-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Ruc2KOF1kpZBmlDbhO7CcUGhiHH8rY648yUD5Pl2pnOwvbItmyO7Yn66FnImFnYL zY4/0HLHjtJlzdVw+GsEVg== 0000913782-03-000135.txt : 20031114 0000913782-03-000135.hdr.sgml : 20031114 20031114124010 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000913782-03-000135 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20030930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20031114 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001039797 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 582077966 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-22683 FILM NUMBER: 031002182 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2859 PACES FERRY RD STREET 2: OVERLOOK III STE 1450 CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30339 BUSINESS PHONE: 7704364600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2859 PACES FERRY RD STREET 2: STE 1450 CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30339 10-Q 1 lpq310q.htm GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 10Q

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10 - Q

(X) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2003

( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 000-22683

GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

DELAWARE
(State of Incorporation)

 

58-2077966
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

777 Yamato Road, Suite 510
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(561) 997-9700

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past (90) days.

(X)  YES                      (  ) NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)
(X)   YES              (  ) NO

 

GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
FORM 10 - Q INDEX

Part I

Financial Information

Page


Item 1:


Unaudited Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002

3

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2003 and 2002


4

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30,  
2003 and 2002

5

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6


Item 2:


Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations

17


Item 3:


Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

39


Item 4:


Controls and Procedures

39


Part II


Other Information


Item 1:


Legal Proceedings

40


Item 2:


Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

40


Item 3:


Defaults Upon Senior Securities

40


Item 4:


Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

40


Item 5:


Other Information

40


Item 6:


Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

40

 

Signatures

41



PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Unaudited Financial Statements

GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited and Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Unit Data)

September 30,

December 31,

2003        .

2002       .

  

ASSETS:

Real estate assets:

   Land

  $        285,019

  $       250,095

   Buildings

        1,386,307

       1,259,399

   Furniture, fixtures and equipment

           142,790

          130,547

   Construction in progress

           100,731

          129,159

   Investment in joint ventures

             12,434

           12,256

   Undeveloped land

             16,683

           12,951

      Real estate assets before accumulated depreciation

        1,943,964

       1,794,407

   Less:  accumulated depreciation

          (294,960

)

         (266,139

)

     Net real estate assets

        1,649,004

       1,528,268

Cash and cash equivalents

              7,516

              6,281

Restricted cash

              6,977

             7,632

Deferred financing costs, net

              5,215

             5,555

Other assets, net

             39,331

             36,198

     Total assets

$    1,708,043

$    1,583,934

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL:

Notes payable

  $        941,783

  $       958,574

Accrued interest payable

              6,687

           14,081

Preferred distributions payable

              567

             2,026

Real estate taxes payable

             21,540

           16,172

Accounts payable and accrued expenses – construction

             13,754

             7,275

Accounts payable and accrued expenses – operating

             17,870

            18,814

Security deposits

              4,067

             4,133

Series Z Preferred Units, at $25.00 liquidation preference, 180 units issued

     and outstanding, including accrued and unpaid distributions

           5,689

                    -

     Total liabilities

 

        1,011,957

       1,021,075

Limited partners' common capital interest (5,202 and 5,811 common

   units, respectively), at cash redemption value

           164,506

          142,054

Preferred partners' capital interest (180 Series Z Preferred Units),

    at $25.00 liquidation preference

              -

             4,500

Commitments and contingencies

Partners' capital:

  General partner (331 and 303 common units, respectively)

              5,320

             4,957

  Limited partner (27,553 and 24,168 common units, respectively)

           361,260

          321,348

  Preferred partners (2,000 Series B Preferred Units, 1,600 Series C-1

       Preferred Units and 3,000 Series D Preferred Units at September 30,

       2003; 2,000 Series B Preferred Units and 1,600 Series C Preferred

       Units at December 31, 2002), at $25.00 liquidation preference

           165,000

            90,000

     Total partners' capital

           531,580

          416,305

     Total liabilities, partners' capital interest and partners' capital

$    1,708,043

$   1,583,934

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited and Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Unit Data)

Three months ended 
September 30,      

Nine months ended
 September 30,     

2003

2002

2003

2002

Revenues:

   Rental revenues

  $      54,151

  $      50,400

  $   158,337

  $   151,673

   Other property revenues

         3,234

          3,034

         9,194

         8,888

      Total property revenues

       57,385

        53,434

     167,531

     160,561

  Property management revenues

          2,345

          1,780

         6,145

         5,452

  Ancillary services revenues

          2,139

          1,931

         5,465

         6,586

  Interest income

                3

             155

            164

            336

  Other revenues

            424

             576

            544

            661

      Total other revenues

         4,911

          4,442

       12,318

       13,035

      Total revenues

        62,296

        57,876

     179,849

     173,596

Expenses:

   Property operating and maintenance (exclusive of items shown separately below)

        21,356

        20,064

       60,121

       56,917

   Real estate asset depreciation and amortization

        13,123

        10,142

       38,084

       33,209

   Property management  - owned 

          1,500

          1,328

         4,857

         4,774

   Property management  - third party 

          2,268

          1,560

         6,041

         4,856

   Ancillary services

             992

          1,181

         3,302

         3,960

   Interest expense and credit enhancement fees

        11,499

        11,760

       33,897

       31,645

   Amortization of deferred financing costs

             494

             426

         1,400

            958

   General and administrative

          2,052

          2,052

         6,657

         5,727

   Corporate asset depreciation and amortization

             576

             405

         1,400

         1,286

   Unusual items

               -  

               -  

              -  

         1,687

      Total expenses

       53,860

        48,918

     155,759

     145,019

Income from continuing operations before equity in income of joint ventures

     and gain on sale

          8,436

          8,958

       24,090

       28,577

Equity in income of joint ventures

               55

             931

            250

         2,859

Gain on sale of previously depreciated operating real estate assets

               -  

               -  

               -  

       17,906

Gain on sale of land and development rights

              -  

            267

              -  

         2,068

Income from continuing operations

          8,491

        10,156

       24,340

       51,410

Operating income from discontinued operations

               82

             491

            708

         2,144

Gain on disposition of discontinued operations

      12,368

                 -

       17,410

          2,198

Income from discontinued operations

        12,450

             491

       18,118

         4,342

Net income

        20,941

        10,647

       42,458

       55,752

Distributions to preferred unitholders

          (3,272

)

         (2,169

)

        (7,944

)

        (9,210

)

Original issuance costs associated with redemption of preferred units

                 -

         (4,009

)

                -

        (4,009

)

Net income available to common unitholders

  $      17,669

  $       4,469

  $    34,514

  $    42,533

Weighted average number of common units outstanding - basic

        31,525

        30,718

       30,752

       30,662

Weighted average number of common units outstanding - diluted

        31,664

        30,812

       30,845

       30,805

Per Common Unit Information-Basic:

Income from continuing operations (net of preferred distributions and original

  issuance costs associated with redemption of preferred units)

  $         0.17

  $         0.13

  $        0.53

  $        1.25

Income from discontinued operations

  $         0.39

  $         0.02

  $        0.59

  $        0.14

Net income available to common unitholders

  $         0.56

  $         0.15

  $        1.12

  $        1.39

Per Common Unit Information-Diluted:

Income from continuing operations (net of preferred distributions and original

  issuance costs associated with redemption of preferred units)

  $         0.16

  $         0.13

  $        0.53

  $        1.24

Income from discontinued operations

  $         0.39

  $         0.02

  $        0.59

  $        0.14

Net income available to common unitholders

  $         0.56

  $         0.15

  $        1.12

  $        1.38

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(Unaudited and Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Unit Data)

Nine Months      
Ended September 30,

2003

2002

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net income

  $       42,458

  $       55,752

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided

  by operating activities of continuing operations:

   Income from discontinued operations

         (18,118

)

           (4,342

)

   Depreciation and amortization

          40,884

          35,453

   Equity in income of joint ventures

              (250

)

           (2,859

)

   Gain on sale of real estate assets

                    -

         (19,974

)

   Long-term compensation expense

            1,249

            1,112

   Unusual items

                    -

            1,687

   Operating distributions received from joint ventures

            1,122

            1,277

   Change in operating assets and liabilities:

     Restricted cash

            1,048

               411

     Other assets

            1,990

            1,833

     Other liabilities, net

          (2,732

)

            6,455

     Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations

          67,651

          76,805

     Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations

            1,776

            3,914

          Net cash provided by operating activities

          69,427

          80,719

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Acquisition, development, construction and renovation of real estate assets

       (192,302

)

         (73,762

)

Recurring value retention capital expenditures

           (8,085

)

           (9,850

)

Non-recurring and/or value-enhancing capital expenditures

           (7,051

)

           (7,707

)

Restricted cash held in escrow, net

-

349

Net proceeds from sale of wholly-owned real estate assets

                    -

          46,803

Net proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations

          70,065

          15,273

Investment in joint ventures

           (1,050

)

              (968

)

Net proceeds from sale of joint venture real estate assets

                    -

          10,680

Other

          (4,968

)

              (759

)

     Net cash used in investing activities

       (143,391

)

         (19,941

)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Contributions from (distributions to) the Trust related to:

    Net proceeds from issuance of Series D Preferred Shares

          72,419

                     -

    Net proceeds from common share offering

          78,968

                    -

    Net proceeds from issuance of Series C Preferred Shares

              (100

)

          39,750

    Redemption of Series A Preferred Shares

                     -

       (115,000

)

    Proceeds from the exercise of share options

            6,147

            7,597

Common unit redemptions

                    -

           (5,767

)

Payments of deferred financing costs

           (1,266

)

            (2,995

)

Notes payable proceeds

        224,401

        373,131

Notes payable repayments

       (241,192

)

       (294,082

)

Prepayment penalty

                    -

           (1,451

)

Principal escrow payments (deposited into) released from escrow, net

              (393

)

            3,512

Preferred distributions paid

           (8,270

)

           (9,439

)

Common distributions paid ($1.8075 per unit)

         (55,515

)

         (55,496

)

     Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

          75,199

         (60,240

)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

  $         1,235

   $             538

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

            6,281

            4,231

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

  $         7,516

  $         4,769

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

     Cash paid for interest

  $       46,802

  $       40,557

     Interest capitalized

            6,344

            6,734

     Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

  $       40,458

  $       33,823

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited and Amounts in Thousands, Except Property and Per Unit Data)


             
   Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "we," "our" or "us" in this report refer collectively to Gables Realty Limited Partnership and its subsidiaries.

1. 
  ORGANIZATION AND FORMATION

        Gables Realty Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership") is the entity through which Gables Residential Trust (the "Trust"), a real estate investment trust (a "REIT"), conducts substantially all of its business and owns, either directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, substantially all of its assets. The Trust was formed in 1993 under Maryland law to continue and expand the operations of its privately owned predecessor organization. The Trust completed its initial public offering on January 26, 1994.

       We are a fully integrated real estate company engaged in the multifamily apartment community management, development, construction, acquisition and disposition businesses. We also provide management, development and construction, corporate rental housing and brokerage services to third parties and unconsolidated joint ventures. Substantially all of our third-party management businesses are conducted through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Gables Residential Services.

       As of September 30, 2003, the Trust was an 84.3% economic owner of our common equity. The Trust controls us through Gables GP, Inc. ("Gables GP"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trust and our sole general partner. This organizational structure is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership REIT or "UPREIT." The board of directors of Gables GP, the members of which are the same as the members of the Trust's board of trustees, manages our affairs by directing the affairs of Gables GP. The Trust's limited partnership and indirect general partnership interests in us entitle it to share in our cash distributions, and in our profits and losses in proportion to its ownership interest therein and entitles the Trust to vote on all matters requiring a vote of the limited partners. Generally, our other limited partners are persons who contributed their direct or indirect interests in certain of our real estate assets primarily in connection with the IPO and the 1998 acquisition of the real estate assets and operations of Trammell Crow Residential South Florida. A unit of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership is referred to herein as a “unit.” We are obligated to redeem each common unit held by a person other than the Trust at the request of the holder for an amount equal to the fair market value of a share of the Trust's common shares at the time of such redemption, provided that the Trust, at its option, may elect to acquire each common unit presented for redemption for one common share or cash. Such limited partners' redemption rights are reflected in "limited partners' capital interest" in our accompanying consolidated balance sheets at the cash redemption amount at the balance sheet date. The Trust's percentage ownership interest in us will increase with each redemption. In addition, whenever the Trust issues common shares or preferred shares, it is obligated to contribute any net proceeds to us and we are obligated to issue an equivalent number of common or preferred units with substantially identical rights as the common or preferred shares, as applicable, to the Trust.

       Distributions to holders of units are made to enable the Trust to make distributions to its shareholders under its dividend policy. The Trust must currently distribute 90% of its ordinary taxable income to its shareholders. We make distributions to the Trust to enable it to satisfy this requirement.

       As of September 30, 2003, we managed a total of 177 multifamily apartment communities owned by us and our third-party clients comprising 49,265 apartment homes.  At September 30, 2003, we owned 76 stabilized multifamily apartment communities comprising 20,660 apartment homes, an indirect 25% interest in one stabilized apartment community comprising 345 apartment homes, an indirect 20% interest in four stabilized apartment communities comprising 1,215 apartment homes, and an indirect 8.3% interest in three stabilized apartment communities comprising 1,118 apartment homes. We also owned seven multifamily apartment communities under development or in lease-up at September 30, 2003 that are expected to comprise 2,015 apartment homes upon completion and an indirect 20% interest in two apartment communities under development or in lease-up at September 30, 2003 that are expected to comprise 373 apartment homes upon completion. In addition, as of September 30, 2003, we owned a parcel of land on which we intend to develop an apartment community that we currently expect will comprise 450 apartment homes. We also have rights to acquire additional parcels of land on which we believe we could develop communities. Any future development is subject to obtaining permits and other governmental approvals, as well as our ongoing business review, and may not be undertaken or completed.

2. COMMON AND PREFERRED EQUITY ACTIVITY

Secondary Common Share Offerings

       Since the IPO, the Trust has issued a total of 17,331 common shares in nine offerings, generating $426.7 million in net proceeds which were generally used (1) to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our interim financing vehicles utilized to fund our development and acquisition activities and (2) for general working capital purposes, including funding of future development and acquisition activities.  The most recent offering, involving the issuance of 2,500 common shares that generated $79.0 million in net proceeds, closed on August 26, 2003.  An existing institutional shareholder of the Trust who wished to participate in the offering required a waiver of the Trust’s 9.8% ownership limitation in order to acquire additional shares.  The Trust decided it was appropriate to grant the waiver to the extent necessary to allow the shareholder to acquire shares in the offering.

Preferred Share Offerings

       On May 8, 2003, the Trust issued 3,000 shares of 7.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $25.00 per share). The net proceeds from this issuance of approximately $72.4 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our interim financing vehicles. The Series D Preferred Shares may be redeemed at the Trust’s option at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends on or after May 8, 2008. The Series D Preferred Shares are not subject to any sinking fund or convertible into any other securities of the Trust.

        On September 27, 2002, the Trust issued 1,600 shares of 7.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) in a private placement to an institutional investor.  The net proceeds from this issuance of $39.7 million, together with the net proceeds of $39.7 million from the concurrent issuance of $40 million of senior unsecured notes, were used to retire approximately $82.5 million of unsecured indebtedness at an interest rate of 8.3% that was scheduled to mature in December 2002.  Pursuant to a registration rights agreement with the purchaser of the Series C Preferred Shares, the Trust registered a new series of preferred shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission and offered to exchange those shares on a one-for-one basis for the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares.  The dividend rate, preferences and other terms for the new preferred shares, or 7.875% Series C-1 Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, are identical in all material respects to the Series C Preferred Shares, except that the Series C-1 Preferred Shares are freely tradable by a holder.  The exchange offer was consummated on September 5, 2003 and did not generate any cash proceeds for us.  The Series C-1 Preferred Shares may be redeemed at the Trust’s option at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends on or after September 27, 2006.  The Series C-1 Preferred Shares are not subject to any sinking fund or convertible into any other securities of the Trust.

          On June 18, 1998, the Trust issued 180 shares of 5.0% Series Z Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) in connection with the acquisition of a parcel of land for future development. The Series Z Preferred Shares, which are subject to mandatory redemption on June 18, 2018, may be redeemed at the Trust’s option at any time for $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends. The Series Z Preferred Shares are not subject to any sinking fund or convertible into any other securities of the Trust.

       On July 24, 1997, the Trust issued 4,600 shares of 8.30% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $25.00 per share). The net proceeds from this offering of $111.0 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our interim financing vehicles.  The Trust redeemed all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares for $115 million on August 9, 2002 with proceeds from our $180 million senior unsecured note issuance on July 8, 2002.  The redemption price of the Series A Preferred Shares exceeded the related carrying value by the $4.0 million of issuance costs originally incurred by us and classified as a reduction to partners’ capital.  Previously reported net income available to common unitholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 has been reduced by the $4.0 million excess in accordance with the July 2003 clarification of EITF Abstracts, Topic No. D-42, "The Effect on the Calculation of Earnings per Share for the Redemption or Induced Conversion of Preferred Stock,"  (Note 5). 

Issuances of Common Operating Partnership Units

       Since the IPO, we have issued a total of 4,421 common units in connection with the 1998 acquisition of the real estate assets and operations of Trammell Crow Residential South Florida, the acquisition of other operating apartment communities and the acquisition of a parcel of land for future development. 

Issuance of Preferred Operating Partnership Units

       On November 12, 1998, we issued 2,000 of our 8.625% Series B Preferred Units to an institutional investor. The net proceeds from this issuance of $48.7 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our interim financing vehicles. The Trust has the option, and as described below has elected, to redeem the Series B Preferred Units after November 14, 2003 at $25.00 per unit plus accrued and unpaid dividends. These units are exchangeable by the holder into 8.625% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of the Trust on a one-for-one basis; however, this exchange right is generally not exercisable until after November 14, 2008. The Series B Preferred Units have no stated maturity, sinking fund or mandatory redemption. 
On October 17, 2003, we gave notice that we will redeem each of the 2,000 outstanding Series B Preferred Units on November 17, 2003.  The redemption price of the Series B Preferred Units will exceed the related carrying value by the $1.3 million of issuance costs that we originally incurred and classified as a reduction to partners’ capital.  Upon redemption in the fourth quarter of 2003, the $1.3 million excess will be reflected as a reduction to earnings in arriving at net income available to common unitholders in accordance with the July 2003 clarification of Topic No. D-42 (Note 5).

Common Equity Repurchase Program

 
      We have a common equity repurchase program pursuant to which the Trust is authorized to purchase up to $200 million of its outstanding common shares or units.  We view the repurchase of common equity with consideration of other investment alternatives when capital is available to be deployed.  The Trust has repurchased shares from time to time in open market and privately negotiated transactions, depending on market prices and other prevailing conditions, using proceeds from sales of selected assets. Whenever the Trust repurchases common shares from shareholders, we are required to redeem from the Trust an equivalent number of common units on the same terms and for the same aggregate price. After redemption, the common units redeemed by us are no longer deemed outstanding.  We have also repurchased common units for cash upon their presentation for redemption by common unitholders. As of September 30, 2003, we had redeemed 4,806 common units, including 4,506 common units redeemed by the Trust, for a total of $116.0 million, including $0.2 million in related commissions.

Shelf Registration Statement

       We have an effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which the Trust has $500 million of equity capacity and we have $500 million of debt capacity.  We believe it is prudent to maintain shelf registration capacity in order to facilitate future capital raising activities.  To date, there have been no issuances of securities under this registration statement.  

3. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

       The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the consolidated accounts of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries, including Gables Residential Services. We consolidate the financial statements of all entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, as that term is defined under GAAP, through either majority voting interest or contractual agreements. Our investments in non-controlled joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

       The accompanying interim unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and in conjunction with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting only of normally recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation for these interim periods have been included. The results of operations for the interim period ended September 30, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the updated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002 included in our Form 8-K dated September 15, 2003.

      Certain amounts in the 2002 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation.

4.  PORTFOLIO AND OTHER FINANCING ACTIVITY


Community Dispositions Subject to Discontinued Operations Reporting

      
In August 2003, we sold two apartment communities located in Houston comprising 641 apartment homes.  The net proceeds from this sale were approximately $51.3 million and were used to pay down outstanding borrowings under our interim financing vehicles. The gain from the sale of these communities was approximately $12.4 million and was recognized in the third quarter of 2003.     

       In February 2003, we sold an apartment community located in Dallas comprising 300 apartment homes.  The net proceeds from this sale were $18.7 million and were used to pay down outstanding borrowings under our interim financing vehicles. The gain from the sale of this community was $5.0 million and was recognized in the first quarter of 2003.

       During 2002, we sold two apartment communities located in Houston comprising 660 apartment homes. The net proceeds from these sales were $43.2 million and were used to pay down outstanding borrowings under our interim financing vehicles and purchase common shares and units under our common equity repurchase program. The aggregate gain from the sale of these two communities was $9.8 million.  One of these sales occurred during the first quarter of 2002, resulting in a $2.2 million gain.  The other sale occurred during the fourth quarter of 2002.

      
Historical operating results and gains are reflected as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations (Notes 5 and 6).

Community and Land Dispositions Not Subject to Discontinued Operations Reporting

      
During 2002, we sold a 13.3 acre parcel of land in Houston that was adjacent to an apartment community sold, an apartment community located in Houston comprising 246 apartment homes and an apartment community located in Atlanta comprising 311 apartment homes. The net proceeds from these sales were $46.8 million and were used to pay down outstanding borrowings under our interim financing vehicles and purchase common shares and units under our common equity repurchase program. The gain from the land sale was $0.8 million and the aggregate gain from the sale of the two communities was $17.9 million.  All of these sale transactions occurred during the first quarter of 2002. In addition, we recognized $1.3 million of deferred gain during the year ended December 31, 2002 associated with prior year sale transactions, of which $0.3 million and $1.3 million was recognized during the three months and nine months, respectively, ended September 30, 2002.

       During 2002, the Gables Residential Apartment Portfolio JV (the "GRAP JV") sold two apartment communities located in South Florida comprising 610 apartment homes, an apartment community in Dallas comprising 222 apartment homes and an apartment community located in Houston comprising 382 apartment homes. Our share of the net sales proceeds after repayment of construction loan indebtedness of $46.7 million was $10.7 million, resulting in a gain of $2.6 million.  Two of these sales occurred during the first quarter of 2002, resulting in a $1.8 million gain to us.  The other two sales occurred during the third quarter of 2002, resulting in a $0.8 million gain to us.

      
Historical operating results and gains are included in continuing operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations (Notes 5 and 6).

Community Acquisitions

       On July 15, 2003, we acquired an apartment community located in Washington, D.C. comprising 211 apartment homes for approximately $53.0 million in cash.  The acquisition was financed through borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.

       On May 30, 2003, we acquired an apartment community located in Dallas comprising 334 apartment homes for approximately $33.5 million in cash.  The acquisition was financed through borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.

      
On February 20, 2003, we acquired an apartment community located in Austin that is subject to a long-term ground lease and is comprised of 239 apartment homes and 7,366 square feet of retail space for approximately $30.2 million in cash.  The acquisition was financed through borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.           

Other Acquisitions

       
In May 2003, we acquired property management contracts for 10,684 apartment homes in 32 multifamily apartment communities from Archstone-Smith (the “Archstone Management Business”).  The management and accounting services rendered under the acquired management contracts transitioned to us over a 3-month period.  The purchase price of approximately $6.5 million was structured to be paid in three installments based on the retention of the contracts acquired.  As of September 30, 2003, we had funded $4.3 million of the purchase price in two installments.  The amount of the third installment will be determined and paid in the third quarter of 2004.  

      
In May 2001, we acquired a property management company based in Washington, D.C. that managed approximately 3,600 apartment homes in 24 multifamily apartment communities located in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area (the "D.C. Management Co.").  Our total investment of approximately $1.6 million was paid in three installments based on results of the acquired business operations.
      
Senior Unsecured Note Issuance

      
On September 27, 2002, we issued $40 million of senior unsecured notes in two series in a private placement to an institutional investor: $30 million at an interest rate of 5.86% maturing in September 2009 and $10 million at an interest rate of 6.10% maturing in September 2010. The net proceeds of $39.7 million, together with the net proceeds of $39.7 million from the concurrent issuance by the Trust of the 7.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, were used to retire approximately $82.5 million of senior unsecured notes at an interest rate of 8.3% that were scheduled to mature in December 2002. We did not incur any prepayment costs in connection with the early debt retirement.  Pursuant to a registration rights agreement with the purchaser of the $40 million of senior unsecured notes, we registered new notes with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and offered to exchange those new notes for the original notes.  The new notes, also issued in two series, are identical in all material respects to the original 5.86% notes due 2009 and the 6.10% notes due 2010, except that the new notes are freely-tradable by a holder.  The exchange offer was consummated on September 5, 2003 and did not generate any cash proceeds for us.

      
On July 8, 2002, we issued $180 million of senior unsecured notes which bear interest at a rate of 5.75%, were priced to yield 5.81% and mature in July 2007. The net proceeds of $178.4 million were used to redeem all outstanding shares of the 8.3% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares totaling $115 million on August 9, 2002 and to reduce borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.

Debt Refinancing

       In May 2002, we called $48.4 million of secured tax-exempt bond indebtedness with an interest rate of 6.375% and re-issued the bonds on an unsecured basis at a fixed interest rate of 4.75%. In connection with the early extinguishment of debt, we incurred a prepayment penalty of $1,451 and wrote-off unamortized deferred financing costs totaling $236. Such charges totaling $1,687 were originally reflected as an extraordinary loss in the statements of operations in accordance with accounting rules in effect at that time.  In connection with the adoption of SFAS No. 145 (Note 5) we reclassified the charges totaling $1,687 to “unusual items” within continuing operations.  The called bonds required monthly principal amortization payments that were retained in an escrow account and were not applied to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the loan. Such principal payments held in escrow totaling $4,121 were released in May 2002. This refinancing transaction allowed us to improve our debt constant by 2.75%, unencumber six communities comprising 2,028 apartment homes and achieve a positive net present value result.

5. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

      
In June 2001, SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," (effective for us July 1, 2001) and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," (effective for us January 1, 2002) were issued. These standards govern business combinations, asset acquisitions and the accounting for acquired intangibles. We determine whether intangible assets related to at-market, in-place leases and resident relationships were acquired as part of the acquisition of an apartment community. The resulting intangible assets are recorded at their estimated fair market values at the date of acquisition and amortized over the average remaining lease term of the acquired resident relationships. The adoption of SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142 did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

       In August 2001, SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations," (effective for us January 1, 2003) was issued. SFAS No. 143 requires that entities recognize the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The adoption of SFAS No. 143 did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

        In August 2001, SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," (effective for us January 1, 2002) was issued. SFAS No. 144 addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment of long-lived assets and for long-lived assets to be disposed of. The statement supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of," and among other factors, establishes criteria beyond that previously specified in SFAS No. 121 to determine when a long-lived asset is to be considered as held for sale. The impairment provisions of SFAS No. 144 are similar to SFAS No. 121 and the adoption thereof did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.  As discussed further in Note 6, SFAS No. 144 also requires that the gains and losses from the disposition of certain real estate assets and the related historical operating results be reflected as discontinued operations in the statements of operations for all periods presented. We redeploy capital through the reinvestment of asset disposition proceeds into our business in order to enhance total returns to unitholders. Although net income is not affected, we expect to continue to reclassify results previously included in continuing operations to discontinued operations for any future qualifying dispositions in accordance with SFAS No. 144.   
     
         In April 2002, SFAS No. 145, "Rescission of SFAS Nos. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of SFAS No. 13, and Technical Corrections," was issued.  SFAS No. 145 (effective for us January 1, 2003), among other things, eliminates the requirement that all gains and losses from the extinguishment of debt be aggregated and, if material, classified as an extraordinary item. However, a gain or loss arising from such an event or transaction would continue to be classified as an extraordinary item if the event or transaction is both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence per the criteria in APB No. 30, "Reporting the Results of Operations - Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions."  As part of the transition guidance, although net income would not be affected, gains and losses from debt extinguishment in prior periods that do not meet the criteria in APB No. 30 must be reclassified to continuing operations for all periods presented.  We adopted SFAS No. 145 in the first quarter of 2003 and, as a result, reclassified our May 2002 extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt of $1.7 million to “unusual items” within continuing operations.  This loss on early extinguishment of debt is related to the re-issuance of $48.4 million of tax-exempt bond indebtedness (Note 4).  

         
In June 2002, SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities," was issued. SFAS No. 146 requires the recording of costs associated with exit or disposal activities at their fair values when a liability has been incurred. Under previous guidance, certain exit costs were accrued upon management's commitment to an exit plan, which is generally before an actual liability has been incurred. Adoption of SFAS No. 146 is to be applied prospectively to exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. The adoption of SFAS No. 146 did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

         In November 2002, FIN 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others," was issued.  FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued (Note 10).  It also clarifies that a guarantor is required to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee.  We will apply the initial recognition and initial measurement provisions of FIN 45 on a prospective basis for any guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002.  The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

       In December 2002, SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure," was issued.  SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," to provide alternative methods for transition for an entity that voluntarily changes to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  It also amends the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosure in both interim and annual financial statements about the effects on reported net income of an entity's accounting policy decisions with respect to stock-based employee compensation.  We adopted this standard effective for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, resulting in additional disclosures related to the Trust’s stock-based compensation plan (Note 9).  We began expensing stock-based employee compensation under the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 on a prospective basis beginning January 1, 2003.  Due to the Trust’s limited use of options as a form of compensation since 1999, the adoption of this accounting standard did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.    

        In January 2003, FIN 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities," was issued.  In general, a variable interest entity ("VIE") is an entity that either (a) does not have equity investors with voting rights or (b) has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities.  Until now, a company generally has only consolidated another entity in its financial statements if it controlled the entity through voting interests.  FIN 46 changes that by requiring a VIE to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the VIE's activities or is entitled to receive a majority of the entity's residual returns or both.  The provisions of FIN 46 are to be applied effective immediately for VIEs created after January 31, 2003, and effective October 1, 2003 for VIEs created prior to February 1, 2003.  If it is reasonably possible that an enterprise will consolidate or disclose information about a VIE when FIN 46 becomes effective, the enterprise should make certain disclosures in all financial statements initially issued after January 31, 2003, regardless of the date on which the VIE was created.  We do not believe that it is reasonably possible that the adoption of FIN 46 will result in the consolidation of any previously unconsolidated entities.

       In May 2003, SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity,” was issued.  SFAS No. 150 (effective for us July 1, 2003) establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity.  Upon adoption of  SFAS No. 150, we reclassified our mandatorily redeemable Series Z Preferred Units to the liability section of our balance sheet and, beginning July 1, 2003, have recorded distributions on the Series Z Preferred Units as interest expense in our statements of operations.  The adoption of SFAS No. 150 did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.
 
       In July 2003, EITF Abstracts, Topic No. D-42, "The Effect on the Calculation of Earnings per Share for the Redemption or Induced Conversion of Preferred Stock," was clarified. Topic No. D-42 requires that, in arriving at net earnings available to common shareholders in the calculation of earnings per share, the excess of (1) the fair value of the consideration transferred to the holders of preferred stock over (2) the carrying amount of the preferred stock in the balance sheet be subtracted from net earnings.  In July 2003, it was clarified that the carrying amount of the preferred stock should be reduced by the issuance costs of the preferred stock, regardless of where in the stockholders' equity section those costs were initially classified upon issuance.  Prior to this clarification, we had not considered issuance costs in determining the carrying amount of preferred units. This clarification of Topic No. D-42 is required to be reflected retroactively in the first fiscal period ending after September 15, 2003, by restating the financial statements of prior periods in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 27-30 of APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes.” The Trust redeemed all Series A Preferred Shares in August 2002 and, in accordance with this clarification, we have subtracted the $4.0 million original issuance costs of the Series A Preferred Shares in arriving at net income available to common unitholders in the calculation of earnings per unit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002. We will also apply the provisions of Topic No. D-42 to any future redemptions of preferred stock, including our planned redemption of the Series B Preferred Units on November 17, 2003 (Note 2).

6.  DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

       
We adopted SFAS No. 144 effective January 1, 2002 which requires, among other things, that the operating results of certain real estate assets which have been sold subsequent to January 1, 2002, or otherwise qualify as held for disposition (as defined by SFAS No. 144), be reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. We have sold the following wholly-owned operating real estate assets:  three during the first quarter of 2002, one during the fourth quarter of 2002, one during the first quarter of 2003 and two during the third quarter of 2003.  However, we retained management of two of the assets sold during the first quarter of 2002. Due to our continuing involvement with the operations of the two assets sold for which we retained management, the operating results of these assets are included in continuing operations. The operating results for the five remaining wholly-owned assets sold during the first and fourth quarters of 2002 and first and third quarters of 2003 for which we did not retain management are reflected as discontinued operations in the accompanying statements of operations for all periods presented. Interest expense has been allocated to the results of the discontinued operations in accordance with EITF No. 87-24. We had no assets that qualified as held for disposition as defined by SFAS No. 144 at September 30, 2003 or December 31, 2002.

      Condensed financial information of the results of operations for the real estate assets sold reflected as discontinued operations is as follows:

Three Months  
Ended         
September 30,

Nine Months  
Ended       
September 30,

2003

2002

2003

2002

Total property revenues

$      783

$3,079

$ 4,394

$8,953


Property operating and maintenance expense
    (exclusive of items shown separately below)
Real estate asset depreciation and amortization
Interest expense
   Total expenses


 
      390
       201
      110
     701







1,484
   594
   510
2,588








1,981
1,068
       637
3,686





3,900
1,770
  1,139
6,809



Operating income from discontinued operations


        82



    491

  
       708


  2,144


Gain on disposition of discontinued operations


   12,368


            -


17,410  



2,198


Income from discontinued operations


$12,450


  $ 491


$18,118


$4,342

7.   EARNINGS PER UNIT

      
Basic earnings per unit are computed based on net income available to common unitholders and the weighted average number of common units outstanding. Diluted earnings per unit reflect the assumed issuance of common units under the Trust’s share option and incentive plan.  The numerator and denominator used for both basic and diluted earnings per unit computations are as follows:

Three Months
   Ended 
September 30,

Nine Months
   Ended
September 30,

    2003 

    2002

    2003 

    2002

Basic and diluted income available to common unitholders (numerator):

Income from continuing operations (net of preferred distributions and original
   issuance costs associated with redemption of preferred units) - basic and diluted

Income from discontinued operations – basic and diluted


Net income available to common unitholders – basic and diluted

Common units (denominator):
Average common units outstanding – basic
Incremental common units from assumed conversions of:
   Stock options
   Other
Average common units outstanding – diluted


$  5,219

$12,450


$17,669


31,525

128
         11
  31,664


$  3,978

$     491


$  4,469


30,718

87
         7
30,812


$16,396

$18,118


$34,514


30,752

83
         10
  30,845


$38,191

$  4,342

$42,533


30,662

137
          6
30,805

8.  SEGMENT REPORTING

       Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Our chief operating decision maker is our senior management group.

       We own, operate and develop multifamily apartment communities in major markets located in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Tennessee. Such apartment communities generate rental revenue and other income through the leasing of apartment homes to a diverse base of residents.  The operating performance of each of our communities is affected by the supply and demand dynamics within the immediate submarket or neighborhood of the major market that each such community is located in.  We evaluate the performance of each of our apartment communities on an individual basis. However, because each of our apartment communities has similar economic characteristics, residents, and products and services, our apartment communities have been aggregated into one reportable segment. This segment comprises 92% of our total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, and 93% and 92% of our total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

      The primary financial measure for our reportable business segment is net operating income ("NOI"), which represents total property revenues less property operating and maintenance expenses.  Property operating and maintenance expenses represent direct property operating and maintenance expenses as reflected in our accompanying statements of operations and exclude certain expenses included in the determination of net income such as property management and other indirect operating expenses, interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense.  These items are excluded from NOI in order to provide results that are more closely related to a property’s results of operations.  NOI is also used by industry analysts and investors to measure operating performance of our apartment communities. Current year NOI is compared to prior year NOI and current year budgeted NOI as a measure of financial performance. The NOI yield or return on total capitalized costs is an additional measure of financial performance. NOI from our wholly-owned apartment communities included in continuing operations is as follows:

Three Months Ended
September 30,     

Nine Months Ended
September 30,     

2003

2002

2003

2002

Total property revenues
Less:  Property operating and maintenance expenses

$57,385
  21,356

$53,434
  20,064

$167,531
   60,121

$160,561
       56,917

Net operating income (NOI)

$36,029

$33,370

  $107,410

$103,644

      Below is a reconciliation of NOI to income from continuing operations before equity in income of joint ventures and gain on sale (this caption in the accompanying statements of operations is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to NOI).

Three Months Ended
September 30,     

Nine Months Ended
September 30,     

2003

2002

2003

2002

Net operating income (NOI)

$36,029

$33,370

$107,410

$103,644

Less other expenses:

Real estate asset depreciation and amortization

(13,123

)

(10,142

)

(38,084

)

(33,209

)

Property management – owned

(1,500

)

(1,328

)

(4,857

)

(4,774

)

Property management – third party

(2,268

)

(1,560

)

(6,041

)

(4,856

)

Ancillary services

(992

)

(1,181

)

(3,302

)

(3,960

)

Interest expense and credit enhancement fees

(11,499

)

(11,760

)

(33,897

)

(31,645

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs

(494

)

(426

)

(1,400

)

(958

)

General and administrative

(2,052

)

(2,052

)

(6,657

)

(5,727

)

Corporate asset depreciation and amortization

(576

)

(405

)

(1,400

)

(1,286

)

Unusual items

            - 

            - 

            - 

  (1,687

)

   Total other expenses

(32,504

)

(28,854

)

(95,638

)

(88,102

)

Add other revenues:

Property management revenues

2,345

1,780

6,145

5,452

Ancillary services revenues

2,139

1,931

5,465

6,586

Interest income

3

155

164

336

Other revenues

   424

   576

     544

     661

   Total other revenues

4,911

4,442

12,318

13,035

Income from continuing operations before equity in income
   of  joint ventures and gain on sale


$8,436


$8,958


$24,090


$28,577

        All other measurements for our reportable segment are disclosed in our consolidated financial statements.

         We also provide management, development and construction, corporate apartment home and brokerage services to third parties and unconsolidated joint ventures. These operations, on an individual and aggregate basis, do not meet the quantitative thresholds for segment reporting set forth in SFAS No. 131.

9.  STOCK OPTIONS

      
Beginning January 1, 2003, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, for stock-based employee compensation.  Under the prospective method of adoption selected by us, the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 apply to all new employee option awards granted by the Trust after December 31, 2002.  Prior option awards will continue to be accounted for under APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” under which no compensation cost has been recognized since all options have been granted with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the Trust’s common shares on the date of grant.  Had compensation cost on all outstanding and unvested option awards been determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, our net income and earnings per unit would have been the following pro forma amounts:

  Three Months Ended
  September 30,      

Nine Months Ended
September 30,      

2003

2002

2003

2002

 

Net income available to common unitholders, as reported

Deduct:  Total stock-based employee compensation expense
   determined under fair value based method for all option awards

Net income available to common unitholders, pro forma

Earnings per unit:
     Basic – as reported
     Basic – pro forma
     Diluted – as reported
     Diluted – pro forma

$17,669


           -

$17,669


$0.56
$0.56
$0.56
$0.56




$4,469


(      74

$4,395


$0.15
$0.14
$0.15
$0.14




)

$34,514


(          27

$34,487


$1.12
$1.12
$1.12
$1.12




)

$42,533


(      277

$42,256


$1.39
$1.38
$1.38
$1.37




)

 

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Development and Construction Commitments

       We currently have five communities under development that are expected to comprise 1,480 apartment homes upon completion and an indirect 20% ownership interest in two development communities that are expected to comprise 373 apartment homes upon completion.  The estimated costs to complete the development of these assets total $75 million at September 30, 2003, including $1 million of costs that we are obligated to fund for the co-investment development communities.  These costs are expected to be initially funded by $27 million in construction loan proceeds and $48 million in borrowings under our credit facilities.

       We have letter of credit and performance obligations of approximately $10.7 million related to our wholly-owned development and construction activities.  As the related development and construction activities are completed, such obligations will be reduced accordingly.

       We are currently serving as general contractor for the construction of four apartment communities for third parties and unconsolidated joint ventures under "cost plus a fee" contracts with guaranteed maximum prices on the costs of construction of approximately $65 million in aggregate.  The construction of these assets was 68% complete in aggregate at September 30, 2003.  Under these contracts, we are obligated to fund any construction cost overruns that are not recovered through a change order.  In addition, we are entitled to a share of the savings generated under these contracts, if any, in the form of an incentive fee.  We are also providing general contractor or construction management services for several construction projects related to existing apartment communities owned by third parties.  There are no guaranteed maximum prices on the costs of construction for these projects.  Because our clients are obligated to fund the costs that are incurred on their behalf pursuant to the related contracts, we net the reimbursement of these costs against the billings for such costs.  Development and construction fees are recognized when earned using the percentage of completion method. During the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, we recognized $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, in development and construction fees under related contracts with gross billings of $8.6 million and $9.2 million, respectively.   During the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, we recognized $2.0 million and $1.8 million, respectively, in development and construction fees under related contracts with gross billings of $28.1 million and $31.5 million, respectively.  Such development and construction fees are included in ancillary services revenues in the accompanying statements of operations.

Ground Leases

      
We are party to two long-term ground leases for two apartment communities in Austin with initial terms expiring in 2044 and 2065. We have paid the ground lease rent in full for these leases through the initial term. The prepaid lease payments, net of accumulated amortization, are included in other assets, net in the accompanying balance sheets. We are party to long-term ground leases for an apartment community in Atlanta and an apartment community in Austin with initial terms expiring in 2075 and 2069, respectively. The payments under the Atlanta lease and the Austin lease are made on a monthly and quarterly basis, respectively. Future minimum lease payments and rent expense for these ground leases are not material. 

Joint Venture Indebtedness and Related Recourse Guarantee Obligations

       The apartment community owned and operated by the Arbors of Harbortown JV, in which we have a 25% ownership interest, is secured by a $16.4 million tax-exempt bond obligation which bears interest at a low-floater rate.  The credit enhancement for the bond obligation is provided by our venture partner and expires in May 2006.  The maturity date of the underlying bond issue is April 2013.   None of the bond indebtedness is recourse to us.

       At September 30, 2003, the apartment community owned by the GRAP JV, in which we have a 20% ownership interest, was secured by a $24.6 million construction loan which was scheduled to mature in March 2004 and bore interest at LIBOR plus 1.65%.  In October 2003, the construction loan was repaid with proceeds from a $28.0 million permanent loan secured by the community.  This new loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.2% and matures in October 2008.  None of this indebtedness is recourse to us.

       At September 30, 2003, each of the five communities owned by the Gables Residential Apartment Portfolio JV Two (the “GRAP JV Two”), in which we have a 20% ownership interest, is secured by a construction loan.  The construction loans have initial maturity dates ranging from April 2004 to June 2005, with various extension options.  As of September 30, 2003, there was an aggregate of $62.3 million of indebtedness outstanding under these construction loans which currently bear interest at spreads over LIBOR ranging from 1.45% to 1.70%.  In October 2003, two of the construction loans totaling $37.7 million were repaid with proceeds from two permanent loans totaling $39.5 million, in each case secured by the related community.  These new loans mature in October 2008 and bear interest at fixed rates of 4.25% and 4.30%, respectively.  None of the indebtedness associated with these two permanent loans is recourse to us.  We do, however, have a limited payment guaranty on two of the remaining three construction loans with committed fundings aggregating $21.3 million.  Pursuant to the limited guaranty, we are obligated to pay to the lender a stipulated percentage of all amounts of principal, interest and any other indebtedness becoming due and payable on the loans that is not paid by the borrower, subject to a maximum guaranteed amount of $7.2 million.  At September 30, 2003, there is $16.2 million of principal outstanding under these loans and the portion of this principal that is recourse to us is $6.0 million.  These loans have initial maturity dates of October 2004 and June 2005 and have two extension options that, if exercised, would result in final maturity dates of April 2007 and June 2007, respectively.  There are no principal amortization requirements through the initial maturity dates.  The inability of the venture to pay any principal or interest under these loans when due would require us to perform under this guaranty obligation.  To the extent we are required to make a payment to the lender under the guaranty agreement, our venture partner would be obligated to pay us its share of that payment based on its ownership interest percentage in the venture.  We have not recorded a liability on our accompanying consolidated balance sheets in connection with this recourse obligation.

       Each of the three communities owned by the CMS Tennessee Multifamily JV, in which we have a 8.26% ownership interest, is secured by a conventional fixed-rate loan with a maturity of January 2011.  As of September 30, 2003, there was an aggregate of $51.8 million of indebtedness outstanding under these loans which bear interest at a rate of 7.22%.  None of this indebtedness is recourse to us.

Office Leases

       We are party to operating leases for office space with various terms. Future minimum lease payments and rent expense for such leases are not material.

Archstone Management Business
Acquisition

        In May 2003, we acquired property management contracts for 10,684 apartment homes in 32 multifamily apartment communities from Archstone-Smith.   The purchase price of approximately $6.5 million was structured to be paid in three installments based on the retention of the contracts acquired.  As of September 30, 2003, we had funded $4.3 million of the purchase price in two installments.  The amount of the third installment will be determined and paid in the third quarter of 2004.  

Contingencies

      We are subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arose in the ordinary course of business.  We believe that these matters are generally covered by insurance. While the resolution of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe that the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial statements.

11.  UNUSUAL ITEMS

       Unusual items of $1,687 in 2002 represent the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs of $236 and a prepayment penalty of $1,451 associated with the early retirement of $48,365 of secured tax-exempt bond indebtedness.  Under accounting rules in effect at that time, these costs were classified as an extraordinary item.  In connection with the adoption of SFAS No. 145 on January 1, 2003, these costs were reclassified from extraordinary items to unusual items (Notes 4 and 5).  These bonds had an interest rate of 6.375% which we were able to re-issue on an unsecured basis at a rate of 4.75%, resulting in a positive net present value.

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Property and Per Unit Data)

      All references to "we," "our" or "us" refer collectively to Gables Realty Limited Partnership and its subsidiaries.

       We are the entity through which Gables Residential Trust (the "Trust"), a real estate investment trust (a "REIT"), conducts substantially all of its business and owns, either directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, substantially all of its assets. We are focused within the multifamily industry in demand-driven markets throughout the United States that have exhibited high job growth and resiliency to economic downturns. Our operating performance is based predominantly on net operating income (NOI) from our apartment communities.  NOI, which represents total property revenues less property operating and maintenance expenses (as reflected in the consolidated statements of operations), is affected by the demand and supply dynamics within our markets.  See Note 8, Segment Reporting, to the accompanying financial statements for further discussion of our use of NOI as the primary financial measure of performance for our apartment communities. Our performance is also affected by the general availability and cost of capital and our ability to develop and acquire additional apartment communities with returns in excess of our long-term weighted average cost of capital.

Business Objective and Strategies

       The Trust’s objective is to increase shareholder value by producing consistent high quality earnings to sustain dividends and annual total returns that exceed the NAREIT Apartment Index. To achieve that objective, we employ a number of business strategies. First, our long-term investment strategy is research-driven, with the objective of creating a portfolio of high quality assets in strategically selected markets that are complementary through economic diversity and characterized by high job growth and resiliency to national economic downturns. We believe such a portfolio will provide predictable operating cash flow performance that exceeds the national average on a sustainable basis. Second, we adhere to a strategy of owning and operating high quality, class AA/A apartment communities under the Gables brand in Established Premium Neighborhoods,™ or EPNs. EPNs are generally characterized as areas with the highest prices for single-family homes on a per square foot basis. We believe that such communities, when located in EPNs and supplemented with high quality service and amenities, attract the affluent renter-by-choice who is willing to pay a premium for location preference, superior service and high quality communities. The resulting portfolio should maintain high levels of occupancy and rental rates relative to overall market conditions. This, coupled with more predictable operating expenses and reduced capital expenditure requirements associated with high quality construction materials, should lead to operating margins that exceed national averages for the apartment sector and sustainable growth in operating cash flow. Third, our aim is to be recognized as the employer of choice within the industry. Our mission of Taking Care of the Way People Live® involves innovative human resource practices that we believe will attract and retain the highest caliber associates. Because of our long-established presence as a fully integrated apartment management, development, construction, acquisition and disposition company within our markets, we have the ability to offer multi-faceted career opportunities among the various disciplines within the industry. Finally, our capital strategy is to generate a return on invested capital that exceeds our long-term weighted average cost of capital while maintaining financial flexibility through a conservative, investment grade credit profile. We judiciously manage our capital and we redeploy capital through the reinvestment of asset disposition proceeds into our business.

      We believe we are well positioned to continue achieving our objectives because (1) the markets we have selected for investment are projected to continue to experience job growth that exceed national averages, (2) our EPN locations are expected to outperform local market results and (3) national demand for apartments is expected to increase during the next ten to fifteen years as the demographic group referred to as the Echo Boomer generation begins to form new households.

       Rental rates have declined slightly as a result of national economic weakness and low mortgage rates, but the execution of our operating tactics have resulted in occupancy levels that have returned to historically high levels.  We expect total property revenues on a same-store basis in 2003 to be slightly lower than 2002 results.  In addition, we expect property operating and maintenance expenses on a same-store basis for 2003 to increase over 2002 at a rate approximating inflation.  Operating fundamentals for our business are expected to improve as job growth improves in our markets.  The job growth prospects for our markets are partially related to national economic conditions.  It is uncertain whether, and to what extent, the national economy and related job growth will improve in the remainder of 2003.

      We evaluate, in the ordinary course of our business, the continued ownership of our assets relative to available opportunities to acquire and develop new assets and relative to available equity and debt capital financing.  We sell assets if we determine that such sales are the most attractive sources of capital for redeployment in our business, for repayment of debt, for repurchase of stock and for other uses. We maintain staffing levels sufficient to meet our existing development, construction, acquisition and property operating activities. When market conditions warrant, we adjust staffing levels in an attempt to mitigate a negative impact on our results of operations.

Forward-Looking Statements

       This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  Actual results or developments could differ materially from those projected in such statements as a result of the risk factors set forth under “Certain Factors Affecting Future Operating Results” in this Item 2 and elsewhere in this report. The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

Common and Preferred Equity Activity

Secondary Common Share Offerings

       Since the initial public offering in January 1994, the Trust has issued a total of 17,331 common shares in nine offerings, generating $426.7 million in net proceeds which were generally used (1) to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our interim financing vehicles utilized to fund our development and acquisition activities and (2) for general working capital purposes, including funding of future development and acquisition activities.  The most recent offering, involving the issuance of 2,500 common shares that generated $79.0 million in net proceeds, closed on August 26, 2003.  An existing institutional shareholder of the Trust who wished to participate in the offering required a waiver of the Trust’s 9.8% ownership limitation in order to acquire such additional shares.  The Trust decided it was appropriate to grant the waiver to the extent necessary to allow the shareholder to acquire shares in the offering.

Preferred Share Offerings

       On May 8, 2003, the Trust issued 3,000 shares of 7.5% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $25.00 per share). The net proceeds from this issuance of approximately $72.4 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our interim financing vehicles. The Series D Preferred Shares may be redeemed at the Trust’s option at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends on or after May 8, 2008. The Series D Preferred Shares are not subject to any sinking fund or convertible into any other securities of the Trust. 

       On September 27, 2002, the Trust issued 1,600 shares of 7.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) in a private placement to an institutional investor. The net proceeds from this issuance of $39.7 million, together with the net proceeds of $39.7 million from the concurrent issuance of $40 million of senior unsecured notes, were used to retire approximately $82.5 million of unsecured indebtedness at an interest rate of 8.3% that was scheduled to mature in December 2002. Pursuant to a registration rights agreement with the purchaser of the Series C Preferred Shares, the Trust registered a new series of preferred shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission and offered to exchange those shares on a one-for-one basis for the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares.  The dividend rate, preferences and other terms for the new preferred shares, or 7.875% Series C-1 Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, are identical in all material respects to the Series C Preferred Shares, except that the Series C-1 Preferred Shares are freely tradable by a holder.  The exchange offer was consummated on September 5, 2003 and did not generate any cash proceeds for us.  The Series C-1 Preferred Shares may be redeemed at the Trust’s option at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends on or after September 27, 2006.  The Series C-1 Preferred Shares are not subject to any sinking fund or convertible into any other securities of the Trust.

       On June 18, 1998, the Trust issued 180 shares of 5.0% Series Z Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) in connection with the acquisition of a parcel of land for future development. The Series Z Preferred Shares, which are subject to mandatory redemption on June 18, 2018, may be redeemed at the Trust’s option at any time for $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends.  The Series Z Preferred Shares are not subject to any sinking fund or convertible into any other securities of the Trust.

       On July 24, 1997, the Trust issued 4,600 shares of 8.30% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $25.00 per share). The net proceeds from this offering of $111.0 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our interim financing vehicles. The Trust redeemed all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares for $115 million on August 9, 2002 with the proceeds from our $180 million senior unsecured note issuance on July 8, 2002.  The redemption price of the Series A Preferred Shares exceeded the related carrying value by the $4.0 million of issuance costs originally incurred by us and classified as a reduction to partners' capital.  Previously reported net income available to common unitholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 has been reduced by the $4.0 million excess in accordance with the July 2003 clarification of EITF Abstracts, Topic No. D-42, "The Effect on the Calculation of Earnings per Share for the Redemption or Induced Conversion of Preferred Stock"  (see Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements). 

Issuances of Common Operating Partnership Units

       Since the IPO, we have issued a total of 4,421 common units in connection with the 1998 acquisition of the real estate assets and operations of Trammell Crow Residential South Florida, the acquisition of other operating apartment communities and the acquisition of a parcel of land for future development.

Issuance of Preferred Operating Partnership Units

       On November 12, 1998, we issued 2,000 of our 8.625% Series B Preferred Units to an institutional investor. The net proceeds from this issuance of $48.7 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our interim financing vehicles. The Trust has the option, and as described below has elected, to redeem the Series B Preferred Units after November 14, 2003 at $25.00 per unit plus accrued and unpaid dividends. These units are exchangeable by the holder into 8.625% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of the Trust on a one-for-one basis; however, this exchange right is generally not exercisable until after November 14, 2008. The Series B Preferred Units have no stated maturity, sinking fund or mandatory redemption.  On October 17, 2003, we gave notice that we will redeem each of the 2,000 outstanding Series B Preferred Units on November 17, 2003.  The redemption price of the Series B Preferred Units will exceed the related carrying value by the $1.3 million of issuance costs originally incurred by us and classified as a reduction to partners' capital.  Upon redemption in the fourth quarter of 2003, the $1.3 million excess will be reflected as a reduction to earnings in arriving at net income available to common unitholders in accordance with the July 2003 clarification of Topic No. D-42 (see Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements).

Common Equity Repurchase Program

       We have a common equity repurchase program pursuant to which the Trust is authorized to purchase up to $200 million of its outstanding common shares or units.  We view the repurchase of common equity with consideration of other investment alternatives when capital is available to be deployed.  The Trust has repurchased shares from time to time in open market and privately negotiated transactions, depending on market prices and other prevailing conditions, using proceeds from sales of selected assets. Whenever the Trust repurchases common shares from shareholders, we are required to redeem from the Trust an equivalent number of common units on the same terms and for the same aggregate price. After redemption, the common units redeemed by us are no longer deemed outstanding.  We have also repurchased common units for cash upon their presentation for redemption by common unitholders. As of September 30, 2003, we had redeemed 4,806 common units, including 4,506 common units redeemed by the Trust, for a total of $116.0 million, including $0.2 million in related commissions.

Shelf Registration Statement

      We have an effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which the Trust has $500 million of equity capacity and we have $500 million of debt capacity.   We believe it is prudent to maintain shelf registration capacity in order to facilitate future capital raising activities. To date, there have been no issuances of securities under this registration statement. 

Portfolio and Other Financing Activity


Community Dispositions Subject to Discontinued Operations Reporting

      
In August 2003, we sold two apartment communities located in Houston comprising 641 apartment homes.  The net proceeds from this sale were approximately $51.3 million and were used to pay down outstanding borrowings under our interim financing vehicles. The gain from the sale of these communities was approximately $12.4 million and was recognized in the third quarter of 2003.     

        In February 2003, we sold an apartment community located in Dallas comprising 300 apartment homes.  The net proceeds from this sale were $18.7 million and were used to pay down outstanding borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.  The gain from the sale of this community was $5.0 million and was recognized in the first quarter of 2003.

      During 2002, we sold two apartment communities located in Houston comprising 660 apartment homes. The net proceeds from these sales were $43.2 million and were used to pay down outstanding borrowings under our interim financing vehicles and purchase common shares and units under our common equity repurchase program. The aggregate gain from the sale of these two communities was $9.8 million.  One of these sales occurred during the first quarter of 2002, resulting in a $2.2 million gain.  The other sale occurred during the fourth quarter of 2002.

       Historical operating results and gains are reflected as discontinued operations in our consolidated statements of operations.  See Notes 5 and 6 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Community and Land Dispositions Not Subject to Discontinued Operations Reporting

      
During 2002, we sold a 13.3 acre parcel of land in Houston that was adjacent to an apartment community sold, an apartment community located in Houston comprising 246 apartment homes and an apartment community located in Atlanta comprising 311 apartment homes. The net proceeds from these sales were $46.8 million and were used to pay down outstanding borrowings under our interim financing vehicles and purchase common shares and units under our common equity repurchase program. The gain from the land sale was $0.8 million and the aggregate gain from the sale of the two communities was $17.9 million.   All of these sale transactions occurred during the first quarter of 2002.  In addition, we recognized $1.3 million of deferred gain during the year ended December 31, 2002 associated with prior year sale transactions, of which $0.3 million and $1.3 million was recognized during the three months and nine months, respectively, ended September 30, 2002.

     During 2002, the Gables Residential Apartment Portfolio JV (the "GRAP JV") sold two apartment communities located in South Florida comprising 610 apartment homes, an apartment community in Dallas comprising 222 apartment homes and an apartment community located in Houston comprising 382 apartment homes. Our share of the net sales proceeds after repayment of construction loan indebtedness of $46.7 million was $10.7 million, resulting in a gain of $2.6 million.  Two of these sales occurred during the first quarter of 2002, resulting in a $1.8 million gain to us.  The other two sales occurred during the third quarter of 2002, resulting in a $0.8 million gain to us.

      Historical operating results and gains are included in continuing operations in our consolidated statements of operations. See Notes 5 and 6 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Community Acquisitions

       On July 15, 2003, we acquired an apartment community located in Washington, D.C. comprising 211 apartment homes for approximately $53.0 million in cash.  The acquisition was financed through borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.

       On May 30, 2003, we acquired an apartment community located in Dallas comprising 334 apartment homes for approximately $33.5 million in cash.  The acquisition was financed through borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.

       On February 20, 2003, we acquired an apartment community located in Austin that is subject to a long-term ground lease and is comprised of 239 apartment homes and 7,366 square feet of retail space for approximately $30.2 million in cash.  The acquisition was financed through borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.

Other Acquisitions

       In May 2003, we acquired property management contracts for 10,684 apartment homes in 32 multifamily apartment communities from Archstone-Smith (the “Archstone Management Business”).  The management and accounting services rendered under the acquired management contracts transitioned to us over a 3-month period.  The purchase price of approximately $6.5 million was structured to be paid in three installments based on the retention of the contracts acquired.  As of September 30, 2003, we had funded $4.3 million of the purchase price in two installments.  The amount of the third installment will be determined and paid in the third quarter of 2004.

       In May 2001, we acquired a property management company based in Washington, D.C. that managed approximately 3,600 apartment homes in 24 multifamily apartment communities located in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area (the "D.C. Management Co."). Our total investment of approximately $1.6 million was paid in three installments based on results of the acquired business operations.   

Senior Unsecured Note Issuance

      
On September 27, 2002, we issued $40 million of senior unsecured notes in two series in a private placement to an institutional investor: $30 million at an interest rate of 5.86% maturing in September 2009 and $10 million at an interest rate of 6.10% maturing in September 2010. The net proceeds of $39.7 million, together with the net proceeds of $39.7 million from the concurrent issuance by the Trust of the 7.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, were used to retire approximately $82.5 million of senior unsecured notes at an interest rate of 8.3% that were scheduled to mature in December 2002. We did not incur any prepayment costs in connection with the early debt retirement.  Pursuant to a registration rights agreement with the purchaser of the $40 million of senior unsecured notes, we registered new notes with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and offered to exchange those new notes for the original notes.  The new notes, also issued in two series, are identical in all material respects to the original 5.86% notes due 2009 and the 6.10% notes due 2010, except that the new notes are freely-tradable by a holder.  The exchange offer was consummated on September 5, 2003 and did not generate any cash proceeds for us.

      
On July 8, 2002, we issued $180 million of senior unsecured notes which bear interest at a rate of 5.75%, were priced to yield 5.81% and mature in July 2007. The net proceeds of $178.4 million were used to redeem all outstanding shares of the 8.3% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares totaling $115 million on August 9, 2002 and to reduce borrowings under our interim financing vehicles.

Debt Refinancing

       In May 2002, we called $48.4 million of secured tax-exempt bond indebtedness with an interest rate of 6.375% and re-issued the bonds on an unsecured basis at a fixed interest rate of 4.75%. In connection with the early extinguishment of the debt, we incurred a prepayment penalty of $1,451 and wrote-off unamortized deferred financing costs of $236. Such charges totaling $1,687 were originally reflected as an extraordinary loss in our consolidated statements of operations in accordance with accounting rules in effect at that time.  In connection with the adoption of SFAS No. 145 (see Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements) we reclassified the charges totaling $1,687 to “unusual items” within continuing operations.  The called bonds required monthly principal amortization payments that were retained in an escrow account and were not applied to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the loan. Such principal payments held in escrow totaling $4,121 were released in May 2002. This refinancing transaction allowed us to improve our debt constant by 2.75%, unencumber six communities comprising 2,028 apartment homes and achieve a positive net present value result.

Critical Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

       Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and a summary of our significant accounting policies is included in Notes 4 and 6 to the updated consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002 included in our Form 8-K dated September 15, 2003. Notes 5 and 6 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements include a summary of recent accounting pronouncements and their actual or expected impact on our consolidated financial statements. Our preparation of the financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Our actual results may differ from these estimates. As an owner, operator and developer of apartment communities, our critical accounting policies relate to revenue recognition, cost capitalization and asset impairment evaluation.

Revenue Recognition

      Rental: We lease our residential properties under operating leases with terms generally equal to one year or less. Rental income is recognized when earned, which materially approximates revenue recognition on a straight-line basis.

      Property management: We provide property management services to third parties and unconsolidated joint ventures. Property management fees are recognized when earned.

      Ancillary services: We provide development and construction, corporate rental housing and brokerage services to third parties and unconsolidated joint ventures. Development and construction services are typically provided under "cost plus a fee" contracts.  Because our clients are obligated to fund the costs that are incurred on their behalf pursuant to the related contract, we net the reimbursement of these costs against the billings for such costs.  Development and construction fees are recognized when earned using the percentage of completion method. During the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, we recognized $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, in development and construction fees under related contracts with gross billings of $8.6 million and $9.2 million, respectively.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, we recognized $2.0 million and $1.8 million, respectively, in development and construction fees under related contracts with gross billings of $28.1 million and $31.5 million, respectively. Corporate rental housing revenues and brokerage commissions are recognized when earned.

      Gains on sales of real estate assets: Gains on sales of real estate assets are recognized pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 66, "Accounting for Sales of Real Estate."  The specific timing of the recognition of the sale and the related gain is measured against the various criteria in SFAS No. 66 related to the terms of the transactions and any continuing involvement associated with the assets sold.  To the extent the sales criteria are not met, we defer gain recognition until the sales criteria are met.

Cost Capitalization 

      As a vertically integrated real estate company, we have in-house investment professionals involved in the development, construction and acquisition of apartment communities. Direct internal costs associated with development and construction activities for wholly-owned assets are included in the capitalized development cost of such assets. Direct internal costs associated with development and construction activities for third parties and unconsolidated joint ventures are reflected in ancillary services expense as the related services are being rendered. As required by GAAP, we expense all internal costs associated with the acquisition of operating apartment communities to general and administrative expense in the period such costs are incurred. We maintain staffing levels sufficient to meet our existing development, construction and acquisition activities. When market conditions warrant, we adjust staffing levels in an attempt to mitigate a negative impact on our results of operations.

      Our real estate development pursuits are subject to obtaining permits and other governmental approvals, as well as our ongoing business review of the underlying real estate fundamentals and the impact on our capital structure. We do not always move forward with development of our real estate pursuits, and therefore, we evaluate the viability of real estate pursuits and the recoverability of capitalized pursuit costs regularly. Based on this periodic review, we expense any costs that are deemed unrealizable at that time to general and administrative expense.

       During the development and construction of a new apartment community, we capitalize related interest costs, as well as other carrying costs such as property taxes and insurance. We begin to expense these items as the construction of the community becomes substantially complete and the residential apartment homes become available for initial occupancy. Accordingly, we gradually reduce the amounts we capitalize as construction is being completed. During the lease-up period, as a community transitions from initial occupancy to stabilized occupancy, revenues are generally insufficient to cover interest, carrying costs and operating expenses. The size and duration of this lease-up deficit depends on how quickly construction is completed, how quickly the apartments available for occupancy are leased, and what rent levels are achieved at the community.

       Expenditures in excess of $1 for purchases of a new asset with a useful life in excess of one year and for replacements and repairs that extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized and depreciated over their useful lives. Recurring value retention capital expenditures are typically incurred every year during the life of a community and include such expenditures as carpet, flooring and appliances. Non-recurring capital expenditures are costs that are generally incurred in connection with a major project impacting an entire community, such as roof replacement, parking lot resurfacing, exterior painting and siding replacement. Value-enhancing capital expenditures are costs for which an incremental value is expected to be achieved from increasing the NOI potential for a community or recharacterizing the quality of the income stream with an anticipated reduction in potential sales cap rate for items such as replacement of wood siding with a masonry based hardi-board product, amenity upgrades and additions, installation of security gates and additions of covered parking. Recurring value retention and non-recurring and/or value-enhancing capital expenditures do not include costs incurred in connection with a major renovation of an apartment community. Repairs and maintenance, such as landscaping maintenance, interior painting and cleaning and supplies used in such activities, are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation and Asset Impairment Evaluation

        Under GAAP, real estate assets are stated at the lower of depreciated cost or fair value, if deemed impaired.  Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of 20 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 5 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. As required by GAAP, we periodically evaluate our real estate assets to determine if there has been any impairment in their carrying value and record impairment losses if there are indicators of impairment and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets carrying amounts. No such impairment losses have been recognized to date.

Purchase Price Allocation for Apartment Community Acquisitions

       In connection with the acquisition of an apartment community, we perform a valuation and allocation to each asset and liability acquired in such transaction, based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The valuation of assets acquired subsequent to July 1, 2001, the effective date of SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," includes both tangible assets and intangible assets. Tangible asset values, consisting of land, buildings and improvements, and furniture, fixtures and equipment, are reflected in real estate assets and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Intangible asset values, consisting of at-market, in-place leases and resident relationships, are reflected in other assets and amortized over the average remaining lease term of the acquired resident relationships.

Discontinued Operations

      
We adopted SFAS No. 144 effective January 1, 2002 which requires, among other things, that the operating results of certain real estate assets which have been sold subsequent to January 1, 2002, or otherwise qualify as held for disposition (as defined by SFAS No. 144), be reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. We have sold the following wholly-owned operating real estate assets:  three during the first quarter of 2002, one during the fourth quarter of 2002, one during the first quarter of 2003 and two during the third quarter of 2003.  However, we retained management of two of the assets sold during the first quarter of 2002. Due to our continuing involvement with the operations of the two assets sold for which we retained management, the operating results of these assets are included in continuing operations. The operating results for the five remaining wholly-owned assets sold during the first and fourth quarters of 2002 and first and third quarters of 2003 for which we did not retain management are reflected as discontinued operations in the accompanying statements of operations for all periods presented. Interest expense has been allocated to the results of the discontinued operations in accordance with EITF No. 87-24. We had no assets that qualified as held for disposition as defined by SFAS No. 144 at September 30, 2003 or December 31, 2002.

Results of Operations

Comparison of operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2003  (the “2003 Period”) to the three months ended September 30, 2002 (the “2002 Period”)

       Our net income is generated primarily from the operation of our apartment communities and the disposition of assets that no longer meet our investment criteria.  For purposes of evaluating comparative operating performance, we categorize our operating communities based on the period each community reaches stabilized occupancy. A community is considered to have achieved stabilized occupancy on the earlier to occur of (1) attainment of 93% physical occupancy or (2) one year after completion of construction. The combined operating performance for all of our wholly-owned apartment communities that are included in continuing operations for the 2003 Period and the 2002 Period is summarized as follows:

Number of

2003 Period

2003  

2002  

Apt. Homes

Period

Period

$ Change

% Change

Rental and other property revenues:

Same-store communities (a)

        16,699

  $     45,172

  $     46,274

  $      (1,102

)

-2.4%

Triple net master lease communities

            728

1,646

1,646

                -

0.0%

Communities stabilized in the 2003 Period, but not in the 2002 Period

578

2,075

1,447

628

43.4%

Development and lease-up communities

            535

         1,322

              82

         1,240

1,512.2%

Communities under renovation or not fully operational (b)

          2,104

          4,480

         3,985

            495

12.4%

Acquired communities (b)

            784

         2,690

                -

         2,690

-

Sold communities (b)

                 -

                -

                -

                -

        -

  Total property revenues

       21,428

  $     57,385

  $     53,434

  $       3,951

7.4%


Property operating and maintenance expenses (c):

Same-store communities (a)

  $     16,955

  $     17,173

  $        (218

)

-1.3%

Triple net master lease communities

                -

                -

                -

-

Communities stabilized in the 2003 Period, but not in the 2002 Period

883

1,011

(128

)

-12.7%

Development and lease-up communities

            600

              16

             584

3,650.0%

Communities under renovation or not fully operational (b)

         1,811

         1,864

             (53

)

-2.8%

Acquired communities (b)

         1,107

                -

         1,107

-

Sold communities (b)

                 -

                -

                -

       -

  Total property operating and maintenance expenses

  $     21,356

  $     20,064

  $       1,292

6.4%


Property net operating income (NOI) (d):

Same-store communities (a)

  $     28,217

  $     29,101

  $        (884

)

-3.0%

Triple net master lease communities

         1,646

         1,646

                -

0.0%

Communities stabilized in the 2003 Period, but not in the 2002 Period

1,192

436

756

173.4%

Development and lease-up communities

            722

              66

            656

993.9%

Communities under renovation or not fully operational (b)

         2,669

         2,121

            548

25.8%

Acquired communities (b)

         1,583

                -

          1,583

-

Sold communities (b)

                -

                -

                -

       -

  Total property net operating income (NOI)

  $     36,029

  $     33,370

  $       2,659

8.0%


  Total property NOI as a percentage of total property revenues

62.8%

62.5%

              -

0.3%

(a)  Communities that were owned and fully stabilized throughout both the 2003 Period and the 2002 Period (“same-store”).
(b)  Communities that were in renovation or not fully operational, acquired or sold subsequent to July 1, 2002, as applicable.
(c)  Represents direct property operating and maintenance expenses as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and excludes 
      certain expenses included in the determination of net income such as property management and other indirect operating expenses, interest expense
      and depreciation and amortization expense.
(d) Calculated as total property revenues less property operating and maintenance expenses (c). See Note 8, Segment Reporting, to the accompanying
     financial statements for further discussion of our use of NOI as the primary financial measure of performance for our apartment communities.
     In addition, NOI from this reportable segment is reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP measure in Note 8.

        Total property revenues increased $3,951, or 7.4 %, from $53,434 to $57,385 due to an increase in the number of apartment homes resulting from the development, lease-up and acquisition of additional communities, partially offset by a decrease in same-store performance as a result of national economic weakness. 
      
      Property operating and maintenance expenses, as reflected in the consolidated statements of operations, increased $1,292, or 6.4%, from $20,064 to $21,356 due to an increase in the number of apartment homes resulting from the development, lease-up and acquisition of additional communities, partially offset by same-store expenses decreasing 1.3%. The same-store expense decrease is due to decreases in marketing, general and administrative and insurance costs and property taxes.  Same-store expense comparisons in certain markets are skewed as a result of the recordation of property tax true-up adjustments and appeal settlements in the 2003 Period.
 
      
Additional information for the 62 same-store apartment communities presented in the preceding table is as follows:

  

Number of

 

% of 2003

  

Physical  
Occupancy

Economic 
Occupancy

% Change from the  2002 Period to the 2003 Period in


Market

Apartment
Homes
    

Period  
NOI
     

  in the 2003
  Period
    

in the 2003
Period    

Economic 
Occupancy

  

Revenues

  

Expenses

  

NOI

 

South Florida

4,377

29.0%

95.2%

93.5%

2.0%

0.4%

10.1%

-4.6%

 

Houston

4,589

25.6%

94.4%

93.0%

1.0%

-2.3%

-4.4%

-1.0%

 

Atlanta

3,431

16.8%

93.8%

90.7%

2.6%

-5.4%

0.9%

-8.9%

 

Austin

1,677

11.7%

92.6%

91.7%

-2.2%

-6.0%

-16.6%

1.4%

 

Dallas

1,300

10.4%

94.9%

92.5%

1.8%

-1.6%

-8.1%

2.2%

 

Washington, D.C.

82

1.7%

92.3%

92.5%

-0.8%

1.4%

-16.7%

8.8%

 

Other

  1,243

    4.8%

91.0%

83.6%

-1.8%

-1.9%

4.8%

-6.9%

 

   Totals

16,699

100.0%

94.1%

92.0%

  1.1%

-2.4%

-1.3%

-3.0%

 

      
       Property management revenues increased $565, or 31.7%, from $1,780 to $2,345 due primarily to the acquisition of the Archstone Management Business.

       Ancillary services revenues increased $208, or 10.8%, from $1,931 to $2,139 due to an increase in development and construction fee revenue of $548 due primarily to the recognition of $403 in incentive fees in the 2003 Period resulting from our share of the savings generated under the GRAP JV construction contract.  This increase was partially offset by a decrease in corporate rental housing revenue of $266 and a decrease in third-party brokerage services revenue of $74. Such decreases are due to volume declines in services rendered.

       Interest income decreased $152, or 98.1%, from $155 to $3 due primarily to a decrease in interest-bearing deposits and a decrease in interest rates.

        Real estate asset depreciation and amortization increased $2,981, or 29.4%, from $10,142 to $13,123 due to a non-recurring correcting adjustment recorded to depreciation in the 2002 Period of $1.7 million and the impact of the development and acquisition of additional communities and capital improvements made to existing operating communities.

       Property management expense for owned communities and third-party properties on a combined basis increased $880, or 30.5%, from $2,888 to $3,768 due to the acquisition of the Archstone Management Business, along with increased marketing and support costs and inflationary increases in expenses.  We allocate property management expenses to both owned communities and third-party properties based on the proportionate share of total apartment homes owned and managed.

       Ancillary services expense decreased $189, or 16.0%, from $1,181 to $992 due primarily to a decrease in development and construction expenses of $153.  Such decrease is due to volume declines in services rendered.

       Interest expense and credit enhancement fees decreased $261, or 2.2%, from $11,760 to $11,499 due primarily to (1) a decrease in interest rates for variable-rate borrowings, (2) a decrease in outstanding indebtedness associated with sale activities, the May 2003 issuance of our Series D Preferred Shares and the August 2003 secondary offering of 2,500 common shares and (3) the refinancing of  $82.5 million of indebtedness that bore interest at a rate of 8.3% with $40 million of Series C Preferred Shares (which were exchanged into Series C-1 Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis in September 2003) and $40 million of senior unsecured notes that bear interest at a weighted average interest rate of 5.9%.  Such decreases were offset in part by an increase in outstanding indebtedness associated with the redemption of our Series A Preferred Shares and an increase in operating debt associated with the development and acquisition of additional communities. 

         Amortization of deferred financing costs increased $68, or 16.0%, from $426 to $494 due primarily to increased financing costs associated with the issuances of $180 million of senior unsecured notes in July 2002 and $40 million of senior unsecured notes in September 2002 and the modification of our $252 million unsecured revolving credit facility in February 2003.

        General and administrative expense remained steady at $2,052 for both the 2003 Period and the 2002 Period. Increases in professional fees, internal acquisition costs, long-term compensation costs, directors’ fees, and insurance costs were offset by abandoned real estate pursuit costs expensed during the 2002 Period.

         Corporate asset depreciation and amortization increased $171, or 42.2%, from $405 to $576 due primarily to an increase in amortization associated with the acquisition of the Archstone Management Business.   

       Equity in income of joint ventures decreased $876, or 94.1%, from $931 to $55 due primarily to the sales of two apartment communities by the GRAP JV in the 2002 Period, resulting in the recognition of a $857 gain by us during the 2002 Period.

     Our share of the operating results for the apartment communities owned by the unconsolidated joint ventures in which we have an interest during the 2003 Period and the 2002 Period is as follows:

                                 2003 Period                                     

  



Stabilized
(a)

  


Development
& Lease-up
(b)

  



Sales
(c)

  



Total

  

Total 
2002 
Period

  

Our share of joint venture results:
Rental and other property revenues
Property operating and maintenance expenses
(exclusive of items shown separately below)
     Property net operating income
Interest expense and credit enhancement fees
Amortization of deferred costs
Other
     Funds from operations
Gain on sale of real estate assets
Real estate asset depreciation
     Equity in income of joint ventures

Number of operating communities
Number of apartment homes in operating communities
Average percent occupied during the period


$ 1,159

( 509

$    650
( 200
 (   16
   (    9

$    425
-
( 335
$     90

8
2,678
93%




)

)
)
)


)




$   48

(  32

$   16
(  14
 (    3
(    1

$(   2
-
(  33
$ ( 35

1
297
34%




)

)
)
)
)

)
)




$      - 

         -

$      -
-
 -
        -

$      -
-
        -
$      -

-
-
-



$1,207

(  541

$   666
(  214
(    19
(    10

$   423
-
  ( 368
$     55

9
2,975
87%




)

)
)
)


)





$1,149

(  472

$   677
(  232
 (    17
(      7

$   421
857
(  347
$   931

10
3,190
79%




)

)
)
)


)





(a) Communities that were owned and fully stabilized throughout the 2003 Period.
(b) Communities in the development and/or lease-up phase that were not fully stabilized during all or any of  the 2003 Period.
(c) Communities that were sold subsequent to July 1, 2003.

       Gain on sale of land and development rights of $267 in the 2002 Period relates to recognition of deferred gain associated with the 2001 contribution of land and development rights into the GRAP JV Two.

       Income from discontinued operations increased $11,959, or 2,435.6%, from $491 to $12,450 due primarily to the $12,368 gain on disposition of discontinued operations recognized in the 2003 Period.

       Original issuance costs associated with redemption of preferred units of $4,009 in the 2002 Period represents the excess of (1) the fair value of the redemption price of the Series A Preferred Shares over (2) the carrying amount of the Series A Preferred Shares in our balance sheet on the August 9, 2002 redemption date.  See Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

       Distributions to preferred unitholders increased $1,103, or 50.9%, from $2,169 to $3,272 due to the $40 million issuance by the Trust of the Series C Preferred Shares in September 2002 (which were exchanged into Series C-1 Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis in September 2003) and the $75 million issuance by the Trust of our Series D Preferred Shares in May 2003.  Such increases were offset in part by the $115 million redemption by the Trust of the Series A Preferred Shares in August 2002.

Comparison of operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2003  (the “2003 Period”) to the nine months ended September 30, 2002 (the “2002 Period”)

      
Our net income is generated primarily from the operation of our apartment communities and the disposition of assets that no longer meet our investment criteria.  For purposes of evaluating comparative operating performance, we categorize our operating communities based on the period each community reaches stabilized occupancy. A community is considered to have achieved stabilized occupancy on the earlier to occur of (1) attainment of 93% physical occupancy or (2) one year after completion of construction. The combined operating performance for all of our wholly-owned apartment communities that are included in continuing operations for the 2003 Period and the 2002 Period is summarized as follows:

Number of  

2003 Period

2003  

2002  

Apt. Homes

Period

Period

$ Change

% Change

Rental and other property revenues:

Same-store communities (a)

        16,522

  $   134,234

  $   136,718

  $      (2,484

)

-1.8%

Triple net master lease communities

            728

4,939

4,940

                (1

)

0.0%

Communities stabilized in the 2003 Period, but not in the 2002 Period

360

4,766

3,162

1,604

50.7%

Development and lease-up communities

            930

         6,398

         2,437

         3,961

162.5%

Communities under renovation or not fully operational (b)

         2,104

        12,868

        12,406

            462

3.7%

Acquired communities (b)

            784

         4,326

                -

         4,326

-

Sold communities (b)

                -

                -

            898

           (898

)

-100.0%

  Total property revenues

      21,428

  $   167,531

  $   160,561

  $       6,970

4.3%


Property operating and maintenance expenses (c):

Same-store communities (a)

  $     48,634

  $     48,327

  $          307

0.6%

Triple net master lease communities

                -

                -

                -

-

Communities stabilized in the 2003 Period, but not in the 2002 Period

1,818

1,599

219

13.7%

Development and lease-up communities

          2,679

         1,475

         1,204

81.6%

Communities under renovation or not fully operational (b)

         5,246

         5,239

                7

0.1%

Acquired communities (b)

         1,744

                -

         1,744

-

Sold communities (b)

                -

            277

           (277

)

-100.0%

  Total property operating and maintenance expenses

  $     60,121

  $     56,917

  $       3,204

5.6%


Property net operating income (NOI) (d):

Same-store communities (a)

  $     85,600

  $     88,391

  $      (2,791

)

-3.2%

Triple net master lease communities

         4,939

         4,940

               (1

)

0.0%

Communities stabilized in the 2003 Period, but not in the 2002 Period

2,948

1,563

1,385

88.6%

Development and lease-up communities

         3,719

            962

         2,757

286.6%

Communities under renovation or not fully operational (b)

         7,622

         7,167

            455

6.3%

Acquired communities (b)

         2,582

                 -

         2,582

-

Sold communities (b)

                -

            621

           (621

)

-100.0%

  Total property net operating income (NOI)

  $   107,410

  $   103,644

  $       3,766

3.6%



  Total property NOI as a percentage of total property revenues

64.1%

64.6%

             -

-0.5%

(a)  Communities that were owned and fully stabilized throughout both the 2003 Period and the 2002 Period (“same-store”).
(b)  Communities that were in renovation or not fully operational, acquired or sold subsequent to January 1, 2002, as applicable.
(c)  Represents direct property operating and maintenance expenses as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and excludes 
      certain expenses included in the determination of net income such as property management and other indirect operating expenses, interest expense
      and depreciation and amortization expense.
(d) Calculated as total property revenues less property operating and maintenance expenses (c). See Note 8, Segment Reporting,  to the accompanying
     financial statements for further discussion of our use of NOI as the primary financial measure of performance for our apartment communities.
     In addition, NOI from this reportable segment is reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP measure in Note 8.

        Total property revenues increased $6,970, or 4.3%, from $160,561 to $167,531 due to an increase in the number of apartment homes resulting from the development, lease-up and acquisition of additional communities, partially offset by the sale of two apartment communities in the first quarter of 2002 and a decrease in same-store performance as a result of national economic weakness. 

       Property operating and maintenance expenses, as reflected in the consolidated statements of operations, increased $3,204, or 5.6%, from $56,917 to $60,121 due to an increase in the number of apartment homes resulting from the development, lease-up and acquisition of additional communities, as well as same-store expenses increasing 0.6%. The same-store expense increase is due to increases in insurance costs and property taxes, partially offset by decreases in utilities and general and administrative expenses.   Same-store expense comparisons in certain markets are skewed as a result of the recordation of property tax true-up adjustments and appeal settlements in the 2003 Period.  These increases were offset in part by the sale of two apartment communities in the first quarter of 2002.

      
Additional information for the 61 same-store apartment communities presented in the preceding table is as follows:

  

Number of

 


% of 2003

  

Physical  
Occupancy

Economic  
Occupancy 


% Change from the  2002 Period to the 2003 Period in

Market

Apartment
Homes
    

Period 
NOI
   

in the 2003
Period
    

in the 2003
Period    

Economic 
Occupancy

  

Revenues

  

Expenses

  

NOI

South Florida

4,377

30.1%

94.9%

93.5%

1.8%

0.4%

3.8%

-1.2%

Houston

4,589

26.1%

94.9%

93.6%

1.8%

0.0%

0.1%

-0.1%

Atlanta

3,431

17.6%

93.9%

91.6%

3.3%

-5.6%

0.5%

-8.7%

Austin

1,677

11.5%

92.3%

91.4%

-0.3%

-5.9%

-5.9%

-6.0%

Dallas

1,123

8.1%

95.5%

93.9%

-0.3%

-3.0%

-0.2%

-4.5%

Washington, D.C.

82

1.7%

95.0%

94.8%

3.5%

6.0%

-4.6%

10.2%

Other

  1,243

4.9%

90.5%

84.9%

-0.1%

-0.5%

4.9%

-4.3%

   Totals

16,522

100.0%

94.2%

92.5%

1.6%

-1.8%

0.6%

-3.2%

        Property management revenues increased $693, or 12.7%, from $5,452 to $6,145 due primarily to the acquisition of the Archstone Management Business. 

       Ancillary services revenues decreased $1,121, or 17.0%, from $6,586 to $5,465 due primarily to a decrease in corporate rental housing revenue of $791 and a decrease in third-party brokerage services revenue of $579 due to volume declines in services rendered. Such decreases were partially offset by an increase of $249 in development and construction fee revenue due to the recognition of $403 in incentive fees in the 2003 Period resulting from our share of the savings generated under the GRAP JV construction contract, partially offset by volume declines in services rendered.  

       Interest income decreased $172, or 51.2%, from $336 to $164 due primarily to a decrease in interest-bearing deposits and a decrease in interest rates.

       Real estate asset depreciation and amortization increased $4,875, or 14.7%, from $33,209 to $38,084 due primarily to the impact of the development and acquisition of additional communities and capital improvements made to existing operating communities and a non-recurring correcting adjustment recorded to depreciation in the 2002 Period of $1.7 million.  Such increases were offset in part by the impact of the sale of two apartment communities in the first quarter of 2002.

       Property management expense for owned communities and third-party properties on a combined basis increased $1,268, or 13.2%, from $9,630 to $10,898 due to the acquisition of the Archstone Management Business, along with increased marketing and support costs and inflationary increases in expenses.  These increases were partially offset by software licensing fees incurred in the 2002 Period, but not the 2003 Period.  We allocate property management expenses to both owned communities and third-party properties based on the proportionate share of total apartment homes owned and managed.    

       Ancillary services expense decreased $658, or 16.6%, from $3,960 to $3,302 due primarily to a decrease in development and construction expenses of $527.  Such decrease is due to volume declines in services rendered.

       Interest expense and credit enhancement fees increased $2,252, or 7.1%, from $31,645 to $33,897.   An increase in outstanding indebtedness associated with the redemption of our Series A Preferred Shares and an increase in operating debt associated with the development and acquisition of additional communities was offset in part by a decrease in interest rates for variable-rate borrowings and a decrease in outstanding indebtedness associated with sale activities, the May 2003 issuance of our Series D Preferred Shares and the August 2003 secondary offering of 2,500 common shares.  In addition, the refinancings of (1) $82.5 million of indebtedness that bore interest at a rate of 8.3% with $40 million of Series C Preferred Shares (which were exchanged into Series C-1 Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis in September 2003) and $40 million of senior unsecured notes that bear interest at a weighted average interest rate of 5.9% and (2) $48.4 million of indebtedness that bore interest at a rate of 6.4% with $48.4 million of indebtedness that bears interest at a rate of 4.75% have served to reduce interest expense.

         Amortization of deferred financing costs increased $442, or 46.1%, from $958 to $1,400 due primarily to increased financing costs associated with the issuances of $180 million of senior unsecured notes in July 2002 and $40 million of senior unsecured notes in September 2002 and the modification of our $252 million unsecured revolving credit facility in February 2003.

        General and administrative expense increased $930, or 16.2%, from $5,727 to $6,657 due primarily to increased professional fees, internal acquisition costs associated with the acquisitions of three operating apartment communities in 2003, payroll and long-term compensation costs and insurance costs.  Such increases were offset in part by abandoned real estate pursuit costs expensed during the 2002 Period.
      
       Corporate asset depreciation and amortization increased $114, or 8.9%, from $1,286 to $1,400 due primarily to an increase in amortization associated with the acquisition of the Archstone Management Business, partially offset by a non-recurring adjustment recorded to depreciation in the 2003 Period.   

       Unusual items of $1,687 in the 2002 Period represent the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs totaling $236 and a prepayment penalty of $1,451 associated with the early retirement of $48.4 million of secured tax-exempt bond indebtedness.  These bonds had an interest rate of 6.375% which we were able to re-issue on an unsecured basis at a rate of 4.75% resulting in a positive net present value.  See Note 11 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

       Equity in income of joint ventures decreased $2,609, or 91.3%, from $2,859 to $250 due primarily to the sales of four apartment communities by the GRAP JV during the 2002 Period, resulting in the recognition of a $2,611 gain by us during the 2002 Period.   

     Our share of the operating results for the apartment communities owned by the unconsolidated joint ventures in which we have an interest during the 2003 Period and the 2002 Period is as follows:

                                  2003 Period                                   

  



Stabilized
(a)

  


Development
& Lease-up
(b)

  



Sales
(c)

  



Total

  

Total  
2002  
Period

  

Our share of joint venture results:
Rental and other property revenues
Property operating and maintenance expenses
(exclusive of items shown separately below)
     Property net operating income
Interest expense and credit enhancement fees
Amortization of deferred costs
Other
     Funds from operations
Gain on sale of real estate assets
Real estate asset depreciation
     Equity in income of joint ventures

Number of operating communities
Number of apartment homes in operating communities
Average percent occupied during the period


$2,359

  (1,013
$ 1,346
(   456
(     16
(     33
$   841
-
(  646
$   195
 
6
2,084
91%




)

)
)
)


)





$1,176

  (  487
$    689
(  179
(    36
(      8
$   466
-
(  411
$     55
 
3
891
64%




)

)
)
)


)





$       -

         -
$       -
-
-
        -
$      -
-
        -
$      -

-
-
-



$3,535

  ( 1,500
$2,035
(    635
(      52
   (      41
$1,307
-
(  1,057
$    250
 
9
2,975
83%




)

)
)
)


)





$3,748

( 1,618
$  2,130
(  707
(    56
(    28
$  1,339
2,611
(  1,091
$  2,859
 
       12
3,892
82%




)

)
)
)


)




(a) Communities that were owned and fully stabilized throughout the 2003 Period.
(b) Communities in the development and/or lease-up phase that were not fully stabilized during all or any of  the 2003 Period.
(c) Communities that were sold subsequent to January 1, 2003.

          Gain on sale of previously depreciated operating real estate assets of $17,906 in the 2002 Period relates to the sales of two wholly-owned apartment communities comprising 557 apartment homes located in Houston and Atlanta.

        Gain on sale of land and development rights of $2,068 in the 2002 Period is comprised of (1) $763 associated with the sale of 13.3 acres of land in Houston, (2) recognition of $1,220 in deferred gain associated with the 2001 contribution of land and development rights into the GRAP JV Two and (3) recognition of $85 of deferred gain associated with a land sale in 2000.
 
        Income from discontinued operations increased $13,776, or 317.3%, from $4,342 to $18,118 due primarily to the $14,249 gain on disposition of discontinued operations, net of minority interest recognized in the 2003 Period, as compared to the $1,763 gain on disposition of discontinued operations, net of minority interest recognized in the 2002 Period. 

       Original issuance costs associated with redemption of preferred units of $4,009 in the 2002 Period represents the excess of (1) the fair value of the redemption price of the Series A Preferred Shares over (2) the carrying amount of the Series A Preferred Shares in our balance sheet on the August 9, 2002 redemption date.  See Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

       Distributions to preferred unitholders decreased $1,266, or 13.7%, from $9,210 to $7,944 due to the $115 million redemption by the Trust of the Series A Preferred Shares in August 2002, offset in part by the $40 million issuance by the Trust of the Series C Preferred Shares in September 2002 (which were exchanged into Series C-1 Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis in September 2003) and the $75 million issuance by the Trust of the Series D Preferred Shares in May 2003.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

       Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations decreased from $76,805 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 to $67,651 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 due to (1) a change in other liabilities between periods of $9,187 and (2) a decrease of $761 in income from continuing operations (a) before certain non-cash or non-operating items, including depreciation, amortization, equity in income of joint ventures, gain on sale of real estate assets, long-term compensation expense and unusual items and (b) after operating distributions received from joint ventures. Such decreases were offset in part by a change in restricted cash between periods of $637 and a change in other assets between periods of $157.  Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations decreased from $3,914 to $1,776 due to the disposition of discontinued operations in 2002 and 2003.

      We had $19,941 of net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to $143,391 of net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we expended $192,302 related to acquisition, development, construction and renovation expenditures, $8,085 related to recurring value retention capital expenditures for operating apartment communities, $7,051 related to non-recurring and/or value-enhancing capital expenditures for operating apartment communities, $1,050 related to our investment in joint ventures and $4,968 related to other investments.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we received cash of $70,065 in connection with the disposition of discontinued operations. During the nine months ended September 30, 2002, we expended $73,762 related to acquisition, development, construction and renovation expenditures, $9,850 related to recurring value retention capital expenditures for operating apartment communities, $7,707 related to non-recurring and/or value-enhancing capital expenditures for operating apartment communities, $968 related to our investment in joint ventures and $759 related to other investments.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2002, we received cash of (1) $46,803 in connection with the sale of wholly-owned real estate assets, (2) $15,273 in connection with the disposition of discontinued operations and (3) $10,680 in connection with our share of the net proceeds from the sale of joint venture real estate assets.

        We had $60,240 of net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to $75,199 of net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we received net proceeds of (1) $72,419 from the issuance by the Trust of the Series D Preferred Shares, (2) $78,968 from the Trust’s secondary common share offering and (3) $6,147 from the exercise of share options.  We expended  (1) $63,785 in common and preferred distributions, (2) $16,791 in net repayments of borrowings, (3) $1,266 in deferred financing costs, (4) $393 of principal escrow payments deposited into escrow and (5) $100 in issuance costs related to our Series C Preferred Shares.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2002, we expended (1) $115,000 in connection with the redemption by the Trust of the Series A Preferred Shares, (2) $64,935 for common and preferred distributions, (3) $1,451 for a prepayment penalty, (4) $2,995 in deferred financing costs and (5) $5,767 in connection with treasury share repurchases and common unit redemptions.  These payments were offset in part by proceeds of (1) $79,049 in net borrowings, (2) $39,750 from the issuance by the Trust of the Series C Preferred Shares, (3) $7,597 from the exercise of share options and (4) $3,512 from principal payments released from escrow, net.

        The Trust has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify as a REIT, the Trust must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it currently distribute at least 90% of the REIT's ordinary taxable income to its shareholders.  It is the current intention of the Trust to adhere to these requirements and maintain its REIT status. As a REIT, the Trust generally will not be subject to federal income tax on distributed taxable income. We utilize Gables Residential Services, a taxable REIT subsidiary, to provide management and other services to third parties that we, as a REIT, may be prohibited from providing. Taxable REIT subsidiaries are subject to federal, state and local income taxes.

         As of September 30, 2003, we had total indebtedness of $941,783, cash and cash equivalents of $7,516 and principal escrow deposits reflected in restricted cash of $944.  Our indebtedness has an average of 3.4 years to maturity at September 30, 2003. 

        The aggregate maturities of our notes payable at September 30, 2003 are as follows:

Regularly
Scheduled
Principal
Amortization
Payments

Balloon
 Principal
Payment
due at
Maturity





Total

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007 
2008 and thereafter

  

$      679
1,667
1,736
1,654
1,776
    14,108
$ 21,620

$             -
76,759
226,372
203,240
206,398
    207,394
$ 920,163

$        679
78,426
228,108
204,894
208,174
    221,502
$ 941,783

        The indebtedness outstanding under each of our credit facilities totaling $48.5 million at September 30, 2003 is reflected in the preceding table using the May 2005 maturity date of our $252 million credit facility. Outstanding indebtedness for each tax-exempt bond issue is reflected in the preceding table using the earlier of the related bond maturity date or the bond enhancement facility maturity date, as applicable. 
 
        Our common and preferred distributions historically have been paid from cash provided by recurring real estate activities. We anticipate that such distributions will continue to be paid from cash provided by recurring real estate activities that include both operating activities and asset disposition activities when evaluated over a twelve-month period. This twelve-month evaluation period is relevant due to the timing of the payment of expense items that are accrued monthly but are paid on a less frequent basis, such as real estate taxes and interest on our senior unsecured notes.

        
We have met and expect to continue to meet our short-term liquidity requirements through net cash provided by recurring real estate activities. Our net cash from recurring real estate activities has been adequate, and we believe that it will continue to be adequate, to meet both operating requirements and payment of dividends in accordance with REIT requirements. Recurring value retention capital expenditures and non-recurring and/or value-enhancing capital expenditures, in addition to monthly principal amortization payments, are also expected to be funded from recurring real estate activities that include both operating and asset disposition activities. We anticipate that acquisition, construction, development and renovation activities as well as land purchases, will be initially funded primarily through borrowings under our credit facilities described below.     

      
We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements, including scheduled debt maturities, repayment of short-term financing of construction, development and renovation activities and possible property acquisitions, through long-term secured and unsecured borrowings, the issuance of debt securities or equity securities, private equity investments in the form of joint ventures, or through the disposition of assets which, in our evaluation, may no longer meet our investment requirements.

     
       We currently have five communities under development that are expected to comprise 1,480 apartment homes upon completion and an indirect 20% ownership interest in two development communities that are expected to comprise 373 apartment homes upon completion.  The estimated costs to complete the development of these assets total $75 million at September 30, 2003, including $1 million of costs that we are obligated to fund for the co-investment development communities.  These costs are expected to be initially funded by $27 million in construction loan proceeds and $48 million in borrowings under our credit facilities described below.

$252 Million Credit Facility

       In February 2003, we closed a modification to our $225 million unsecured revolving credit facility provided by a syndicate of banks which, among other things, increased the committed capacity thereunder to $252 million from $225 million. We have the option to further increase the capacity under the facility to $300 million from $252 million to the extent banks, from the syndicate or otherwise, voluntarily agree to provide the additional commitment. The facility currently has a maturity date of May 2005. Borrowings under the $252 million facility currently bear interest at our option of LIBOR plus 0.95% or prime minus 0.25%. Such scheduled interest rates may be adjusted upward or downward based on changes in our senior unsecured credit ratings and our leverage ratios. We may also enter into competitive bid loans with participating banks for up to $126 million at rates below the scheduled rates. In addition, we pay an annual facility fee currently equal to 0.20% of the $252 million commitment. In February 2003, approximately $46 million of letters of credit enhancing approximately $45 million of tax-exempt variable rate notes payable were re-issued under this facility.  The total amounts outstanding under the facility and the resulting availability under the facility at September 30, 2003 is as follows:

Committed capacity under the facility

Amounts outstanding under the facility:
Borrowings
Letters of Credit:
   Tax-exempt bond enhancement
   Other
Total




$30,000

45,820
      1,844

$252,000






77,664

Availability under the facility

$174,336

$75 Million Borrowing Facility

       We have a $75 million unsecured borrowing facility with a bank that currently has a maturity date of May 2005. The interest rate and maturity date related to each advance under this facility is agreed to by both parties prior to each advance. We had $17.7 million in borrowings outstanding under this facility at September 30, 2003 at an interest rate of 1.60%.

$10 Million Credit Facility

      
At September 30, 2003, we had $0.8 million in borrowings outstanding under our $10 million unsecured revolving credit facility provided by a bank. The facility currently has a maturity date of December 31, 2003 with unlimited one-year extension options. Borrowings under this facility bear interest at the same scheduled interest rates as the $252 million credit facility.

Secured Construction Loans

       We have committed fundings under four construction-related financing vehicles for two wholly-owned development communities totaling $43.0 million from a bank. At September 30, 2003, we had drawn approximately $16.1 million under these variable-rate financing vehicles and therefore have approximately $26.9 million of remaining capacity. Borrowings under these vehicles bear interest at a weighted average rate of 3.06% at September 30, 2003.

Restrictive Covenants
      

       Our secured and unsecured debt agreements generally contain representations, financial and other covenants and events of default typical for each specific type of facility or borrowing.

       The indentures under which our publicly traded and other unsecured debt securities have been issued contain the following limitations on the incurrence of indebtedness: (1) a maximum leverage ratio of 60% of total assets; (2) a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.50:1; (3) a maximum secured debt ratio of 40% of total assets; and (4) a minimum amount of unencumbered assets of  150% of total unsecured debt.  Our indentures also include other affirmative and restrictive covenants.

       Our ability to borrow under our unsecured credit facilities and secured construction loans is subject to our compliance with a number of financial covenants, affirmative covenants and other restrictions on an ongoing basis.  The principal financial covenants impacting our leverage are: (1) our total debt may not exceed 60% of our total assets; (2) our annualized interest coverage ratio may not be less than 2.0:1; (3) our annualized fixed charge coverage ratio may be not less than 1.75:1; (4) our total secured debt may not exceed 35% of our total assets, and the recourse portion of our secured debt may not exceed 10% of our total assets; (5) our unencumbered assets may not be less than 175% of our total unsecured debt; (6) our tangible net worth may not be less than $600 million; and (7) our floating rate debt may not exceed 30% of our total assets.  Such financing vehicles also restrict the amount of capital we can invest in specific categories of assets, such as unimproved land, properties under construction, non-multifamily properties, debt or equity securities, and unconsolidated affiliates.

       In addition, we have a covenant under our unsecured credit facilities and secured construction loans that restricts our ability to make distributions in excess of stated amounts, which in turn restricts the Trust’s ability to declare and pay dividends.  In general, during any fiscal year, we may only distribute up to 100% of our consolidated income available for distribution.  This provision contains an exception to this limitation to allow us to make any distributions necessary to (1) allow the Trust to maintain its status as a REIT or (2) distribute 100% of the Trust’s taxable income.  We do not anticipate that this provision will adversely affect our ability to make distributions sufficient for the Trust to pay dividends under its current dividend policy.

       Our credit facilities, construction loans and indentures are cross-defaulted and also contain cross default provisions with other of our material indebtedness.  We were in compliance with covenants and other restrictions included in our debt agreements as of September 30, 2003.  The indentures and the $252 million credit facility agreement containing the financial covenants discussed above, as well as the other material terms of our indebtedness, including definitions of the many terms used in and the calculations required by financial covenants, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to our periodic or other reports.

       Our tax-exempt bonds contain customary covenants for this type of financing which require a certain percentage of the apartments in the bond-financed communities to be rented to individuals based upon income levels specified by U.S. government programs.

Inflation

       Substantially all of the leases at our apartment communities are for a term of one year or less.  In the event of significant inflation, this may enable us to realize increased rents upon renewal of existing leases or the beginning of new leases. Short-term leases generally minimize our risk from the adverse effects of inflation, although these leases generally permit residents to leave at the end of the lease term without penalty and therefore expose us to the effect of a decline in market rents. In a deflationary rent environment, as is currently being experienced in some of our markets, we are exposed to declining rents more quickly under these shorter term leases.

Certain Factors Affecting Future Operating Results

       This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," “project,” “should,” "intend," "plan," "estimate," "assume" and other similar expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, among other things, statements regarding our intent, belief or expectations with respect to the following: 

  • the Trust’s ability to increase shareholder value by producing consistent high quality earnings to sustain dividends and annual total returns that exceed the NAREIT Apartment Index;
  • our ability to create a portfolio of high quality assets in strategically selected markets that are complementary through economic diversity and characterized by high job growth and resiliency to economic downturns;
  • the ability of our portfolio to maintain high levels of occupancy and rental rates relative to overall market conditions;
  • our ability to generate a return on invested capital that exceeds our long-term weighted average cost of capital while maintaining financial flexibility through a conservative, investment grade credit profile;
  • our expectation that the markets we have selected for investment will continue to experience job growth that exceeds national averages, and that our EPN locations will outperform local market results;
  • our ability to meet short-term liquidity requirements, including the payment of common and preferred distributions, through net cash provided by recurring real estate activities, and to meet long-term liquidity requirements through long-term secured and unsecured borrowings, the issuance of debt securities or equity securities, private equity investments in the form of joint ventures, or through the disposition of assets which, in our evaluation, may no longer meet our investment requirements; and
  • estimated development and construction costs for our development and lease-up communities, and anticipated construction commencement, completion, lease-up and stabilization dates for these communities.

     You should not rely on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, or the performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to:

  • national and local economic conditions generally, and the real estate market specifically, including changes in occupancy rates and market rents, a continued deceleration of economic conditions in our markets, and a failure of national and local economic conditions to rebound in a timely manner;
  • changes in job growth, household formation and population growth in our markets;
  • excess supply of and insufficient demand for apartment communities in our markets;
  • competition, which could limit our ability to secure attractive investment opportunities, lease apartment homes or increase or maintain rents;
  • our failure to sell apartment communities in a timely manner or on favorable terms;
  • uncertainties associated with our development and construction activities, including the failure to obtain zoning and other approvals, actual development and construction costs exceeding our budgeted estimates and construction material defects;
  • construction and lease-up may not be completed on schedule, resulting in increased debt service expense and construction costs and reduced rental revenues;
  • new debt or equity financing may not be available or may not be available on favorable terms, and existing indebtedness may mature in an unfavorable credit environment, preventing such indebtedness from being refinanced or, if financed, causing such refinancing to occur on terms that are not as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness;
  • changes in interest rates;
  • cash flow from recurring real estate activities may be insufficient to meet our short-term liquidity requirements, including the payment of common and preferred distributions;
  • legislative, regulatory and accounting changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs or changes in GAAP; and 
  • potential liability for uninsured losses and environmental contamination.

       While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Development and Lease-up Communities at September 30, 2003:

Percent at September 30, 2003

Actual or Estimated Quarter of

Market

Community

No. of
Apt.
Homes

Total
Budgeted
Cost

Cost to
Complete

Complete

Leased

Occupied

Constr-
uction
Start

 Initial
Occu-

pancy.

Constr-
uction
End

Stab-
ilized
Occupancy

(millions)

(millions)

(a)

Wholly-Owned Development/Lease-up Communities:

Atlanta, GA

Gables Rock Springs II (b)

233

$25

$6

83%

38%

32%

2 Q 2002

2 Q 2003

2 Q 2004

4 Q 2004

Austin, TX

Gables Grandview

458

56

24

45%

--

--

1 Q 2003

4 Q 2003

4 Q 2004

2 Q 2005

Houston, TX

Gables Augusta

312

33

18

29%

--

--

1 Q 2003

1 Q 2004

4 Q 2004

2 Q 2005

South FL

Gables Floresta

311

39

19

38%

1%

--

1 Q 2003

4 Q 2003

4 Q 2004

2 Q 2005

Tampa, FL

Gables Beach Park

  166

    22

  7

60%

--

--

1 Q 2003

4 Q 2003

2 Q 2004

3 Q 2004

Wholly-Owned Totals

1,480

$175

$74



Co-Investment Development/Lease-up Communities (c):

Tampa, FL

Gables West Park Village II

297

$27

$2

96%

57%

47%

2 Q 2002

1 Q 2003

4 Q 2003

3 Q 2004

Tampa, FL

Gables West Park Village III

   76

   10

   8

--

--

--

4 Q 2003

3 Q 2004

4 Q 2004

1 Q 2005

Co-Investment Totals

373

$37

$10

(d)



Wholly-Owned Completed Communities in Lease-up:

Dallas, TX

Gables Ellis Street

245

$45

$   -

100%

94%

86%

3 Q 2001

3 Q 2002

3 Q 2003

4 Q 2003

Dallas, TX

Gables State Thomas
    Ravello

 290

  48

     -

100%

81%

75%

4 Q 2001

1 Q 2003

3 Q 2003

2 Q 2004


Wholly-Owned Totals

535

$93

$   -

(a)  Stabilized occupancy is defined as the earlier to occur of (i) 93% occupancy or (ii) one year after completion of construction.
(b)  This community represents the reconstruction of 100 apartment homes previously owned and operated by us into 233 apartment homes.
(c)  These communities are owned by the GRAP JV Two, in which we hold an indirect 20% interest. 
(d)  Construction loan proceeds are expected to fund $5 million of these costs to complete at September 30, 2003. The remaining costs will be funded by 
       capital contributions to the venture from our venture partner and us in a funding ratio of 80% and 20%, respectively.

The projections and estimates contained in the table above are forward-looking statements with the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those projected and estimated in such statements. Risks associated with our development, construction and lease-up activities, which could impact the forward-looking statements made, include: development opportunities may be abandoned; construction costs of a community may exceed original estimates, possibly making the community uneconomical; and construction and lease-up may not be completed on schedule, resulting in increased debt service and construction costs.


Stabilized Communities at September 30, 2003


No. of 
Apt.

September 30,
2003        

September 30, 2003
Market Rent Per    

 

Community

Homes

Occupancy     

Home

Square Foot

 


Atlanta, GA

Briarcliff Gables
Buckhead Gables
Gables Cityscape
Gables Metropolitan I (JV) 
Gables Metropolitan II (JV)
Gables Mill
Gables Montclair
Gables Northcliff
Gables Paces
Gables Rock Springs I
Gables Vinings
Gables Walk
Gables Wood Arbor 
Gables Wood Crossing
Gables Wood Glen 
Gables Wood Knoll
Lakes at Indian Creek
Roswell Gables I 
Roswell Gables II
Spalding Gables 
Wildwood Gables
Totals/Averages

Houston,  TX

Gables Austin Colony
Gables Bradford Place 
Gables Bradford Pointe 
Gables Cityscape 
Gables Citywalk/
  Waterford Sq. 
Gables Edgewater
Gables Lions Head 
Gables Metropolitan Uptown
Gables of First Colony
Gables Piney Point
Gables Pin Oak Green
Gables Pin Oak Park
Gables Rivercrest I 
Gables Rivercrest II
Gables Windmill Landing
Gables White Oak (JV)
  Totals/Averages



104
162
182
435
274
438
183
82
80
188
315
310
140
268
380
312
603
384
284
252
        546
5,922



237
372
360
252

317
292
277
318
324
246
581
474
140
140
259
    186
4,775



93%
92%
92%
93%
92%
91%
91%
96%
99%
98%
98%
92%
98%
92%
93%
94%
92%
90%
90%
92%
    93%
 93%


98%
95%
93%
98%

95%
97%
97%
94%
94%
95%
97%
94%
96%
98%
93%
       94%
 95%





(a)





















$1,035
757
774
1,215
1,270
768
1,481
1,141
1,954
982
945
969
632
687
612
666
587
824
824
835
    852

$ 874



$ 987
757
671
952

952
840
803
1,048
1,036
898
1,214
1,214
799
785
731
   967
$ 948



$0.83
1.00
0.94
1.08
1.14
0.83
0.97
0.73
1.19
0.88
0.88
0.82
0.69
0.72
0.62
0.67
0.64
0.76
0.70
0.84
   0.75
$0.82


$1.01
0.88
0.87
1.12

1.18
0.95
0.95
1.15
1.04
0.97
1.19
1.19
0.95
0.93
0.84
  1.11
$1.05


Stabilized Communities at September 30, 2003 (continued)


No. of 
Apt.

September 30,
2003

September 30, 2003
Market Rent Per   

 

Community

Homes

Occupancy

Home       

Square Foot


South FL

Cotton Bay
Gables Boca Place
Gables Boynton Beach I
Gables Boynton Beach II
Gables Kings Colony
Gables Mizner on the Green
Gables Palma Vista
Gables San Michele I
Gables San Michele II 
Gables San Remo
Gables Town Colony
Gables Town Place 
Gables Wellington
Hampton Lakes 
Hampton Place
Mahogany Bay 
Vinings at Hampton Village
  Totals/ Averages

Austin, TX
Gables at the Terrace
Gables Barton Creek
Gables Bluffstone
Gables Central Park
Gables Great Hills
Gables Park Mesa
Gables Town Lake
Gables West Avenue
   Totals/Averages

Dallas, TX
Gables at Pearl Street
Gables CityPlace 
Gables Knoxbridge
Gables Mirabella
Gables Spring Park
Gables State Thomas Townhomes
Gables Turtle Creek
Gables Valley Ranch
Totals/Averages

Memphis, TN
Arbors of Harbortown (JV)
Gables Cordova 
Gables Stonebridge (JV)
Totals/Averages

Orlando, FL
Gables Celebration
Gables Chatham Square
Gables North Village
The Commons at Little Lake Bryan
Totals/Averages



444
180
252
296
480
246
189
249
343
180
172
312
222
300
368
328
       168
4,729


308
160
256
273
276
148
256
   239
1,916


108
232
334
126
188
177
150
   319
1,634


345
464
   500
1,309


231
448
315
   280
1,274



95%
97%
94%
93%
95%
95%
93%
95%
96%
93%
97%
94%
97%
95%
92%
96%
   95%
  95%


97%
92%
93%
96%
91%
93%
   98%
  93%
  94%


94%
97%
92%
95%
95%
93%
97%
    95%
   94%


98%
89%
  91%
 92%


92%
100%
94%
   100%
   97%
































$782
 1,069
940
951
905
1,538
1,596
1,500
1,482
1,297
994
870
1,078
853
799
833
    870
$1,044


$1,009
1,312
949
1,369
779
1,116
1,296
  1,371
$1,136


$1,251
1,350
1,076
1,119
939
1,760
1,166
     877
$1,157


$901
701
   704
$755


$1,070
---
1,108
     ---
$1,092




















































(b)

(b)



$0.80
1.09
0.78
0.79
1.00
1.22
1.10
1.07
1.07
0.95
1.16
1.04
0.93
0.81
0.83
0.83
  0.72
$0.94


$1.06
1.13
0.96
1.45
0.94
1.02
1.39
  1.60
$1.19


$1.15
1.28
1.27
1.23
0.89
1.18
1.16
   0.86
$1.11


$0.91
0.75
  0.80
$0.81


$0.92
---
0.83
     ---
$0.87




















































(b)

(b)

Stabilized Communities at September 30, 2003 (continued)


No. of 
Apt.

September 30,
2003

September 30, 2003
Market Rent Per.

 

Community

Homes

Occupancy

Home

Square Foot

 


Nashville, TN
Brentwood Gables (JV)
Gables Hendersonville (JV)
Gables Hickory Hollow I
Gables Hickory Hollow II
Totals/Averages
 

Tampa, FL
Gables West Park Village I (JV)
Totals/Averages

Washington D.C.
Gables Dupont Circle
Gables Woodley Park
Totals/Averages



254
364
276
   272
1,166


320
320


   82
   211
..
  293



96%
93%
87%
     89%
 91%


  91%
91%


    95%
     ---
 95%















(c)



$953
688
660
   653
$731


$1,182
$1,182


$2,665
  2,041
$2,216









$0.84
0.73
0.74
  0.68
$0.75


$0.94
$0.94


$2.74
  2.37
$2.48








Grand Totals/Averages


23,338


 94%


$  981


$0.96

(a)
(b)

(c)

 

This community is under renovation or not fully operational as of September 30, 2003; therefore, occupancy is based on apartment homes available for lease.
This community is leased to a single user group pursuant to a triple net master lease.  Accordingly, scheduled
rent data is not reflected as it is not comparable to the rest of our portfolio. 
This community was in lease-up upon our acquisition in July 2003.  At September 30, 2003, the community was 82% occupied.

 

Portfolio Indebtedness Summary at September 30, 2003 

Type of Indebtedness

 
Balance

Interest
Rate (a)

Total   
Rate (b)

Years to 
Maturity

Fixed Rate:
Unsecured fixed-rate notes
Secured fixed-rate notes
Unsecured tax-exempt fixed-rate loans
Secured tax-exempt fixed-rate loans

$ 500,906
136,424
48,365
    20,550

6.58%
7.72%
4.75%
   5.89%

6.58%
7.72%
4.75%
  6.68%

3.18
4.56
0.75
  11.29

    Total fixed-rate indebtedness

$ 706,245

   6.66%

  6.68%

    3.52

Variable Rate:
Secured tax-exempt variable-rate loans
Unsecured variable-rate credit facilities  (c)
Secured variable-rate construction loans

    Total variable-rate indebtedness


$ 170,955
48,467
    16,116

$ 235,538


1.12%
1.58%
3.06%

 1.35%


2.11%
1.58%
3.06%

2.07%


3.37
1.62
      2.00

    2.92

Total portfolio debt (d), (e)

$941,783

    5.33%

 5.53%

3.37

(a) Interest Rate represents the weighted average interest rate incurred on our indebtedness, exclusive of deferred financing cost amortization
     and credit enhancement fees, as applicable.
(b) Total Rate represents the Interest Rate (a) plus credit enhancement fees, as applicable.
(c)  Our credit facilities bear interest at various spreads over LIBOR.  For purposes of the years to maturity disclosure, all such indebtedness is
      presented using the May 2005 maturity date of our $252,000 unsecured credit facility. 
(d) Interest associated with construction activities is capitalized as a cost of development and does not impact current earnings. The qualifying
     construction expenditures at September 30, 2003 for purposes of interest capitalization were $114,451.
(e) Excludes (i) $16,350 of tax-exempt bonds related to a joint venture in which we own a 25% interest, (ii) $86,922 of indebtedness
     related to joint ventures in which we own a 20% interest, and (iii) $51,797 of  conventional indebtedness related to a joint venture in which
     we own an 8.26% interest.

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCUSSION - Funds From Operations

        Funds from operations (“FFO”) is used by industry analysts and investors as a supplemental operating performance measure of an equity REIT.  We calculate FFO in accordance with the definition that was adopted by the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”).  FFO, as defined by NAREIT, represents net income (loss) determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding extraordinary items as defined under GAAP and gains or losses from sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets, plus certain non-cash items, such as real estate asset depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.

          Historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time.  Since real estate values instead have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors and analysts have considered presentation of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves.  Thus, NAREIT created FFO as a supplemental measure of REIT operating performance that excludes historical cost depreciation, among other items, from GAAP net income.  The use of FFO, combined with the required primary GAAP presentations, has improved the understanding of operating results of REITs among the investing public and made comparisons of REIT operating results more meaningful.  We generally consider FFO to be a useful measure for reviewing our comparative operating and financial performance (although FFO should be reviewed in conjunction with net income which remains the primary measure of performance) because by excluding gains or losses related to sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets and excluding real estate asset depreciation and amortization, FFO can help users compare the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods or as compared to different companies.

       In May 2002, we expensed  $1,687 of early debt extinguishment costs.  Under accounting rules in effect at that time, these costs were classified as an extraordinary item and, as such, did not reduce FFO.  In April 2002, SFAS No. 145 was issued.  We adopted this standard on its January 1, 2003 effective date and, pursuant to the new rules, reclassified the $1,687 of early debt extinguishment costs from extraordinary items to unusual items.  In the computation of FFO pursuant to the NAREIT definition outlined above, net income is adjusted for extraordinary items but is not adjusted for unusual items.  As such, previously reported FFO
available to common unitholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 has been reduced by $1,687.  The adoption of this standard had no impact on previously reported net income.

       In August 2002, the Trust redeemed all 4,600 outstanding 8.3% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares for $115,000 plus accrued and unpaid dividends.  In connection with the issuance of the Series A Preferred Shares in July 1997, we incurred $4,009 in issuance costs and recorded such costs as a reduction of partners’ capital.  The redemption price of the Series A Preferred Shares exceeded the related carrying value by the $4,009 of issuance costs.  The July 2003 clarification of EITF Abstracts, Topic No. D-42 became effective for the third quarter 2003 and is required to be reflected retroactively by restating the financial statements of prior periods.  As a result, previously reported net income available to common unitholders and FFO available to common unitholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 has been reduced by the $4,009 excess.

       FFO presented herein is not necessarily comparable to the FFO of other REITs due to the fact that not all REITs use the NAREIT definition.  However, our FFO is comparable to the FFO of REITs that use the NAREIT definition.  FFO should not be considered an  alternative to net income as an indicator of our operating performance.  Additionally, FFO does not represent cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities as defined by GAAP.  Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources” for a discussion of our cash needs and cash flows.  A reconciliation of FFO available to common unitholders from net income available to common unitholders (the most directly comparable GAAP measure to FFO available to common unitholders) is as follows:

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2003

 

2002

 

2003

2002

Net income available to common unitholders

$17,669

$4,469

$34,514

$42,533

Real estate asset depreciation and amortization:
     Wholly-owned real estate assets - continuing operations
     Wholly-owned real estate assets - discontinued operations
     Joint venture real estate assets
        Total


13,123
201
  368
13,692

 


10,142
594
        347
11,083

 


38,084
1,068
  1,057
40,209

 


33,209
1,770
  1,091
36,070

 


Gain on sale of previously depreciated operating real estate assets:
     Wholly-owned real estate assets - continuing operations
     Wholly-owned real estate assets - discontinued operations
     Joint venture real estate assets
       Total



-
(12,368
           -
  (12,368




)

)



-
-
   (857
   (857





)
)



-
(17,410
           -
(17,410




)

)



(17,906
(  2,198
(  2,611
(22,715



)
)
)
)


Funds from operations available to common unitholders –
     basic and diluted



$18,993

 



$14,695

 



$57,313

 



$55,888

 


Average common units outstanding - basic


  31,525

 


   30,718

 


30,752

 


   30,662

 

Average common units outstanding - diluted

 31,664

 

  30,812

 

 30,845

 

   30,805

 


ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

       Our capital structure includes the use of fixed-rate and variable rate indebtedness. As such, we are exposed to the impact of changes in interest rates. We periodically seek input from third-party consultants regarding market interest rate and credit risk in order to evaluate our interest rate exposure. In some situations, we may utilize derivative financial instruments in the form of rate caps, rate swaps or rate locks to hedge interest rate exposure by modifying the interest rate characteristics of related balance sheet instruments and prospective financing transactions. We do not utilize such instruments for trading or speculative purposes.  We did not have any derivative instruments in place at September 30, 2003 or December 31, 2002.

       We typically refinance maturing debt instruments at then-existing market interest rates and terms, which may be more or less favorable than the interest rates and terms on the maturing debt.

       Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 for detailed disclosure about quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk have not materially changed since December 31, 2002.


ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures


       We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of September 30, 2003 our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. We continue to review and document our disclosure controls and procedures and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that our systems evolve with our business.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

       There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II – Other Information

Item

1:

Legal Proceedings

None

Item

2:

Changes in Securities

As of September 30, 2003, we had 88 holders of common units and one holder of Series B Preferred Units (one general partner and 88 limited partners).  Each time the Trust issues shares of beneficial interest, it contributes the proceeds of such issuance to us in return for a like number of units with rights and preferences analogous to the shares issued.  During the period commencing July 1, 2003 and ending September 30, 2003, in connection with issuances of common shares by the Trust during that time period, the Operating Partnership issued an aggregate 2,572,039 common units to the Trust.  Such common units were issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as these were transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering.  In light of the information obtained by us from the limited partners in connection with these transactions, we believe we may rely on this exemption.

Item

3:

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

Item

4:

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

Item

5:

Other Information

None

Item

6:

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)

Exhibits

*

31.1

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Executive Officer)

*

31.2

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Financial Officer)

**

32.1

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

_____________

*   Filed herewith

** Furnished herewith

(b)

Reports on Form 8-K

(i)  A Form 8-K was furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2003 to disclose the Trust’s second quarter 2003 earnings press release and press release supplements dated August 6, 2003.

(ii)  A Form 8-K was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2003 to update our financial statements included in our Annual Report of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 in connection with the filing of our shelf registration statement on September 17, 2003.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:  Gables GP, Inc.
Its:   General Partner

Date:

November 14, 2003

 

/s/ Marvin R. Banks, Jr.







Date:







November 14, 2003

 

Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Authorized Officer of the Registrant
and Principal Financial Officer)


/s/ Dawn H. Severt

Dawn H. Severt
Vice President and Chief Accounting
Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)


   

EX-31.1 3 ex31-1lp.htm 302 CERTIFICATION (CEO) EXHIBIT 31

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Chris D. Wheeler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gables GP, Inc., the general partner of Gables Realty Limited Partnership, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Gables Realty Limited Partnership,;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.   The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

(a)              Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; and 

(b)              Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(c)              Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;

5.   The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)              All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)              Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:  November 14, 2003

By: Gables GP, Inc., its General Partner

   /s/  Chris D. Wheeler                .
Name:  Chris D. Wheeler
Title:    President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2 4 ex31-2lp.htm 302 CERTIFICATION (CFO) EXHIBIT 31

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Marvin R. Banks, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gables GP, Inc., the general partner of Gables Realty Limited Partnership, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Gables Realty Limited Partnership,;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.   The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

(a)        Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;  and

(b)        Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(c)        Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;

5.   The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)        All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)        Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:  November 14, 2003

By: Gables GP, Inc., its General Partner

     /s/ Marvin R. Banks, Jr.                     .
Name:  Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
Title:    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1 5 ex32-1lp.htm 906 CERTIFICATION VIA EDGAR

Exhibit 32.1





 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
         as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002



The undersigned officers of Gables GP, Inc., the general partner of Gables Realty Limited Partnership (the "Partnership"), hereby certify in his respective capacity as an officer and to his knowledge that the Partnership's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 (the "Report"), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.  


Date:  November 14, 2003


   /s/ Chris D. Wheeler                       
Chris D. Wheeler
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

  /s/ Marvin R. Banks, Jr.                  .
Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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