XML 29 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting Basis of Accounting.  Pillarstone Capital REIT's (the “Company,” “Pillarstone,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) financial records are maintained on the accrual basis of accounting whereby revenues are recognized when earned and expenses are recorded when incurred.
Use of estimates Use of estimates.  In order to conform with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"), management, in preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements, is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted and is likely to further adversely impact the Company's business and markets, including the Company's operations and the operations of its tenants. The full extent to which the pandemic will directly or indirectly impact the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition, including revenues, expenses, reserves and allowances, fair value measurements, and asset impairment charges, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict. These developments include, but are not limited to, the duration and spread of the pandemic, its severity in our markets and elsewhere, governmental actions to contain the spread of the pandemic and respond to the reduction in global economic activity, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.
Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents. We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 consisted of demand deposits at commercial banks and brokerage accounts. We maintain our cash in bank accounts that are federally insured.
Acquired Properties and Acquired Lease Intangibles Acquired Properties and Acquired Lease Intangibles.  We allocate the purchase price of the acquired properties to land, building and improvements, identifiable intangible assets and to the acquired liabilities based on their respective fair values at the time of purchase. Identifiable intangibles include amounts allocated to acquired out-of-market leases, the value of in-place leases and customer relationship value, if any. We determine fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including the historical operating results, known trends and specific market and economic conditions that may affect the property. Factors considered by management in our analysis of determining the as-if-vacant property value include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods considering market conditions, and costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, management includes real estate taxes, insurance and estimates of lost rentals at market rates during the expected lease-up periods, tenant demand and other economic conditions. Management also estimates costs to execute similar leases including leasing commissions, tenant improvements, legal and other related expenses. Intangibles related to out-of-market leases and in-place lease value are recorded as acquired lease intangibles and are amortized as an adjustment to rental revenue or amortization expense, as appropriate, over the remaining terms of the underlying leases. Premiums or discounts on acquired out-of-market debt are amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of such debt. Due to COVID-19, we are carefully evaluating acquisitions, development and redevelopment opportunities on an individual basis.
Depreciation Depreciation.  Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 5 to 39 years for improvements and buildings.  Tenant improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over the life of the improvement or remaining term of the lease, whichever is shorter.
Impairment Impairment.  We review our properties for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets, including accrued rental income, may not be recoverable through operations.  We determine whether an impairment in value has occurred by comparing the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), including the estimated residual value of the property, with the carrying cost of the property. If impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the property exceeds its fair value.
Accrued Rents and Accounts Receivable Accrued Rents and Accounts Receivable.  Included in accrued rent and accounts receivable are base rents, tenant reimbursements and receivables attributable to recording rents on a straight-line basis. We review the collectability of charges under our tenant operating leases 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, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tenants' businesses and financial condition. With the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") No. 842, "Leases" ("Topic 842") effective January 1, 2019, we recognize an adjustment to rental revenue if we deem it probable that the receivable will not be collected. Prior to the adoption of Topic 842, we recognized an allowance for doubtful accounts and bad debt expense of the specific rents receivable. Our review of collectability under our operating leases includes any accrued rental revenues related to the straight-line method of reporting rental revenue.
Unamortized Lease Commissions Unamortized Lease Commissions and Loan Costs.  Leasing commissions are amortized using the straight-line method over the terms of the related lease agreements.  Loan costs are amortized on the straight-line method over the terms of the loans, which approximates the interest method. Costs allocated to in-place leases whose terms differ from market terms related to acquired properties are amortized over the remaining life of the respective leases.
Prepaids and Other assets Prepaids and Other assets. Prepaids and other assets include escrows established pursuant to certain mortgage financing arrangements for real estate taxes and insurance.
Noncontrolling Interests Noncontrolling Interests. Noncontrolling interests are the portion of equity in a subsidiary not attributable to a parent. Accordingly, we have reported noncontrolling interest in equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets but separate from Pillarstone’s equity.  On the condensed consolidated statements of operations, subsidiaries are reported at the consolidated amount, including both the amount attributable to Pillarstone and noncontrolling interest.
Revenue recognition
Revenue recognition. All leases on our properties are classified as operating leases, and the related rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related leases.  For the three and six months ending June 30, 2020, we recognized a straight-line rent reserve adjustment decreasing rental revenue by approximately $50,000 for the conversion of four tenants to cash basis revenue as a result of COVID-19 collectibility analysis. Differences between rental income earned and amounts due per the respective lease agreements are capitalized or charged, as applicable, to accrued rents and accounts receivable. Recoveries from tenants for taxes, insurance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenues in the period the corresponding costs are incurred.  We combine lease and nonlease components in lease contracts, which includes combining base rent and recoveries into a single line item, Rental, within the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

We recognize lease termination fees in the year that the lease is terminated and collection of the fee is reasonably assured. Additionally, we may have tenants who pay real estate taxes directly to the taxing authority. We exclude these costs paid directly by the tenant to third parties on our behalf from revenue recognized and the associated property operating expense.
Stock-based compensation Stock-based compensation. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC No. 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation," which addresses the accounting for stock-based payment transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. ASC No.718 generally requires that these transactions be accounted for using a fair-value-based method. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair-value of stock-based awards.
Income taxes Income taxes. Because we have not elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we account for income taxes using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the period in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. We are also subject to certain state and local income, excise and franchise taxes. The provision for state and local taxes has been reflected in provision for income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and has not been separately stated due to its insignificance.        The Company evaluates potential uncertain tax positions on an annual basis in conjunction with the board of trustees and its tax accountants. Authoritative literature provides a two-step approach to recognize and measure tax benefits when realization of the benefits is uncertain. The first step is to determine whether the benefit meets the more-likely-than-not condition for recognition and the second step is to determine the amount to be recognized based on the cumulative probability that exceeds 50%.
Concentration of Risk Concentration of Risk.  Substantially all of our revenues are obtained from office and warehouse locations in the Dallas and Houston metropolitan areas. We maintain cash accounts in major U.S. financial institutions. The terms of these deposits are on demand to minimize risk. The balances of these accounts sometimes exceed the federally insured limits, although no losses have been incurred in connection with these deposits.
Recent accounting pronouncements Recent accounting pronouncements. In April 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance on the application of Topic 842, relating to concessions being made by lessors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance notes that it would be acceptable for entities to make an election to account for lease concessions relating to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic consistent with how those concessions would be accounted for under Topic 842 as though enforceable rights and obligations for those concessions existed, even if such enforceable rights and obligations are not explicitly contained in the lease contract. Thus, for concessions relating to COVID-19, an entity would not have to analyze each contract to determine whether enforceable rights and obligations for concessions exist in the contract, and would have the option to apply, or not to apply, the general lease modification guidance in Topic 842 as it stands. We have elected this option to account for lease concessions relating to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic consistent with how those concessions would be accounted for under Topic 842 as though enforceable rights and obligations for those concessions existed. Therefore, such concessions are not accounted for as a lease modification under Topic 842.
        In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update ("ASU") that provided the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of leases. Additional guidance and targeted improvements to the February 2016 ASU were made through the issue of supplementary ASUs in July 2018, December 2018 and March 2019.

        Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted the new lease accounting guidance in Topic 842. As the lessee and lessor, we have elected the package of practical expedients permitted in Topic 842. Accordingly, we have accounted for our existing leases as operating leases under the new guidance, without reassessing (a) whether the contract contains a lease under Topic 842, (b) whether classification of the operating lease would be different in accordance with Topic 842, or (c) whether the unamortized initial direct costs before transition adjustments (as of December 31, 2018) would have met the definition of initial direct costs in Topic 842 at lease commencement. Additionally, as the lessee and lessor, we will use hindsight in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of our right-of-use assets. As a result of the adoption of the new lease accounting guidance, as the lessee, we recognized on January 1, 2019 (a) a lease liability of approximately $21,000, which represents the present value of the remaining lease payments of approximately $22,000 discounted using our incremental borrowing rate of 4.5%, and (b) a right-of-use asset of approximately $21,000.

        Upon adoption of Topic 842, lessees and lessors are required to apply a modified retrospective transition approach. Reporting entities are permitted to choose one of two methods to recognize and measure leases within the scope of Topic 842:

Apply Topic 842 to each lease that existed at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as well as leases that commenced after that date. Under this method, prior comparative periods presented are adjusted. For leases that commenced prior to the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented, a cumulative-effect adjustment is recognized at that date.
Apply the guidance to each lease that had commenced as of the beginning of the reporting period in which the entity first applies the lease standard with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of that date. Prior comparative periods would not be adjusted under this method.

        We have elected an optional transition method that allows entities to initially apply Topic 842 at January 1, 2019, the date of adoption, and to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. As the lessor, we have not assessed unamortized legal costs as part of the package of practical expedients, and we will not make any adjustment to retained earnings at the date of adoption to write off unamortized legal costs. We continued to amortize unamortized legal costs as of December 31, 2018 over the life of the respective leases. We did not have a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the adoption date. Additionally, the optional transition method does not allow us to apply the new
standard (including disclosure requirements) to comparative periods presented. Those periods can continue to be presented in accordance with prior generally accepted accounting principles.

        Topic 842 requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases and operating leases. Based on our election of the package of practical expedients, our existing commercial leases, where we are the lessor, continue to be accounted for as operating leases under the new standard. However, Topic 842 changed certain requirements regarding the classification of leases that could result in us recognizing certain long-term leases entered into or modified after January 1, 2019 as sales-type leases or finance leases, as opposed to operating leases. We will continue to monitor our leases following the adoption date to ensure that they are classified in accordance with the new lease standards.

        We elected a practical expedient which allows lessors to not separate non-lease components from the lease component when the timing and pattern of transfer for the lease components and non-lease components are the same and if the lease component is classified as an operating lease. As a result, we now present all rentals and reimbursements from tenants as a single line item, Rental, within the condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, we had rental revenues of approximately $2,185,000 and $4,522,000, respectively, and rental reimbursements of approximately $334,000 and $614,000, respectively, compared to rental revenues of approximately $3,254,000 and $6,519,000, respectively and rental reimbursements of approximately $613,000 and $1,250,000, respectively for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019.

        We review the collectability of charges under our tenant operating leases 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, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tenants' businesses and financial condition. Each tenant is included in one of several portfolios and an allowance is calculated using the calculation methodology for the respective portfolio. With the adoption of Topic 842, we recognize an adjustment to rental revenue if we deem it not probable that the receivable will be collected. Tenant portfolios will be converted to cash basis if collectability is of great concern. Prior to the adoption of Topic 842, we recognized an allowance for doubtful accounts and bad debt expense of the specific rents receivable. Our review on collectability under our operating leases includes any accrued rental revenues related to the straight-line method of reporting rental revenue.