Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

A fair value measurement is based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value is as follows:


1.	Level 1 Inputs—quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities


2.	Level 2 Inputs—observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities


3.	Level 3 Inputs—unobservable inputs

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Except as disclosed below, the carrying amount of our financial instruments approximates their fair value. Financial assets and liabilities whose fair values we measure on a recurring basis using Level 2 inputs consist of our deferred compensation liability and interest rate swap liability. We measure the fair values of these liabilities based on prices provided by independent market participants that are based on observable inputs using market-based valuation techniques provided by third parties using proprietary valuation models and analytical tools as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. These valuation models and analytical tools use market pricing or similar instruments that are both objective and publicly available, including matrix pricing or reported trades, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids and/or offers.

A summary of our financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy is as follows (in thousands):



	December 31, 2014								December 31, 2013
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Deferred compensation liability	$	—	$	981	$	—	$	981	$	—	$	769	$	—	$	769
Interest rate swap liability	$	—	$	1,448	$	—	$	1,448	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

The fair value of our secured notes payable and unsecured notes payable is sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates. Discounted cash flow analysis (Level 2) is generally used to estimate the fair value of our mortgages and notes payable, using rates ranging from 3.6% to 5.7%.

Considerable judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of financial instruments. The estimates of fair value presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized upon disposition of the financial instruments. The carrying values of our line of credit and term loan set forth below are deemed to be at fair value since the outstanding debt is directly tied to monthly LIBOR contracts. A summary of the carrying amount and fair value of our financial instruments, all of which are based on Level 2 inputs, is as follows (in thousands):



	December 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Secured notes payable	$	812,811	$	850,475	$	952,174	$	990,296
Term loan	$	100,000	$	100,000	$	—	$	—
Senior guaranteed notes, Series A	$	150,000	$	154,560	$	—	$	—
Line of credit	$	—	$	—	$	93,000	$	93,000

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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