property.

Our loan portfolio may at times be concentrated in certain property types or secured by properties concentrated in a limited number of geographic areas, which increases our exposure to economic downturn with respect to those property types or geographic locations.

We are not required to observe specific diversification criteria. Therefore, our portfolio of assets may, at times, be concentrated in certain property types that are subject to higher risk of foreclosure, or secured by properties concentrated in a limited number of geographic locations.

Our loans are concentrated in Florida, New York, California, Georgia and North Carolina representing approximately 21.4%, 20.7%, 18.3%, 15.5% and 9.7% of our net loan portfolio as of June 30, 2019, respectively. If economic conditions in these or in any other state in which we have a significant concentration of borrowers were to deteriorate, such adverse conditions could have a material and adverse effect on our business by reducing demand for new financings, limiting the ability of customers to repay existing loans and impairing the value of our real estate collateral and real estate owned properties.

In addition, from time to time, there have been proposals to base property taxes on commercial properties on their current market value, without any limit based on purchase price. In California, pursuant to an existing state law commonly referred to as Proposition 13, properties are reassessed to market value only at the time of change in ownership or completion of construction, and thereafter, annual property reassessments are limited to 2% of previously assessed values. As a result, Proposition 13 generally results in significant below-market assessed values over time. From time to time, including recently, lawmakers and political coalitions have initiated efforts to repeal or amend Proposition 13 to eliminate its application to commercial and industrial properties. If successful, a repeal of Proposition 13 could substantially increase the assessed values and property taxes for our customers in California which in turn could limit their ability to borrow funds.

To the extent that our portfolio is concentrated in any region, or by type of property, downturns relating generally to such region, type of borrower or security may result in defaults on a number of our assets within a short time period, which may reduce our net income and the value of our common stock and accordingly reduce our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders.

We expect that a significant portion of the mortgage loans invested in by us may be development mortgage loans on infill land, which are speculative in nature.

We expect that a significant portion of our assets may be mortgage loans for the development of real estate, which will initially be secured by infill land. These types of loans are speculative, because:

If in fact the land is not developed, the borrower may not be able to refinance the loan and, therefore, may not be able to make the balloon payment when due. If a borrower defaults and we foreclose on the collateral, we may not be able to sell the collateral for the amount owed to us by the borrower. In calculating our loan-to-value ratios for the purpose of determining maximum borrowing capacity, we use the estimated value of the property at the time of completion of the project, which increases the risk that, if we foreclose on the collateral before it is fully developed, we may not be able to sell the collateral for the amount owed to us by the borrower.

Loans to small businesses involve a high degree of business and financial risk, which can result in substantial losses that would adversely affect our business, results of operation and financial condition.

Our operations and activities include loans to small, privately owned businesses to purchase real estate used in their operations or by investors seeking to acquire small office, retail, mixed use or warehouse properties. Additionally, such loans are also often accompanied by personal guarantees. Often, there is little or no publicly available information about these businesses. Accordingly, we must rely on our own due diligence to obtain information in connection with our investment decisions. Our borrowers may not meet net income, cash flow and other coverage tests typically imposed by banks. A borrower’s ability to repay its loan may be adversely impacted by numerous factors, including a downturn in its industry or other negative local or more general economic conditions. Deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition and prospects may be accompanied by deterioration in the collateral for the loan. In addition, small businesses typically depend on the management talents and efforts of one person or a small group of people for their success. The loss of services of one or more of these persons could have a material and adverse impact on the operations of the small business. Small companies are typically more vulnerable to customer preferences, market conditions and economic downturns and often need additional capital to expand or compete. These factors may have an impact on loans involving such businesses. Loans to small businesses, therefore, involve a high degree of business and financial risk, which can result in substantial losses.

Our investments may include subordinated tranches of CMBS, which are subordinate in right of payment to more senior securities.

Our investments may include subordinated tranches of CMBS, which are subordinated classes of securities in a structure of securities collateralized by a pool of assets consisting primarily of commercial loans and, accordingly, are the first or among the first to bear the loss upon a restructuring or liquidation of the underlying collateral and the last to receive payment of interest and principal. Additionally, estimated fair values of these subordinated interests tend to be more sensitive to changes in economic conditions than more senior securities. As a result, such subordinated interests generally are not actively traded and may not provide holders thereof with liquid investments.

Any credit ratings assigned to our loans and CMBS assets will be subject to ongoing evaluations and revisions and we cannot assure you that those ratings will not be downgraded.

Some of our loan and CMBS assets may be rated by Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s, or S&P, or Fitch Ratings. Any credit ratings on our loans and CMBS assets are subject to ongoing evaluation by credit rating agencies, and we cannot assure you that any such ratings will not be changed or withdrawn by a rating agency in the future if, in its judgment, circumstances warrant. Rating agencies may assign a lower than expected rating or reduce or withdraw, or indicate that they may reduce or withdraw, their ratings of our loans and CMBS assets in the future. In addition, we may originate or acquire assets with no rating or with below investment grade ratings. If the rating agencies take adverse action with respect to the rating of our loans and CMBS assets or if our unrated assets are illiquid, the value of these loans and CMBS assets could significantly decline, which would adversely affect the value of our investment portfolio and could result in losses upon disposition or the failure of borrowers to satisfy their debt service obligations to us.

The mezzanine loans, preferred equity and other subordinated loans in which we invest involve greater risks of loss than senior loans secured by income-producing commercial properties.

We invest in mezzanine loans that take the form of subordinated loans secured by second mortgages on the underlying real property or loans secured by a pledge of the ownership interests of the entity owning the real property. These types of investments involve a higher degree of risk than long-term senior mortgage lending secured by income-producing real property because the investment may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure by the senior lender. In the event of a bankruptcy of the entity providing the pledge of its ownership interests as security, we may not have full recourse to the assets of such entity, or the assets of the entity may not be sufficient to satisfy our mezzanine loan. If a borrower defaults on our mezzanine loan or debt senior to such loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan will be satisfied only after the senior debt. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment. In addition, mezzanine loans may have higher loan-to-value ratios than conventional mortgage loans, resulting in less equity in the real property and increasing the risk of loss of principal.

Our investments in B-notes are generally subject to losses. The B-notes in which we may invest may be subject to additional risks relating to the privately negotiated structure and terms of the transaction, which may result in losses to us.

As part of our whole loan origination platform, we may retain from whole loans we originate or acquire, subordinate interests referred to as B-notes. B-notes are commercial real estate loans secured by a first mortgage on a single large commercial property or group of related properties and subordinated to a senior interest, referred to as an A-note. As a result, if a borrower defaults, there may not be sufficient funds remaining for B-note owners after payment to the A-note owners. In addition, our rights to control the process following a borrower default may be subject to the rights of A-note owners whose interests may not be aligned with ours. B-notes reflect similar credit risks to comparably rated CMBS. However, since each transaction is privately negotiated, B-notes can vary in their structural characteristics and risks. For example, the rights of holders of B-notes to control the process following a borrower default may be limited in certain investments. We cannot predict the terms of each B-note investment. Significant losses related to our B-notes would result in operating losses for us and may limit our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

Any disruption in the availability and/or functionality of our Manager’s technology infrastructure and systems and any failure or our security measures related to these systems could adversely impact our business.

Our ability to originate and acquire real estate-related loans and manage any related interest rate risks and credit risks is critical to our success and is highly dependent upon the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer and communications hardware and software systems. For example, we rely on our Manager’s proprietary database to track and maintain all loan performance and servicing activity data for loans in our portfolio. This data is used to manage the portfolio, track loan performance, and develop and execute asset disposition strategies. In addition, this data is used to evaluate and price new investment opportunities. If we lost access to our loan servicing activity data or other important business information due to a network or utility failure, our ability to effectively manage our business could be impaired.

Some of these systems are located at our facility and some are maintained by third party vendors. Any significant interruption in the availability and functionality of these systems could harm our business. In the event of a systems failure or interruption by our third party vendors, we will have limited ability to affect the timing and success of systems restoration. If such systems failures or interruptions continue for a prolonged period of time, there could be a material and adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, some of our security measures may not effectively prohibit others from obtaining improper access to our information. If a person is able to circumvent our security measures, he or she could destroy or misappropriate valuable information or disrupt our operations. Any security breach could expose us to risks of data loss, litigation and liability and could seriously disrupt our operations and harm our reputation.

Cybersecurity risk and cyber incidents may adversely affect our business by causing a disruption to our operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information and/or damage to our business relationships, all of which could negatively impact our financial results.

A cyber incident is considered to be any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity or availability of our information resources. These incidents may be an intentional attack or an unintentional event and could involve gaining unauthorized access to our information systems for purposes of misappropriating assets, stealing confidential information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. The result of these incidents may include disrupted operations, misstated or unreliable financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection and insurance cost, litigation and damage to our relationships. As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the risks posed to our information systems both internal and those provided by our Manager, Terra Capital Partners, its affiliates and third-party service providers. With respect to cybersecurity risk oversight, our board of directors and our audit committee receive periodic reports and updates from management on the primary cybersecurity risks facing us and our Manager and the measures our Manager is taking to mitigate such risks. In addition to such periodic reports, our board of directors and our audit committee receive updates from management as to changes to our and our Manager's and its affiliates’ cybersecurity risk profile or certain newly identified risks. However, these measures, as well as our increased awareness of the nature and extent of a risk of a cyber incident, do not guarantee that our financial results, operations or confidential information will not be negatively impacted by such an incident.

Risks Related to Regulation

Returns on our real estate-related loans may be limited by regulations.

Our loan investments may be subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities and subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions. We may determine not to make or invest in real estate-related loans in any jurisdiction in which we believe we have not complied in all material respects with applicable requirements, which reduce the amount of income we would otherwise receive.

The increasing number of proposed U.S. federal, state and local laws may affect certain mortgage-related assets in which we invest and could materially increase our cost of doing business.

Various bankruptcy legislation has been proposed that, among other provisions, could allow judges to modify the terms of residential mortgages in bankruptcy proceedings, could hinder the ability of the servicer to foreclose promptly on defaulted mortgage loans or permit limited assignee liability for certain violations in the mortgage loan origination process, any or all of which could adversely affect our business or result in us being held responsible for violations in the mortgage loan origination process even where we were not the originator of the loan. We do not know what impact this type of legislation, which has been primarily, if not entirely, focused on residential mortgage originations, would have on the commercial loan market. We are unable to predict whether U.S. federal, state or local authorities, or other pertinent bodies, will enact legislation, laws, rules, regulations, handbooks, guidelines or similar provisions that will affect our business or require changes in our practices in the future, and any such changes could materially and adversely affect our cost of doing business and profitability.

Failure to obtain or maintain required approvals and/or state licenses necessary to operate our mortgage-related activities may adversely impact our investment strategy.

We may be required to obtain and maintain various approvals and/or licenses from federal or state governmental authorities, government sponsored entities or similar bodies in connection with some or all of our activities. There is no assurance that we can obtain and maintain any or all of the approvals and licenses that we desire or that we will avoid experiencing significant delays in seeking such approvals and licenses. Furthermore, we may be subject to various disclosure and other requirements to obtain and maintain these approvals and licenses, and there is no assurance that we will satisfy those requirements. Our failure to obtain or maintain licenses will restrict our options and ability to engage in desired activities, and could subject us to fines, suspensions, terminations and various other adverse actions if it is determined that we have engaged without the requisite approvals or licenses in activities that required an approval or license, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition.

The impact of financial reform legislation and legislation promulgated thereunder on us is uncertain.

The Dodd-Frank Act, enacted in 2010, instituted a wide range of reforms that will have an impact on all financial institutions. Many of the requirements called for in the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented over time, most of which will be subject to implementing regulations over the course of several years. Many of these regulations have yet to be promulgated or are only recently promulgated. In addition, President Donald J. Trump has promised and issued several executive orders intended to relieve the financial burden created by the Dodd-Frank Act, although these executive orders only set forth several general principles to be followed by the federal agencies and do not mandate the wholesale repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act. Given the uncertainty associated with the manner in which the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented by the various regulatory agencies and through regulations, the full impact such requirements will have on our business, results of operations or financial condition is unclear. The changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make necessary changes in order to comply with new statutory and regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with any such laws, regulations or principles, or changes thereto, may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. While we cannot predict what effect any changes in the laws or regulations or their interpretations would have on us, these changes could be materially adverse to us and our stockholders.

Accounting rules for certain of our transactions are highly complex and involve significant judgment and assumptions, and changes in such rules, accounting interpretations or our assumptions could adversely impact our ability to timely and accurately prepare our consolidated financial statements.

We are subject to Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, interpretations that can result in significant accounting changes that could have a material and adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. Accounting rules for financial instruments, including the origination, acquisition and sales or securitization of mortgage loans, derivatives, investment consolidations and other aspects of our anticipated operations are highly complex and involve significant judgment and assumptions. For example, our estimates and judgments are based on a number of factors, including projected cash flows from the collateral securing our loans, the likelihood of repayment in full at the maturity of a loan, potential for a loan refinancing opportunity in the future and expected market discount rates for varying property types. These complexities could lead to a delay in the preparation of financial information and the delivery of this information to our stockholders.

Changes in accounting rules, interpretations or our assumptions could also undermine our ability to prepare timely and accurate financial statements, which could result in a lack of investor confidence in our financial information and could materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make an investment in our common stock less attractive to investors. In particular, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest to occur of  (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1.07 billion, (ii) the date on which we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three-year period, and (iv) the end of the year in which the five year anniversary of our initial public offering of our common stock occurs. We may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including but not limited to, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. To the extent we take advantage of some or all of the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, an investment in our common stock may be less attractive to investors.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, and generally requires in the same report a report by our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Under the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.”

We may be exposed to environmental liabilities with respect to properties to which we take title, which may in turn decrease the value of the underlying properties.

In the course of our business, we may take title to real estate, and, as a result, we could be subject to environmental liabilities with respect to these properties. In such a circumstance, we may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property damage, personal injury, investigation and clean-up costs incurred by these parties in connection with environmental contamination, or we may be required to investigate or clean up hazardous or toxic substances or chemical releases at a property. The costs associated with investigation or remediation activities could be substantial. If we ever become subject to significant environmental liabilities, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, an owner or operator of real property may become liable under various federal, state and local laws, for the costs of removal of certain hazardous substances released on its property. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances. The presence of hazardous substances may adversely affect an owner’s ability to sell real estate or borrow using real estate as collateral. To the extent that an owner of an underlying property becomes liable for removal costs, the ability of the owner to make debt payments may be reduced, which in turn may adversely affect the value of the relevant mortgage-related assets held by us.

Insurance on the properties underlying our loans may not adequately cover all losses and uninsured losses could materially and adversely affect us.

Generally, our borrowers will be responsible for the costs of insurance coverage for the properties we lease, including for casualty, liability, fire, floods, earthquakes, extended coverage and rental or business interruption loss. However, there are certain risks, such as losses from terrorism, that are not generally insured against, or that are not generally fully insured against, because it is not deemed economically feasible or prudent to do so. In addition, changes in the cost or availability of insurance could expose us to uninsured casualty losses. Under certain circumstances insurance proceeds may not be sufficient to restore our economic position with respect to an affected property, and we could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we do not have any insurance designated to limit any losses that we may incur as a result of known or unknown environmental conditions which are not caused by an insured event.

In addition, certain of the properties underlying our loans may be located in areas that are more susceptible to, and could be significantly affected by, natural disasters that could cause significant damage to the properties. If we or our borrowers experience a loss, due to such natural disasters or other relevant factors, that is uninsured or that exceeds policy limits, we could incur significant costs, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

Maintenance of our 1940 Act exclusion imposes limits on our operations.

We are not registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. If we were obligated to register as an investment company, we would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the 1940 Act that impose, among other things:

We conduct our operations so that neither we nor our subsidiaries are required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 defines an investment company as any issuer that is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the 1940 Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of such issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Excluded from the term “investment securities,” among other things, are U.S. government securities and securities issued by majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on the exclusion from the definition of investment company set forth in Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. The value of the “investment securities” held by us must be less than 40% of the value of our total assets on an unconsolidated basis (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items). In addition, we conduct our operations so that neither we nor our subsidiaries will be considered an investment company under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, as neither we nor our subsidiaries are engaged primarily nor do we hold ourselves out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Rather, we are primarily engaged in the non-investment company businesses of our subsidiaries.

Certain of our subsidiaries rely primarily on the exclusion from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act, or any other exclusions that may be available to us (other than the exclusions under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7)). Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the 1940 Act is available for entities primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate. This exclusion generally requires that at least 55% of our portfolio must be comprised of “qualifying real estate” assets and at least 80% of our portfolio must be comprised of “qualifying real estate” assets and “real estate-related” assets (and no more than 20% comprised of miscellaneous assets). For purposes of the Section 3(c)(5)(C) exclusion, we classify our investments based in large measure on no-action letters issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and other SEC interpretive guidance and, in the absence of SEC guidance, on our view of what constitutes a “qualifying real estate” asset and a “real estate-related” asset. These no-action positions were issued in accordance with factual situations that may be substantially different from the factual situations we may face, and a number of these no-action letters were issued more than twenty years ago. Pursuant to this guidance, and depending on the characteristics of the specific investments, certain mortgage loans, participations in mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities, mezzanine loans, joint venture investments, preferred equity and the equity securities of other entities may not constitute qualifying real estate assets and therefore our investments in these types of assets may be limited. No assurance can be given that the SEC or its staff will concur with our classification of the assets we hold for purposes of the 3(c)(5)(C) exclusion or any other exclusion or exemption under the 1940 Act. Future revisions to the 1940 Act or further guidance from the SEC or its staff may cause us to lose our exclusion from registration or force us to re-evaluate our portfolio and investment strategy. Such changes may prevent us from operating our business successfully.

In order to maintain an exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act, we may be unable to sell assets that we would otherwise want to sell and may need to sell assets we would otherwise wish to retain. In addition, we may have to acquire additional income or loss generating assets that we might not otherwise have acquired or may have to forgo opportunities to acquire assets that we would otherwise want to acquire and would be important to our strategy.

Although we monitor our portfolio periodically and prior to each acquisition and disposition, we may not be able to maintain an exclusion from registration as an investment company. If we were required to register as an investment company, but failed to do so, we would be prohibited from engaging in our business, and legal proceedings could be instituted against us. In addition, our contracts may be unenforceable, and a court could appoint a receiver to take control of us and liquidate our business, all of which would have an adverse effect on our business.

Risks Related to Our Management and Our Relationship With Our Manager

We rely entirely on the management team and employees of our Manager for our day-to-day operations.

We have no employees and do not intend to have employees in the future. We rely entirely on the management team and employees of our Manager for our day-to-day operations, and our Manager has significant discretion as to the implementation of our operating policies and strategies. Our success depends substantially on the efforts and abilities of the management team of our Manager, including Messrs. Uppal, Pinkus and Cooperman, and our Manager's debt finance professionals. If our Manager were to lose the benefit of the experience, efforts and abilities of any of these individuals, our operating results could suffer.

We face certain conflicts of interest with respect to our operations and our relationship with our Manager and its affiliates.

We are subject to conflicts of interest arising out of our relationship with our Manager. We may enter into additional transactions with our Manager, its affiliates, or entities managed by our Manager or its affiliates. In particular, we may invest in, or acquire, certain of our investments through joint ventures or co-investments with other affiliates or purchase assets from, sell assets to or arrange financing from or provide financing to other affiliates, or engage in other transactions with entities managed by our Manger or its affiliates. Future joint venture investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority, our reliance on our Manager’s and its affiliates' financial condition and liquidity, and disputes between us and our Manager or its affiliates. Certain of those transactions will be subject to certain regulatory restrictions as a result of the 1940 Act or the conditions of an order granting exemptive relief to our affiliate, Terra Fund 6. There can be no assurance that any procedural protections will be sufficient to assure that these transactions will be made on terms that will be at least as favorable to us as those that would have been obtained in an arm’s-length transaction.

In addition, we will rely on our Manager for our day-to-day operations. Under the management agreement, our Manager has and will have a contractual, as opposed to a fiduciary, relationship with us that limits its obligations to us to those specifically set forth in the management agreement. Our Manager may be subject to conflicts of interest in making investment decisions on assets on our behalf as opposed to other entities that have similar investment objectives. Our Manager may have different incentives in determining when to sell assets with respect to which it is entitled to fees and compensation and such determinations may not be in our best interest.

Our Manager and its affiliates serve as manager of certain other funds and investment vehicles, all of which have investment objectives that overlap with ours. In addition, future programs may be sponsored by our Manager and its affiliates and Terra Capital Markets, LLC may serve as the dealer manager for these future programs. As a result, our Manager, Terra Capital Markets and their affiliates may face conflicts of interest arising from potential competition with other programs for investors and investment opportunities. There may be periods during which one or more programs managed by our Manager and distributed by Terra Capital Markets or its affiliates will be raising capital and which might compete with us for investment capital. Such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and our investors will not have the opportunity to evaluate the manner in which these conflicts of interest are resolved before or after making their investment.

Our officers and the officers of our Manager are also officers of other affiliates of our Manager; therefore, our officers and the officers of our Manager will face competing demands based on the allocation of investment opportunities between us and our affiliates.

We rely on our officers and the officers of our Manager, including Vikram S. Uppal, Gregory M. Pinkus and Daniel J. Cooperman, and the other debt finance professionals of our Manager to identify suitable investments. Certain other companies managed by our Manager or its affiliates also rely on many of these same professionals. These funds have similar investment objectives as we do. Many investment opportunities that are suitable for us may also be suitable for other affiliates advised by our Manager.

When our officers or the officers of our Manager identify an investment opportunity that may be suitable for us as well as an affiliated entity, they, in their sole discretion, will first evaluate the investment objectives of each program to determine if the opportunity is suitable for each program. If the proposed investment is appropriate for more than one program, our Manager will then evaluate the portfolio of each program, in terms of diversity of geography, underlying property type, tenant concentration and borrower, to determine if the investment is most suitable for one program in order to create portfolio diversification. If such analysis is not determinative, our Manager will allocate the investment to the program with uncommitted funds available for the longest period or, to the extent feasible, prorate the investment between the programs in accordance with uninvested funds. As a result, our officers or the officers of our Manager could direct attractive investment opportunities to other affiliated entities or investors. Such events could result in our acquiring investments that provide less attractive returns, which would reduce the level of distributions we may be able to pay our stockholders.

Our Manager, our officers and the debt finance professionals assembled by our Manager will face competing demands relating to their time and this may cause our operations and our investors’ investments to suffer.

We will rely on our Manager, its officers and on the debt finance professionals that our Manager retains to provide services to us for the day-to-day operation of our business. Messrs. Uppal, Pinkus and Cooperman are executive officers of our Manager as well as certain other funds managed by our Manager or its affiliates. As a result of their interests in other programs, their obligations to other investors and the fact that they engage in and will continue to engage in other business activities on behalf of themselves and others, Messrs. Uppal, Pinkus and Cooperman face conflicts of interest in allocating their time between us and other Terra Capital Partners-sponsored programs and other business activities in which they are involved. Should our Manager devote insufficient time or resources to our business, our returns on our direct or indirect investments, and the value of our common stock, may decline.

The compensation that our Manager receives was not determined on an arm’s-length basis and therefore may not be on the same terms as we could achieve from a third party.

Our Manager’s compensation for services it provides to us was not determined on an arm’s-length basis. We cannot assure you that a third party unaffiliated with us would not be able to provide such services to us at a lower price.

The base management fees we pay our Manager may reduce its incentive to devote its time and effort to seeking attractive assets for our portfolio because the fees are payable regardless of our performance.

We pay our Manager base management fees regardless of the performance of our portfolio. Our Manager’s entitlement to non-performance-based compensation might reduce its incentive to devote its time and effort to seeking assets that provide attractive risk-adjusted returns for our portfolio. This in turn could hurt both our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and the market price of our common stock.

We cannot predict the amounts of compensation to be paid to the Manager.

Because the fees that we pay to the Manager are based in part on the level of our business activity, it is not possible to predict the amounts of compensation that we will be required to pay our Manager. In addition, because key employees of our Manager are given broad discretion to determine when to consummate a transaction, we will rely on these key persons to dictate the level of our business activity. Fees paid to our Manager reduce funds available for payment of distributions. Because we cannot predict the amount of fees due our Manager, we cannot predict how precisely such fees will impact such payments.

If our Manager causes us to enter into a transaction with an affiliate, our Manager may face conflicts of interest that would not exist if such transaction had been negotiated at arm’s-length with an independent party.

Our Manager may face conflicts of interests if we enter into transactions with affiliates of our Manager, or entities managed by our Manager or its affiliates. In these circumstances, the persons who serve as our Manager’s management team may have a fiduciary responsibility to both us and the affiliate. Transactions between us and our Manager’s affiliates, including entities managed by our Manager or its affiliates, will not have the benefit of arm’s-length negotiation of the type normally conducted between unrelated parties. This conflict of interest may cause our Manager to sacrifice our best interests in favor of its affiliate or the entity it or its affiliates manages, thereby causing us to enter into a transaction that is not in our best interest and that may negatively impact our performance.

Our Manager and its affiliates have limited prior experience operating a REIT and therefore may have difficulty in successfully and profitably operating our business or complying with regulatory requirements, including REIT provisions of the Code, which may hinder their ability to achieve our objectives or result in loss of our qualification as a REIT.

Prior to the completion of the REIT formation transaction, our Manager and its affiliates had no experience operating a REIT or complying with regulatory requirements, including the REIT provisions of the Code. The REIT rules and regulations are highly technical and complex, and the failure to comply with the income, asset, and other limitations imposed by these rules and regulations could prevent us from qualifying as a REIT or could force us to pay unexpected taxes and penalties. Our Manager and its affiliates have limited experience operating a business in compliance with the numerous technical restrictions and limitations set forth in the Code applicable to REITs or the 1940 Act. We cannot assure you that our Manager or our management team will perform on our behalf as they have in their previous endeavors. The inexperience of our Manager and its affiliates described above may hinder our Manager’s ability to achieve our objectives or result in loss of our qualification as a REIT or payment of taxes and penalties. As a result, we cannot assure you that we have been able to or will continue to be able to successfully operate as a REIT, execute our business strategies or comply with regulatory requirements applicable to REITs.

Risks Related to Financing and Hedging

Our board of directors may change our leverage policy and or investment strategy and guidelines, asset allocation and financing strategy without stockholder consent.

We currently have outstanding indebtedness and expect to deploy moderate amounts of additional leverage as part of our operating strategy. Our governing documents contain no limit on the amount of debt we may incur, and, subject to compliance with financial covenants under our borrowings, including under our master repurchase agreement, we may significantly increase the amount of leverage we utilize at any time without approval of our stockholders. Depending on market conditions, additional borrowings may include credit facilities, additional repurchase agreements, additional first mortgage loans and securitizations. In addition, we may divide the loans we originate into senior and junior tranches and dispose of the more senior tranches as an additional means of providing financing to our business. To the extent that we use leverage to finance our assets, we would expect to have a larger portfolio of loan assets, but our financing costs relating to our borrowings will reduce cash available for distributions to stockholders. We may not be able to meet our financing obligations and, to the extent that we cannot, we risk the loss of some or all of our assets to liquidation or sale to satisfy such obligations. To the extent we use repurchase agreements to finance the purchase of assets, a decrease in the value of these assets may lead to margin calls which we will have to satisfy. We may not have the funds available to satisfy any such margin calls and may be forced to sell assets at significantly depressed prices due to market conditions or otherwise, which may result in losses. Any reduction in distributions to our stockholders may cause the value of our shares of common stock to decline.

Our Manager is authorized to follow broad investment guidelines that have been approved by our board of directors. Those investment guidelines, as well as our target assets, investment strategy, financing strategy and hedging policies with respect to investments, originations, acquisitions, growth, operations, indebtedness, capitalization and distributions, may be changed at any time without notice to, or the consent of, our stockholders. This could result in a loan portfolio with a different risk profile. A change in our investment strategy may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, default risk and real estate market fluctuations. Furthermore, a change in our asset allocation could result in our making investments in asset categories different from those described in this registration statement. These changes could materially and adversely affect us.

We may pursue and not be able to successfully complete securitization transactions, which could limit potential future sources of financing and could inhibit the growth of our business.

We may use additional credit facilities, repurchase agreements, first mortgage loans or other borrowings to finance the origination and/or structuring of real estate-related loans until a sufficient quantity of eligible assets has been accumulated, at which time we may decide to refinance these short-term facilities or repurchase agreements through the securitization market which could include the creation of CMBS, collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs, or the private placement of loan participations or other long-term financing. If we employ this strategy, we are subject to the risk that we would not be able to obtain, during the period that our short-term financing arrangements are available, a sufficient amount of eligible assets to maximize the efficiency of a CMBS, CDO or private placement issuance. We are also subject to the risk that we are not able to obtain short-term financing arrangements or are not able to renew any short-term financing arrangements after they expire should we find it necessary to extend such short-term financing arrangements to allow more time to obtain the necessary eligible assets for a long-term financing.

The inability to consummate securitizations of our portfolio to finance our real estate-related loans on a long-term basis could require us to seek other forms of potentially less attractive financing or to liquidate assets at an inopportune time or price, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be required to repurchase loans or indemnify investors if we breach representations and warranties, which could harm our earnings.

We may, on occasion, consistent with our qualification as a REIT and our desire to avoid being subject to the “prohibited transaction” penalty tax, sell some of our loans in the secondary market or as a part of a securitization of a portfolio of our loans. If we sell loans, we would be required to make customary representations and warranties about such loans to the loan purchaser. Our loan sale agreements may require us to repurchase or substitute loans in the event we breach a representation or warranty given to the loan purchaser. In addition, we may be required to repurchase loans as a result of borrower fraud or in the event of early payment default on a loan. Likewise, we may be required to repurchase or substitute loans if we breach a representation or warranty in connection with our securitizations, if any.

The remedies available to a purchaser of loans are generally broader than those available to us against the originating broker or correspondent. Further, if a purchaser enforces its remedies against us, we may not be able to enforce the remedies we have against the sellers. The repurchased loans typically can only be financed at a steep discount to their repurchase price, if at all. They are also typically sold at a significant discount to the unpaid principal balance, or UPB. Significant repurchase activity could harm our cash flow, results of operations, financial condition and business prospects.

The documents governing our master repurchase agreement contain, and additional financing arrangements may contain, financial covenants that could restrict our borrowings or subject us to additional risks.

We borrow funds under our master repurchase agreement. The documents that govern the master repurchase agreement contain, and additional financing arrangements may contain, various financial and other restrictive covenants, including covenants that require us to maintain a certain interest coverage ratio and net asset value and that create a maximum balance sheet leverage ratio. The guarantee agreement relating to our master repurchase agreement requires us to maintain: (i) liquidity of at least 10% of the then-current outstanding amount under the master repurchase agreement; (ii) cash liquidity of at least the greater of $5 million or 5% of the then-current outstanding amount under the master repurchase agreement; (iii) tangible net worth at an amount equal to or greater than 75% of our tangible net worth as of December 12, 2018, plus 75% of new capital contributions thereafter; (iv) an EBITDA to interest expense ratio of not less than 1.50 to 1.00; and (v) a total indebtedness to tangible net worth ratio of not more than 3.00 to 1.00. If we fail to satisfy any of the financial or other restrictive covenants, or otherwise default under these agreements, the lender will have the right to accelerate repayment and terminate the facility. Accelerating repayment and terminating the facility will require immediate repayment by us of the borrowed funds, which may require us to liquidate assets at a disadvantageous time, causing us to incur further losses and adversely affecting our results of operations and financial condition, which may impair our ability to maintain our current level of distributions.

Our inability to access funding could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business. We may rely on short-term financing and thus are especially exposed to changes in the availability of financing.

We currently have outstanding indebtedness and expect to use additional borrowings, such as first mortgage financings, credit facilities, repurchase agreements, and other credit facilities, as part of our operating strategy. Our use of financings expose us to the risk that our lenders may respond to market conditions by making it more difficult for us to renew or replace on a continuous basis our maturing short-term borrowings. If we are not able to renew our then existing short-term facilities or arrange for new financing on terms acceptable to us, or if we default on our covenants or are otherwise unable to access funds under these types of financing, we may have to curtail our asset origination activities and/or dispose of assets.

It is possible that the lenders that provide us with financing could experience changes in their ability to advance funds to us, independent of our performance or the performance of our portfolio of assets. Further, if many of our potential lenders are unwilling or unable to provide us with financing, we could be forced to sell our assets at an inopportune time when prices are depressed. In addition, if the regulatory capital requirements imposed on our lenders change, they may be required to significantly increase the cost of the financing that they provide to us. Our lenders also may revise their eligibility requirements for the types of assets they are willing to finance or the terms of such financings, based on, among other factors, the regulatory environment and their management of perceived risk, particularly with respect to assignee liability. Moreover, the amount of financing we receive under our short-term borrowing arrangements will be directly related to the lenders’ valuation of our targeted assets that cover the outstanding borrowings.

The dislocations in the mortgage sector in the financial crisis that began in 2007 have caused many lenders to tighten their lending standards, reduce their lending capacity or exit the market altogether. Further contraction among lenders, insolvency of lenders or other general market disruptions could adversely affect one or more of our potential lenders and could cause one or more of our potential lenders to be unwilling or unable to provide us with financing on attractive terms or at all. This could increase our financing costs and reduce our access to liquidity.

Repurchase agreements that we use to finance our assets restrict us from leveraging our assets as fully as desired, and may require us to provide additional collateral.

We use repurchase agreements to finance our assets. If the market value of the assets pledged or sold by us under our master repurchase agreement declines, we will be required to pay down a portion of the funds advanced, but we may not have the funds available to do so, which could result in defaults. Repurchase agreements that we may use in the future may also require us to provide additional collateral if the market value of the assets pledged or sold by us to a financing institution declines. Posting additional collateral to support our credit will reduce our liquidity and limit our ability to leverage our assets, which could adversely affect our business. In the event we do not have sufficient liquidity to meet such requirements, financing institutions can accelerate repayment of our indebtedness, increase interest rates, liquidate our collateral or terminate our ability to borrow. Such a situation would likely result in a rapid deterioration of our financial condition and possibly necessitate a filing for bankruptcy protection. In the event of our insolvency or bankruptcy, certain repurchase agreements may qualify for special treatment under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the effect of which, among other things, would be to allow the lender under the applicable repurchase agreement to avoid the automatic stay provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Further, any financial institutions providing the repurchase facilities may require us to maintain a certain amount of cash that is not invested or to set aside non-leveraged assets sufficient to maintain a specified liquidity position which would allow us to satisfy our collateral obligations. As a result, we may not be able to leverage our assets as fully as we would choose, which could reduce our return on equity. If we are unable to meet these collateral obligations, our financial condition could deteriorate rapidly.

An increase in our borrowing costs relative to the interest we receive on our leveraged assets may adversely affect our profitability and our cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

As our financings mature, we will be required either to enter into new borrowings or to sell certain of our assets. An increase in short-term interest rates at the time that we seek to enter into new borrowings would reduce the spread between the returns on our assets and the cost of our borrowings. This would adversely affect the returns on our assets, which might reduce earnings and, in turn, cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

We may enter into hedging transactions that could expose us to contingent liabilities in the future and adversely impact our financial condition.

Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT, part of our strategy may involve entering into hedging transactions that could require us to fund cash payments in certain circumstances (such as the early termination of a hedging instrument caused by an event of default or other early termination event). The amount due would be equal to the unrealized loss of the open swap positions with the respective counterparty and could also include other fees and charges, and these economic losses will be reflected in our results of operations. We may also be required to provide margin to our counterparties to collateralize our obligations under hedging agreements. Our ability to fund these obligations will depend on the liquidity of our assets and access to capital at the time. The need to fund these obligations could adversely impact our financial condition.

If we attempt to qualify for fair value hedge accounting treatment for any derivative instruments, but we fail to so qualify, we may suffer because losses on the derivatives that we enter into may not be offset by a change in the fair value of the related hedged transaction.

If we attempt to qualify for hedge accounting treatment for any derivative instruments, but we fail to so qualify for a number of reasons, including if we use instruments that do not meet the definition of a derivative (such as short sales), if we fail to satisfy hedge documentation and hedge effectiveness assessment requirements, or if our instruments are not highly effective, we may suffer because losses on any derivatives we hold which may not be offset by a change in the fair value of the related hedged transaction.

Risks Related to Owning Our Common Stock

There is no public market for our common stock and a market may never develop, which could cause our common stock to trade at a discount and make it difficult for holders of our common stock to sell their shares.

There is no established trading market for our common stock, and there can be no assurance that an active trading market for our common stock will develop, or if one develops, be maintained. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the ability of our stockholders to sell their common stock or the price that our stockholders may obtain for their common stock.

Some of the factors that could negatively affect the market price of our common stock include:

Market factors unrelated to our performance could also negatively impact the market price of our common stock. One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell our common stock is our distribution rate as a percentage of our stock price relative to market interest rates. If market interest rates increase, prospective investors may demand a higher distribution rate or seek alternative investments paying higher dividends or interest. As a result, interest rate fluctuations and conditions in capital markets can affect the fair market value of our common stock. For instance, if interest rates rise, it is likely that the market price of our common stock will decrease as market rates on interest-bearing securities increase.

If we complete an alternative liquidity transaction by pursuing an initial public offering or listing of our shares of common stock in the future, you will be subject to additional risks.

Examples of the alternative liquidity transactions that may be available to us include an initial public offering or listing of our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange, a liquidation of our assets or a sale of our company. If we complete an alternative liquidity transaction that involves us becoming a publicly traded company through an initial public offering or listing of our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange, you will subject to the following additional risks:

Trading Value of our Shares: If an alternative liquidity transaction involves us becoming a publicly traded company through an initial public offering or listing of our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange, our shares will be publicly traded and investors will be able to assess the value of their shares by reference to the public trading price of our shares.

Distributions: If an alternative liquidity event involves us becoming a publicly traded company through an initial public offering or listing of our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange, we do not expect that the distributions investors receive following any such liquidity event would be adversely impacted. Following any such transaction, we would be expected to pay regular monthly distributions to our stockholders and would continue to be required to distribute 90% of our taxable income (excluding net capital gains) to our investors each year in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT.

Manager Compensation: If an alternative liquidity event involves us becoming a publicly traded company through an initial public offering or listing of our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange, we expect we will enter into a new management agreement with our Manager or an affiliate of our Manager. The base management fees, incentive distributions or other amounts that would be payable to our Manager in the case of any such transaction are expected to be market-based fees determined in the case of any initial public offering by discussions between our Manager and the underwriters involved in the initial public offering. Any such fees are expected to be paid in lieu of the fees currently payable to our Manager.

Transfer Restrictions: If an alternative liquidity event involves us becoming a publicly traded company through an initial public offering or listing of our shares of common stock on a national securities exchange, we expect that shares currently held by our stockholders will constitute restricted securities under the Securities Act and will be subject to restrictions on transfer under applicable U.S. securities laws

Common stock and preferred stock eligible for future sale may have adverse effects on our share price.

Our board of directors has the power, without further stockholder approval, to authorize us to issue additional authorized shares of common stock and preferred stock on the terms and for the consideration it deems appropriate subject, if applicable, to the rules of any stock exchange on which our securities may be listed or traded and the terms of any class or series of our stock. We cannot predict the effect, if any, of future sales of our common stock, or the availability of shares for future sales, on the market price of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock or the perception that such sales could occur may adversely affect the prevailing market price for our common stock. As of September 30, 2019, Terra Fund 5 owns, indirectly, 14,912,990.19 shares, or 98.6%, of our common stock.

Our principal stockholders, which are currently controlled by affiliates of our Manager, own a significant amount of our outstanding shares of common stock, which is sufficient to approve or veto most corporate actions requiring a vote of our stockholders.

Terra Fund 5 indirectly owns shares representing 98.6% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of common stock and Terra International 3 indirectly owns shares representing 1.4% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of common stock. Our Manager also serves as adviser to Terra International 3 and Terra International Fund 3. In addition, the general partner of Terra International 3 is Terra International Fund 3 GP, LLC, which is an affiliate of Terra Fund Advisors, the manager of Terra Fund 5. As a result, our Manager and its affiliates (for the period that such shares continue to be held by Terra Fund 5 and Terra International 3 and not distributed to their respective equity owners) have significant control over matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including:

Our Manager is a subsidiary of Terra Capital Partners, which is 100% owned by an affiliate of Axar Capital Management. Terra Fund 5 is managed by Terra Fund Advisors, which is 51% owned by Bruce Batkin, Dan Cooperman and Simon Mildé and 49% owned by an affiliate of Axar Capital Management. On February 8, 2018, we, our Manager and Terra Fund 5 entered into a voting agreement, or the Voting Agreement, to provide for continuity on our board of directors. The terms of the Voting Agreement provide that, for so long as our Manager remains our external manager, our Manager will have the right to nominate two individuals to serve as directors on our board of directors (which nominees need not be independent directors) and, for so long as Terra Fund 5 holds at least 10% of our outstanding shares of common stock, Terra Fund 5 will have the right to nominate one individual to serve as a director on our board of directors (who need not be an independent director).

In addition, our Manager’s and its affiliates’ voting control may discourage transactions involving a change of control of our company, including transactions in which a holder of our common stock might otherwise receive a premium for his or her shares over the then-current market price.

Future offerings of debt or equity securities, which may rank senior to our common stock, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

If we decide to issue debt securities in the future, which would rank senior to our common stock, it is likely that they will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any equity securities or convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock and may result in dilution to owners of our common stock. We and, indirectly, our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because our decision to issue debt or equity securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, holders of our common stock will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting the value of their stock holdings in us.

We have not established a minimum distribution payment level and we cannot assure you of our ability to pay distributions in the future.

To maintain our qualification as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax, we intend to make regular monthly distributions to holders of our common stock out of legally available funds. Our current policy is to pay monthly distributions which, on an annual basis, will equal all or substantially all of our net taxable income. We have not, however, established a minimum distribution payment level and our ability to pay distributions may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including the risk factors described in this registration statement. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, any debt covenants, maintenance of our REIT qualification, restrictions on making distributions under Maryland law and other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. We may not be able to make distributions in the future, and our board of directors may change our distribution policy in the future. We believe that a change in any one of the following factors, among others, could adversely affect our results of operations and impair our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders:

We cannot assure you that we will achieve results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions in the future. In addition, some of our distributions may include a return of capital.

Investing in our common stock may involve a high degree of risk and may result in loss of capital invested in us.

Our investment strategy and our originations may result in a high amount of risk when compared to alternative strategies and volatility or loss of principal. Our originations or acquisitions may be highly speculative and aggressive, and therefore an investment in our shares of common stock may not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.

Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure

Certain provisions of Maryland law could inhibit changes in control.

Certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, may have the effect of deterring a third party from making a proposal to acquire us or of impeding a change in control under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our common stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our common stock. We are subject to the “business combination” provisions of the MGCL that, subject to limitations, prohibit certain business combinations (including a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between us and an “interested stockholder” (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our then outstanding voting stock or an affiliate or associate of ours who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our then outstanding stock) or an affiliate thereof for five years after the most recent date on which the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder.

Any business combination between us and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least (i) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of our voting stock and (ii) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our voting stock other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if, among other conditions, our common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under the MGCL, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares. These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our board of directors has by resolution exempted business combinations between us and (i) any other person, provided that such business combination is first approved by our board of directors (including a majority of our directors who are not affiliates or associates of such person), (ii) Terra Fund 5 or its affiliates and associates, and (iii) any person acting in concert with those persons identified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence. As a result, any person described in the preceding sentence may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interests of our stockholders, without our compliance with the supermajority vote requirements and other provisions of the statute. There can be no assurance that our board of directors will not amend or revoke the exemption at any time.

The “control share” provisions of the MGCL provide that, subject to certain exceptions, a holder of “control shares” of a Maryland corporation (defined as shares which, when aggregated with all other shares controlled by the stockholder (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), entitle the stockholder to exercise one of three increasing ranges of voting power in electing directors) acquired in a “control share acquisition” (defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of ownership or control of issued and outstanding “control shares”) has no voting rights with respect to such control shares except to the extent approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding votes entitled to be cast by the acquirer of control shares, our officers and our personnel who are also our directors. Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. There can be no assurance that this provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.

The “unsolicited takeover” provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL permit our board of directors, without stockholder approval and regardless of what is currently provided in our charter or bylaws, to implement certain takeover defenses, some of which (for example, a classified board) we do not yet have. Our charter contains a provision whereby we have elected to be subject to one of the provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL, pursuant to which, subject to our Voting Agreement, our board of directors has the exclusive power to fill vacancies on our board of directors. These provisions may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making an acquisition proposal for us or of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us under the circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of shares of common stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then current market price. See “Item 11. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered—Certain Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and Our Charter and Bylaws — Business Combinations,” “— Control Share Acquisitions” and “— Subtitle 8.”

Our authorized but unissued shares of common and preferred stock may prevent a change in our control.

Our charter permits our board of directors to authorize us to issue additional shares of our authorized but unissued common or preferred stock. In addition, our board of directors may, without stockholder approval, amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have the authority to issue and classify or reclassify any unissued shares of common or preferred stock and set the terms of the classified or reclassified shares. As a result, our board of directors may establish a class or series of shares of common or preferred stock that could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for shares of our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action against our directors and officers are limited, which could limit your recourse in the event of actions not in your best interests.

Our charter limits the liability of our present and former directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted under Maryland law. Under Maryland law, our present and former directors and officers will not have any liability to us or our stockholders for money damages other than liability resulting from:

Our charter authorizes us to indemnify our directors and officers for actions taken by them in those and other capacities to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. Our bylaws require us to indemnify each present and former director or officer, and each person who served any predecessor of our company, including the Terra Funds, in a similar capacity, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, in connection with the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party or a witness by reason of his or her service to us or such predecessor. In addition, we may be obligated to pay or reimburse the expenses incurred by such persons in any such proceedings without requiring a preliminary determination of their ultimate entitlement to indemnification. See “Item 11. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered—Certain Provisions of Maryland General Corporation Law and Our Charter and Bylaws—Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability.”

Our charter and bylaws contain provisions that make removal of our directors difficult, which could make it difficult for our stockholders to effect changes to our management.

Our charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock, a director may be removed only with cause upon the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. Vacancies may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if less than a quorum. Pursuant to the Voting Agreement, for so long as the Voting Agreement remains in effect, in the case of any vacancy on the board of directors created by the death, disability, retirement, resignation, refusal to stand for reelection, unwillingness to nominate or removal of a director previously nominated by a party to the Voting Agreement, so long as such party is entitled under the Voting Agreement to nominate an individual to fill such vacancy, the board of directors will fill such vacancy with the individual nominated by such party. Our board has the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships, and the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders are required to call a special meeting of our stockholders to vote on such matters. These requirements make it more difficult to change our management by removing and replacing directors and may prevent a change in control of our company that is in the best interests of our stockholders.

Ownership limitations may restrict change of control or business combination opportunities in which our stockholders might receive a premium for their shares.

In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, shares of our stock must be owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of our stock may be owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made). To assist us in preserving our REIT qualification, among other purposes, our charter generally prohibits any person from directly or indirectly owning more than 9.8% by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock, the outstanding shares of any class or series of our preferred stock or the aggregate outstanding shares of all classes and series of our capital stock. These ownership limits could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction in which holders of our common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then prevailing market price or which holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interests.

Rapid changes in the values of our assets may make it more difficult for us to maintain our qualification as a REIT or our exclusion from the 1940 Act.

If the fair market value or income potential of our assets declines as a result of increased interest rates, prepayment rates, general market conditions, government actions or other factors, we may need to increase our real estate assets and income or liquidate our non-qualifying assets to maintain our REIT qualification or our exclusion from the 1940 Act. If the decline in real estate asset values or income occurs quickly, this may be especially difficult to accomplish. We may have to make decisions that we otherwise would not make absent the REIT and 1940 Act considerations.

Risks Related to Our Qualification as a REIT

Our failure to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT would subject us to U.S. federal income tax and applicable state and local taxes, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

We believe that we have been organized and operated in a manner that has enabled us to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2016, and we intend to continue to operate in a manner that will allow us to continue to so qualify. So long as we qualify as a REIT, we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on our net taxable income to the extent that we annually distribute all of our net taxable income to our stockholders. We have not requested, and do not intend to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that we qualify as a REIT. The U.S. federal income tax laws governing REITs are complex, and judicial and administrative interpretations of the U.S. federal income tax laws governing REIT qualification are limited.

To qualify as a REIT, we must meet, on an ongoing basis, various tests regarding the nature and diversification of our assets and our income, the ownership of our outstanding shares and the amount of our distributions. Our compliance with the REIT income and quarterly asset requirements also depends upon our ability to manage successfully the composition of our income and assets on an ongoing basis. Our ability to satisfy these asset tests depends upon our analysis of the characterization of our assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes and fair market values of our assets. The fair market values of certain of our assets are not susceptible to a precise determination, and we will generally not obtain independent appraisals of such assets. Furthermore, new tax legislation, administrative guidance or court decisions, in each instance potentially with retroactive effect, could make it difficult or impossible for us to qualify as a REIT. Thus, while we believe that we have been organized and operated and intend to continue to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we have qualified or will qualify as a REIT for any particular year.

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and we do not qualify for certain statutory relief, we would be required to pay U.S. federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax (for taxable years prior to 2018) as well as applicable state and local taxes, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, and distributions to our stockholders would not be deductible by us in determining our taxable income. In such a case, we might need to borrow money, sell assets, or reduce or even cease making distributions in order to pay our taxes. Our payment of income tax would reduce significantly the amount of operating cash flow available to be distributed to our stockholders. Furthermore, if we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we no longer would be required to make distributions to our stockholders. In addition, unless we were eligible for certain statutory relief provisions, we could not re-elect to be taxed as a REIT until the fifth calendar year following the year in which we failed to qualify.

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan and may require us to incur debt or sell assets to make such distributions.

In order to qualify as a REIT, we must distribute to our stockholders, each calendar year, at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (including certain items of non-cash income), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain. To the extent that we satisfy the 90% distribution requirement, but distribute less than 100% of our taxable income, we will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our undistributed income. In addition, we will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which our distributions in any calendar year are less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal income tax laws. We intend to distribute our taxable income to our stockholders in a manner intended to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and to avoid both corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax.

Differences in timing between our recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash may occur. For example, we may be required to accrue income from mortgage loans before we receive any payments of interest or principal on such assets. We generally are required to recognize certain amounts in income no later than the time such amounts are reflected on our financial statements. The application of this rule may require the accrual of income with respect to our loans, such as original issue discount or market discount, earlier than would be the case under the otherwise applicable tax rules. This rule generally applies for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 but, for debt instruments issued with original issue discount, applies for tax years beginning after December 31, 2018. Also, in certain circumstances our ability to deduct interest expenses for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be limited. As a result of the foregoing, we may generate less cash flow than taxable income in a particular year and find it difficult or impossible to meet the REIT distribution requirements in certain circumstances. In particular, where we experience differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash, the requirement to distribute a substantial portion of our taxable income could cause us to: (i) sell assets in adverse market conditions, (ii) borrow on unfavorable terms, (iii) distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt, (iv) make a taxable distribution of our shares as part of a distribution in which stockholders may elect to receive shares or (subject to a limit measured as a percentage of the total distribution) cash or (v) use cash reserves, in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements and to avoid U.S. federal corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax. Thus, compliance with the REIT distribution requirements may hinder our ability to grow, which could adversely affect the value of our common stock.

Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow.

Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to certain U.S. federal, state and local taxes on our income and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from certain activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure, and state or local income, property and transfer taxes, such as mortgage recording taxes. In addition, we could, in certain circumstances, be required to pay an excise or penalty tax (which could be significant in amount) in order to utilize one or more relief provisions under the Code to maintain our qualification as a REIT. Any of these taxes would reduce cash available for distribution to our stockholders. In addition, we will be subject to a 100% tax on gains derived from the disposition of dealer property or inventory. In order to meet the REIT qualification requirements, we may hold some of our assets or engage in certain activities that would otherwise be nonqualifying for REIT purposes through a TRS or other subsidiary corporation that will be subject to corporate-level income tax at regular rates. Any resulting taxes would decrease the cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

Complying with the REIT requirements may force us to liquidate or forego otherwise attractive investments.

In order to qualify as a REIT, we annually must satisfy two gross income requirements. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging and foreign currency transactions, must be derived from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including interest income derived from mortgage loans secured by real property (including certain types of qualified mezzanine loans and mortgage-backed securities), “rents from real property,” dividends received from and gain from the disposition of shares of other REITs, and gains from the sale of real estate assets, as well as income from certain kinds of qualified temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income in each taxable year, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging and foreign currency transactions, must be derived from some combination of income that qualifies under the 75% income test described above, as well as other dividends, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, which need not have any relation to real property. We may receive various fees in connection with our operations. The fees generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests if they are received in consideration for entering into an agreement to make a loan secured by real property and the fees are not determined by income or profits. In addition, we also treat any origination fees we receive as a reduction in the principal balance of our loans, which we accrue over the life of the relevant loan under the original issue discount rules, discussed below. We treat any exit fees and other fees representing charges for the use or forbearance of money as additional interest. Other fees which are considered compensation for services are not qualifying income for purposes of either the 75% or 95% gross income test.

Further, at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must consist of cash, cash items, government securities, shares in other REITs and other qualifying real estate assets, including certain mortgage loans, mezzanine loans and certain mortgage-backed securities. The remainder of our investment in securities (other than government securities, TRS securities and securities that are qualifying real estate assets) generally cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our total assets (other than government securities, TRS securities and securities that are qualifying real estate assets) can consist of the securities of any one issuer, no more than 20% (25% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018) of the value of our total assets can be represented by securities of one or more TRSs, and no more than 25% of the value of our assets can consist of debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs that are not otherwise secured by real property. If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing our REIT qualification and suffering adverse tax consequences.

As a result, we may be required to liquidate from our portfolio, or contribute to a TRS, otherwise attractive investments, and may be unable to pursue investments that would be otherwise advantageous to us in order to satisfy the source of income or asset diversification requirements for qualifying as a REIT. These actions could have the effect of reducing our income and amounts available for distribution to our stockholders. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to make, and, in certain cases, maintain ownership of certain attractive investments.

Our preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments may fail to qualify as real estate assets for purposes of the REIT gross income and asset tests, which could jeopardize our ability to qualify as a REIT.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Procedure 2003-65, which provides a safe harbor pursuant to which a mezzanine loan that is secured by interests in a partnership or other pass-through entity will be treated by the Internal Revenue Service as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT assets tests, and interest derived from such a loan will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the REIT 75% and 95% income tests. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. We own, and may acquire in the future, certain mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments (which we treat as mezzanine loans for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that do not satisfy all of the requirements for reliance on the safe harbor set forth in the Revenue Procedure. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not successfully challenge the tax treatment of such mezzanine loans or preferred equity investments as qualifying real estate assets. To the extent that such mezzanine loans or preferred equity investments do not qualify as real estate assets, the interest income from such mezzanine loans or preferred equity investments would be qualifying income for the REIT 95% gross income test, but not for the REIT 75% gross income test, and such mezzanine loans or preferred equity investments would not be qualifying assets for the REIT 75% asset test and would be subject to the REIT 5% and 10% asset tests, which could jeopardize our ability to qualify as a REIT.

The Internal Revenue Service may successfully challenge the treatment of our preferred equity and mezzanine loan investments as debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

We invest in certain real estate-related investments, including mezzanine loans, first mortgage loans, and preferred equity investments. There is limited case law and administrative guidance addressing whether certain preferred equity investments or mezzanine loans will be treated as equity or debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our Manager received an opinion of prior tax counsel regarding the treatment of one of our fixed return preferred equity investments and future similarly structured investments as debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We treat preferred equity investments which we currently hold as debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes and as mezzanine loans that qualify as real estate assets, as discussed above. No private letter rulings have been obtained on the characterization of these investments for U.S. federal income tax purposes and an opinion of counsel is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service; therefore, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will not successfully challenge the treatment of such preferred equity investments as debt and as qualifying real estate assets. If a preferred equity investment or mezzanine loan owned by us was treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the gross income of the partnership or limited liability company that issued the preferred equity interest. Certain of these partnerships and limited liability companies are engaged in activities that could cause us to be considered as earning significant nonqualifying income, which would likely cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT or pay a significant penalty tax to maintain our REIT qualification.

The failure of assets subject to repurchase agreements to qualify as real estate assets could adversely affect our ability to qualify as a REIT.

We have entered into, and may in the future enter into additional, financing arrangements that are structured as sale and repurchase agreements pursuant to which we nominally sell certain of our assets to a counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to repurchase such assets at a later date in exchange for a purchase price. Economically, these agreements are financings that are secured by the assets sold pursuant thereto. We believe that we will be treated for REIT asset and income test purposes as the owner of the assets that are the subject of such sale and repurchase agreements notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the Internal Revenue Service could assert that we are not the owner of the assets during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.

We may be required to report taxable income from certain investments in excess of the economic income we ultimately realize from them.

We may acquire or originate loans that will be treated as having “original issue discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes because interest on such securities will not be payable currently, but rather will be added to the outstanding loan balance as it accrues. We will be required to accrue such interest income based on a constant yield method (and, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2018, no later than the time such amounts are reflected on our financial statements) notwithstanding the fact that such interest income is not yet payable, and we will therefore be taxed based on the assumption that all future projected interest payments due on such securities will be made. If such securities turn out not to be fully collectible, an offsetting loss deduction will become available only in the later year that uncollectability is provable. While we would in general ultimately have an offsetting loss deduction available to us when such interest was determined to be uncollectible, the utility of that deduction could depend on our having taxable income in that later year or thereafter.

Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividend income from regular corporations, which could adversely affect the value of our shares.

The maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for certain qualified dividends payable to U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts and estates is currently 20%. Dividends payable by REITs, however, are generally not eligible for the reduced qualified dividend rates. However, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, noncorporate taxpayers may deduct up to 20% of certain pass-through business income, including “qualified REIT dividends” (generally, dividends received by a REIT shareholder that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income), subject to certain limitations, resulting in an effective maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 29.6% on such income. Although the reduced U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to qualified dividends from C corporations does not adversely affect the taxation of REITs or dividends paid by REITs, the more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate dividends and the reduced corporate tax rate (currently, 21%) could cause investors who are individuals, trusts and estates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the shares of REITs, including our shares.

Complying with REIT requirements may limit our ability to hedge effectively.

The REIT provisions of the Code may limit our ability to hedge our assets and operations. Under these provisions, any income that we generate from transactions intended to hedge our interest rate and currency risks will generally be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests if  (i) the instrument (A) hedges interest rate risk or foreign currency exposure on liabilities used to carry or acquire real estate assets, (B) hedges risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income tests or (C) hedges an instrument described in clause (A) or (B) for a period following the extinguishment of the liability or the disposition of the asset that was previously hedged by the hedged instrument, and (ii) such instrument is properly identified under the applicable Treasury Regulations.

As a result of these rules, we may have to limit our use of hedging techniques that might otherwise be advantageous or implement those hedges through a TRS. This could increase the cost of our hedging activities because a TRS would be subject to corporate tax on its income. Moreover, the limits on our use of hedging techniques could expose us to greater risks associated with changes in interest rates than we would otherwise want to bear. In addition, losses in a TRS would generally not provide any tax benefit to us since such losses may not be used to offset our taxable income, although such losses may be carried forward to offset future taxable income of the TRS.

The tax on prohibited transactions will limit our ability to engage in transactions, including sales of participation interests in loans and securitizations, that would be treated as sales of dealer property for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, but including loans, held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. We occasionally sell participation interests in loans which we have originated; however, we do not expect to engage in a significant number of such sales or that such sales will generate significant gains, if any. To the extent that we were to sell loans or participations therein in a manner that we believe could expose us to the prohibited transaction tax, we intend to conduct such activities through a TRS. In addition, we may decide to pursue securitization transactions to finance our real estate-related loans. To the extent that the securitization transactions were structured in a manner that we believe could expose us to the prohibited transactions tax, we intend to conduct such activities through a TRS.

A failure to comply with the limits on our ownership of and relationship with our TRSs, if any, would jeopardize our REIT qualification and may result in the application of a 100% excise tax.

Although our use of TRSs may be able to partially mitigate the impact of meeting the requirements necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT, our ownership of and relationship with any TRSs is subject to limitations, and a failure to comply with the limits would jeopardize our REIT qualification and our transactions with such TRSs may result in the application of a 100% excise tax if such transactions are not conducted on arm’s-length terms.

A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. Subject to certain exceptions, a TRS may hold assets and earn income that would not be qualifying assets or income if held or earned directly by a REIT. Both the subsidiary corporation and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary corporation as a TRS. Any TRS that we form will pay U.S. federal, state and local income tax on its taxable income, and its after-tax net income will be available for distribution to us but is not required to be distributed to us.

Overall, no more than 20% (25% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018) of the value of a REIT’s total assets may consist of stock or securities of one or more TRSs. We intend to limit the aggregate value of the stock and securities of our TRSs, if any, to less than 20% of the value of our total assets (including such TRS stock and securities). Furthermore, we will monitor the value of our respective investments in our TRSs for the purpose of ensuring compliance with TRS ownership limitations.

In addition, the TRS rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of corporate taxation. The rules also impose a 100% excise tax on certain transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. To the extent we form a TRS, we will scrutinize all of our transactions with such TRS to ensure that they are entered into on arm’s length terms to avoid incurring the 100% excise tax.

We may engage in transactions with a TRS, in which case we intend to conduct our affairs so that we will not be subject to the 100% excise tax with respect to transactions with such TRS and so that we will comply with all other requirements applicable to our ownership of TRSs. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to comply with the 20% limitation discussed above or to avoid application of the 100% excise tax discussed above.

Legislative, regulatory or administrative changes could adversely affect us.

The U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations governing REITs and their stockholders, as well as the administrative interpretations of those laws and regulations, are constantly under review and may be changed at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given as to whether, when, or in what form, the U.S. federal income tax laws applicable to us and our stockholders may be enacted. Changes to the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations of U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect an investment in our common stock.

Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the potential effects of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments on an investment in our common stock.

Your investment has various U.S. federal tax risks.

An investment in us involves complex U.S. federal, state and local income tax considerations that will differ for each investor. Prospective investors should consult with their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences applicable to an investment in our common stock.

ITEM 2. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Selected Financial Data

The selected data presented below under the captions “Operating Data”, “Per Share Data” and “Balance Sheet Data” as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 are derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the years then ended, and the report thereon, are included elsewhere in this registration statement. The selected data presented below for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 and as of June 30, 2019 are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this registration statement. The data should be read in conjunction with the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this registration statement.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this registration statement and the “Item 1. Business.” Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this registration statement, including information with respect to our plans and strategies for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should read “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and the “Forward-Looking Statements” section of this registration statement for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are a real estate credit focused company that originates, structures, funds and manages high yielding commercial real estate credit investments, including mezzanine loans, first mortgage loans, subordinated mortgage loans and preferred equity investments throughout the United States, which we collectively refer to as our targeted assets. Our loans finance the acquisition, construction, development or redevelopment of quality commercial real estate in the United States. We focus on the origination of middle market loans in the approximately $10 million to $50 million range, to finance properties in primary and secondary markets. We believe loans of this size are subject to less competition, offer higher risk adjusted returns than larger loans with similar risk metrics and facilitate portfolio diversification. Our objective is to continue to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders, primarily through regular distributions. There can be no assurances that we will be successful in meeting our objective.

As of June 30, 2019, we held a net investment portfolio (gross investments less obligations under participation agreements) comprised of 25 investments in 11 states with an aggregate net principal balance of $289.7 million, a weighted average coupon rate of 10.2%, a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 69.1% and a weighted average remaining term to maturity of 2.1 years.

Each of our loans was originated by Terra Capital Partners or its affiliates. Our portfolio is diversified geographically with underlying properties located in 25 markets across 11 states and by loan structure and property type. The portfolio includes diverse property types such as multifamily housing, condominiums, hotels, student housing commercial offices, medical offices and mixed use properties. The profile of these properties ranges from stabilized and value-added properties to pre-development and construction. Our loans are structured across mezzanine debt, first mortgages, and preferred equity investments.

We believe there are compelling opportunities available to us in the commercial real estate lending market as a result of high demand for property financing, constraints on the availability of credit from banks and other traditional commercial mortgage lenders due to the regulatory environment, and a generally conservative real estate credit culture that evolved in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Demand for property acquisition and development financing continues to be fueled by healthy economic conditions, population growth and the adaptive re-use of properties to accommodate new technologies and lifestyles. In addition, there continues to be a large volume of commercial real estate loans that mature each year that require refinancing proceeds. The confluence of these conditions — reduced lending by traditional lenders and strong demand for commercial real estate financing — has created opportunities for experienced alternative lenders such as us, particularly those with a focus on providing commercial real estate loans to creditworthy borrowers.

On January 1, 2016, the Terra Funds completed the REIT formation transaction. Following the REIT formation transaction, Terra Fund 5 contributed the consolidated portfolio of net assets of the Terra Funds to us in exchange for all of the shares of common stock of our company.

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2016. So long as we qualify as a REIT, we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on our net taxable income to the extent that we annually distribute all of our net taxable income to our stockholders.

Factors Impacting Operating Results

Our result of operations are affected by a number of factors and primarily depend on, among other things, the level of the interest income from targeted assets, the market value of our assets and the supply of, and demand for, real estate-related loans, including mezzanine loans, first mortgage loans, subordinated mortgage loans, preferred equity investments and other loans related to high quality commercial real estate in the United States, and the financing and other costs associated with our business. Interest income and borrowing costs may vary as a result of changes in interest rates, which could impact the net interest we receive on our assets. Our operating results may also be impacted by conditions in the financial markets and unanticipated credit events experienced by borrowers under our loan assets.

Credit Risk

Credit risk represents the potential loss that we would incur if our borrowers failed to perform pursuant to the terms of their obligations to us. With respect to our loan portfolio, we seek to manage credit risk by limiting exposure to any one individual borrower and any one asset class.

Additionally, our Manager employs an asset management approach and monitors the portfolio of investments, through, at a minimum, quarterly financial review of property performance including net operating income, loan-to-value, DSCR and the debt yield. Our Manager also requires certain borrowers to establish a cash reserve, as a form of additional collateral, for the purpose of providing for future interest or property-related operating payments.

The performance and value of our loans depends upon the sponsors’ ability to operate or manage the development of the respective properties that serve as collateral so that each property’s value ultimately supports the repayment of the loan balance. Mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments are subordinate to senior mortgage loans and, therefore, involve a higher degree of risk. In the event of a default, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments will be satisfied only after the senior lender’s investment is fully recovered. As a result, in the event of a default, we may not recover all of its investments.

In addition, we are exposed to the risks generally associated with the commercial real estate market, including variances in occupancy rates, capitalization rates, absorption rates, and other macroeconomic factors beyond our control. We seek to manage these risks through our Manager's underwriting and asset management processes.

We maintain all of our cash at financial institutions which, at times, may exceed the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation..

Concentration Risk

We hold real estate-related loans. Thus, our loan portfolio may be subject to a more rapid change in value than would be the case if it were required to maintain a wide diversification among industries, companies and types of loans. The result of such concentration in real estate assets is that a loss in such loans could materially reduce our capital.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk represents the effect from a change in interest rates, which could result in an adverse change in the fair value of our interest-bearing financial instruments. With respect to our business operations, increases in interest rates, in general, may over time cause: (i) the interest expense associated with variable rate borrowings to increase; (ii) the value of real estate-related loans to decline; (iii) coupons on variable rate loans to reset, although on a delayed basis, to higher interest rates; (iv) to the extent applicable under the terms of our investments, prepayments on real estate-related loans to slow, and (v) to the extent we enter into interest rate swap agreements as part of our hedging strategy, the value of these agreements to increase.

Conversely, decreases in interest rates, in general, may over time cause: (i) the interest expense associated with variable rate borrowings to decrease; (ii) the value of real estate-related loans to increase; (iii) coupons on variable rate real estate-related loans to reset, although on a delayed basis, to lower interest rates (iv) to the extent applicable under the terms of our investments, prepayments on real estate-related loans to increase, and (v) to the extent we enter into interest rate swap agreements as part of our hedging strategy, the value of these agreements to decrease.

Prepayment Risk

Prepayments can either positively or adversely affect the yields on our loans. Prepayments on debt instruments, where permitted under the debt documents, are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic and other factors beyond our control, and consequently, such prepayment rates cannot be predicted with certainty. If we do not collect a prepayment fee in connection with a prepayment or are unable to invest the proceeds of such prepayments received, the yield on the portfolio will decline. In addition, we may acquire assets at a discount or premium and if the asset does not repay when expected, the anticipated yield may be impacted. Under certain interest rate and prepayment scenarios we may fail to recoup fully our cost of acquisition of certain loans.

Extension Risk

Extension risk is the risk that our assets will be repaid at a slower rate than anticipated and generally increases when interest rates rise. In which case, to the extent we have financed the acquisition of an asset, we may have to finance our asset at potentially higher costs without the ability to reinvest principal into higher yielding securities because borrowers prepay their mortgages at a slower pace than originally expected, adversely impacting our net interest spread, and thus our net interest income.

Real Estate Risk

The market values of commercial and residential mortgage assets are subject to volatility and may be affected adversely by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, national, regional and local economic conditions (which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns and other factors); local real estate conditions; changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments; construction quality, age and design; demographic factors; and retroactive changes to building or similar codes. In addition, decreases in property values reduce the value of the collateral and the potential proceeds available to a borrower to repay the underlying loans, which could also cause us to suffer losses.

Use of Leverage

We deploy moderate amounts of leverage as part of our operating strategy, which may consist of borrowings under first mortgage financings, warehouse facilities, repurchase agreements and other credit facilities. While borrowing and leverage present opportunities for increasing total return, they may have the effect of potentially creating or increasing losses.

Market Risk

Our loans are highly illiquid and there is no assurance that we will achieve our objectives, including targeted returns. Due to the illiquidity of the loans, valuation of our loans may be difficult, as there generally will be no established markets for these loans.

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2017

The following is a discussion of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 included elsewhere in this registration statement.

The following table presents the comparative results of our operations for the for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:

Net Loan Portfolio

In assessing the performance of our loans, we believe it is appropriate to evaluate the loans on an economic basis, that is, gross loans net of obligations under participation agreements and mortgage loan payable. The following table presents a reconciliation of our loan portfolio from a gross basis to net basis for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, the increase in weighted average coupon rate was primarily due to a higher volume of loans with higher coupon rates.

Interest Income

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, interest income increased by approximately $3.9 million, or 10.2%, primarily due to (i) an $2.3 million increase in contractual interest income as a result of an increase in weighted average principal balance of gross loans driven by higher volume of new loan originations than loan repayments and an increase in the weighted average interest rate on gross loans driven by new loan originations having higher coupon rates than those of the loans that were repaid; (ii) $1.0 million lower in amortization of net purchase premium as a result of the majority of the net purchase premium recognized in connection with the REIT formation transaction in 2016 as well as a senior loan purchased in 2017 having already been amortized prior to the current period; and (iii) $0.6 million lower in net origination fee expense paid to our Manager.

Real Estate Operating Revenue

Real estate operating revenue represents revenue from a multi-tenant office building that we foreclosed on in July 2018 in exchange for the payment of a first mortgage and related fees and expenses.

2018 — For the year ended December 31, 2018, real estate operating revenue was $3.7 million, consisting largely of rental revenue recognized on the multi-tenant office building.

2017 — For the year ended December 31, 2017, we did not record any real estate operating revenue as the multi-tenant office building was acquired in 2018.

Prepayment Fee Income

Prepayment fee income represents prepayment fees charged to borrowers for the early repayment of loans.

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, prepayment fee income increased by $1.9 million, or 608.8%, primarily due to $1.6 million of prepayment fee received in 2018 on an investment that the borrower repaid four years early.

Operating Expenses Reimbursed to Manager

Under the terms of the management agreement with the Manager, we reimburse the Manager for operating expenses incurred in connection with services provided to us, including our allocable share of the Manager’s overhead, such as rent, employee costs, utilities, and technology costs.

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, operating expenses reimbursed to Manager increased by $0.3 million, or 10.2%, primarily due to an increase in gross allocable costs, mostly related to compensation expense.

Real Estate Operating Expenses

Real estate operating expenses represent expenses incurred by the multi-tenant office building, which include repairs and maintenances, utilities, real estate taxes, management fees and other operating expenses incurred in connection with the operation of the office building.

2018 — For the year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded real estate operating expenses of $1.3 million.

2017 — For the year ended December 31, 2017, we did not record any real estate operating expenses as the multi-tenant office building was acquired in 2018.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation expense recorded on building and building improvement and amortization expense recorded on in-place lease intangibles, both are related to the multi-tenant office building that we acquired in July 2018.

2018 — For the year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded depreciation and amortization of $1.6 million.

2017 — For the year ended December 31, 2017, we did not record any depreciation and amortization expense as the multi-tenant office building was acquired in 2018.

Reversal of Provision for Loan Losses

On a quarterly basis, our Manager evaluates loans with loan risk rating of “4” and “5” for possible impairment. Additionally, we record a general allowance for loan losses equal to 1.5% of the aggregate principal amount of loans rated as a “4” and 5% of the aggregate principal amount of loans rated as a “5.”

2018 — For the year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded a provision for loan losses of $0.4 million for a loan with a loan risk rating of “4”. This loan was subsequently repaid in full and therefore, the allowance for loan losses was reversed in the same period.

2017 — For the year ended December 31, 2017, we recorded a net reversal of provision for loan loss of $0.2 million.

Professional Fees

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, professional fees increased by $0.6 million, or 163.5%, primarily due to additional legal fees incurred during 2018 in connection with the Axar Transaction.

Directors Fees

Our directors who do not serve in an executive officer capacity for us are entitled to receive annual cash retainer fees and annual fees for serving as a committee chairperson. These directors receive an annual fee of $60,000, with no additional compensation per meeting.

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, directors fees increased by $0.3 million, or 596.9%, reflecting the additions of three independent directors in October 2017 and three additional independent directors in February 2018.

Other

Other operating expenses include dead deal costs, state and local franchise taxes and other miscellaneous operating expenses.

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, other operating expenses increased by $0.1 million, or 41.8%, primarily due to an increase in dead deal costs.

Interest Expense from Obligations under Participation Agreements

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, interest expense from obligations under participation agreements increased by $3.9 million, or 55.2%, primarily due to an increase in weighted average outstanding principal balance on obligations under participation agreements driving by higher volume of loans sold to affiliates through participation agreements than repayments on obligations under participation agreements as well as an increase in weighted average interest rate on obligations under participation agreements driven by new loan sold to affiliates through participation agreements having higher coupon rates than those that were repaid.

Interest Expense on Mortgage Loan Payable

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, interest expense on mortgage loan payable increased by $0.3 million, or 9.7%, primarily due to an increase in the weighted average mortgage loan payable and an increase in the weighted average interest rate on the mortgage loan payable. In connection with the foreclosure of the multi-tenant office building in July 2018, we up-sized the floating-rate mortgage loan payable from $34.0 million to $45.0 million. Weighted average interest rate increased due to an increase in LIBOR.

Interest Expense on Repurchase Agreement Payable

On December 12, 2018, we entered into a master repurchase agreement that provides for advances of up to $150.0 million in the aggregate, which we use to finance certain secured performing commercial real estate loans.

2018 — For the year ended December 31, 2018, we recorded interest expense on repurchase agreement payable of $0.2 million.

2017 — For the year ended December 31, 2017, we did not record any interest expense on repurchase agreement payable as the repurchase agreement was entered into in December 2018.

Realized Loss On Participated Loans

For the year ended December 31, 2018, we did not record any realized gain or loss on participated loans. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we recorded a realized loss on participated loans of $0.1 million resulting from participation interests on loans we sold to affiliates through participation agreements.

Net Income

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, the resulting net income increased by $1.1 million, or 5.3%.

Net Loan Portfolio

In assessing the performance of our loans, we believe it is appropriate to evaluate the loans on an economic basis, that is, gross loans net of obligations under participation agreements, mortgage loan payable and repurchase agreement payable.

The following table presents a reconciliation of our loan portfolio from a gross basis to a net basis for the  six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

For the  six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, the decrease in weighted average coupon rate was primarily due to a higher volume of loan originations with lower coupon rates.

Interest Income

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, interest income decreased by $0.05 million, or 0.2%, primarily due to a $0.5 million decrease in contractual interest income as a result of a decrease in the weighted average interest rate on gross loans driven by new loan originations having lower coupon rates than those of the loans that were repaid, partially offset by an increase in the weighted average principal balance of gross loans driven by higher volume of new loan originations than loan repayments. This decrease in interest income was partially offset by $0.3 million lower in amortization of net purchase premium as a result of the majority of the net purchase premium recognized in connection with the REIT formation transaction in 2016 as well as a senior loan purchased in 2017 having already been amortized prior to the current period and $0.2 million higher in net origination fee income received from the borrowers.

Real Estate Operating Revenue

Our operating real estate includes a multi-tenant office building that we foreclosed on in July 2018 in exchange for the payment of a first mortgage and related fees and expenses and 4.9 acres of adjacent land that we acquired via deed in lieu of foreclosure in exchange for the payment of a first mortgage and related fees. Real estate operating revenue represents revenue from a multi-tenant office building. We are not currently getting any revenue from the land.

2019 — For the six months ended June 30, 2019, real estate operating revenue was $4.8 million, consisting largely of rental revenue recognized on the multi-tenant office building.

2018 — For the six months ended June 30, 2018, we did not record any real estate operating revenue as the multi-tenant office building was acquired in July 2018.

Prepayment Fee Income

Prepayment fee income represents prepayment fees charged to borrowers for the early repayment of loans.

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, prepayment fee income decreased by $1.7 million, or 94.4%, primarily due to a $1.6 million prepayment fee received in 2018 on an investment that the borrower repaid four years early.

Operating Expenses Reimbursed to Manager

Under the terms of the management agreement with the Manager, we reimburse the Manager for operating expenses incurred in connection with services provided to us, including our allocable share of the Manager’s overhead, such as rent, employee costs, utilities, and technology costs.

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, operating expenses reimbursed to Manager increased by $0.7 million, or 41.3%, primarily due to an increase in gross allocable costs, mostly related to compensation expense, as well as an increase in our allocation ratio in relation to affiliated funds managed by our Manager and its affiliates.

Asset Management Fee

Under the terms of the management agreement with the Manager, we paid the Manager a monthly asset management fee at an annual rate of 1% of the aggregate funds under management, which included the aggregate gross acquisition price for each real estate-related investment and cash held by us.

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, asset management fee increased by $0.3 million, or 20.6%, primarily due to an increase in total funds under management.

Asset Servicing Fee

Under the terms of the management agreement with the Manager, we paid the Manager a monthly servicing fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the aggregate gross origination or acquisition price for each real estate-related loan held. No such asset servicing fee is payable under the new management agreement.

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, asset servicing fee increased by $0.1 million, or 25.1%, primarily due to an increase in our total funds under management.

Real Estate Operating Expenses

Real estate operating expenses represent expenses incurred by the multi-tenant office building and the land, which include repairs and maintenances, utilities, real estate taxes, management fees and other operating expenses incurred in connection with the operation of the office building and the maintenance of the land.

2019 — For the six months ended June 30, 2019, we recorded real estate operating expenses of $1.5 million.

2018 — For the six months ended June 30, 2018, we did not record any real estate operating expenses as the operating real estate were acquired subsequent to June 30, 2018.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation expense recorded on building and building improvement and amortization expense recorded on in-place lease intangibles, both are related to the multi-tenant office building that we acquired in July 2018.

2019 — For the six months ended June 30, 2019, we recorded depreciation and amortization of $1.9 million.

2018 — For the six months ended June 30, 2018, we did not record any depreciation and amortization expense as the multi-tenant office building was acquired in July 2018.

Impairment Charge

We evaluate our real estate assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the real estate may not be recoverable.

2019 — For the six months ended June 30, 2019, we recorded an impairment charge of $1.6 million on the land in order to reduce the carrying value of the land to its estimated fair value, which is the estimated selling price less the cost of sale.

2018 — For the six months ended June 30, 2018, we did not record any impairment charge.

Provision for Loan Losses

On a quarterly basis, our Manager evaluates loans with loan risk rating of “4” and “5” for possible impairment. Additionally, we record a general allowance for loan losses equal to 1.5% of the aggregate principal amount of loans rated as a “4” and 5% of the aggregate principal amount of loans rated as a “5.”

2019 — For the six months ended June 30, 2019, we did not record any provision for loan losses because we did not have any loans with a loan risk rating of “4” and “5”.

2018 — For the six months ended June 30, 2018, we recorded a provision for loan losses of $0.4 million for a loan with a loan risk rating of “4”. This loan was subsequently repaid in full.

Professional Fees

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, professional fees increased by $2.3 million, or 627.9%, primarily due to $2.4 million of professional fees directly incurred, and which were previously deferred, in contemplation of us becoming a public entity. In the second quarter of 2019, management decided to postpone indefinitely our public offering.

Other

Other operating expenses include dead deal costs, state and local franchise taxes and other miscellaneous operating expenses.

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, other operating expenses decreased by $0.1 million, or 49.5%, primarily due to a decrease in dead deal costs.

Interest Expense from Obligations under Participation Agreements

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, interest expense from obligations under participation agreements increased by $1.2 million, or 25.0%, primarily due to an increase in weighted average outstanding principal balance on obligations under participation agreements driving by higher volume of loans sold to affiliates through participation agreements than repayments on obligations under participation agreements, partially offset by a decrease in weighted average interest rate on obligations under participation agreements driven by new loan sold to affiliates through participation agreements having lower coupon rates than those that were repaid.

Interest Expense on Repurchase Agreement Payable

On December 12, 2018, we entered into a master repurchase agreement that provides for advances of up to $150.0 million in the aggregate, which we use to finance certain secured performing commercial real estate loans.

2019 — For the six months ended June 30, 2019, we recorded interest expense on repurchase agreement payable of $2.3 million.

2018 — For the six months ended June 30, 2018, we did not record any interest expense on repurchase agreement payable as the repurchase agreement was entered into in December 2018.

Interest Expense on Mortgage Loan Payable

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, interest expense on mortgage loan payable increased by $0.2 million, or 18.7%, primarily due to an increase in the weighted average mortgage loan payable and an increase the weighted average interest rate on the mortgage loan payable. In connection with the foreclosure of the multi-tenant office building in July 2018, we up-sized the floating-rate mortgage loan payable from $34.0 million to $45.0 million. Weighted average interest rate increased due to an increase in LIBOR.

Net Income

For the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, the resulting net income decreased by $8.6 million, or 69.5%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, funding and maintaining our assets and operations, making distributions to our stockholders and other general business needs. We use significant cash to purchase our target assets, repay principal and interest on our borrowings, make distributions to our investors and fund our operations. Our primary sources of cash generally consist of payments of principal and interest we receive on our portfolio of investments, cash generated from our operating results and unused borrowing capacity under our financing sources. We deploy moderate amounts of leverage as part of our operating strategy and use a number of sources to finance our target assets, including our master repurchase agreement and the revolving credit facility. We may use other sources to finance our target assets, including bank financing and arranged financing facilities with domestic or international financing providers. In addition, we may divide the loans we originate into senior and junior tranches and dispose of the more senior tranches as an additional means of providing financing to our business.

We may also issue additional equity, equity-related and debt securities to fund our investment strategies. We may issue these securities to unaffiliated third parties or to vehicles advised by affiliates of Terra Capital Partners or third parties.  As part of our capital raising transactions, we may grant to one or more of these vehicles certain control rights over our activities including rights to approve major decisions we take as part of our business. In order to qualify as a REIT, we must distribute to our stockholders, each calendar year, at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (including certain items of non-cash income), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain. These distribution requirements limit our ability to retain earnings and thereby replenish or increase capital for our business.

Our obligations under participation agreements totalling $19.5 million will mature in the next twelve months. We expect to use the proceeds from the repayment of the corresponding investments to repay the participation obligations. Additionally, we expect to fund approximately $72.3 million of the unfunded commitments to borrowers during the next twelve months. We expect to maintain sufficient cash on hand to fund such commitments through matching these commitments with principal repayments on outstanding loans as well as from proceeds from the unused portion of borrowing facilities.

On December 12, 2018, we entered into a master repurchase agreement that provides for advances of up to $150 million in the aggregate, which we expect to use to finance certain secured performing commercial real estate loans, including senior mortgage loans. Advances under the master repurchase agreement accrue interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of (i) the 30-day LIBOR and (ii) the applicable spread, which ranges from 2.25% to 3.00%, and have a maturity date of December 12, 2020. As of June 30, 2019, the weighted average interest rate on borrowings outstanding under the master repurchase agreement was approximately 4.8%, calculated using the 30-day LIBOR of 2.40% as of June 30, 2019. As of June 30, 2019, the amount remaining available under the repurchase agreement was $67.9 million.

On June 20, 2019, we entered into a credit agreement that provides for revolving credit loans of up to $35.0 million in the aggregate, which we expect to use solely for short term financing needed to bridge the timing of anticipated loans repayments and funding obligations. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility can be either prime rate loans or LIBOR rate loans and accrue interest at an annual rate of prime rate plus 1% or LIBOR plus 4% with a floor of 6%. The credit facility matures on June 20, 2020. As of June 30, 2019, the amount remaining available under the credit facility was $35.0 million.

Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

For the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, cash flows from operating activities decreased by $2.8 million, primarily due to the write off of interest receivable on the defaulted first mortgage loan and an increase in payment for deferred offering costs.

Cash Flows used in Investing Activities

2018 — For the year ended December 31, 2018, cash flows used in investing activities were $86.0 million, primarily related to loans made and purchases of other loans of $232.3 million, partially offset by proceeds from repayments of loans of $148.6 million. Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2018, we made payment for capital expenditure on the multi-tenant office building of $2.3 million.

2017 — For the year ended December 31, 2017, cash flows used in investing activities were $26.5 million, primarily related to loans made and purchases of other loans of $195.5 million, partially offset by proceeds from repayments of loans of $169.0 million.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

2018 — For the year ended December 31, 2018, cash flows from financial activities were $47.9 million, primarily related to proceeds from obligations under participation agreements of $74.9 million, proceeds from borrowings under a repurchase agreement of $34.2 million and proceeds from mortgage financing of $11.2 million, partially offset by distributions paid of $32.7 million, repayments on obligations under participation agreements of $36.8 million and payment for financing costs of $3.0 million.

2017 — For the year ended December 31, 2017, cash flows from financing activities were $2.1 million, primarily due to proceeds from obligations under participation agreements of $65.0 million, partially offset by distributions paid of $37.4 million, repayments on obligations under participation agreements of $22.0 million and a decrease in interest reserve and other deposits held on investment of $3.4 million. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we also received proceeds of $15.7 million from a mortgage loan financing which we repaid in the same period.

Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

For the six months ended in June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, cash flows from operating activities decreased by $3.0 million, primarily due to a decrease in net interest income as well as a decrease in prepayment fee income.

Cash Flows used in Investing Activities

2019 — For the six months ended June 30, 2019, cash flows used in investing activities were $15.4 million, primarily related to loans made and purchases of other loans of $85.3 million, partially offset by proceeds from repayments of loans of $70.1 million.

2018 — For the six months ended June 30, 2018, cash flows used in investing activities were $26.0 million, primarily related to loans made and purchases of other loans of $80.6 million, partially offset by proceeds from repayments of loans of $52.7 million and the receipt of a deposit for repayment of an investment of $1.9 million.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

2019 — For the six months ended June 30, 2019, cash flows from financial activities were $18.8 million, primarily related to proceeds from borrowings under a repurchase agreement of $47.9 million, proceeds from obligations under participation agreements of $9.2 million and an increase in interest reserve and other deposits held on investment of $2.3 million, partially offset by repayments on obligations under participation agreements of $24.9 million and distributions paid of $15.2 million.

2018 — For the six months ended June 30, 2018, cash flows from financing activities were $15.3 million, primarily due to an increase in interest reserve and other deposits held on investment of $21.3 million and proceeds from obligations under participation agreements of $18.8 million, partially offset by distributions paid of $16.8 million and repayments on obligations under participation agreements of $7.7 million.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Critical accounting policies are those that require the application of management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often because of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and that may change in subsequent periods. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management has utilized available information, including industry standards and the current economic environment, among other factors, in forming its estimates and judgments, giving due consideration to materiality. Actual results may differ from these estimates. In addition, other companies may utilize different estimates, which may impact the comparability of our results of operations to those of companies in similar businesses. As we execute our expected operating plans, we will describe additional critical accounting policies in the notes to our future consolidated financial statements in addition to those discussed below.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Our loans are typically collateralized by either the sponsors’ equity interest in the real estate properties or the underlying real estate properties. As a result, we regularly evaluate the extent and impact of any credit migration associated with the performance and/or value of the underlying collateral property as well as the financial and operating capability of the borrower/sponsor on a loan-by-loan basis. Specifically, a property’s operating results and any cash reserves are analyzed and used to assess (i) whether cash from operations and/or reserve balances are sufficient to cover the debt service requirements currently and into the future; (ii) the ability of the borrower to refinance the loan; and/or (iii) the property’ liquidation value. We also evaluate the financial wherewithal of the sponsor as well as its competency in managing and operating the real estate property. In addition, we consider the overall economic environment, real estate sector, and geographic submarket in which the borrower operates. Such analyses are completed and reviewed by asset management and finance personnel, who utilize various data sources, including (i) periodic financial data such as debt service coverage ratio, property occupancy, tenant profile, rental rates, operating expenses, the borrower’s exit plan, the capitalization and discount rates; (ii) site inspections; and (iii) current credit spreads and discussions with market participants.

Our Manager performs a quarterly evaluation for possible impairment of our portfolio of loans. A loan is impaired if it is deemed probable that we will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan. Impairment is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows or the fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral dependent. Upon measurement of impairment, we record an allowance to reduce the carrying value of the loan with a corresponding charge to net income.

In conjunction with the quarterly evaluation of loans not considered impaired, our Manager assesses the risk factors of each loan and assigns each loan a risk rating between 1 (very low risk) and 5 (highest risk), which is an average of the numerical ratings in the following categories: (i) sponsor capability and financial conditions; (ii) loan and collateral performance relative to underwriting; (iii) quality and stability of collateral cash flows and/or reserve balances; and (iv) loan to value. We record an allowance for loan losses equal to (i) 1.5% of the aggregate carrying amount of loans rated as a “4”, plus (ii) 5% of the aggregate carrying amount of loans rated as a “5”, plus (iii) impaired loan reserves, if any.

There may be circumstances where we modify a loan by granting the borrower a concession that we might not otherwise consider when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty or is expected to experience financial difficulty in the foreseeable future. Such concessionary modifications are classified as troubled debt restructurings, or TDRs, unless the modification solely results in a delay in a payment that is insignificant. Loans classified as TDRs are considered impaired loans for reporting and measurement purposes.

Income Taxes

We elected to be taxed as a REIT and to comply with the related provisions of the Code. Accordingly, we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on income and gains distributed to our stockholders as long as certain asset, income and share ownership tests are met. To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must annually distribute at least 90% of our net taxable income to our stockholders and meet certain other requirements. We may also be subject to certain state, local and franchise taxes. Under certain circumstances, U.S. federal income and excise taxes may be due on our undistributed taxable income. If we were to fail to meet these requirements, we would be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax, which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and amounts available for distributions to our stockholders. We believe that all of the criteria to maintain our REIT qualification have been met for the applicable period, but there can be no assurance that these criteria will continue to be met in subsequent periods.

We did not have any uncertain tax positions that met the recognition or measurement criteria of ASC 740-10-25, Income Taxes, nor did we have any unrecognized tax benefits as of the periods presented herein. We recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax liabilities as income tax expense in our combined consolidated statements of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we did not incur any interest or penalties.

Our inception-to-date tax return remains subject to examination and consequently, the taxability of the distributions and other tax positions taken by us may be subject to change. Distributions to stockholders generally will be taxable as ordinary income or may constitute a return of capital. We will furnish annually to each stockholder a statement setting forth distributions paid during the preceding year and their U.S. federal income tax treatment.

Management Agreement with Terra REIT Advisors

As part of the Axar Transaction, Terra Income Advisors assigned all of its rights, title and interest in and to its current external management agreement with our company to our Manager and immediately thereafter, we and our Manager amended and restated such management agreement. Such amended and restated management agreement has the same economic terms and is in all material respects otherwise on the same terms as the management agreement between Terra Income Advisors and our company in effect immediately prior to the Axar Transaction, except for the identity of our manager.

We currently pay the following fees to our Manager pursuant to a management agreement:

Origination Fee. An origination fee in the amount of 1.0% of the amount used to originate, acquire, fund, acquire or structure real estate-related loans, including any third-party expenses related to such loan.

Asset Management Fee. A monthly asset management fee at an annual rate equal to 1.0% of the aggregate funds under management, which includes the loan origination amount or aggregate gross acquisition cost, as applicable, for each real estate-related loan and cash held by our company.

Asset Servicing Fee. A monthly asset servicing fee at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of the aggregate gross origination price or aggregate gross acquisition price for each real estate related loan then held by our company (inclusive of closing costs and expenses).

Disposition Fee. A disposition fee in the amount of 1.0% of the gross sale price received by our company from the disposition of each loan, but not upon the maturity, prepayment, workout, modification or extension of a loan unless there is a corresponding fee paid by the borrower, in which case the disposition fee will be the lesser of (i) 1.0% of the principal amount of the loan and (ii) the amount of the fee paid by the borrower in connection with such transaction. If we take ownership of a property as a result of a workout or foreclosure of a loan, we will pay a disposition fee upon the sale of such property equal to 1.0% of the sales price. In the event that the term of any real estate-related loan is extended, our Manager also receives an origination fee equal to the lesser of (i) 1.0% of the principal amount of the loan being extended or (ii) the amount of fee paid by the borrower in connection with such extension. The origination fee is offset by the amount of any origination fee received by us from borrowers.

Transaction Breakup Fee. In the event that we receive any “breakup fees,” “busted-deal fees,” termination fees, or similar fees or liquidated damages from a third-party in connection with the termination or non-consummation of any loan or disposition transaction, our Manager will be entitled to receive one-half of such amounts, in addition to the reimbursement of all out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by our Manager with respect to its evaluation and pursuit of such transactions.

In addition to the fees described above, we reimburse our Manager for operating expenses incurred in connection with services provided to the operations of our company, including our company's allocable share of our Manager's overhead, such as rent, employee costs, utilities, and technology costs.

The following tables present a summary of fees paid and costs reimbursed to the predecessor to our Manager and our Manager in the aggregate in connection with providing services to us for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:

Participation Agreements

We have further diversified our exposure to loans and borrowers by entering into participation agreements whereby we transferred a portion of certain of our loans on a pari passu basis to related parties, primarily other affiliated funds managed by our Manager or its affiliates. We do not intend to enter into such participation agreements with third parties.

As of June 30, 2019, the principal balance of our participation obligations totaled $98.0 million, consisting of  $41.2 million in participation obligations to Terra Fund 6, $20.5 million in participation obligations to Fund 5 International, $19.4 million in participation obligations to Terra International and $16.9 million in participation obligations to Terra Property Trust 2.

Terra Fund 6, Fund 5 International, Terra International, Terra International 3, Terra International Fund 3 REIT and Terra Property Trust 2 are managed by our Manager and its affiliates. If we enter into participation agreements in the future, we generally expect to enter into such agreements only at the time of origination of the investment, except when we enter into participation agreements with certain international vehicles managed by our Manager, as such international vehicles intend to only invest in seasoned mortgages loan, and as a result, they will invest in such participation agreements not less than 90 days after origination of the loans, in which event the valuation of the investment and the participation interest are based upon an independent third party valuation. Our Manager may also experience conflicts in allocating investments as a result of differing compensation arrangements of the Manager and its affiliates and the other investment vehicles. Such participation agreements must be approved by a majority of our independent directors.

The loans that are subject to participation agreements are held in our name, but each of the participant’s rights and obligations, including with respect to interest income and other income (e.g., exit fee, prepayment income) and related fees/expenses (e.g., disposition fees, asset management and asset servicing fees), are based upon their respective pro rata participation interest in such participated investments, as specified in the respective participation agreements. We do not have direct liability to a participant with respect to the underlying loan and the participants’ share of the investments is repayable only from the proceeds received from the related borrower/issuer of the investments and, therefore, the participants also are subject to credit risk (i.e., risk of default by the underlying borrower/issuer).

Pursuant to the participation agreement with these entities, we receive and allocate the interest income and other related investment income to the participants based on their respective pro rata participation interest. The participants pay related expenses also based on their respective pro rata participation interest (i.e., asset management and asset servicing fees, disposition fees) directly to our Manager.

Other than for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our loan participations do not qualify for sale treatment. As such, the investments remain on our combined consolidated balance sheets and the proceeds are recorded as obligations under participation agreements. Similarly, interest earned on the entire loan balance is recorded within “Interest income” and the interest related to the participation interest is recorded within “Interest expense from obligations under participation agreements” in the combined consolidated statements of operations.

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the weighted average outstanding principal balance on obligations under participation agreements was approximately $95.3 million, and the weighted average interest rate was approximately 12.2%, compared to weighted average outstanding principal balance of approximately $79.4 million, and weighted average interest rate of approximately 12.7% for the same period in 2018.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the weighted average outstanding principal balance on obligations under participation agreements was approximately $85.5 million, and the weighted average interest rate was approximately 12.7%, compared to weighted average outstanding principal balance of approximately $61.5 million, and weighted average interest rate of approximately 12.4% for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Additionally, we have entered into a participation agreement with Terra Fund 6 to purchase a 25% participation interest, or $4.3 million, in a $17.0 million mezzanine loan. As of June 30, 2019, the unfunded commitment was $3.5 million.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Other than contractual commitments and other legal contingencies incurred in the normal course of our business, we do not have any off-balance sheet financings or liabilities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 outlines a new model for accounting by lessees, whereby their rights and obligations under substantially all leases, existing and new, would be capitalized and recorded on the balance sheet. For lessors, however, the accounting remains largely unchanged from the model under ASC 840, Leases (“ASC 840”), with the distinction between operating and financing leases retained, but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and the new revenue recognition standard. The new standard also replaces the sale-leaseback guidance under ASC 840 with a new model applicable to both lessees and lessors. Additionally, the new standard requires extensive quantitative and qualitative disclosures. ASU 2016-02 was effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective transition approach and chose not to adjust comparable periods.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 introduces a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on an estimate of current expected credit losses. In April 2019, the FSAB issued additional amendments to clarify the scope of ASU 2016-13 and address issues related to accrued interest receivable balances, recoveries, variable interest rates and prepayments, amount other things. This ASU and the additional amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this change will have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). The objective of ASU 2018-13 is to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to financial statements by facilitating clear communication of information required by U.S. GAAP. The amendments in ASU 2018-13 added, removed and modified certain fair value measurement disclosure requirements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of ASU 2018-13. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2018-13 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In August 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted a final rule that eliminates or amends disclosure requirements that have become duplicative, overlapping, or outdated in light of other SEC disclosure requirements, U.S. GAAP, or changes in the information environment (the “Final Rule”). The Final Rule is intended to simplify and update the disclosure of information to investors and reduce compliance burdens for companies, without significantly altering the total mix of information available to investors. Among other items, the Final Rule requires registrants to include in their interim financial statements a reconciliation of changes in net assets or stockholders’ equity in the notes or as a separate statement. The Final Rule was effective for all filings made on or after November 5, 2018; however, the SEC would not object if a filer’s first presentation of the changes in net assets or stockholders' equity was included in its Form 10-Q for the quarter that begins after the effective date of the Final Rule. We adopted the Final Rule in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. The adoption of the Final Rule did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

We may be subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. To the extent that we borrow money to make investments, our net investment income will be dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest these funds. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, which may reduce our net investment income. As a result, there can be no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income.

As of June 30, 2019, we had 12 investments with an aggregate principal balance of $217.8 million, net of obligations under participation agreements, that provide for interest income at an annual rate of LIBOR plus a spread, 11 of which are subject to a LIBOR floor. A decrease of 100 basis points in LIBOR would decrease our annual interest income, net of interest expense on participation agreements, by approximately $0.4 million, and an increase of 100 basis points in LIBOR would increase our annual interest income, net of interest expense on participation agreements, by approximately $1.9 million.

Additionally, we had $44.9 million of borrowings outstanding under a mortgage loan payable that bear interest at an annual rate of LIBOR plus 3.85% with a LIBOR floor of 2.23%, that is collateralized by an office building; and $82.1 million of borrowings outstanding under a repurchase agreement that bear interest at an annual rate of LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 2.25% to 2.50% with no LIBOR floor and collateralized by $125.8 million of first mortgages. A decrease of 100 basis points in LIBOR would decrease our total annual interest expense by approximately $0.9 million and an increase of 100 basis points in LIBOR would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $1.3 million.

On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is unclear if at that time whether or not LIBOR will cease to exist or if new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. In addition, in April 2018, the Federal Reserve System, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, announced the replacement of LIBOR with a new index, calculated by short-term repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities, called the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or the “SOFR.” At this time, it is not possible to predict whether SOFR will attain market traction as a LIBOR replacement. Additionally, the future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain. Potential changes, or uncertainty related to such potential changes, may adversely affect the market for LIBOR-based securities, including our portfolio of LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities, or the cost of its borrowings. In addition, changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR, which could have an adverse impact on the market for LIBOR-based securities, including the value of the LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities in our portfolio, or the cost of its borrowings. The potential effect of the phase-out or replacement of LIBOR on our cost of capital and net investment income cannot yet be determined.

We may hedge against interest rate fluctuations by using standard hedging instruments, such as futures, options and forward contracts, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. While hedging activities may insulate us against adverse changes in interest rates, they may also limit our ability to participate in benefits of lower interest rates with respect to our portfolio of investments with fixed interest rates. For the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, we did not engage in interest rate hedging activities.

Prepayment Risks

Prepayments can either positively or adversely affect the yields on our loans. Prepayments on debt instruments, where permitted under the debt documents, are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic and other factors beyond our control, and consequently, such prepayment rates cannot be predicted with certainty. If we do not collect a prepayment fee in connection with a prepayment or are unable to invest the proceeds of such prepayments received, the yield on the portfolio will decline. In addition, we may acquire assets at a discount or premium and if the asset does not repay when expected, the anticipated yield may be impacted. Under certain interest rate and prepayment scenarios we may fail to recoup fully our cost of acquisition of certain loans.

Extension Risk

Extension risk is the risk that our assets will be repaid at a slower rate than anticipated and generally increases when interest rates rise. In which case, to the extent we have financed the acquisition of an asset, we may have to finance our asset at potentially higher costs without the ability to reinvest principal into higher yielding securities because borrowers prepay their mortgages at a slower pace than originally expected, adversely impacting our net interest spread, and thus our net interest income.

Real Estate Risk

The market values of commercial and residential mortgage assets are subject to volatility and may be affected adversely by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, national, regional and local economic conditions (which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns and other factors); local real estate conditions; changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments; construction quality, age and design; demographic factors; and retroactive changes to building or similar codes. In addition, decreases in property values reduce the value of the collateral and the potential proceeds available to a borrower to repay the underlying loans, which could also cause us to suffer losses.

Credit Risk

We are subject to varying degrees of credit risk in connection with holding a portfolio of our target assets. With respect to our loan portfolio, we seek to manage credit risk by limiting exposure to any one individual borrower and any one asset class.

Additionally, our Manager employs an asset management approach and monitors the portfolio of investments, through, at a minimum, quarterly financial review of property performance including net operating income, loan-to-value, DSCR and the debt yield. Our Manager also requires certain borrowers to establish a cash reserve, as a form of additional collateral, for the purpose of providing for future interest or property-related operating payments

ITEM 3. PROPERTIES

Information related to the properties collateralizing our loans and operating real estate is set forth under "Item 1. Business—Our Loan Portfolio."

ITEM 4. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the expected ownership of shares of our common stock upon effectiveness of this registration statement by: