Fair Value Measurements (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with GAAP, we are required to measure certain assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements at fair value. Certain assets, such as our investment in the first loss and mezzanine positions in a securitization trust that holds certain of our property debt, our interest rate swaps (IR swaps), total rate of return swaps (TRR swaps), and the debt subject to TRR swaps (TRR debt) are required to be measured at fair value on a quarterly basis. Other assets, such as real estate, are required to be measured at fair value when we determine that the carrying amount of an asset held for use is no longer recoverable, or are required to be measured at fair value less estimated costs to sell when we determine that the carrying amount of an asset classified as held for sale is no longer recoverable.

We are required to classify these fair value measurements into one of three categories, based on the nature of the inputs used in the fair value measurement. Level 1 of the hierarchy includes fair value measurements based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities we can access at the measurement date. Level 2 includes fair value measurements based on inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 includes fair value measurements based on unobservable inputs. The classification of fair value measurements is subjective and GAAP requires us to disclose more detailed information regarding those fair value measurements classified within the lower levels of the hierarchy.