Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements of Agree Realty Corporation include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company controlled, as the sole general partner, 98.7% and 98.3% of the Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2016 and 2015. All material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of (1) assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and (2) revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made in the consolidated financial statements and footnotes in order to conform to the current presentation. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2015-03, unamortized debt issuance cost is presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability; in previously filed reports the unamortized debt issuance cost was classified on the Balance Sheet as an Unamortized Deferred Expense. Also, prepaid rents are presented on the Balance Sheet as Deferred Revenue; in previously filed reports it was presented in Accounts Payable-Operating.

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segment Reporting

The Company is primarily in the business of acquiring, developing and managing retail real estate which is considered to be one reporting segment. The Company has no other reportable segments.

Real Estate, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Real Estate Investments

The Company records the acquisition of real estate at cost, including acquisition and closing costs. For properties developed by the Company, all direct and indirect costs related to planning, development and construction, including interest, real estate taxes and other miscellaneous costs incurred during the construction period, are capitalized for financial reporting purposes and recorded as property under development until construction has been completed. Properties classified as “held for sale” are recorded at the lower of their carrying value or their fair value, less anticipated selling costs.

Purchase Accounting For Acquisitions Of Real Estate [Policy Text Block]

Accounting for Acquisitions of Real Estate

The acquisition of property for investment purposes is typically accounted for as an asset acquisition. The Company allocates the purchase price to land, building and identified intangible assets and liabilities, based in each case on their relative estimated fair values and without giving rise to goodwill. Intangible assets and liabilities represent the value of in-place leases and above- or below-market leases. In making estimates of fair values, the Company may use a number of sources, including data provided by independent third parties, as well as information obtained by the Company as a result our due diligence, including expected future cash flows of the property and various characteristics of the markets where the property is located.

In allocating the fair value of the identified intangible assets and liabilities of an acquired property, in-place lease intangibles are valued based on the Company’s estimates of costs related to tenant acquisition and the carrying costs that would be incurred during the time it would take to locate a tenant if the property were vacant, considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases at the time of the acquisition. Above and below market lease intangibles are recorded based on the present value of the difference between the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the leases at the time of acquisition of the real estate and the Company’s estimate of current market lease rates for the property, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease.

The fair value of identified intangible assets and liabilities acquired is amortized to depreciation and amortization over the remaining term of the related leases.

Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization [Policy Text Block]

Depreciation

The Company’s real estate portfolio is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated remaining useful life of the properties, which generally ranges from 30 to 40 years for buildings and 10 to 20 years for improvements. Properties classified as “held for sale” are not depreciated.

Impairment of Real Estate Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairments

The Company reviews its real estate investments periodically for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that may occur include, but are not limited to, significant changes in real estate market conditions or our ability to re-lease or sell properties that are vacant or become vacant. Management determines whether an impairment in value has occurred by comparing the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), including the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying cost of the individual asset. An asset is considered impaired if its carrying value exceeds its estimated undiscounted cash flows and an impairment charge is recorded in the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less from the date purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and money market accounts. The account balances periodically exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage, and as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurance coverage. The Company had $32.4 million and $1.7 million in cash as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, in excess of the FDIC insured limit.

Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable – Tenants

The Company reviews its rent receivables for collectability on a regular basis, taking into consideration changes in factors such as the tenant’s payment history, the financial condition of the tenant, business conditions in the industry in which the tenant operates and economic conditions in the area where the property is located. In the event that the collectability of a receivable with respect to any tenant is in doubt, a provision for uncollectible amounts will be established or a direct write-off of the specific rent receivable will be made. For accrued rental revenues related to the straight-line method of reporting rental revenue, the Company performs a periodic review of receivable balances to assess the risk of uncollectible amounts and establish appropriate provisions.

The Company’s leases provide for reimbursement from tenants for common area maintenance (“CAM”), insurance, real estate taxes and other operating expenses ("Operating Cost Reimbursement Revenue"). A portion of our Operating Cost Reimbursement Revenue is estimated each year end and is recognized as revenue in the period the recoverable costs are incurred and accrued. Receivables from Operating Cost Reimbursement Revenue is included in our Accounts Receivable - Tenants line item in our consolidated balance sheets. The balance of unbilled Operating Cost Reimbursement Revenue at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are $1.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

In addition, many of the Company’s leases contain rent escalations for which we recognize revenue on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable lease term. This method results in rental revenue in the early years of a lease being higher than actual cash received, creating a straight-line rent receivable asset which is included in the Accounts Receivable - Tenants line item in our consolidated balance sheets. The balance of straight-line rent receivable at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are $9.6 million and $6.0 million, respectively. To the extent any of the tenants under these leases become unable to pay their contractual cash rents, the Company may be required to write down the straight-line rent receivable from those tenants, which would reduce operating income.

Sales Tax [Policy Text Block]

Sales Tax

The Company collects various taxes from tenants and remits these amounts, on a net basis, to the applicable taxing authorities.

Deferred Charges, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Unamortized Deferred Expenses

Deferred expenses include debt financing costs, leasing costs and lease intangibles, and are amortized as follows: (i) debt financing costs on a straight-line basis to interest expense over the term of the related loan, which approximates the effective interest method; (ii) leasing costs on a straight-line basis to depreciation and amortization over the term of the related lease entered into; and (iii) lease intangibles on a straight-line basis to depreciation and amortization over the remaining term of the related lease acquired.

The following schedule summarizes the Company’s amortization of deferred expenses (in thousands) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively:

Year Ended December 31,	2016		2015		2014

Credit Facility Financing Costs	$	228	$	225	$	280
Leasing Costs		124		97		126
Lease Intangibles		8,010		4,859		2,491
Total	$	8,362	$	5,181	$	2,897

The following schedule represents estimated future amortization of deferred expenses as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

Year Ending December 31,	2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter		Total

Credit Facility Financing Costs	$	394	$	379	$	379	$	379	$	21	$	-	$	1,552
Leasing Costs		162		159		157		137		117		495		1,227
Lease Intangibles		9,813		9,637		9,135		8,870		8,592		63,777		109,824
Total	$	10,369	$	10,175	$	9,671	$	9,386	$	8,730	$	64,272	$	112,603

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

The Company leases real estate to its tenants under long-term net leases which we account for as operating leases. Under this method, leases that have fixed and determinable rent increases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Rental increases based upon changes in the consumer price indexes, or other variable factors, are recognized only after changes in such factors have occurred and are then applied according to the lease agreements. Certain leases also provide for additional rent based on tenants’ sales volumes. These rents are recognized when determinable after the tenant exceeds a sales breakpoint. Contractually obligated reimbursements from tenants for recoverable real estate taxes and operating expenses are generally included in operating costs reimbursement in the period when such expenses are recorded.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share have been computed by dividing the net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding in accordance with the treasury stock method.

The following is a reconciliation of the denominator of the basic net earnings per common share computation to the denominator of the diluted net earnings per common share computation for each of the periods presented:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		23,096,267		18,215,628		15,121,212
Less: Unvested restricted stock		(227,531)		(212,506)		(238,626)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in basic earnings per share		22,868,736		18,003,122		14,882,586

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in basic earnings per share		22,868,736		18,003,122		14,882,586
Effect of dilutive securities: restricted stock		91,063		62,293		84,309
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in diluted earnings per share		22,959,799		18,065,415		14,966,895

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The Company has made an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”) and related regulations. The Company generally will not be subject to federal income taxes on amounts distributed to stockholders, providing it distributes 100% of its REIT taxable income and meets certain other requirements for qualifying as a REIT. For each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, the Company believes it has qualified as a REIT. Notwithstanding the Company’s qualification for taxation as a REIT, the Company is subject to certain state taxes on its income and real estate.

The Company and its taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”) have made a timely TRS election pursuant to the provisions of the REIT Modernization Act. A TRS is able to engage in activities resulting in income that previously would have been disqualified from being eligible REIT income under the federal income tax regulations. As a result, certain activities of the Company which occur within its TRS entity are subject to federal and state income taxes (See Note 7). All provisions for federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are attributable to the Company’s TRS.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The Company’s estimates of fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities are based on the framework established in the fair value accounting guidance. The framework specifies a hierarchy of valuation inputs which was established to increase consistency, clarity and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The guidance describes a fair value hierarchy based upon three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value, two of which are considered observable and one that is considered unobservable. The following describes the three levels:

Level 1 –	Valuation is based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 –	Valuation is based upon inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 –	Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (”FASB”) issued ASU No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business” (“ASU 2017-01”). The objective of ASU 2017-01 is to clarify the definition of a business by adding guidance on how entities should evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. ASU 2017-01 will be effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods in the year of adoption. Early adoption is permitted for any interim or annual period. The Company is in the process of determining the impact that the implementation of ASU 2017-01 will have on the Company’s financial statements.

In August 2016 and October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” and ASU No. 2016-18 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” The objective of these standards are to provide specific guidance on cash flow classification issues and how to reduce diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is in the process of determining the impact that the implementation of these standards will have on the Company’s financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurements of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).” The objective of ASU 2016-13 is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. To achieve this objective, the current incurred impairment methodology in current GAAP is to be replaced by a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company evaluated the impact that the implementation of ASU 2016-13 and concluded the standard will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements upon adoption.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”), which amends ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation. ASU 2016-09 includes provisions intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements. ASU 2016-09 will allow entities to make an accounting policy election for the impact of most types of forfeitures on the recognition of expense for share-based payment awards by allowing the forfeitures to be either estimated, as is currently required, or recognized when they actually occur. If elected, the change to recognize forfeitures when they occur will be adopted using a modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to retained earnings. ASU 2016-09 will be effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company has adopted ASU 2016-09 in the context of how the Company accounts for stock forfeitures, which is reflected in the Company’s financial statements. The adoption had no impact since we were already using a 0% forfeiture rate.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-05 “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships” (“ASU 2016-05”). ASU 2016-05 addresses the impact on hedge accounting due to a change in a counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument under Topic 815. The amendments in this update apply to all reporting entities for which there is a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument under Topic 815. The amendments in this update clarify that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument under Topic 815 does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria (including those in paragraphs 815-20-35-14 through 35-18) continue to be met. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company evaluated ASU 2016-05 in the context of our hedge accounting and concluded that it will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements upon adoption.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”). The new standard creates Topic 842, Leases, in FASB Accounting Standards Codification (FASB ASC) and supersedes FASB ASC 840, Leases. ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases (operating and finance). However, for leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The main difference between the existing guidance on accounting for leases and the new standard is that operating leases will now be recorded in the statement of financial position as assets and liabilities. The new standard requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases and operating leases. ASU 2016-02 is expected to impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company has certain operating land lease arrangements for which it is the lessee. Current GAAP requires only capital (finance) leases to be recognized in the statement of financial position and amounts related to operating leases largely are reflected in the financial statements as rent expense on the income statement and in disclosures to the financial statements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of determining the impact that the implementation of ASU 2016-02 will have on the Company’s financial statements. We anticipate there will be an immaterial impact for the leases in which the Company is the lessor and/or the lessee.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03 “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”). The objective of ASU 2015-03 is to identify, evaluate, and improve areas of GAAP for which cost and complexity can be reduced while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. To simplify presentation of debt issuance costs, the amendments require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has adopted ASU 2015-03 and determined the resulting impact on the statements is a reclassification of certain deferred financing costs from other assets to each respective balance sheet debt account.

In May 2014, with subsequent updates issued in August 2015 and March, April and May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 was developed to enable financial statement users to better understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The update’s core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Companies are to use a five-step contract review model to ensure revenue is recognized, measured and disclosed in accordance with this principle. ASU 2014-09, as updated, is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is in the process of engaging a professional services firm to assist in the implementation of ASU 2014-09 and has not currently selected a transition method. In addition we are in the process of determining the impact that the implementation of ASU 2014-09, as updated, will have on the Company’s financial statements and it is considered likely the implementation will change the Company’s disclosures.