Organization And Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Organization

Organization

Post Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries develop, own and manage upscale multi-family apartment communities in selected markets in the United States. The Company through its wholly-owned subsidiaries is the sole general partner, a limited partner and owns a majority interest in Post Apartment Homes, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), a Georgia limited partnership. The Operating Partnership, through its operating divisions and subsidiaries conducts substantially all of the on-going operations of the Company, a publicly traded corporation which operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). As used herein, the term “Company” includes Post Properties, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Post Apartment Homes, L.P., unless the context indicates otherwise.

The Company has elected to qualify and operate as a self-administrated and self-managed REIT for federal income tax purposes. A REIT is a legal entity which holds real estate interests and is generally not subject to federal income tax on the income it distributes to its shareholders. The Operating Partnership is governed under the provisions of a limited partnership agreement, as amended. Under the provisions of the limited partnership agreement, as amended, Operating Partnership net profits, net losses and cash flow (after allocations to preferred ownership interests) are allocated to the partners in proportion to their common ownership interests. Cash distributions from the Operating Partnership shall be, at a minimum, sufficient to enable the Company to satisfy its annual dividend requirements to maintain its REIT status under the Internal Revue Code of 1986, as amended.

At June 30, 2012, the Company had interests in 21,622 apartment units in 58 communities, including 1,471 apartment units in four communities held in unconsolidated entities and 1,810 apartment units at six communities currently under development or in lease-up. The Company is also selling luxury for-sale condominium homes in two communities through a taxable REIT subsidiary. At June 30, 2012, approximately 33.4%, 23.8%, 13.0% and 10.7% (on a unit basis) of the Company’s operating communities were located in the Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas, the greater Washington, D.C. and Tampa, Florida metropolitan areas, respectively.

At June 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding 54,109 shares of common stock and owned the same number of units of common limited partnership interests (“Common Units”) in the Operating Partnership, representing a 99.7% ownership interest in the Operating Partnership. Common Units held by persons other than the Company totaled 143 at June 30, 2012 and represented a 0.3% common minority interest in the Operating Partnership. Each Common Unit may be redeemed by the holder thereof for either one share of Company common stock or cash equal to the fair market value thereof at the time of redemption, at the option, but outside the control, of the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership presently anticipates that it will cause shares of common stock to be issued in connection with each such redemption rather than paying cash (as has been done in all redemptions to date). With each redemption of outstanding Common Units for Company common stock, the Company’s percentage ownership interest in the Operating Partnership will increase. In addition, whenever the Company issues shares of common stock, the Company will contribute any net proceeds therefrom to the Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnership will issue an equivalent number of Common Units to the Company. The Company’s weighted average common ownership interest in the Operating Partnership was 99.7% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

Basis of presentation

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared by the Company’s management in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normally recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company also consolidates other entities in which it has a controlling financial interest or entities where it is determined to be the primary beneficiary under ASC Topic 810, “Consolidation.” Under ASC Topic 810, variable interest entities (“VIEs”) are generally entities that lack sufficient equity to finance their activities without additional financial support from other parties or whose equity holders lack adequate decision making ability. The primary beneficiary is required to consolidate a VIE for financial reporting purposes. The application of ASC Topic 810 requires management to make significant estimates and judgments about the Company’s and its other partners’ rights, obligations and economic interests in such entities. For entities in which the Company has less than a controlling financial interest or entities where it is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary, the entities are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company’s share of the net earnings or losses of these entities is included in consolidated net income. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The noncontrolling interest of common unitholders (also referred to as “Redeemable Common Units”) in the operations of the Operating Partnership is calculated based on the weighted average unit ownership during the period.

Revenue recognition

Revenue recognition

Residential properties are leased under operating leases with terms of generally one year or less. Rental revenues from residential leases are recognized on the straight-line method over the approximate life of the leases, which is generally one year. The recognition of rental revenues from residential leases when earned has historically not been materially different from rental revenues recognized on a straight-line basis.

Under the terms of residential leases, the residents of the Company’s residential communities are obligated to reimburse the Company for certain utility usage, water and electricity (at selected properties), where the Company is the primary obligor to the public utility entity. These utility reimbursements from residents are reflected as other property revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.

Sales and the associated gains or losses of real estate assets and for-sale condominiums are recognized in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 360-20, “Property, Plant and Equipment – Real Estate Sales.” The Company accounts for each condominium project under either the “Deposit Method” or the “Percentage of Completion Method,” based on a specific evaluation of the factors specified in ASC Topic 360-20. The factors used to determine the appropriate accounting method are the legal commitment of the purchaser in the real estate contract, whether the construction of the project is beyond a preliminary phase, whether sufficient units have been contracted to ensure the project will not revert to a rental project, the ability to reasonably estimate the aggregate project sale proceeds and aggregate project costs and the determination that the buyer has made an adequate initial and continuing cash investment under the contract in accordance with ASC Topic 360-20. As of June 30, 2012, all condominium communities are accounted for under the Deposit Method. Under ASC Topic 360-20, the Company uses the relative sales value method to allocate costs and recognize profits from condominium sales. Under the relative sales value method, estimates of aggregate project revenues and aggregate project costs are used to determine the allocation of project cost of sales and the resulting profit in each accounting period. In subsequent periods, cumulative project cost of sale allocations and the resulting profits are adjusted to reflect changes in the actual and estimated costs and revenues of each project.

Cost capitalization

Cost capitalization

For communities under development or rehabilitation, the Company capitalizes interest, real estate taxes, and certain internal personnel and associated costs associated with the development and construction activity. Interest is capitalized to projects under development or construction based upon the weighted average cumulative project costs for each month multiplied by the Company’s weighted average borrowing costs, expressed as a percentage. Weighted average borrowing costs include the costs of the Company’s fixed rate secured and unsecured borrowings and the variable rate unsecured borrowings under its line of credit facilities. The weighted average borrowing costs, expressed as a percentage, were 5.6% and 6.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Internal development and construction personnel and associated costs are capitalized to projects under development or construction based upon the effort associated with such projects. Aggregate internal development and construction personnel and associated costs capitalized to projects under development or construction were $913 and $627 for the three months and $1,719 and $1,096 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company treats each unit in an apartment community separately for cost accumulation, capitalization and expense recognition purposes. Prior to the completion of rental and condominium units, interest and other construction costs are capitalized and reflected on the balance sheet as construction in progress. The Company ceases the capitalization of such costs as the residential units in a community become substantially complete and available for occupancy or sale. This results in a proration of costs between amounts that are capitalized and expensed as the residential units in apartment and condominium development communities become available for occupancy or sale. In addition, prior to the completion of rental units, the Company expenses as incurred substantially all operating expenses (including pre-opening marketing as well as property management and leasing personnel expenses) of such rental communities. Prior to the completion and closing of condominium units, the Company expenses all sales and marketing costs related to such units.

Real estate assets, depreciation and impairment

Real estate assets, depreciation and impairment

Real estate assets are stated at the lower of depreciated cost or fair value, if deemed impaired. Major replacements and betterments are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the useful lives of the properties (buildings and components, – 40 years; other building and land improvements – 20 years; furniture, fixtures and equipment – 5-10 years).

The Company continually evaluates the recoverability of the carrying value of its real estate assets using the methodology prescribed in ASC Topic 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment.” Factors considered by management in evaluating impairment of its existing real estate assets held for investment include significant declines in property operating profits, annually recurring property operating losses and other significant adverse changes in general market conditions that are considered permanent in nature. Under ASC Topic 360, a real estate asset held for investment is not considered impaired if the undiscounted, estimated future cash flows of an asset (both the annual estimated cash flow from future operations and the estimated cash flow from the theoretical sale of the asset) over its estimated holding period are in excess of the asset’s net book value at the balance sheet date. If any real estate asset held for investment is considered impaired, a loss is provided to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value. In addition, for-sale condominium units completed and ready for their intended use are evaluated for impairment using the methodology for assets held for sale (using discounted projected future cash flows).

The Company periodically classifies real estate assets as held for sale. An asset is classified as held for sale after the approval of the Company’s board of directors and after an active program to sell the asset has commenced. Upon the classification of a real estate asset as held for sale, the carrying value of the asset is reduced to the lower of its net book value or its estimated fair value, less costs to sell the asset. Subsequent to the classification of assets as held for sale, no further depreciation expense is recorded. Real estate assets held for sale are stated separately on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Upon a decision to no longer market an asset for sale, the asset is classified as an operating asset and depreciation expense is reinstated. As of June 30, 2012, there were no apartment communities held for sale.

For condominium communities, the operating results and associated gains and losses are reflected in continuing operations (see discussion under “revenue recognition” above), and the net book value of the condominium assets is reflected separately on the consolidated balance sheet in the caption titled, “For-sale condominiums.”

Derivative financial instruments

Derivative financial instruments

The Company accounts for derivative financial instruments at fair value under the provisions of ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” In conjunction with its implementation of updates to the fair value measurements guidance, the Company made an accounting policy election as of January 1, 2012 to measure derivative financial instruments subject to master netting agreements on a net basis. The Company uses derivative financial instruments, primarily interest rate swap arrangements to manage or hedge its exposure to interest rates changes. Under ASC Topic 815, derivative instruments qualifying as hedges of specific cash flows are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value with an offsetting increase or decrease to accumulated other comprehensive income, an equity account, until the hedged transactions are recognized in earnings. Quarterly, the Company evaluates the effectiveness of its cash flow hedges. Any ineffective portion of cash flow hedges are recognized immediately in earnings.

Fair value measurements

Fair value measurements

The Company applies the guidance in ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” to the valuation of real estate assets recorded at fair value, if any, to its impairment valuation analysis of real estate assets, to its disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments, principally indebtedness and to its derivative financial instruments. Fair value disclosures required under ASC Topic 820 are summarized in note 8 utilizing the following hierarchy:

• Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

• Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

• Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the assets or liability.

Recently issued and adopted ASC guidance

Recently issued and adopted ASC guidance

The Company adopted new guidance in ASC Topic 220, “Comprehensive Income,” related to the presentation of comprehensive income as of December 31, 2011. The new guidance requires the presentation of the components of comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company has presented a separate statement of comprehensive income in its consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

Supplemental cash flow information

Supplemental cash flow information

Supplemental cash flow information for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:

	Six months ended
	June 30,
	2012				2011
Interest paid, including interest capitalized		$	25,644			$	29,968
Income tax payments (refunds), net			70				705
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Dividends and distributions payable			13,563				10,124
Conversions of redeemable common units			591				321
Common stock 401k matching contribution			639				655
Construction cost accruals, increase (decrease)			6,440				(3,332	)
Adjustments to equity related to redeemable common units, net			(737	)			(789	)