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Organization and Basis of Presentation | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Organization and Basis of Presentation | Organization and Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements present the accounts of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (“Essex” or the “Company”), which include the accounts of the Company and Essex Portfolio, L.P. and its subsidiaries (the “Operating Partnership,” which holds the operating assets of the Company), prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented have been included and are normal and recurring in nature. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the current year’s presentation. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 include the accounts of the Company and the Operating Partnership. Essex is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, with a 96.7% general partnership interest as of both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Total Operating Partnership limited partnership units ("OP Units") outstanding were 2,251,112 and 2,237,290 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and the redemption value of the units, based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock totaled $571.8 million and $520.2 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, the Company owned or had ownership interests in 247 stabilized apartment communities, aggregating 60,305 apartment homes, excluding the Company’s ownership in preferred interest co-investments (collectively, the “Communities”, and individually, a “Community”), one operating commercial building and seven active developments (collectively, the “Portfolio”). The Communities are located in Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Ventura counties), Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area) and the Seattle metropolitan areas. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 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. The new standard may be applied using either a full retrospective or a modified approach upon adoption. The Company does not expect to early adopt and expects to adopt using the modified approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new standard will have on its recording of revenue related to its revenue streams and related disclosures. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this new standard will have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or 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 does not expect that this amendment will have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or 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 June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 "Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments", which amends the current approach to estimate credit losses on certain financial assets, including trade and other receivables, available-for-sale securities, and other financial instruments. Generally, this amendment requires entities to establish a valuation allowance for the expected lifetime losses of these certain financial assets. Subsequent changes in the valuation allowance are recorded in current earnings and reversal of previous losses are permitted. Currently, U.S. GAAP requires entities to write down credit losses only when losses are probable and loss reversals are not permitted. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020 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 August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 "Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments", which requires entities to adhere to a uniform classification and presentation of certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update provide guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018 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 November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18 "Statement of Cash Flows", which requires entities to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the reconciliation of beginning-of-period to the end-of-period of cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. This new standard seeks to eliminate the current diversity in practice in how changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents is presented in the statement of cash flows. This new standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 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 January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01 "Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business", which provides a new framework for determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. Currently, U.S. GAAP does not specify the minimum inputs and processes required for an integrated set of assets and activities to meet the definition of a business, causing a broad interpretation of the definition of a business. This new standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company expects that substantially all of its acquisitions of communities will qualify as asset acquisitions and transaction costs related to these acquisitions will be capitalized upon adoption. In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05 "Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets", which adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinanical assets, including partial sales of real estate. Historically, U.S. GAAP contained several different accounting models to evaluate whether the transfer of certain assets qualified for sale treatment. This new standard reduces the number of potential accounting models that might apply and clarifies which model does apply in various circumstances. Partial sales of nonfinancial assets are common in the real estate industry and include transactions in which the seller retains an equity interest in the entity that owns the assets or has an equity interest in the buyer. This new standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt this new standard concurrently with the adoption of ASU 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" and is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated results of operations and financial position. In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12 "Derivatives and Hedging - Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities", which, among other things, requires entities to present the earnings effect of hedging instruments in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported. The new standard also adds new disclosure requirements. This new standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated results of operations and financial position. 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, Level 2 for the unsecured bonds and Level 3 for investments in mortgage backed securities, as defined by the FASB standard for fair value measurements), and any unrealized gain or loss is recorded as other comprehensive income. 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. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, marketable securities consisted primarily of investment-grade unsecured bonds, common stock, investments in mortgage backed securities, and investment funds that invest in U.S. treasury or agency securities. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company classified its investments in mortgage backed securities, which mature in November 2019 and September 2020, as held to maturity, and accordingly, these securities are stated at their amortized cost. The discount on the mortgage backed securities is being amortized to interest income based on an estimated yield and the maturity date of the securities. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, marketable securities consist of the following ($ in thousands):
| September 30, 2017
| Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Gain (Loss) |  | Carrying Value
Available for sale: |  |  |  |  |
Investment-grade unsecured bonds | $ | 4,450 |  |  | $ | (14 | ) |  | $ | 4,436 |
Investment funds - debt securities | 28,067 |  |  | 146 |  |  | 28,213 |
Investment funds - U.S. treasuries | 10,910 |  |  | (29 | ) |  | 10,881 |
Common stock and stock funds | 33,816 |  |  | 1,687 |  |  | 35,503 |
Held to maturity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage backed securities | 105,541 |  |  | — |  |  | 105,541 |
Total - Marketable securities | $ | 182,784 |  |  | $ | 1,790 |  |  | $ | 184,574 |
| December 31, 2016
| Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Gain (Loss) |  | Carrying Value
Available for sale: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment funds - debt securities | $ | 19,604 |  |  | $ | (73 | ) |  | $ | 19,531 |
Investment funds - U.S. treasuries | 10,022 |  |  | (22 | ) |  | 10,000 |
Common stock and stock funds | 13,696 |  |  | 1,569 |  |  | 15,265 |
Held to maturity: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage backed securities | 94,393 |  |  | — |  |  | 94,393 |
Total - Marketable securities | $ | 137,715 |  |  | $ | 1,474 |  |  | $ | 139,189 |
The Company uses the specific identification method to determine the cost basis of a security sold and to reclassify amounts from accumulated other comprehensive income for securities sold. For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the proceeds from sales and maturities of available for sale securities totaled $4.6 million and $3.5 million, respectively, which resulted in $32,000 realized gains and $1.0 million realized gains, respectively, for such periods. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the proceeds from sales and maturities of available for sale securities totaled $33.4 million and $14.7 million, respectively, which resulted in $1.7 million realized gains and $2.9 million realized gains, respectively, for such periods. Variable Interest Entities In accordance with accounting standards for consolidation of variable interest entities ("VIEs"), the Company consolidates the Operating Partnership, 16 DownREIT limited partnerships (comprising eight Communities), and eight co-investments as of September 30, 2017. The Company consolidates these entities because it is deemed the primary beneficiary. The Company has no assets or liabilities other than its investment in the Operating Partnership. The consolidated total assets and liabilities related to the eight consolidated co-investments and 16 DownREIT limited partnerships, net of intercompany eliminations, were approximately $842.7 million and $278.7 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2017 and $746.1 million and $221.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2016. Noncontrolling interests in these entities were $66.1 million and $45.4 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company's financial risk in each VIE is limited to its equity investment in the VIE. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, 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 12, “Equity Based Compensation Plans,” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016) 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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, 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 $5.0 billion of fixed rate debt, including unsecured debt, at both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, was approximately $5.1 billion. The Company’s variable rate debt at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. Marketable securities, except mortgage backed securities, and derivatives are carried at fair value as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. At September 30, 2017, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities had a carrying value of $105.5 million and the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately $117.6 million. At December 31, 2016, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities had a carrying value of $94.4 million and the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately $108.8 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 $4.9 million and $4.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $15.0 million and $14.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, 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. Under the equity method of accounting, the investment is carried at the cost of assets contributed, plus the Company's equity in earnings less distributions received and the Company's share of losses. 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 and comprehensive 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. The Company reports investments in co-investments where accumulated distributions have exceeded the Company’s investment as distributions in excess of investments in co-investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The net investment of one of the Company’s co-investments is less than zero as a result of financing distributions in excess of the Company's investment in that co-investment. Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net by Component Essex Property Trust, Inc. ($ in thousands)
| Change in fair value and amortization of swap settlements |  | Unrealized gains/(losses) on available for sale securities |  | Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | (32,963 | ) |  | $ | 865 |  |  | $ | (32,098 | )
Other comprehensive income before reclassification | 13,512 |  |  | 1,902 |  |  | 15,414 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | (6,352 | ) |  | (1,596 | ) |  | (7,948 | )
Other comprehensive income | 7,160 |  |  | 306 |  |  | 7,466 |
Balance at September 30, 2017 | $ | (25,803 | ) |  | $ | 1,171 |  |  | $ | (24,632 | )
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, by Component Essex Portfolio, L.P. ($ in thousands):
| Change in fair value and amortization of swap settlements |  | Unrealized gains/(losses) on available for sale securities |  | Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | (30,161 | ) |  | $ | 813 |  |  | $ | (29,348 | )
Other comprehensive income before reclassification | 13,974 |  |  | 1,966 |  |  | 15,940 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | (6,569 | ) |  | (1,650 | ) |  | (8,219 | )
Other comprehensive income | 7,405 |  |  | 316 |  |  | 7,721 |
Balance at September 30, 2017 | $ | (22,756 | ) |  | $ | 1,129 |  |  | $ | (21,627 | )
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. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest The carrying value of redeemable noncontrolling interest in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets was $40.0 million and $44.7 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The limited partners may redeem their noncontrolling interests for cash in certain circumstances. The changes to the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 is as follows ($ in thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | 44,684 |
Reclassification due to change in redemption value and other | 903 |
Redemptions | (5,543 | )
Balance at September 30, 2017 | $ | 40,044 |
Accounting Estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements, in accordance with U.S. 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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