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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NetREIT and its subsidiaries, Fontana Medical Plaza, LLC (“FMP”), NetREIT 01 LP Partnership, NetREIT Casa Grande LP Partnership, NetREIT Palm Self-Storage LP Partnership, NetREIT Garden Gateway, LP and Dubose Acquisition Partners II and III (collectively “the Partnerships”) NetREIT Advisors, LLC (“Advisors”), NetREIT Dubose Model Home REIT, Inc. and its subsidiary, NetREIT Dubose Model Home LP, Dubose Dubose Advisors LLC, Model Home Income Funds 3, 4, 5, 113 LTD and Dubose Model Home Investors #201 LP (collectively, the “Income Funds”) and NetREIT National City Partners, LP. As used herein, the “Company” refers to NetREIT, FMP, Advisors and the Partnerships, Income Funds and the NetREIT National City Partners, LP, collectively. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Prior to formation of the Partnerships, the properties owned by those partnerships were held as tenants in common (“TIC”) with the other investors and accounted for using the equity method due to substantive participation rights of the TIC (Note 4). Upon formation of the Partnerships in 2009 and 2010, NetREIT became the sole general partner in each of these partnerships and the rights of the other partners were limited to certain protective rights. As a result of the change in the Company's ability to influence and control the Partnerships, they are now accounted for as subsidiaries of the Company and are fully consolidated in the Company's financial statements.

 

The Company classifies the noncontrolling interests in FMP, the Partnerships, and the Income Funds as part of consolidated net loss in 2011 and 2010 and includes the accumulated amount of noncontrolling interests as part of shareholders' equity from the Partnerships inception in 2009 and 2010, the effective date that the Company assumed significant control of DAP II and III in February 2010, the Income Funds acquisitions in November 2010 and November 2011 as well as NetREIT National City Partners, LP in December 2011. If a change in ownership of a consolidated subsidiary results in loss of control and deconsolidation, any retained ownership interest will be remeasured with the gain or loss reported in the statement of operations. Management has evaluated the noncontrolling interests and determined that they do not contain any redemption features.

 

Federal Income Taxes. The Company has elected to be taxed as a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, for federal income tax purposes. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must distribute annually at least 90% of adjusted taxable income, as defined in the Code, to its shareholders and satisfy certain other organizational and operating requirements. As a REIT, no provision will be made for federal income taxes on income resulting from those sales of real estate investments which have or will be distributed to shareholders within the prescribed limits. However, taxes will be provided for those gains which are not anticipated to be distributed to shareholders unless such gains are deferred pursuant to Section 1031. In addition, the Company will be subject to a federal excise tax which equals 4% of the excess, if any, of 85% of the Company's ordinary income plus 95% of the Company's capital gain net income over cash distributions, as defined.

 

Earnings and profits that determine the taxability of distributions to shareholders differ from net income reported for financial reporting purposes due to differences in estimated useful lives and methods used to compute depreciation and the carrying value (basis) on the investments in properties for tax purposes, among other things. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, because of net losses, all distributions were considered return of capital to the shareholders and, therefore, non-taxable.

 

The Company believes that it has met all of the REIT distribution and technical requirements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Stock Dividend. In September 2011, the Board of Directors declared a 5% dividend payable in Company common to shareholders of record on December 2, 2011. The shares were issued in December 2011. All loss per share calculations are based on adjusted shares for the stock dividend as if the shares were issued at the beginning of the first period presented.

 

Real Estate Asset Acquisitions. The Company accounts for its acquisitions of real estate in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) which requires the purchase price of acquired properties to be allocated to the acquired tangible assets and liabilities, consisting of land, building, tenant improvements, a land purchase option, long-term debt and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market leases, the value of in-place leases, unamortized lease origination costs and tenant relationships, based in each case on their fair values.

 

The Company allocates the purchase price to tangible assets of an acquired property (which includes land, building and tenant improvements) based on the estimated fair values of those tangible assets, assuming the building was vacant. Estimates of fair value for land, building and building improvements are based on many factors including, but not limited to, comparisons to other properties sold in the same geographic area and independent third party valuations. The Company also considers information obtained about each property as a result of its pre-acquisition due diligence, marketing and leasing activities in estimating the fair values of the tangible and intangible assets and liabilities acquired.

 

The total value allocable to intangible assets acquired, which consists of unamortized lease origination costs, in-place leases and tenant relationships, are allocated based on management's evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant's lease and the Company's overall relationship with that respective tenant. Characteristics considered by management in allocating these values include the nature and extent of the existing business relationships with the tenant, growth prospects for developing new business with the tenant, the remaining term of the lease and the tenant's credit quality, among other factors.

 

The value allocable to above or below market component of an acquired in-place lease is determined based upon the present value (using a market discount rate) of the difference between (i) the contractual rents to be paid pursuant to the lease over its remaining term, and (ii) management's estimate of rents that would be paid using fair market rates over the remaining term of the lease. The amounts allocated to above or below market leases are included in real estate assets and lease intangibles, net in the accompanying balance sheets and are amortized on a straight-line basis as an increase or reduction of rental income over the remaining non-cancelable term of the respective leases. Amortization of above market rents was $295,248 for the year ended December 31, 2011. Amortization of above and below market rents for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $65,272. Amortization of above and below market rents are included in rental income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 

The value of in-place leases, unamortized lease origination costs and tenant relationships are amortized to expense over the remaining term of the respective leases, which range from less than a year to ten years. The amount allocated to acquire in-place leases is determined based on management's assessment of lost revenue and costs incurred for the period required to lease the “assumed vacant” property to the occupancy level when purchased. The amount allocated to unamortized lease origination costs is determined by what the Company would have paid to a third party to secure a new tenant reduced by the expired term of the respective lease. The amount allocated to tenant relationships is the benefit resulting from the likelihood of a tenant renewing its lease. Amortization expense related to these assets was $451,306 and $343,205 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Land Purchase Option. The land lease acquired as a part of the World Plaza acquisition in 2007 has a fixed purchase price option cost of $181,710 at the termination of the lease in 2062. Management valued the land option at its residual value of $1,370,000, based upon comparable land sales adjusted to present value. The difference between the strike price of the option and the recorded cost of the land purchase option is approximately $1.2 million. Management has determined that exercise of the option is considered probable. The land purchase option was determined to be a contract based intangible asset associated with the land. As a result, this asset has an indefinite life and is treated as a non-amortizable asset. The amount is included as real estate assets and lease intangibles, net on the accompanying balance sheets.

 

Acquisition of Dubose Model Home Income Funds #3 LTD, Dubose Model Home Income Fund #4 LTD and Dubose Model Income Fund #5 LTD and Dubose Model Home Investors Fund #113 (“MH Income Funds”). In November 2010, the Company acquired a significant ownership interest in the MH Income Funds #3, #4 and #5 for a combination of cash and Company stock. The Company recognized bargain purchase gain of $872,152 based on an assessment of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. In November 2011, the Company acquired MH Investors Fund #113 through a tender offer whereby the former investors had the option to sell their investment in MH Investors Fund #113 to the 201 Partnership for cash or exchange their interests in MH Investors Fund #113 for an interest in the 201 Partnership. Approximately 55% of the investors exchanged their interest in MH Income Fund #113 for an ownership interest in the 201 Partnership. Two investors, representing about 10% sold out for cash and one partner representing 35% of the MH Investors Fund #113 elected to remain as an investor in MH Investors Fund #113.

 

Sales of Real Estate Assets. Gains from the sale of real estate assets will not be recognized under the full accrual method by the Company until certain criteria are met. Gain or loss (the difference between the sales value and the cost of the real estate sold) shall be recognized at the date of sale if a sale has been consummated and the following criteria are met:

 

a.The buyer is independent of the seller.
  
b.Collection of the sales price is reasonably assured.
  
c. The seller will not be required to support the operations of the
  property or its related obligations to an extent greater than its proportionate interest.

Gains relating to transactions which do not meet the criteria for full accrual method of accounting are deferred and recognized when the full accrual method of accounting criteria are met or by using the installment or deposit methods of profit recognition, as appropriate in the circumstances.

 

As of December 31, 2011, management has concluded that there are 17 model home properties aggregating approximately $5.0 million which are considered as held for sale and are included in real estate assets. These homes have mortgage notes payable of approximately $1.6 million. Management has also estimated that, of the homes held for sale, 16 of the home sales would result in a loss of approximately $399,000 and has recorded the estimated loss included in asset impairment in the accompanying statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Depreciation and Amortization of Buildings and Improvements. Land, buildings and improvements are recorded at cost. Major replacements and betterments, which improve or extend the life of the asset, are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives, while ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. The cost of buildings and improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 30 to 55 years for buildings, improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated life of the asset or term of the tenant lease which range from 1 to 10 years, and 4 to 5 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Depreciation expense for buildings and improvements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, was $3,571,924 and $3,014,603, respectively.

 

Intangible Assets. Lease intangibles represents the allocation of a portion of the purchase price of a property acquisition representing the estimated value of in-place leases, unamortized lease origination costs, tenant relationships and a land purchase option. Intangible assets are comprised of finite-lived and indefinite-lived assets. Indefinite-lived assets are not amortized. Finite-lived intangibles are amortized over their expected useful lives.

 

The Company is required to perform a test for impairment of goodwill and other definite and indefinite lived assets at least annually, and more frequently as circumstances warrant. Based on the review, no impairment was deemed to exist at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

Other intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite useful life are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The carrying amount of intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite useful life is regularly reviewed for indicators of impairments in value. Impairment is recognized only if the carrying amount of the intangible asset is considered to be unrecoverable from its undiscounted cash flows and is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the asset. Based on the review, no impairment was deemed necessary at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

Impairment. The Company reviews the carrying value of each property to determine if circumstances that indicate impairment in the carrying value of the investment exist or that depreciation periods should be modified. If circumstances support the possibility of impairment, the Company prepares a projection of the undiscounted future cash flows, without interest charges, of the specific property and determines if the investment in such property is recoverable. If impairment is indicated, the carrying value of the property is written down to its estimated fair value based on the Company's best estimate of the property's discounted future cash flows. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company determined that an impairment existed in its model home properties not currently held for sale and, as a result, recorded an asset impairment of $30,000. For the year ended December 31, 2010 the Company determined that an impairment existed with respect to its Havana Parker Complex property and, as a result, recorded an asset impairment of $1 million.

 

Provision for Mortgage Loan Losses. Accounting policies require the Company to maintain an allowance for estimated credit losses with respect to mortgage loans it has made based upon its evaluation of known and inherent risks associated with the mortgage loans it has made in the past. Management reflects provisions for loan losses based upon its assessment of general market conditions, its internal risk management policies and credit risk rating system, industry loss experience, its assessment of the likelihood of delinquencies or defaults, and the value of the collateral underlying its investments. Actual losses, if any, could ultimately differ from these estimates. There have been no provisions for loan losses at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to cash and have an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Items classified as cash equivalents include money market funds. At December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $2.9 million in deposits in financial institutions that were above the federally insurable limits.

 

Restricted Cash. Restricted cash consists of funds held in escrow for Company lenders for properties held as collateral by the lenders. The funds in escrow are primarily for escrow funds for payment of property taxes.

 

Deferred Common Stock Issuance Costs. Common stock issuance costs including distribution fees, due diligence fees, syndication and wholesaling costs, legal and accounting fees, and printing are capitalized before sale of the related stock and then netted against gross proceeds when the stock is sold. Deferred stock issuance costs relating to a subsidiary of the Company are included in other assets in the accompany consolidated balance sheets.

 

Tenant Receivables. The Company periodically evaluates the collectability of amounts due from tenants and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of tenants to make required payments under lease agreements. In addition, the Company maintains an allowance for deferred rent receivable that arises from straight-lining of rents. The Company exercises judgment in establishing these allowances and considers payment history and current credit status of its tenants in developing these estimates. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the balance of allowance for possible uncollectible tenant receivables included in other assets, net was $124,000 and $277,000, respectively.

 

Deferred Leasing Costs. Costs incurred in connection with successful property leases are capitalized as deferred leasing costs and amortized to leasing commission expense on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related leases which generally range from one to five years. Deferred leasing costs consist of third party leasing commissions. Management re-evaluates the remaining useful lives of leasing costs as the creditworthiness of the tenants and economic and market conditions change. If management determines the estimated remaining life of the respective lease has changed, the amortization period is adjusted. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had net deferred leasing costs of approximately $843,000 and $406,000, respectively, which are included in other assets, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Total amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $126,000 and $181,000, respectively.

 

Deferred Financing Costs. Costs incurred, including legal fees, origination fees, and administrative fees, in connection with debt financing are capitalized as deferred financing costs and are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the contractual term of the respective loans. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, deferred financing costs were approximately $554,000 and $196,000, respectively, which are included in other assets, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Total amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $137,000 and $44,000, respectively. Amortization of deferred financing costs is included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Other Real Estate Owned.  The Company acquired a property consisting of undeveloped land in Escondido, CA through foreclosure proceedings in May 2009. At the time we acquired title to the property we entered into an exclusive option with the borrower to sell the property back at our investment plus additional expenditures and interest charges through the date the original borrower purchased back the property. The option expired in late 2010. The Company has not actively engaged in the attempted sale of the property while management studies the best use options for the property.

 

Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes revenue from rent, tenant reimbursements, and other revenue once all of the following criteria are met:

 

a.persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;
  
b.delivery has occurred or services have been rendered;
  
c.the amount is fixed or determinable; and
  
d.the collectability of the amount is reasonably assured.

Annual rental revenue is recognized in rental revenues on a straight-line basis over the term of the related lease. Estimated recoveries from certain tenants for their pro rata share of real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses are recognized as revenues in the period the applicable expenses are incurred or as specified in the leases. Tenant recoveries are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the related leases.

 

Certain of the Company's leases currently contain rental increases at specified intervals. The Company records as an asset, and includes in rental income, deferred rent receivable that will be received if the tenant makes all rent payments required through the expiration of the initial term of the lease. Deferred rent receivable, included in other assets, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets includes the cumulative difference between rental revenue recorded on a straight-line basis and rents received from the tenants in accordance with the lease terms. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, deferred rent receivable totaled approximately $756,900 and $361,500, respectively. Accordingly, the Company determines, in its judgment, to what extent the deferred rent receivable applicable to each specific tenant is collectible. The Company reviews material deferred rent receivable, as it relates to straight-line rents, on a quarterly basis and takes into consideration 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 in which the property is located. In the event that the collectability of deferred rent with respect to any given tenant is in doubt, the Company records an increase in the allowance for uncollectible accounts or records a direct write-off of the specific rent receivable. No such reserves have been recorded as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

Interest income on mortgages receivable is accrued as it is earned. The Company stops accruing interest income on a loan if it is past due for more than 90 days or there is doubt regarding collectability of the loan principal and/or accrued interest receivable.

 

Loss Per Common Share. Basic loss per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders (the “numerator”) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (the “denominator”) during the period. Diluted loss per common share (“Diluted EPS”) is similar to the computation of Basic EPS except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the dilutive potential common shares had been issued. In addition, in computing the dilutive effect of convertible securities, the numerator is adjusted to add back the after-tax amount of interest recognized in the period associated with any convertible debt. The computation of Diluted EPS does not assume exercise or conversion of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on net earnings per share.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the denominator of the basic loss per common share computation to the denominator of the diluted loss per common share computations, for the years ended December 31:

 

 2011 2010
Weighted average shares used for Basic EPS 14,190,786 11,771,524
    
Effect of dilutive securities:   
    
Adjusted weighted average shares used for diluted EPS 14,190,786 11,771,524
    

____________

Weighted average shares from share based compensation, shares from conversion of NetREIT 01 LP Partnership, Casa Grande LP Partnership, NetREIT Palm Self-Storage LP Partnership, NetREIT National City Partners, LP and warrants with respect to a total of 1,373,372 and 1,042,532 shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect was anti-dilutive.

 

Fair Value Measurements. Certain assets and liabilities are required to be carried at fair value, or if long-lived assets are deemed to be impaired, to be adjusted to reflect this condition. The guidance requires disclosure of fair values calculated under each level of inputs within the following hierarchy:

 

Fair value is defined as the price at which an asset or liability is exchanged between market participants in an orderly transaction at the reporting date. The Company's cash equivalents, mortgage notes receivable, accounts receivable and payables and accrued liabilities all approximate fair value due to their short term nature. Management believes that the recorded and fair value of notes payable are approximately the same as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Level 1- Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
  
Level 2- Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
  
Level 3- Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates include the allocation of purchase price paid for property acquisitions between land, building and intangible assets acquired including their useful lives; valuation of long-lived assets, and the allowance for doubtful accounts, which is based on an evaluation of the tenants' ability to pay and the provision for possible loan losses with respect to mortgages receivable and interest. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

 

Segments. The Company acquires and operates income producing properties including office properties, residential properties, retail properties and self storage properties and invests in real estate assets, including real estate loans and, as a result, the Company operates in five business segments. See Note 10 “Segment Information”.

Square Footage, Occupancy and Other Measures Square footage, occupancy and other measures used to describe real estate and real estate-related investments included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are presented on an unaudited basis.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Updates. In May 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S GAAP and IFRS. This update defines fair value, clarifies a framework to measure fair value, and requires specific disclosures of fair value measurements. The guidance will be effective for the Company's interim and annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2012, and applied prospectively. The Company does not expect adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, or disclosures.

In September 2011, the FASB issued new guidance, ASU 2011-08, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. This new guidance allows entities to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value in order to determine if quantitative testing is required. This qualitative assessment is optional and is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of annual goodwill impairment tests. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and early adoption is allowed provided the entity has not yet performed its 2011 impairment test or issued its financial statements. The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2011-08 and the ASU did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date that the accompanying financial statements were filed with the SEC for transactions and other events which may require adjustment of and/or disclosure in such financial statements.

 

Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of consolidated operations or stockholders' equity.