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Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies) | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
New Accounting Pronouncements | In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." The new standard provides a single comprehensive revenue recognition model for contracts with customers (excluding certain contracts, such as lease contracts) to improve comparability within industries. The new standard requires an entity to recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount the entity expects to be paid in exchange for those goods and services and provide enhanced disclosures, all to provide more comprehensive guidance for transactions such as service revenue and contract modifications. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of the new standard by one year, and it is now effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted but not before the original effective date. The new standard may be applied using either a full retrospective or a modified approach upon adoption. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial position. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities", which requires changes to the classification and measurement of investments in certain equity securities and to the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated results of operations and financial position. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 "Leases", which requires an entity that is a lessee to classify leases as either finance or operating and to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases that have a duration of greater than 12 months. Leases of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases today. For lessors, accounting for leases under the new standard will be substantially the same as existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases, and operating leases, but eliminates current real estate specific provisions and changes the treatment of initial direct costs. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The new standard must be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated results of operations and financial position. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07 "Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting", which eliminates the requirement to retroactively adjust an investment, results of operations, and retained earnings when the investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the impact of this amendment to be material on its consolidated results of operations or financial position. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09 "Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting", which amends certain aspects of how an entity accounts for share-based payments to employees. This amendment requires entities to recognize the income tax effects of share-based awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, rather than recording such effects in additional paid-in capital. Entities will also be permitted to elect to account for forfeitures of share-based payments as they occur or continue with the current practice which requires estimating the number of awards expected to be forfeited and adjusting the estimate when it is likely to change. The new standard will be effective January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The change in recognition of income tax effects of share-based awards will be applied prospectively. If the Company elects to account for forfeitures of share-based payments as they occur, such change will be applied using a modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to distributions in excess of accumulated earnings. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated results of operations and financial position. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02 "Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis," which provides new consolidation guidance and makes changes to both the variable interest model and the voting model. Among other changes, the new standard specifically eliminates the presumption in the current voting model that a general partner controls a limited partnership or similar entity unless that presumption can be overcome. The Company adopted ASU No. 2015-02 on January 1, 2016. Based on the Company’s evaluation of the new standard, it determined that no change was required to its accounting for variable interest entities (“VIEs”). However, under the guidance of ASU No. 2015-02, 9 previously consolidated co-investments now meet the definition of a VIE and requires additional disclosure about these VIEs which the Company continues to consolidate as they were determined to be the primary beneficiary.
Marketable Securities | The Company reports its available for sale securities at fair value, based on quoted market prices (Level 1 for the common stock and investment funds and Level 2 for the unsecured bonds, as defined by the FASB standard for fair value measurements), and any unrealized gain or loss is recorded as other comprehensive income (loss). Realized gains and losses, interest income, and amortization of purchase discounts are included in interest and other income on the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.
Variable Interest Entities | The Company continues to be the primary beneficiary and consolidates the Operating Partnership and 19 DownREIT limited partnerships (comprising eleven communities). Commencing on January 1, 2016, 9 other consolidated co-investments were determined to be VIEs and the Company continues to consolidate those co-investments as the Company was determined to be the primary beneficiary. The consolidated total assets and liabilities related to the 9 consolidated co-investments and 19 DownREIT limited partnerships, net of intercompany eliminations, were approximately $901.3 million and $229.5 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2016 and $893.1 million and $231.8 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2015. Noncontrolling interests in these entities was $53.3 million and $54.6 million as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company's financial risk in each VIE is limited to its equity investment in the VIE. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any other VIEs of which it was deemed to be the primary beneficiary and did not have any VIEs of which it was not deemed to be the primary beneficiary.
Equity-based Compensation | The cost of share and unit based compensation awards is measured at the grant date based on the estimated fair value of the awards. The estimated fair value of stock options and restricted stock granted by the Company are being amortized over the vesting period. The estimated grant date fair values of the long term incentive plan units (discussed in Note 13, “Equity Based Compensation Plans,” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015) are being amortized over the expected service periods.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Management believes that the carrying amounts of the outstanding balances under its lines of credit, and notes and other receivables approximate fair value as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, because interest rates, yields, and other terms for these instruments are consistent with yields and other terms currently available for similar instruments. Management has estimated that the fair value of the Company’s $5.1 billion of fixed rate debt, including unsecured debt, at June 30, 2016 is approximately $5.3 billion and the Company’s variable rate debt at June 30, 2016 approximates its fair value based on the terms of existing mortgage notes payable, unsecured debt, and variable rate demand notes compared to those available in the marketplace. Management believes that the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, construction payables, other liabilities, and dividends payable approximate fair value as of June 30, 2016 due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. Marketable securities, except mortgage backed securities that are held to maturity, and derivatives are carried at fair value as of June 30, 2016. At June 30, 2016, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities had a carrying value of $87.6 million and the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately $115.4 million. At December 31, 2015, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities had a carrying value of $80.4 million and the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately $110.2 million. The Company determines the fair value of the mortgage backed securities based on unobservable inputs (level 3 of the fair value hierarchy) considering the assumptions that market participants would make in valuing these securities. Assumptions such as estimated default rates and discount rates are used to determine expected discounted cash flows to estimate the fair value.
Capitalization of Costs | The Company’s capitalized internal costs related to development and redevelopment projects were comprised primarily of employee compensation and totaled $3.6 million and $3.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $6.8 million and $5.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company capitalizes leasing commissions associated with the lease-up of development communities and amortizes the costs over the life of the leases. The amounts capitalized for leasing commissions are immaterial for all periods presented.
Co-investments | The Company owns investments in joint ventures (“co-investments”) in which it has significant influence, but its ownership interest does not meet the criteria for consolidation in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Therefore, the Company accounts for co-investments using the equity method of accounting. The equity method employs the accrual basis for recognizing the investor’s share of investee income or losses. In addition, distributions received from the investee are treated as a reduction in the investment account, not as income. The significant accounting policies of the Company’s co-investment entities are consistent with those of the Company in all material respects. Upon the acquisition of a controlling interest of a co-investment, the co-investment entity is consolidated and a gain or loss is recognized upon the remeasurement of co-investments in the condensed consolidated statement of income equal to the amount by which the fair value of the co-investment interest the Company previously owned exceeds its carrying value. A majority of the co-investments, excluding the preferred equity investments, compensate the Company for its asset management services and some of these investments may provide promote income if certain financial return benchmarks are achieved. Asset management fees are recognized when earned, and promote fees are recognized when the earnings events have occurred and the amount is determinable and collectible. Any promote fees are reflected in equity income from co-investments.
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss in connection with derivatives are recorded in interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses on available for sale securities are included in interest and other income on the condensed consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income.
Accounting Estimates | The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements, in accordance with GAAP, requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to acquiring, developing, and assessing the carrying values of its real estate portfolio, its investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates, its notes receivables, and its qualification as a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”). The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current market conditions, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may vary from those estimates and those estimates could be different under different assumptions or conditions.

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