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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). ASU 2020-04 contains practical expedients for reference rate

reform related activities that impact debt, leases, derivatives and other contracts. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness for future LIBOR-indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. In September 2022, we amended our unsecured term loan and its related interest rate swap agreements to change the interest rate benchmark from London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). The Company applied the practical expedients in the ASU related to the cash flow hedges, which did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. (See Note 7, Secured and Unsecured Debt, Net for further discussion.)

The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur. The ASU has not had a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and the Company does not expect the ASU to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements on a prospective basis.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The Company accounts for subsidiary partnerships, joint ventures and other similar entities in which it holds an ownership interest in accordance with the consolidation guidance. The Company first evaluates whether each entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Under the VIE model, the Company consolidates an entity when it has control to direct the activities of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Under the voting model, the Company consolidates an entity when it controls the entity through ownership of a majority voting interest.

Real Estate Sales Gain Recognition

Real Estate Sales Gain Recognition

For sale transactions resulting in a transfer of a controlling financial interest of a property, the Company generally derecognizes the related assets and liabilities from its Consolidated Balance Sheets and records the gain or loss in the period in which the transfer of control occurs. If control of the property has not transferred to the counterparty, the criteria for derecognition are not met and the Company will continue to recognize the related assets and liabilities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Sale transactions to entities in which the Company sells a controlling financial interest in a property but retains a noncontrolling interest are accounted for as partial sales. Partial sales resulting in a change in control are accounted for at fair value and a full gain or loss is recognized. Therefore, the Company will record a gain or loss on the partial interest sold, and the initial measurement of our retained interest will be accounted for at fair value.

Sales of real estate to joint ventures or other noncontrolled investees are also accounted for at fair value and the Company will record a full gain or loss in the period the property is contributed.

To the extent that the Company acquires a controlling financial interest in a property that it previously accounted for as an equity method investment, the Company will not remeasure its previously held interest if the acquisition is treated as an asset acquisition. The Company will include the carrying amount of its previously held equity method interest along with the consideration paid and transaction costs incurred in determining the amounts to allocate to the related assets and liabilities acquired on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. When treated as an asset acquisition, the Company will not recognize a gain or loss on consolidation of a property.

Allowance for Credit Losses

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company accounts for allowance for credit losses under the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) impairment model for its financial assets, including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other financial instruments, and presents the net amount of the financial instrument expected to be collected. The CECL impairment model excludes operating lease receivables. The CECL impairment model requires an estimate of expected credit losses, measured over the contractual life of an instrument, that considers forecasts of future economic

conditions in addition to information about past events and current conditions. Based on this model, we analyze the following criteria, as applicable in developing allowances for credit losses: historical loss information, the borrower’s ability to make scheduled payments, the remaining time to maturity, the value of underlying collateral, projected future performance of the borrower and macroeconomic trends.

The Company measures credit losses of financial assets on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. If the Company determines that a financial asset does not share risk characteristics with the Company’s other financial assets, the Company evaluates the financial asset for expected credit losses on an individual basis. Allowance for credit losses are recorded as a direct reduction from an asset’s amortized cost basis. Credit losses and recoveries are recorded in Interest income and other income/(expense), net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Recoveries of financial assets previously written off are recorded when received. For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded net credit recoveries/(losses) of less than $(0.1) million and $0.6 million, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded net credit recoveries/(losses) of $(0.1) million and $0.6 million, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company has made the optional election provided by the standard not to measure allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivables as the Company writes off any uncollectible accrued interest receivables in a timely manner. The Company periodically evaluates the collectability of its accrued interest receivables. A write-off is recorded when the Company concludes that all or a portion of its accrued interest receivable balance is no longer collectible.

Notes Receivable

Notes Receivable

Notes receivable relate to financing arrangements which are typically secured by assets of the borrower that may include real estate assets. Certain of the loans we extend may include characteristics such as options to purchase the project within a specific time window following expected project completion. These characteristics can cause the loans to fall under the definition of a VIE, and thus trigger consolidation consideration. We consider the facts and circumstances pertinent to each loan, including the relative amount of financing we are contributing to the overall project cost, decision making rights or control we hold, and our rights to expected residual gains or our obligations to absorb expected residual losses from the project. If we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE due to holding a controlling financial interest, the majority of decision making control, or by other means, consolidation of the VIE would be required. The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of the borrowing entities of the existing loans.

Additionally, we analyze each loan arrangement that involves real estate development to consider whether the loan qualifies for accounting as a loan or as an investment in a real estate development project. The Company has evaluated its real estate loans, where appropriate, for accounting treatment as loans versus real estate development projects, as required by ASC 310-10. For each loan, the Company has concluded that the characteristics and the facts and circumstances indicate that loan accounting treatment is appropriate.

The following table summarizes our Notes receivable, net as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):

Interest rate at

Balance Outstanding

    

September 30, 

    

September 30, 

    

December 31, 

2022

2022

2021

Note due May 2022 (a)

N/A

$

$

2,760

Note due December 2023 (b)

10.00

%  

29,018

24,235

Note due December 2026 (c)

11.00

%  

9,812

Note due December 2026 (d)

11.00

%  

Note due June 2027 (e)

18.00

%  

1,500

Notes Receivable

40,330

26,995

Allowance for credit losses

(202)

(135)

Total notes receivable, net

 

  

$

40,128

$

26,860

(a)The Company previously had a secured note with an unaffiliated third party with an aggregate commitment of $2.8 million. The note was secured by a parcel of land located in Kissimmee, Florida. In March 2022, the unaffiliated third party repaid the $2.8 million secured note in full.
(b)The Company has a secured note with an unaffiliated third party with an aggregate commitment of $31.4 million. During 2022, the terms of this secured note were amended to increase the aggregate commitment from $25.4 million to $31.4 million and to extend the maturity date to December 2023. Interest payments are due monthly, with the exception of payments from June 2022 to December 2023, which will accrue and be due at maturity of the note. The note is secured by substantially all of the borrower’s assets and matures at the earliest of the following: (a) the closing of any private or public capital raising in the amount of $5.0 million or greater; (b) an acquisition; (c) acceleration in the event of default; or (d) December 2023.
(c)In June 2022, the Company entered into a secured mezzanine loan with a third party developer of a 482 apartment home community located in Riverside, California, which is expected to be completed in 2025, with an aggregate commitment of $59.7 million, of which $9.8 million was funded during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Interest payments accrue for 36 months and are due monthly after the loan has been outstanding for 36 months. The secured mezzanine loan has a scheduled maturity date in December 2026, with two one-year extension options.
(d)In June 2022, the Company entered into a secured mezzanine loan with a third party developer of a 237 apartment home community located in Menifee, California, which is expected to be completed in 2025, with an aggregate commitment of $24.4 million, none of which was funded during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Interest payments accrue for 36 months and are due monthly after the loan has been outstanding for 36 months. The secured mezzanine loan has a scheduled maturity date in December 2026, with two one-year extension options.
(e)In June 2022, the Company and a syndicate of lenders entered into a $16.0 million secured credit facility with an unaffiliated third party. The Company’s share of the facility was $1.5 million, all of which was funded during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Interest payments will accrue and be due at maturity of the facility. The facility is secured by substantially all of the borrower’s assets and matures at the earliest of the following: (a) acceleration in the event of default; or (b) June 2027.

The Company recognized $1.0 million and $0.7 million of interest income for the notes receivable described above during the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $2.4 million and $4.6 million of interest income for the notes receivable described above during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, none of which was related party interest. Interest income is included in Interest income and other income/(expense), net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

Comprehensive income/(loss), which is defined as the change in equity during each period from transactions and other events and circumstances from nonowner sources, including all changes in equity during a period except for those resulting from investments by or distributions to stockholders, is displayed in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss). For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s other comprehensive income/(loss) consisted of the gain/(loss) on derivative instruments that are designated as and qualify as cash flow hedges, (gain)/loss on derivative instruments reclassified from other comprehensive income/(loss) into earnings, and the allocation of other comprehensive income/(loss) to noncontrolling interests. The (gain)/loss on derivative instruments reclassified from other comprehensive income/(loss) is included in Interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 11, Derivatives and Hedging Activity, for further discussion. The allocation of other comprehensive income/(loss) to redeemable noncontrolling interests during the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, $0.9 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Due to the structure of the Company as a REIT and the nature of the operations for the operating properties, no provision for federal income taxes has been provided for at UDR. Historically, the Company has generally incurred only state and local excise and franchise taxes. UDR has elected for certain consolidated subsidiaries to be treated as taxable

REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”).

Income taxes for our TRS are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rate is recognized in earnings in the period of the enactment date. The Company’s deferred tax assets/(liabilities) are generally the result of differing depreciable lives on capitalized assets, temporary differences between book and tax basis of assets and liabilities and timing of expense recognition for certain accrued liabilities. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, UDR’s net deferred tax asset/(liability) was ($0.8) million and ($0.8) million, respectively, and are recorded in Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

GAAP defines a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. GAAP also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods, disclosure and transition.

The Company recognizes and evaluates its tax positions using a two-step process. First, UDR determines whether a tax position is more likely than not (greater than 50 percent probability) to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Second, the Company will determine the amount of benefit to recognize and record the amount that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement.

The Company invests in assets that qualify for federal investment tax credits (“ITC”) through our TRS. An ITC reduces federal income taxes payable when qualifying depreciable property is acquired. The ITC is determined as a percentage of cost of the assets. The Company accounts for ITCs under the deferral method, under which the tax benefit from the ITC is deferred and amortized as a tax benefit into Tax (provision)/benefit, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the book life of the qualifying depreciable property. The ITCs are recorded in Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

UDR had no material unrecognized tax benefit, accrued interest or penalties at September 30, 2022. UDR and its subsidiaries are subject to federal income tax as well as income tax of various state and local jurisdictions. The tax years 2019 through 2021 remain open to examination by tax jurisdictions to which we are subject. When applicable, UDR recognizes interest and/or penalties related to uncertain tax positions in Tax (provision)/benefit, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Forward Sales Agreements

Forward Sales Agreements

From time to time the Company utilizes forward sales agreements for the future issuance of its common stock. When the Company enters into a forward sales agreement, the contract requires the Company to sell its shares to a counterparty at a predetermined price at a future date. The net sales price and proceeds attained by the Company will be determined on the dates of settlement, with adjustments during the term of the contract for the Company’s anticipated dividends as well as for a daily interest factor that varies with changes in the federal funds rate. The Company generally has the ability to determine the dates and method of settlement (i.e., gross physical settlement, net share settlement or cash settlement), subject to certain conditions and the right of the counterparty to accelerate settlement under certain circumstances.

The Company accounts for the shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon settlement as equity in accordance with ASC 815-40, Contracts in Entity's Own Equity, which permits equity classification when a contract is considered indexed to the entity’s own stock and the contract requires or permits the issuing entity to settle the contract in shares (either physically or net in shares).

The guidance establishes a two-step process for evaluating whether an equity-linked financial instrument is considered indexed to the entity’s own stock, first, evaluating the instrument’s contingent exercise provisions and second, evaluating the instrument’s settlement provisions. When entering into forward sales agreements, we determined

that (i) none of the agreement’s exercise contingencies are based on observable markets or indices besides those related to the market for our own stock price; and (ii) none of the settlement provisions preclude the agreements from being indexed to our own stock.

Before the issuance of shares of common stock, upon physical or net share settlement of the forward sales agreements, the Company expects that the shares issuable upon settlement of the forward sales agreements will be reflected in its diluted income/(loss) per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this method, the number of shares of common stock used in calculating diluted income/(loss) per share is deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares of common stock that would be issued upon full physical settlement of the forward sales agreements over the number of shares of common stock that could be purchased by the Company in the open market (based on the average market price during the period) using the proceeds receivable upon full physical settlement (based on the adjusted forward sale price at the end of the reporting period). When the Company physically or net share settles any forward sales agreement, the delivery of shares of common stock would result in an increase in the number of weighted average common shares outstanding and dilution to basic income/(loss) per share. (See Note 8, Income/(Loss) per Share for further discussion.)

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

We continue to monitor the status and respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business. While the pandemic and related government measures adversely impacted our business in certain prior periods, the extent of the impact generally has decreased. Future developments regarding COVID-19, however, continue to be uncertain and difficult to predict. There can be no assurances that closures or restrictions in response to COVID-19, including due to new variants, will not be imposed in the future or that other developments related to COVID-19 will not adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in future periods.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company performed an analysis in accordance with the ASC 842, Leases, guidance to assess the collectibility of its operating lease receivables in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis included an assessment of collectibility of current and future rents and whether those lease payments were no longer probable of collection. In accordance with the leases guidance, if lease payments are no longer deemed to be probable over the life of the lease contract, we recognize revenue only when cash is received, and all existing contractual operating lease receivables and straight-line lease receivables are reserved.

As a result of its analysis, the Company decreased its reserve by approximately $1.1 million for multifamily tenant lease receivables and approximately $0.9 million for retail tenant lease receivables for its wholly-owned communities and communities held by joint ventures for the three months ended September 30, 2022. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company reduced its reserve by approximately $1.5 million for multifamily tenant lease receivables and approximately $1.9 million for retail tenant lease receivables for its wholly-owned communities and communities held by joint ventures. In aggregate, the reduction in reserve is reflected as a $3.1 million increase to Rental income and a $0.4 million increase to Income/(loss) from unconsolidated entities on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The impact to deferred leasing commissions was not material for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.

The Company did not recognize any other adjustments to the carrying amounts of assets or asset impairment charges due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.