BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2012

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND UNAUDITED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IRET and all subsidiaries in which it maintains a controlling interest. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The Company's fiscal year ends April 30th.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IRET and its interest in the Operating Partnership. The Company's interest in the Operating Partnership was 81.4% and 81.5% of the common units of the Operating Partnership, respectively, as of October 31, 2012 and April 30, 2012, and 100.0% of the preferred units in the Operating Partnership as of October 31, 2012. The limited partners in the Operating Partnership have a redemption option that they may exercise. Upon exercise of the redemption option by the limited partners, IRET has the choice of redeeming the limited partners' interests ("Units") for IRET common shares of beneficial interest, on a one-for-one basis, or making a cash payment to the unitholder. The redemption generally may be exercised by the limited partners at any time after the first anniversary of the date of the acquisition of the Units (provided, however, that in general not more than two redemptions by a limited partner may occur during each calendar year, and each limited partner may not exercise the redemption for less than 1,000 Units, or, if such limited partner holds less than 1,000 Units, for all of the Units held by such limited partner). The Operating Partnership and some limited partners have contractually agreed to a holding period of greater than one year and/or a greater number of redemptions during a calendar year.

The condensed consolidated financial statements also reflect the ownership by the Operating Partnership of certain joint venture entities in which the Operating Partnership has a general partner or controlling interest. These entities are consolidated into IRET's other operations, with noncontrolling interests reflecting the noncontrolling partners' share of ownership and income and expenses.

UNAUDITED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of IRET have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, certain disclosures accompanying annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") are omitted. The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods have been included.

The current period's results of operations are not necessarily indicative of results which ultimately may be achieved for the year. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012, as filed with the SEC on July 16, 2012, as amended by the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 10, 2012.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment. This standard gives entities testing goodwill for impairment the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the reporting unit (step I of the goodwill impairment test). If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than its carrying amount, the two-step impairment test would be required. Otherwise, no further testing is required. The ASU does not change how goodwill is calculated or assigned to reporting units, nor does it revise the requirement to test goodwill annually for impairment. The ASU is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this update for fiscal year 2013, but does not intend to use the methodology allowed by the ASU.

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Topic 350 - Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment ("ASU 2012-02"), which amends Topic 350 to allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying value. An entity would not be required to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible unless the entity determines, based on the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than the carrying value. ASU 2012-02 is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt this standard for fiscal year 2014, and does not expect the adoption will have an impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, including its investments in real estate, for impairment indicators. The impairment evaluation is performed on assets by property such that assets for a property form an asset group. The judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions, expected holding period of each asset group and legal and environmental concerns. If indicators exist, the Company compares the expected future undiscounted cash flows for the long-lived asset group against the carrying amount of that asset group. If the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying amount of the asset group. If our anticipated holding period for properties, the estimated fair value of properties or other factors change based on market conditions or otherwise, our evaluation of impairment charges may be different and such differences could be material to our consolidated financial statements. The evaluation of anticipated cash flows is subjective and is based, in part, on assumptions regarding future occupancy, rental rates and capital requirements that could differ materially from actual results. Plans to hold properties over longer periods decrease the likelihood of recording impairment losses. During the six months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company incurred no losses due to impairment.

COMPENSATING BALANCES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS; LENDER HOLDBACKS

The Company maintains compensating balances, not restricted as to withdrawal, with several financial institutions in connection with financing received from those institutions and/or to ensure future credit availability. At October 31, 2012, the Company's compensating balances totaled $8.9 million and consisted of the following: Dacotah Bank, Minot, North Dakota, deposit of $350,000; United Community Bank, Minot, North Dakota, deposit of $275,000; Commerce Bank, A Minnesota Banking Corporation, deposit of $250,000; First International Bank, Watford City, North Dakota, deposit of $6.1 million; Peoples State Bank of Velva, North Dakota, deposit of $225,000; Equity Bank, Minnetonka, Minnesota, deposit of $300,000; Associated Bank, Green Bay, Wisconsin, deposit of $500,000; Venture Bank, Eagan, Minnesota, deposit of $500,000, and American National Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, deposit of $400,000. The deposits at United Community Bank and Equity Bank and a portion of the deposit at Dacotah Bank are held as certificates of deposit and comprise the $637,000 in other investments on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The certificates of deposit have remaining terms of less than two years and the Company intends to hold them to maturity.

The Company has a number of mortgage loans under which the lender retains a portion of the loan proceeds for the payment of construction costs or tenant improvements. The decrease of $1.0 million in lender holdbacks for improvements reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended October 31, 2012 is due primarily to the release of loan proceeds to the Company upon completion of these construction and tenant improvement projects, while the increase of $1.7 million represents additional amounts retained by lenders for new projects.

IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND INTANGIBLE LIABILITIES AND GOODWILL

IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AND GOODWILL

Upon acquisition of real estate, the Company records the intangible assets and liabilities acquired (for example, if the leases in place for the real estate property acquired carry rents above the market rent, the difference is classified as an intangible asset) at their estimated fair value separate and apart from goodwill. The Company amortizes identified intangible assets and liabilities that are determined to have finite lives based on the period over which the assets and liabilities are expected to affect, directly or indirectly, the future cash flows of the real estate property acquired (generally the life of the lease). In the six months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Company added approximately $813,000 and $416,000 of new intangible assets and no new intangible liabilities. The weighted average lives of the intangible assets acquired in the six months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 are 0.5 years and 10.0 years, respectively. Amortization of intangibles related to above or below-market leases is recorded in real estate rentals in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Amortization of other intangibles is recorded in depreciation/amortization related to real estate investments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an intangible asset is not recoverable and its carrying amount exceeds its estimated fair value.

The Company's identified intangible assets and intangible liabilities at October 31, 2012 and April 30, 2012 were as follows:

	(in thousands)
	October 31, 2012			April 30, 2012
Identified intangible assets (included in intangible assets):
Gross carrying amount	$	67,860		$	92,401
Accumulated amortization		(25,579	)		(47,813	)
Net carrying amount	$	42,281		$	44,588

Identified intangible liabilities (included in other liabilities):
Gross carrying amount	$	408		$	1,104
Accumulated amortization		(294	)		(967	)
Net carrying amount	$	114		$	137

The effect of amortization of acquired below-market leases and acquired above-market leases on rental income was approximately $(7,000) and $(6,000) for the three months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $(14,000) and $(32,000) for the six months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011. The estimated annual amortization of acquired below-market leases, net of acquired above-market leases for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows:

Year Ended April 30,	(in thousands)
2014	$	35
2015		18
2016		14
2017		6
2018		(5	)

Amortization of all other identified intangible assets (a component of depreciation and amortization expense) was $1.6 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $3.1 million and $3.2 million for the six months ended October 31, 2012 and 2011.The estimated annual amortization of all other identified intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows:

Year Ended April 30,	(in thousands)
2014	$	4,182
2015		3,825
2016		3,608
2017		3,139
2018		2,652

The excess of the cost of an acquired business over the net of the amounts assigned to assets acquired (including identified intangible assets) and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The Company's goodwill has an indeterminate life and is not amortized, but is tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The book value of goodwill as of October 31, 2012 and April 30, 2012 was $1.1 million. The annual review at April 30, 2012 indicated no impairment to goodwill and there was no indication of impairment at October 31, 2012. During the quarter ended October 31, 2012, the Company disposed of one multi-family residential property to which goodwill had been assigned, and as a result, approximately $10,000 of goodwill was derecognized.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

RECLASSIFICATIONS

Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation. The Company reports, in discontinued operations, the results of operations and the related gains or losses of a property that has either been disposed of or is classified as held for sale and otherwise meets the classification of a discontinued operation. As a result of discontinued operations, retroactive reclassifications that change prior period numbers have been made. See Note 7 for additional information. During the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2013, the Company sold four condominium units, a retail property and two multi-family residential properties and classified an additional multi-family residential property as held for sale. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 the Company had no real estate dispositions; in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012, the Company sold a small retail property. The results of operations for these properties are included in income from discontinued operations in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

INVOLUNTARY CONVERSION OF ASSETS

As previously reported, Minot, North Dakota, where IRET's corporate headquarters is located, experienced significant flooding in June 2011, resulting in extensive damage to the Arrowhead Shopping Center and to the Chateau Apartments property, which consisted of two 32-unit buildings. Additionally, on February 22, 2012, one of the buildings of the Chateau Apartments property, which had been undergoing restoration work following the flood, was completely destroyed by fire. The costs related to clean-up, redevelopment and loss of rents for these properties are being reimbursed to the Company by its insurance carrier, less the Company's deductible of $200,000 per event under the policy. The Company expensed $400,000 in fiscal year 2012 for the flood and fire deductibles

During fiscal year 2012, for the Arrowhead and Chateau flood loss, the Company received $5.7 million of insurance proceeds for flood clean-up costs and redevelopment. In regard to Arrowhead Shopping Center, the total insurance proceeds for redevelopment at April 30, 2012 exceeded the estimated basis in the assets requiring replacement, resulting in the recognition of approximately $274,000 in gain from involuntary conversion in fiscal year 2012. IRET expects final settlement of the Arrowhead and Chateau flood insurance claims to occur in the third or fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013.

In the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, for the Chateau fire loss, the Company received $2.9 million of insurance proceeds for redevelopment. The total insurance proceeds for redevelopment related to the Chateau fire at October 31, 2012 exceeded the

estimated basis in the assets requiring replacement, resulting in the recognition of $2.3 million in gain from involuntary conversion in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013. The Company expects to rebuild the destroyed building but has no firm estimates at this time for costs or expected completion date of such rebuilding. IRET expects final settlement of the Chateau fire insurance claim to occur when the property is rebuilt.

Final settlement was reached during the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 for business interruption from the flood and fire with proceeds received during the quarter of $409,000. During fiscal year 2012, approximately $666,000 was received, for total business interruption proceeds from the claims of $1.1 million.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for goodwill and intangible assets. This accounting policy also may address how an entity assesses and measures impairment of goodwill and intangible assets.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for recognizing and measuring the impairment of long-lived assets. An entity also may disclose its accounting policy for long-lived assets to be sold. This policy excludes goodwill and intangible assets.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for the use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

+ References+ Details