Fair Value Of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Abstract]

NOTE 6. Fair Value OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. We estimate the fair values of other financial instruments using quoted market prices and discounted cash flow techniques. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, there were no material differences between the carrying amounts and fair values of our financial instruments, which also included our mortgage notes receivable and borrowings under our credit facility.

The Company has segregated all assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date in the table below.

Entities have the option to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. Entities that choose the fair value option will recognize unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option was elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. We have currently chosen not to elect the fair value option for any items that are not already required to be measured at fair value.


Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands):

		Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2011 Using
				Quoted Prices in		Significant Other		Significant
				Active Markets for			Observable	Unobservable
				Identical Assets			Inputs		Inputs
Description			Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Common and preferred stocks of other REITs	$	9,510	$	9,510	$	-	$	-
	Interest rate swap agreement		(922)		-		(922)		-
		$	8,588	$	9,510	$	(922)	$	-

Common and preferred stocks – The fair value of our common and preferred stock investments classified as marketable securities are derived using quoted market prices of identical securities or other observable inputs such as trading prices of identical securities in active markets.

Interest rate swap agreement – The fair value of our interest rate swap agreement is classified as accounts payable and accrued expenses and is estimated using observable forward rate yield curves; unobservable assumptions about counterparty liquidity, credit and other non-performance risk considerations; and standard discounted cash flow techniques.

- Definition

This item represents the complete disclosure regarding the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, 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 Company 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 risk is 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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