Note 1 - Organization and General

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL

Redwood Mortgage Investors IX, LLC (the “company”) is a Delaware limited liability company formed in October 2008 to make loans secured primarily by first and second deeds of trust on California real estate. Redwood Mortgage Corp. (“RMC”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Gymno LLC (“Gymno”) are the managers of the company. The address of the company and the managers is 1825 South Grant Street, Suite 250, San Mateo, CA 94402. The mortgage loans the company invests in are arranged and are generally serviced by RMC. Michael Burwell is the president and majority shareholder (through his holdings and beneficial interests in certain trusts) of RMC.

In June 2012, the company filed with the SEC a second registration statement on Form S-11, which was declared effective in December 2012 that in substance extends the offering of member units past the sunset date of the registration of the initial public offering, which was filed in November 2008. The 2012 registration offers up to 150,000,000 units of its membership interests to the public and 37,500,000 units to its members pursuant to its distribution reinvestment plan. The second registration statement expires in December 2015, three years from the date declared effective. It is the manager's intention to file a third registration statement to continue the offering.

Offering proceeds are released to the company and applied to investments in mortgage loans and the payment or reimbursement of organization and offering expenses. The amount of loans the company funds or acquires will depend upon the number of units sold in the public offering and the resulting amount of the net proceeds available for investment in loans.

The rights, duties and powers of the managers and members of the company are governed by the company’s operating agreement and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

The managers are solely responsible for managing the business and affairs of the company, subject to the voting rights of the members on specified matters. Any one of the managers acting alone has the power and authority to act for and bind the company.

Members representing a majority of the outstanding units may, without the concurrence of the managers, vote to: (i) dissolve the company, (ii) amend the operating agreement, subject to certain limitations, (iii) approve or disapprove the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the company or (iv) remove or replace one or all of the managers. The description of the company's operating agreement contained in these financial statements provides only general information.

A majority in interest of the members is required to elect a new manager to continue the company business after a manager ceases to be a manager due to its withdrawal.

Profits and losses are allocated among the members according to their respective capital accounts monthly after a percentage of the profits and losses not to exceed 1% (combined) is allocated to the managers. The monthly results are subject to subsequent adjustment as a result of quarterly and year-end accounting and reporting. Members may elect to have all or a portion of their monthly distributions reinvested in additional units, subject to the availability of units under the distribution reinvestment plan. Members may withdraw from the distribution reinvestment plan with written notice. No provision for federal and state income taxes (other than an $800 state minimum tax) is made in the financial statements since income taxes are the obligation of the members if and when income taxes apply. Investors should not expect the company to provide tax benefits of the type commonly associated with limited liability company tax shelter investments.

The description of the company's operating agreement provisions contained in these financial statements' notes provide only general information. Members should refer to the company's operating agreement for a more complete description of the provisions. 

Distribution reinvestment plan

Members may elect to have all or a portion of their monthly distributions reinvested in additional units, subject to the availability of units under the distribution reinvestment plan. Members may withdraw from the distribution reinvestment plan with written notice.

Liquidity and unit redemption program

There are substantial restrictions on transferability of company units and accordingly an investment in the company is non-liquid. There is no public or secondary market for the units and none is expected to develop. Members have no right to withdraw from the company or to obtain the return of their capital account for at least one year from the date of purchase of units.

In order to provide a certain degree of liquidity, after the one-year period, a member may redeem all or part of their units, subject to certain limitations. The price paid for redeemed units will be based on the lesser of the purchase price paid by the redeeming member or the member's capital account balance as of the date of each redemption payment. Redemption value will be calculated as follows:

● For redemptions beginning after one year (but before two years) 92% of purchase price or 92% of the capital account balance, whichever is less;

● For redemptions beginning after two years (but before three years) 94% of purchase price or 94% of the capital account balance, whichever is less;

● For redemptions beginning after three years (but before four years) 96% of purchase price or 96% of the capital account balance, whichever is less;

● For redemptions beginning after four years (but before five years) 98% of purchase price or 98% of the capital account balance, whichever is less;

● For redemptions beginning after five years, 100% of purchase price or 100% of the capital account balance, whichever is less.

The company will attempt to redeem units quarterly, subject to certain limitations.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any redemption, the number of units that may be redeemed per quarter per individual member will be subject to a maximum of the greater of 100,000 units or 25% of the member's units outstanding. For redemption requests requiring more than one quarter to fully redeem, the percentage discount amount that applies when the redemption payments begin will continue to apply throughout the entire redemption period and will apply to all units covered by such redemption request regardless of when the final redemption payment is made.

The company will not establish a reserve from which to fund redemptions. The company's capacity to redeem member units upon request is restricted to the availability of company cash flow. The company will not, in any calendar year, redeem more than 5% of the weighted average number of units outstanding during the twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of the redemption.

Contributed capital 

The managers – between them - are required to contribute to capital 1/10 of 1% of the aggregate capital accounts of the members.

Managers' interest

If a manager is removed, withdrawn or terminated, the company will pay to the manager all amounts then accrued and owing to the manager. Additionally, the company will terminate the manager's interest in the company's profits, losses, distributions and capital by payment of an amount in cash equal to the then-present fair value of such interest.

Syndication costs

The company bears its own syndication costs, other than certain sales commissions, including legal and accounting expenses, printing costs, selling expenses and filing fees. Syndication costs are charged against members' capital and will be allocated to individual members consistent with the company’s operating agreement.

Formation loans

Sales commissions are not paid directly by the company out of the offering proceeds. Instead, the company loans to RMC, one of the managers, amounts to pay all sales commissions and amounts payable in connection with unsolicited orders. This loan is unsecured and non-interest bearing and is referred to as the “formation loan.” During the offering period, RMC will repay annually, one tenth of the principal balance of the formation loan as of December 31 of the prior year. Upon completion of the offering, the formation loan will be amortized over 10 years and is expected to be repaid in 10 equal annual installments. The formation loan has been deducted from members’ capital in the balance sheets. As amounts are received from RMC as payments on the loan, the deduction from capital will be reduced. Interest has been imputed at the market rate of interest in effect at the end of each quarter for the new additions to the loan. If the managers are removed and RMC is no longer receiving payments for services rendered, the formation loan is forgiven.

Income taxes and Members’ capital – tax basis

Income taxes – federal and state – are the obligation of the members, if and when taxes apply, other than for the minimum annual California franchise tax paid by the company.

Term of the Company

The company is scheduled to terminate in 2028, unless sooner terminated as provided in the operating agreement.