Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Polices)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements of Agree Realty Corporation include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company controlled, as the sole general partner, 98.06% and 97.72% of the Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. All material intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of (1) assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and (2) revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

The results of operations for properties that had been disposed of or classified as held for sale prior to March 31, 2014 are reported as discontinued operations. As a result of these discontinued operations, certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made in the financial statements in order to conform to the 2014 presentation.

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segment Reporting

We are in the business of acquiring, developing and managing retail real estate which we consider one reporting segment. The Company has no other reportable segments.

Real Estate, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Real Estate Investments

We record the acquisition of real estate at cost, including acquisition and closing costs. For properties developed by us, all direct and indirect costs related to planning, development and construction, including interest, real estate taxes and other miscellaneous costs incurred during the construction period, are capitalized for financial reporting purposes and recorded as property under development until construction has been completed. Properties classified as “held for sale” are recorded at the lower of their carrying value or their fair value, less anticipated selling costs.

Purchase Accounting For Acquisitions Of Real Estate [Policy Text Block]

Accounting for Acquisitions of Real Estate

The acquisition of property for investment purposes is typically accounted for as an asset acquisition. We allocate the purchase price to land, building and identified intangible assets and liabilities, based in each case on their relative estimated fair values and without giving rise to goodwill. Intangible assets and liabilities represent the value of in-place leases and above- or below-market leases. In making estimates of fair values, we may use a number of sources, including data provided by independent third parties, as well as information obtained by us as a result our due diligence, including expected future cash flows of the property and various characteristics of the markets where the property is located.

In allocating the fair value of the identified intangible assets and liabilities of an acquired property, in-place lease intangibles are valued based on the Company’s estimates of costs related to tenant acquisition and the carrying costs that would be incurred during the time it would take to locate a tenant if the property were vacant, considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases at the time of the acquisition. Above and below market lease intangibles are recorded based on the present value of the difference between the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the leases at the time of acquisition of the real estate and the Company’s estimate of current market lease rates for the property, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease.

The fair value of identified intangible assets and liabilities acquired is amortized to depreciation and amortization over the remaining term of the related leases.

Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization [Policy Text Block]

Depreciation

Our real estate portfolio is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated remaining useful life of the properties, which generally ranges from 30 to 40 years for buildings and 10 to 20 years for improvements. Properties classified as “held for sale” are not depreciated.

Impairment of Real Estate Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairments

We review our real estate investments periodically for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that may occur include, but are not limited to, significant changes in real estate market conditions or our ability to re-lease or sell properties that are vacant or become vacant. Management determines whether an impairment in value has occurred by comparing the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), including the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying cost of the individual asset. An asset is considered impaired if its carrying value exceeds its estimated undiscounted cash flows and an impairment charge is recorded in the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and money market accounts. The account balances periodically exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage, and as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurance coverage. 

Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable – Tenants

The Company reviews its rent receivables for collectability on a regular basis, taking into consideration changes in factors such as the tenant’s payment history, the financial condition of the tenant, business conditions in the industry in which the tenant operates and economic conditions in the area where the property is located. In the event that the collectability of a receivable with respect to any tenant is in doubt, a provision for uncollectible amounts will be established or a direct write-off of the specific rent receivable will be made. For accrued rental revenues related to the straight-line method of reporting rental revenue, the Company performs a periodic review of receivable balances to assess the risk of uncollectible amounts and establish appropriate provisions.

Deferred Charges, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Unamortized Deferred Expenses

Deferred expenses include debt financing costs, leasing costs and lease intangibles and are amortized as follows: (i) debt financing costs on a straight-line basis to interest expense over the term of the related loan; (ii) leasing costs on a straight-line basis to depreciation and amortization over the term of the related lease entered into; and (iii) lease intangibles on a straight-line basis to depreciation and amortization over the remaining term of the related lease acquired.

The following schedule summarizes the Company’s amortization of deferred expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively:

Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013		2012
Financing Costs	$	950,878	$	736,425	$	581,353
Leasing Costs		125,946		113,101		106,100
Lease Intangibles		2,490,585		1,633,691		1,025,077
Total	$	3,567,409	$	2,483,217	$	1,712,530

The following schedule represents estimated future amortization of deferred expenses as of December 31, 2014:

Year Ending December 31,	2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		Thereafter
Financing Costs	$	656,218	$	602,994	$	565,500	$	387,802	$	235,320	$	560,446
Leasing Costs		114,002		103,936		97,291		91,644		85,202		291,260
Lease Intangibles		3,750,268		3,750,268		3,750,268		3,750,268		3,359,280		29,119,250
Total	$	4,520,488	$	4,457,198	$	4,413,059	$	4,229,714	$	3,679,802	$	29,970,956

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

We lease real estate to our tenants under long-term net leases which we account for as operating leases. Under this method, leases that have fixed and determinable rent increases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Rental increases based upon changes in the consumer price indexes, or other variable factors, are recognized only after changes in such factors have occurred and are then applied according to the lease agreements. Certain leases also provide for additional rent based on tenants’ sales volumes. These rents are recognized when determinable by us after the tenant exceeds a sales breakpoint. Contractually obligated reimbursements from tenants for recoverable real estate taxes and operating expenses are generally included in operating costs reimbursement in the period when such expenses are recorded.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share have been computed by dividing the net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common and potential dilutive common shares outstanding in accordance with the treasury stock method.

The following is a reconciliation of the denominator of the basic net earnings per common share computation to the denominator of the diluted net earnings per common share computation for each of the periods presented:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		15,121,212		13,314,989		11,321,498
Less: Unvested restricted stock		(238,626)		(249,082)		(250,180)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in basic earnings per share		14,882,586		13,065,907		11,071,318
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in basic earnings per share		14,882,586		13,065,907		11,071,318
Effect of dilutive securities: restricted stock		84,309		91,598		65,592
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in diluted earnings per share		14,966,895		13,157,505		11,136,910

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The Company has made an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”) and related regulations. The Company generally will not be subject to federal income taxes on amounts distributed to stockholders, providing it distributes 100% of its REIT taxable income and meets certain other requirements for qualifying as a REIT. For each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, the Company believes it has qualified as a REIT. Notwithstanding the Company’s qualification for taxation as a REIT, the Company is subject to certain state taxes on its income and real estate.

The Company and its taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”) have made a timely TRS election pursuant to the provisions of the REIT Modernization Act. A TRS is able to engage in activities resulting in income that previously would have been disqualified from being eligible REIT income under the federal income tax regulations. As a result, certain activities of the Company which occur within its TRS entity are subject to federal and state income taxes (See Note 7). All provisions for federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are attributable to the Company’s TRS.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The Company’s estimates of fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities are based on the framework established in the fair value accounting guidance. The framework specifies a hierarchy of valuation inputs which was established to increase consistency, clarity and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The guidance describes a fair value hierarchy based upon three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value, two of which are considered observable and one that is considered unobservable. The following describes the three levels:

Level 1 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 – Valuation is based upon inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2014-08 "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity" which updates Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 205 "Presentation of Financial Statements" and ASC Topic 360 "Property, Plant and Equipment.” The amendments in this update change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing disclosures in this area. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. For public entities, ASU 2014-08 is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015; however, early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals or classifications as held for sale that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. We have elected to early adopt this updated standard effective in the first quarter of 2014. The adoption of this guidance had an effect on the presentation of our consolidated financial statements. Beginning in 2014, activities related to individual sales of properties are generally no longer classified as discontinued operations except for the property classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2013.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” as a new Topic, ASC Topic 606. The objective of ASU 2014-19 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In applying the new standard, companies will perform a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. ASU 2014-09 applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB ASC, including revenue from leases. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2016 and shall be applied using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance and has not determined the impact, if any, this standard may have on the consolidated financial statements.