Basis of Preparation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Preparation

The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2017, and for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such interim periods. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. The consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016, has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") for complete financial statements.

Consolidated Financial Statements and Variable Interest Entities

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries, and its majority owned or controlled real estate entities and its interests in variable interest entities ("VIEs") in which the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. Material inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company’s consolidated joint ventures that own multi‑family properties were determined to be VIEs because the voting rights of some equity investors in the applicable joint venture entity are not proportional to their obligations to absorb the expected losses of the entity and their right to receive the expected residual returns. In addition, substantially all of the entity’s activities either involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately fewer voting rights. It was determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these joint ventures because it has a controlling interest in that it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and it has the obligation to absorb losses of the entity and the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

The joint ventures that own properties in Dallas, TX and St. Louis, MO were determined not to be a VIEs but are consolidated because the Company has substantive participating rights in such entities.

With respect to its unconsolidated joint ventures, as (i) the Company is primarily the managing member but does not exercise substantial operating control over these entities or the Company is not the managing member and (ii) such entities are not VIEs, the Company has determined that such joint ventures should be accounted for under the equity method of accounting for financial statement purposes.

The distributions to each joint venture partner are determined pursuant to the applicable operating agreement and may not be pro-rata to the percentage equity interest each partner has in the applicable venture.     

For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, the Company reclassified approximately $1,043,000 and $3,126,000 of tenant utility reimbursements from real estate operating expenses to rental and other revenues from real estate properties to conform with the current period presentation. This reclassification increased total revenues and expenses by $1,043,000 and $3,126,000, respectively, and had no effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The ASU clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist companies and other reporting organizations with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or business combinations. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company elected early adoption effective for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. The Company's net income was favorably impacted as a result of the capitalization of acquisition costs - in prior periods, property acquisition costs were expensed during the period incurred. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017, capitalized acquisition costs were $1,561,000 and $2,761,000, respectively, without giving effect to non-controlling interests.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which requires all excess tax benefits or deficiencies to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement. In addition, excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows. Application of the standard is required for the annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which amends the current consolidation guidance, including introducing a separate consolidation analysis specific to limited partnerships and other similar entities. Under this analysis, limited partnerships and other similar entities will be considered a VIE unless the limited partners hold substantive kick-out rights or participating rights. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance in the quarter December 31, 2016 and its adoption did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods thereafter, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the method by which it will adopt the standard in 2018.