SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Description of Business

Santa Fe Financial Corporation, a Nevada corporation, (“Santa Fe” or the “Company”) owns approximately 68.8% of the outstanding common shares of Portsmouth Square, Inc. (“Portsmouth”), a public company. Santa Fe is an 80.9%-owned subsidiary of The InterGroup Corporation (“InterGroup”), a public company. InterGroup also directly owns approximately 12.9% of the common stock of Portsmouth, a public company.

Portsmouth’s primary business is conducted through its general and limited partnership interest in Justice Investors, a California limited partnership (“Justice” or the “Partnership”). Portsmouth has a 93% limited partnership interest in Justice and is the sole general partner. The financial statements of Justice are consolidated with those of the Company.

Justice owns a 543-room hotel property located at 750 Kearny Street, San Francisco California, known as the Hilton San Francisco Financial District (the Hotel) and related facilities including a five level underground parking garage. The Hotel is operated by the partnership as a full service Hilton brand hotel pursuant to a Franchise License Agreement with Hilton Hotels Corporation. Justice also has a Management Agreement with Prism Hospitality L.P. (Prism) to perform the day-to-day management functions of the Hotel. The parking garage that is part of the Hotel property is managed by Ace Parking pursuant to a contract with the Partnership.

Management believes that the revenues expected to be generated from the operations of the hotel, garage and leases will be sufficient to meet all of the Partnership’s current and future obligations and financial requirements. Management also believes that there is significant value in the Hotel to support additional borrowings, if necessary.

In addition to the operations of the Hotel, the Company also generates income from the ownership and management of real estate. On December 31, 1997, the Company acquired a controlling 55.4% interest in Intergroup Woodland Village, Inc. ("Woodland Village") from InterGroup. Woodland Village's major asset is a 27-unit apartment complex located in Los Angeles, California. The Company also owns a two-unit apartment building in Los Angeles, California.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, Portsmouth and Woodland Village. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Investment In Hotel [Policy Text Block]

Investment in Hotel, Net

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Building improvements are being depreciated on a straight-line basis over their useful lives ranging from 3 to 39 years. Furniture, fixtures, and equipment are being depreciated on a straight-line basis over their useful lives ranging from 3 to 7 years.

Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Costs of significant renewals and improvements are capitalized and depreciated over the shorter of its remaining estimated useful life or life of the asset. The cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts; any resulting gain or loss is included in other income (expenses).

The Company reviews property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the asset, including any intangible assets associated with that asset, exceeds its estimated undiscounted net cash flow, before interest, the Partnership will recognize an impairment loss equal to the difference between its carrying amount and its estimated fair value. If impairment is recognized, the reduced carrying amount of the asset will be accounted for as its new cost. For a depreciable asset, the new cost will be depreciated over the asset’s remaining useful life. Generally, fair values are estimated using discounted cash flow, replacement cost or market comparison analyses. The process of evaluating for impairment requires estimates as to future events and conditions, which are subject to varying market and economic factors. Therefore, it is reasonably possible that a change in estimate resulting from judgments as to future events could occur which would affect the recorded amounts of the property. No impairment losses were recorded for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

Investment In Real Estate [Policy Text Block]

Investment in Real Estate, Net

Rental properties are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of rental property is provided on the straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives of 5 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 5 to 10 years for equipment. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred and major improvements are capitalized.

The Company also reviews its rental property assets for impairment. No impairment losses on the investment in real estate have been recorded for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Investment in Marketable Securities

Marketable securities are stated at fair value as determined by the most recently traded price of each security at the balance sheet date. Marketable securities are classified as trading securities with all unrealized gains and losses on the Company's investment portfolio recorded through the consolidated statements of operations.

Other Investments [Policy Text Block]

Other Investments, Net

Other investments include non-marketable securities (carried at cost, net of any impairments loss), non –marketable warrants (carried at fair value) and certain convertible preferred securities, received in exchange for debt instruments, carried at a book basis, initially determined using the estimated fair value on the exchange date. The Company has no significant influence or control over the entities that issue these investments. These investments are reviewed on a periodic basis for other-than-temporary impairment. The Company reviews several factors to determine whether a loss is other-than-temporary. These factors include but are not limited to: (i) the length of time an investment is in an unrealized loss position, (ii) the extent to which fair value is less than cost, (iii) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and (iv) our ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. For the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded impairment losses related to other investments of $63,000 and $62,000, respectively. As of June 30, 2014 and 2013, the allowance for impairment losses was $2,936,000 and $2,873,000, respectively.

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company has investments in stock warrants that are considered derivative instruments.

Derivative financial instruments consist of financial instruments or other contracts that contain a notional amount and one or more underlying (e.g. interest rate, security price or other variable), require no initial net investment and permit net settlement. Derivative financial instruments may be free-standing or embedded in other financial instruments. Further, derivative financial instruments are initially, and subsequently, measured at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet with the related unrealized gain or loss recorded in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company used the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value these instruments which requires management to make significant assumptions including trading volatility, estimated terms, and risk free rates. Estimating fair values of derivative financial instruments requires the development of significant and subjective estimates that may, and are likely to, change over the duration of the instrument with related changes in internal and external market factors. In addition, option-based models are highly volatile and sensitive to changes in the trading market price of the underlying common stock, which has a high-historical volatility. Since derivative financial instruments are initially and subsequently carried at fair values, the Company’s consolidated statement of operations will reflect the volatility in these estimates and assumption changes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash is comprised of amounts held by lenders for payment of real estate taxes, insurance, replacement, capital addition reserves for the Hotel and the funds held by Justice to implement the alternate redemption structure for those partners who elected that structure.

Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable - Hotel, Net

Accounts receivable from Hotel customers are carried at cost less an allowance for doubtful accounts that is based on management’s assessment of the collectability of accounts receivable. The Company extends unsecured credit to its customers but mitigates the associated credit risk by performing ongoing credit evaluations of its customers. As of June 30, 2014 and 2013, the balance of allowance for doubtful accounts was $25,000 and $3,000, respectively.

Other Assets [Policy Text Block]

Other Assets, Net

Other assets include prepaid insurance, loan fees, franchise fees, license fees, occupancy tax deposits and other miscellaneous assets. Loan fees are stated at cost and amortized over the term of the loan using the effective interest method. Franchise fees are stated at cost and amortized over the life of the agreement (15 years). License fees are stated at cost and amortized over 10 years.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are calculated under the liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities at the current enacted tax rates. Changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities are included as a component of income tax expense. Changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities attributable to changes in enacted tax rates are charged or credited to income tax expense in the period of enactment. Valuation allowances are established for certain deferred tax assets where realization is not likely.

Assets and liabilities are established for uncertain tax positions taken or positions expected to be taken in income tax returns when such positions are judged to not meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold based on the technical merits of the positions.

Due To And From Broker Dealers Policy Text Block [Policy Text Block]

Due to Securities Broker

Various securities brokers have advanced funds to the Company for the purchase of marketable securities under standard margin agreements. These advanced funds are recorded as a liability.

Obligations For Securities Sold [Policy Text Block]

Obligations for Securities Sold

Obligation for securities sold represents the fair market value of shares sold with the promise to deliver that security at some future date and the fair market value of shares underlying the written call options with the obligation to deliver that security when and if the option is exercised. The obligation may be satisfied with current holdings of the same security or by subsequent purchases of that security. Unrealized gains and losses from changes in the obligation are included in the statement of operations.

Accounts Payable And Other Liabilities [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities

Accounts payable and other liabilities include trade payables, advance deposits and other liabilities.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Accounting standards for fair value measurement establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the observability of inputs as follows:

Level 1–inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2–inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.

Level 3–inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value.

Treasury Stock [Policy Text Block]

Treasury Stock

The Company records the acquisition of treasury stock under the cost method.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

Room revenue is recognized on the date upon which a guest occupies a room and/or utilizes the Hotel’s services. Food and beverage revenues are recognized upon delivery. Garage revenue is recognized when a guest uses the garage space. The Company records a liability for payments collected in advance of revenue recognition. This liability is included in Accounts payable and other liabilities. Rental revenue is recognized on the straight-line method of accounting whereby contractual rent payment increases are recognized evenly over the lease term, regardless of when the rent payments are received by Justice. The leases contain provisions for base rent plus a percentage of the lessees’ revenues, which are recognized when earned.

Revenue recognition from apartment rentals commences when an apartment unit is placed in service and occupied by a rent-paying tenant. Apartment units are leased on a short-term basis, with no lease extending beyond one year.

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were $434,000 and $419,000 for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basic and Diluted (Loss) Income per Share

Basic loss per share is calculated based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each fiscal year. As of June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not have any potentially dilutive securities outstanding.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires the use of estimates and assumptions regarding certain types of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. Such estimates primarily relate to unsettled transactions and events as of the date of the financial statements. Accordingly, upon settlement, actual results may differ from estimated amounts.

New Accounting Pronouncements [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”). ASU 2013-11 will become effective for the Company on July 1, 2014. The Company is currently evaluating the impact ASU 2013-11 but believes that this ASU will not have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements as it relates primarily as to how items are presented in the financial statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360)”(“ASU 2014-08”). The amendments in ASU 2014-08 provide guidance for the recognition of discontinued operations, change the requirements for reporting discontinued operations in ASC 205-20, “Discontinued Operations” (“ASC 205-20”) and require additional disclosures about discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 is effective for the Company for periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Early application is permitted, but only for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The Company is currently evaluating the impact ASU 2014-08 but believes that this ASU will not have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements as it relates primarily as to how items are presented in the financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts from Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”). The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the Company for periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early application is permitted for the annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact ASU 2014-09 will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.