Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The Company follows the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification No. 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”). This standard requires a company to perform an analysis to determine whether its variable interests give it a controlling financial interest in a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”). This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the entity that has (a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In determining whether it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the VIE’s performance, this standard requires a company to assess whether it has an implicit financial responsibility to ensure that a VIE operates as designed.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company’s investments in consolidated real estate joint ventures in which the Company was deemed to be the primary beneficiary had total real estate assets of $268.4 million and $289.5 million, respectively, mortgages of $22.6 million and $23.5 million, respectively, and other liabilities of $1.2 million and $28.7 million, respectively.

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

These financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, the interim financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results of the periods presented. The results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Presentation of Other Comprehensive Income

Presentation of Other Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. This guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the consolidated statements of equity, which was the Company’s previous presentation, and requires presentation of reclassification adjustments from other comprehensive income to net income on the face of the financial statements. These provisions are effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. This presentation was adopted by the Company at December 31, 2011. In December 2011, the FASB deferred those portions of the guidance that relate to the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The effective date for the deferred portion has not yet been determined. When adopted, the deferred portion of the guidance is not expected to materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)—Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS” (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement requirements, changes certain principles related to measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. Specifically, the guidance specifies that the concepts of highest and best use and valuation premise in a fair value measurement are only relevant when measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets whereas they are not relevant when measuring the fair value of financial assets and liabilities. Required disclosures are expanded under the new guidance, especially for fair value measurements that are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, for which quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used, and a narrative description of the valuation processes in place and sensitivity of recurring Level 3 measurements to changes in unobservable inputs will be required. Entities will also be required to disclose the categorization by level of the fair value hierarchy for items that are not measured at fair value in the balance sheet but for which the fair value is required to be disclosed. ASU 2011-04 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and is to be applied prospectively. The Company’s adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on its financial statements.