Interest rate swap contracts

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2016

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Interest rate swap contracts

Note 4 - Interest rate swap contracts: 

On December 26, 2012, Damascus Centre, LLC refinanced its construction loan with long-term financing provided by People’s United Bank and the first tranche of the new loan was taken-down in the amount of $20 million. Based on leasing and net operating income at the shopping center, People’s United Bank agreed to a take-down of the second tranche of this loan on April 22, 2016 in the amount of $2,320,000, of which approximately $470,000 was readily available and the remaining $1,850,000 (included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet) is held in escrow and available to Damascus Centre, LLC once certain tenants open and begin paying rent. The total amount outstanding for both tranches of this loan held with People’s United Bank as of April 30, 2016 was approximately $21.1 million. The loan has a maturity date of January 3, 2023 and bears a floating interest rate equal to 210 points over the BBA LIBOR. In order to minimize interest rate volatility during the term of this loan, Damascus Centre, LLC entered into an interest rate swap agreement that in effect, converted the floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate on each tranche of this loan, resulting in a fixed rate of 3.81% over the term of the first tranche of this loan and a fixed rate of 3.53% over the term of the second tranche of this loan.

On December 29, 2014, FREIT Regency, LLC closed on a $16.2 million mortgage loan with Provident Bank. The loan bears a floating interest rate equal to 125 basis points over the BBA LIBOR and the loan will mature on December 15, 2024. In order to minimize interest rate volatility during the term of the loan, FREIT Regency, LLC entered into an interest rate swap agreement that in effect, converted the floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate of 3.75% over the term of the loan. At April 30, 2016, the derivative financial instrument has a notional amount of approximately $16.2 million and a current maturity date of December 2024.

In accordance with ASC 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, FREIT is accounting for the Damascus Centre, LLC and the FREIT Regency, LLC interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges and marks to market its fixed pay interest rate swaps, taking into account present interest rates compared to the contracted fixed rate over the life of the contract. For the six months ended April 30, 2016, FREIT recorded an unrealized loss of $841,000 in comprehensive income representing the change in the fair value of the swaps during such period and a corresponding liability of approximately $1,386,000 for the Regency swap and $521,000 for the Damascus Center swap as of April 30, 2016. For the three months ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, FREIT recorded an unrealized loss of $143,000 and an unrealized gain of $808,000, respectively, in comprehensive income representing the change in the fair value of the swaps during such period. For the year ended October 31, 2015, FREIT recorded an unrealized loss of $1,581,000 in comprehensive income representing the change in the fair value of the swaps during such period and a corresponding liability of $945,000 for the Regency swap and $121,000 for the Damascus Center swap as of October 31, 2015. The fair values are based on observable inputs (level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as provided by authoritative guidance).