Note 12 - Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

12. Fair Value Measurements

All financial instruments of the Company are reflected in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at amounts which, in management’s estimation, based upon an interpretation of available market information and valuation methodologies, reasonably approximate their fair values except those listed below, for which fair values are disclosed. The valuation method used to estimate fair value for fixed-rate and variable-rate debt is based on discounted cash flow analyses, with assumptions that include credit spreads, market yield curves, trading activity, loan amounts and debt maturities. The fair values for marketable securities are based on published values, securities dealers’ estimated market values or comparable market sales. Such fair value estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized upon disposition.

As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the FASB’s Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

The following are financial instruments for which the Company’s estimated fair value differs from the carrying value (in thousands):

	September 30, 2019				December 31, 2018
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Notes payable, net (1)	$	4,829,996	$	5,000,047	$	4,381,456	$	4,126,450
Mortgages and construction loan payable, net (2)	$	482,632	$	486,076	$	492,416	$	486,341

(1) The Company determined that the valuation of its Senior Unsecured Notes were classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and its unsecured revolving credit facility was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The estimated fair value amounts classified as Level 2, as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, were $4.8 billion and $4.0 billion, respectively. The estimated fair value amounts classified as Level 3, as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, were $199.8 million and $97.6 million, respectively.

(2) The Company determined that its valuation of its mortgages and construction loan were classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. 

The Company has certain financial instruments that must be measured under the FASB’s Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures guidance, including available for sale securities. The Company currently does not have non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

The tables below present the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at  September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall (in thousands):

	Balance at September 30, 2019		Level 1		Level 2	Level 3
Marketable equity securities	$	10,001	$	10,001	$	$	-

	Balance at December 31, 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Marketable equity securities	$	9,045	$	9,045	$	-	$	-

Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, are as follows (in thousands):

	Balance at September 30, 2019		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Real estate	$	138,489	$	-	$	-	$	138,489
Other real estate investments	$	22,202	$	-	$	-	$	22,202

	Balance at December 31, 2018		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Real estate	$	99,693	$	-	$	-	$	99,693
Investments in real estate joint ventures (1)	$	62,429	$	-	$	-	$	62,429

(1) Fair value measurement as of date of deconsolidation.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized impairment charges related to adjustments to property carrying values of $41.2 million and $33.9 million, respectively. The Company’s estimated fair values of these properties were primarily based upon estimated sales prices from (i) signed contracts or letters of intent from third party offers or (ii) discounted cash flow models. The Company does not have access to the unobservable inputs used to determine the estimated fair values of third party offers. For the discounted cash flow models, the capitalization rates primarily range from 8.00% to 11.00% and discount rates primarily range from 8.50% to 12.50% which were utilized in the models based upon unobservable rates that the Company believes to be within a reasonable range of current market rates for each respective investment. Based on these inputs, the Company determined that its valuation of these investments was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. (See Footnote 3 to the Notes to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding impairment charges).