12. Commitments and Contingencies

Origination, Modification Fees and other

Loan origination, modification and other fees generally range from 1%-3% of the original loan principal or the modified loan balance and, generally, are payable at the time the loan is funded or modified. The unamortized portion is recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet. At December 31, 2022, deferred revenue was $4,360,452, which will be recorded as income as follows:

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In instances in which mortgages are repaid before their maturity date, the balance of any unamortized deferred revenue is generally recognized in full at the time of repayment. If the borrower is entitled to a partial refund of the origination fee collected in connection with a prepaid loan, the Company credits the refundable portion against the balance due on the loan. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, approximately $-0- and $930 of origination fees were refunded in connection with prepaid loans, respectively.

Employment Agreements

In February 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement with John Villano, the material terms of which are as follows: (i) the employment term is five years with extensions for successive one-year periods unless either party provides written notice at least 180 days prior to the next anniversary date of its intention to not renew the agreement; (ii) a base salary of $260,000,

which was increased in April 2018, April 2021 and April 2022 to $360,000, $500,000 and $750,000, respectively; (iii) incentive compensation in such amount as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors; (iv) participation in the Company’s employee benefit plans; (v) full indemnification to the extent permitted by law; (vi) a two-year non-competition period following the termination of employment without cause; and (vii) payments upon termination of employment or a change in control. In April 2021, the Company granted 89,928 restricted common shares (having a market value of approximately $500,000) to Mr. Villano. One-third of such shares vested on each of January 1, 2022 and 2023, and the remaining one-third will vest on January 1, 2024. In April 2022, the Company granted 98,425 restricted common shares (having a market value of approximately $500,000) to Mr. Villano. One-third of such shares vested on January 1, 2023, and an additional one-third will vest on each of January 1, 2024 and 2025. In February 2023, the Company granted 130,890 restricted common shares (having a market value of approximately $500,000) to Mr. Villano. One-third of such shares will vest on each of January 1, 2024, 2025 and 2026. As of December 31, 2022, there were 158,377 restricted common shares that remain unvested.

In July 2022, the Company entered into an employment agreement with John E. Warch, the material terms of which are as follows: (i) the employment term commenced on August 1, 2022 and will continue until terminated by either party; (ii) a base salary of $325,000; (iii) incentive compensation in such amount as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors; (iv) participation in the Company’s employee benefit plans; (v) full indemnification to the extent permitted by law; and (vi) payments upon termination of employment or a change in control. In February 2023, the Company granted 8,000 restricted common shares (having a market value of approximately $30,000) to Mr. Warch. One-third of such shares vested on February 9, 2023, and an additional one-third will vest on each of Febuary 9, 2024 and 2025.

Unfunded Commitments

At December 31, 2022, the Company had future funding obligations totaling $114,556,794, which can be drawn by the borrowers when the conditions relating thereto have been satisfied. The unfunded commitments will be will be funded from loan payoffs and additional drawdowns under existing and future credit facilities and proceeds from sale of debt and equity securities.

Other

In the normal course of its business, the Company is named as a party-defendant because it is a mortgagee having interests in real properties that are being foreclosed upon, primarily resulting from unpaid property taxes. The Company actively monitors these actions and, in all cases, believes there remains sufficient value in the subject property to assure that no loan impairment exists. At December 31, 2022, there was one such property. The unpaid principal balance on the property that is subject to this proceeding was approximately $105,000.