Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Basis of presentation

The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

The partnership’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the partnership, its wholly-owned subsidiaries (consisting of single member limited liability companies owning a single real property asset). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Management Estimates

Management estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Such estimates relate principally to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, including, when applicable, the valuation of impaired loans, (which itself requires determining the fair value of the collateral), and the valuation of real estate held for sale and held as investment, at acquisition and subsequently. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.

Fair Value Estimates

Fair value estimates

GAAP defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. An orderly transaction is a transaction that assumes exposure to the market for a period prior to the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets and liabilities; it is not a forced transaction. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal market that are (i) independent, (ii) knowledgeable, (iii) able to transact and (iv) willing to transact.

Fair values of assets and liabilities are determined based on the fair value hierarchy established in GAAP. The hierarchy is comprised of three levels of inputs to be used.

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Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the partnership has the ability to access at the measurement date. An active market is a market in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

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Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly in active markets and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities that are not active, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable or inputs derived from or corroborated by market data.

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Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs reflect the partnership’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk). Unobservable inputs are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances and may include the partnership’s own data.

The fair value of the collateral is determined by exercise of judgment based on management’s experience informed by appraisals (by licensed appraisers), brokers’ opinion of values, and publicly available information on in-market transactions. Appraisals of commercial real property generally present three approaches to estimating value: 1) market comparables or sales approach; 2) cost to replace and 3) capitalized cash flows or investment approach. These approaches may or may not result in a common, single value. The market-comparables approach may yield several different values depending on certain basic assumptions, such as, determining highest and best use (which may or may not be the current use); determining the condition (e.g. as-is, when-completed, or for land when-entitled); and determining the unit of value (e.g. as a series of individual unit sales or as a bulk disposition).

Management has the requisite familiarity with the markets it lends in generally and of the properties lent on specifically to analyze sales-comparables and assess their suitability/applicability. Management is acquainted with market participants – investors, developers, brokers, lenders – that are useful, relevant secondary sources of data and information regarding valuation and valuation variability. These secondary sources may have familiarity with and perspectives on pending transactions, successful strategies to optimize value, and the history and details of specific properties – on and off the market – that enhance the process and analysis that is particularly and principally germane to establishing value in distressed markets and/or property types.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

The partnership considers all highly liquid financial instruments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. At March 31, 2017, certain partnership cash balances in banks exceed federally insured limits.

Loans and Interest Income

Loans and interest income

Loans generally are stated at the unpaid principal balance (principal). Management has discretion to pay amounts (advances) to third parties on behalf of borrowers to protect the partnership’s interest in the loan. Advances include, but are not limited to, the payment of interest and principal on a senior lien to prevent foreclosure by the senior lien holder, property taxes, insurance premiums, and attorney fees. Advances generally are stated at the unpaid principal balance and accrue interest until repaid by the borrower.

The partnership may fund a specific loan origination net of an interest reserve (one to two years) to insure timely interest payments at the inception of the loan. As monthly interest payments become due, the partnership funds the payments into the affiliated trust account. In the event of an early loan payoff, any unapplied interest reserves would be first applied to any accrued but unpaid interest and then as a reduction of principal.

If based upon current information and events, it is probable the partnership will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, then a loan may be designated as impaired. Impaired loans are included in management’s periodic analysis of recoverability. If a valuation allowance had been established on an impaired loan, any subsequent payments on impaired loans are applied to late fees and then to reduce first the accrued interest, then advances, and then unpaid principal.

From time to time, the partnership negotiates and enters into loan modifications with borrowers whose loans are delinquent. If the loan modification results in a significant reduction in the cash flow compared to the original note, the modification is deemed a troubled debt restructuring and a loss is recognized. In the normal course of the partnership’s operations, loans that mature may be renewed at then current market rates and terms for new loans. Such renewals are not designated as impaired, unless the matured loan was previously designated as impaired.

Interest is accrued daily based on the unpaid principal balance of the loans. An impaired loan continues to accrue as long as the loan is in the process of collection and is considered to be well-secured. Loans are placed on non-accrual status at the earlier of management’s determination that the primary source of repayment will come from the foreclosure and subsequent sale of the collateral securing the loan (which usually occurs when a notice of sale is filed) or when the loan is no longer considered well-secured. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, the accrual of interest is discontinued; however, previously recorded interest is not reversed. A loan may return to accrual status when all delinquent interest and principal payments become current in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Allowance for loan losses

Loans and the related accrued interest and advances (i.e. the loan balance) are analyzed on a periodic basis for ultimate recoverability. Delinquencies are identified and followed as part of the loan system. Collateral fair values are reviewed quarterly and the protective equity for each loan is computed. As used herein, “protective equity” is the arithmetic difference between the fair value of the collateral, net of any senior liens, and the loan balance, where “loan balance” is the sum of the unpaid principal, advances and the recorded interest thereon. This computation is done for each loan (whether impaired or performing), and while loans secured by collateral of similar property type are grouped, there is enough distinction and variation in the collateral that a loan-by-loan, collateral-by-collateral analysis is appropriate.

For loans designated impaired, a provision is made for loan losses to adjust the allowance for loan losses to an amount such that the net carrying amount (unpaid principal less the specific allowance) is reduced to the lower of the loan balance or the estimated fair value of the related collateral, net of any senior loans and net of any costs to sell in arriving at net realizable value.

Loans determined not to be individually impaired are grouped by the property type of the underlying collateral, and for each loan and for the total by property type, the amount of protective equity or amount of exposure to loss (i.e., the dollar amount of the deficiency of the fair value of the underlying collateral to the loan balance) is computed.

The company charges off uncollectible loans and related receivables directly to the allowance account once it is determined the full amount is not collectible.

At foreclosure, any excess of the recorded investment in the loan (accounting basis) over the net realizable value is charged against the allowance for loan losses.

Real Estate Owned (REO)

Real estate owned (REO)

Real estate owned (REO) is property acquired in full or partial settlement of loan obligations generally through foreclosure, and is recorded at acquisition at the lower of the amount owed on the loan (legal basis), plus any senior indebtedness, or at the property’s net realizable value, which is the fair value less estimated costs to sell, as applicable. The fair value estimates are derived from information available in the real estate markets including similar property, and often require the experience and judgment of third parties such as commercial real estate appraisers and brokers. The estimates figure materially in calculating the value of the property at acquisition, the level of charge to the allowance for loan losses and any subsequent valuation reserves. After acquisition, costs incurred relating to the development and improvement of property are capitalized to the extent they do not cause the recorded value to exceed the net realizable value, whereas costs relating to holding and disposition of the property are expensed as incurred. After acquisition, REO is analyzed periodically for changes in fair values and any subsequent write down is charged to operations expense. Any recovery in the fair value subsequent to such a write down is recorded, not to exceed the value recorded at acquisition. Recognition of gains on the sale of real estate is dependent upon the transaction meeting certain criteria related to the nature of the property and the terms of the sale including potential seller financing.

Rental Income/Depreciation

Rental income/depreciation

Rental income is recognized when earned in accordance with the lease agreement. For commercial leases, the costs associated with originating the lease are amortized over the lease term. Residential lease terms generally range from month-to-month to one-year, and the expenses of originating the lease are expensed as incurred. Real estate owned that is designated held for sale is not depreciated. Real estate that was designated held for investment, and rented was depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the property.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

-Accounting and Financial Reporting for Expected Credit Losses

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that significantly changes how entities will account for credit losses for most financial assets that are not measured at fair value through net income. The new standard will supersede currently in effect guidance and applies to all entities. Entities will be required to use a current expected credit loss (CECL) model to estimate credit impairment. This estimate will be forward-looking, meaning management will be required to use forecasts about future economic conditions to determine the expected credit loss over the remaining life of an instrument. This will be a significant change from today’s incurred credit loss model and generally will result in allowances being recognized more quickly than they are today. Allowances that reflect credit losses expected over the life of an asset are also likely to be larger than allowances entities record under the incurred loss model.

RMI VIII invests in real estate secured loans made with the expectation of zero credit losses as a result of substantial protective equity provided by the underlying collateral. For a loss to be recognized under the CECL or incurred loss model, if the lending/loan-to-value guidelines are followed effectively, an intervening, subsequent-to-loan-funding, event must negatively impact the value of the underlying collateral of the loan in an amount greater than the amount of protective equity provided by the collateral. Such an event would be either (or both) of:

An uninsured event (s) specifically impacting the collateral or

A non-temporary decline in values generally in the real estate market.

In both of these instances the treatment would be the same in the incurred loss and CECL models of approximately the same amount. Other than in these events, the probable of occurrence criteria of the incurred loss model is not triggered and a loss is not recognized. Further the protective equity provided by the collateral is not impaired and the zero-expected-loss lending guideline in preserved, and a loss is not required to be recognized under the CECL model.

This convergence between the CECL and incurred loss models as to loss recognition – as an event driven occurrence – in low LTV, real estate secured programs caused RMC to conclude that the CECL model will not materially impact the reported results of operations or financial position as compared to that which would be reported in the incurred loss model. The manager expects to adopt the ASU for interim and annual reporting in 2020.

-Accounting and Financial Reporting for Revenue Recognition

On May 28, 2014, FASB issued a final standard on revenue from contracts with customers. The standard issued as ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The standard is effective January 2018.

The goals of the revenue recognition project are to clarify and converge the revenue recognition principles under U.S. GAAP and to develop guidance that would streamline and enhance revenue recognition requirements. A core principle of the standard is to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Revenue is recognized when a performance obligation is satisfied by transferring goods or services to a customer. The FASB intentionally used the wording “be entitled” rather than “receive” or “collect” to distinguish collectability risk from other uncertainties that may exist under a contract.

RMC management concluded that the new standard is consistent with its currently-in-place guidelines for revenue recognition which provided for interest income recognition on loans to borrowers to continue to accrue for financial reporting purposes so long as the loan is well collateralized (such that collection is assured) and – in the judgment of management – the borrower has the intent and capacity to repay, as opposed to management judging that the collection of amounts owing will come from legal action such as the completion of a foreclosure and subsequent sale of the property.