Basis of Preparation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Preparation

Basis of Preparation

The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2019, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, 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 six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. The consolidated unaudited balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, has been derived from the unaudited 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"). Accordingly, these unaudited statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on December 10, 2018, for complete financial statements.

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 intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company’s consolidated joint ventures that own multi-family properties, except as set forth in the following paragraph, 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. 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 Ocoee, FL, Lawrenceville, GA, Dallas, TX, Farmers Branch, TX and Grand Prairie, TX were determined not to be a VIEs but are consolidated because the Company has controlling rights in such entities.

With respect to its unconsolidated joint ventures, as (i) the Company is generally 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.  

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. Substantially all of the Company's assets are comprised of multi- family real estate assets generally leased to tenants on a one-year basis. Therefore, the Company aggregates real estate assets for reporting purposes and operates in one reportable segment.

In February 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a change in the Company’s fiscal year end from September 30 to December 31. The change is intended to better align the Company’s fiscal year with the fiscal year of other multi-family REITs. As a result of the change in fiscal year, (i) the Company’s 2019 fiscal year began on January 1, 2019 and ends on December 31, 2019 and (ii) the Company filed a Transition Report on Form 10-Q covering the transition period from October 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.