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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation – The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our consolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany amounts have been eliminated. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior year balances have been reclassified in order to conform to the current period presentation. For the year ended December 31, 2018, “property rentals” of $152,795,000 and “expense reimbursements” of $80,030,000 were grouped into “rental revenues” on our consolidated statements of income in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205 Presentation of Financial Statements. Recently Issued Accounting Literature – In March 2020, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2020-04”) establishing ASC Topic 848, Reference Rate Reform. 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. We are currently evaluating the impact of the guidance and our options related to the practical expedients. In April 2020, the FASB issued a Staff Q&A on accounting for leases during the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on the application of lease guidance in ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). The Staff Q&A states that it would be acceptable to make a policy election regarding rent concessions resulting from COVID-19, which would not require entities to account for these rent concessions as lease modifications when total cash flows resulting from the modified contract are “substantially the same or less” than the cash flows in the original contract. Entities making the election will continue to recognize rental revenue on a straight-line basis for qualifying concessions. In limited circumstances, we granted temporary rent deferrals and rent abatements to certain tenants as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have made a policy election in accordance with the Staff Q&A allowing us to not account for these rent concessions as lease modifications. Accordingly, rent abatements are recognized as reductions to “rental revenues” during the period in which they were granted. Rent deferrals result in an increase to “tenant and other receivables” during the deferral period with no impact on rental revenue recognition. For any concessions that do not meet the guidance contained in the Staff Q&A, the modification guidance in accordance with ASC 842 will be applied. See Note 2 - COVID-19 Pandemic for further details. 3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued Real Estate – Real estate is carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the carrying amount of our real estate, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization, was $720,921,000 and $716,843,000, respectively. Maintenance and repairs are generally expensed as incurred. Depreciation requires an estimate by management of the useful life of each property and improvement as well as an allocation of the costs associated with a property to its various components. We capitalize all property operating expenses directly associated with and attributable to, the development and construction of a project, including interest expense. The capitalization period begins when development activities are underway and ends when it is determined that the asset is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, which is typically evidenced by the receipt of a temporary certificate of occupancy. General and administrative costs are expensed as incurred. Our properties, including properties to be developed in the future, are individually reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. An impairment exists when the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset, including an estimated terminal value calculated using an appropriate capitalization rate. Estimates of future cash flows are based on our current plans, intended holding periods and available market information at the time the analyses are prepared. For our development properties, estimates of future cash flows also include all future expenditures necessary to develop the asset, including interest payments that will be capitalized as part of the cost of the asset. An impairment loss is recognized only if the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable and is measured based on the excess of the property’s carrying amount over its estimated fair value. If our estimates of future cash flows, anticipated holding periods, or fair values change, based on market conditions or otherwise, our evaluation of impairment charges may be different and such differences could be material to our consolidated financial statements. Estimates of future cash flows are subjective and are based, in part, on assumptions regarding future occupancy, rental rates and capital requirements that could differ materially from actual results. Plans to hold properties over longer periods decrease the likelihood of recording impairment losses. Revenue Recognition – Our rental revenues include revenues from the leasing of space to tenants at our properties and revenues from parking and tenant services. We have the following revenue recognition policies: •Lease revenues from the leasing of space to tenants at our properties. Revenues derived from base rent are recognized over the non-cancelable term of the related leases on a straight-line basis which includes the effects of rent steps and rent abatements. We commence rental revenue recognition when the underlying asset is available for use by the lessee. In addition, in circumstances where we provide a tenant improvement allowance for improvements that are owned by the tenant, we recognize the allowance as a reduction of rental revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Revenues derived from the reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance expenses and common area maintenance expenses are generally recognized in the same period as the related expenses are incurred. As lessor, we have elected to combine the lease components (base and variable rent), non-lease components (reimbursements of common area maintenance expenses) and reimbursement of real estate taxes and insurance expenses from our operating lease agreements and account for the components as a single lease component in accordance with ASC 842. • Parking revenue arising from the rental of parking spaces at our properties. This income is recognized as the services are transferred in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). • Tenant services is revenue arising from sub-metered electric, elevator and other services provided to tenants at their request. This revenue is recognized as the services are transferred in accordance with ASC 606. Under ASC 842, we must assess on an individual lease basis whether it is probable that we will collect substantially all of the future lease payments. We consider the tenant’s payment history and current credit status when assessing collectability. When collectability is not deemed probable, we write-off the tenant’s receivables, including straight-line rent receivable, and limit lease income to cash received. We recognize changes in the collectability assessment of our operating leases as adjustments to rental revenues. Prior to the adoption of ASC 842, we maintained an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses on receivables under our lease agreements, including receivables arising from the straight-lining of rent. During the year ended December 31, 2018, we had $4,459,000 of additions charged against operations and $5,289,000 of uncollectible accounts written off, with an ending allowance for doubtful accounts balance of $671,000 as of December 31, 2018. 3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued Cash and Cash Equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value, due to their short-term maturities. The majority of our cash and cash equivalents consist of (i) deposits at major commercial banks, which may at times exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limit, (ii) United States Treasury Bills, (iii) money market funds, which invest in United States Treasury Bills and (iv) certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”). To date we have not experienced any losses on our invested cash. Restricted Cash – Restricted cash primarily consists of security deposits and other cash escrowed under loan agreements, including for debt service, real estate taxes, property insurance and capital improvements. Marketable Securities – Our marketable securities consist of common shares of The Macerich Company (“Macerich”) (NYSE: MAC). These shares are presented at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets and gains and losses resulting from the mark-to-market of these securities are recognized in current period earnings in accordance with ASC Topic 825 (“ASC 825”), Financial Instruments (see Note 6). Deferred Charges – Direct financing costs are deferred and amortized over the terms of the related agreements as a component of interest and debt expense. Direct costs related to leasing activities are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the lives of the related leases. All other deferred charges are amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest rate method, in accordance with the terms of the agreements to which they relate. Income Taxes – We operate in a manner intended to enable us to continue to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856 – 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code, we must distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to stockholders each year. We distribute to our stockholders 100% of our taxable income and therefore, no provision for Federal income taxes is required. Dividends distributed for the year ended December 31, 2020 were characterized, for federal income tax purposes, as 100.0% ordinary income. Dividends distributed for the year ended December 31, 2019 were characterized, for federal income tax purposes, as 99.6% ordinary income and 0.4% long-term capital gain income. Dividends distributed for the year ended December 31, 2018 were categorized, for federal income tax purposes, as 100.0% ordinary income. The following table reconciles our net income to estimated taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
(Unaudited and in thousands) | Year Ended December 31,
| 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Net income | $ | 41,939 |  |  | $ | 60,075 |  |  | $ | 32,844 |
Straight-line rent adjustments | 21,048 |  |  | 2,359 |  |  | 5,870 |
Depreciation and amortization | 2,112 |  |  | 2,751 |  |  | (6,586) |
Change in fair value of marketable securities (see Note 6) | 8,599 |  |  | 8,757 |  |  | 11,990 |
Loss from discontinued operations (see Note 7) | — |  |  | — |  |  | 23,797 |
Other | 7,677 |  |  | 137 |  |  | 440 |
Estimated taxable income | $ | 81,375 |  |  | $ | 74,079 |  |  | $ | 68,355 |
As of December 31, 2020, the net basis of our assets and liabilities for tax purposes is approximately $139,364,000 lower than the amount reported for financial statement purposes.

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