Organization and Basis of Presentation Accounting (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements and notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements include the accounts of JBG SMITH and our wholly owned subsidiaries and those other entities, including JBG SMITH LP, in which we have a controlling financial interest, including where we have been determined to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity ("VIE"). See Note 7 for additional information on our VIEs. The portions of the equity and net income of consolidated subsidiaries that are not attributable to JBG SMITH are presented separately as amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests in our consolidated and combined financial statements.

References to the financial statements refer to our consolidated and combined financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018. References to the balance sheets refer to our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. References to the statements of operations refer to our consolidated and combined statements of operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018. References to the statements of cash flows refer to our consolidated and combined statements of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018.

Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Formation Transaction

JBG SMITH and the Vornado Included Assets were under common control of Vornado for all periods prior to the Separation. The transfer of the Vornado Included Assets from Vornado to JBG SMITH was completed prior to the Separation, at net book values (historical carrying amounts) carved out from Vornado’s books and records. For purposes of the formation of JBG SMITH, the Vornado Included Assets were designated as the predecessor and the accounting acquirer of the JBG Assets. Consequently, the financial statements of JBG SMITH, as set forth herein, represent a continuation of the financial information of the Vornado Included Assets as the predecessor and accounting acquirer such that the historical financial information included herein as of any date or for any periods on or prior to the completion of the Combination represents the pre-Combination financial information of the Vornado Included Assets. The financial statements reflect the common shares as of the date of the Separation as outstanding for all periods prior to July 17, 2017. The acquisition of the JBG Assets completed subsequently by JBG SMITH was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method whereby identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at acquisition-date fair values and income and cash flows from the operations were consolidated into the financial statements of JBG SMITH commencing July 18, 2017. Consequently, the financial statements for the periods before and after the Formation Transaction are not directly comparable.

The accompanying financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the year ended December 31, 2018 include our consolidated accounts. The results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 reflect the aggregate operations and changes in cash flows and equity on a combined basis for all periods prior to July 17, 2017 and on a consolidated basis for all periods subsequent to July 17, 2017. The results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 include the Vornado Included Assets. Therefore, our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition set forth in this report are not necessarily indicative of our future results of operations, cash flows or financial condition as an independent, publicly traded company.

The historical financial results for the Vornado Included Assets reflect charges for certain corporate costs allocated by the former parent, which were based on either actual costs incurred or a proportion of costs estimated to be applicable, to the Vornado Included Assets based on an analysis of key metrics, including total revenues. Such costs do not necessarily reflect what the actual costs would have been if JBG SMITH had been operating as a separate standalone public company. See Note 20 for additional information.

Reclassification:

To conform to the current year presentation, $7.8 million of expenses incurred in the operation and management of our properties that were previously included in "General and administrative expenses: corporate and other" for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been reclassified to "Property operating expenses". This reclassification relates to the portion of the year ended December 31, 2017 subsequent to the Formation Transaction on July 18, 2017, as general and administrative expenses incurred prior to the Formation Transaction reflect costs allocated by the former parent.

Business Combinations

We account for business combinations, including the acquisition of real estate, using the acquisition method pursuant to which we recognize and measure the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree at their acquisition date fair values. Accordingly, we estimate the fair values of acquired tangible assets (consisting of real estate, cash and cash equivalents, tenant and other receivables, investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures and other assets, as applicable), identified intangible assets and liabilities (consisting of the value of in-place leases, above- and below-market leases, options to enter into ground leases and management contracts, as applicable), assumed debt and other liabilities, and noncontrolling interests, as applicable, based on our evaluation of information and estimates available at that date. Based on these estimates, we allocate the purchase price to the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Any excess of the fair value of assets acquired over the purchase price is recorded as a gain on bargain purchase. If, up to one year from the acquisition date, information regarding the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed is received and estimates are refined, appropriate adjustments are made on a prospective basis to the purchase price allocation, which may include adjustments to identified assets, assumed liabilities, and goodwill or the gain on bargain purchase, as applicable. The results of operations of acquisitions are prospectively included in our financial statements beginning with the date of the acquisition. Transaction costs related to business combinations are expensed as incurred and included in "Transaction and other costs" in our statements of operations.

The fair values of buildings are determined using the "as-if vacant" approach whereby we use discounted income or cash flow models with inputs and assumptions that we believe are consistent with current market conditions for similar assets. The most significant assumptions in determining the allocation of the purchase price to buildings are the exit capitalization rate, discount rate, estimated market rents and hypothetical expected lease-up periods. We assess fair value of land based on market comparisons and development projects using an income approach of cost plus a margin.

The fair values of identified intangible assets are determined based on the following:

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The value allocable to the above- or below-market component of an acquired in-place lease is determined based upon the present value (using a discount rate which reflects the risks associated with the acquired leases) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be received pursuant to the lease over its remaining term and (ii) management’s estimate of the amounts that would be received using market rates over the remaining term of the lease. Amounts allocated to above- market leases are recorded as "Identified intangible assets" in "Other assets, net" in the balance sheets, and amounts allocated to below-market leases are recorded as "Lease intangible liabilities" in "Other liabilities, net" in the balance sheets. These intangibles are amortized to "Property rentals" in our statements of operations over the remaining terms of the respective leases.

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Factors considered in determining the value allocable to in-place leases during hypothetical lease-up periods related to space that is leased at the time of acquisition include (i) lost rent and operating cost recoveries during the hypothetical lease-up period and (ii) theoretical leasing commissions required to execute similar leases. These intangible assets are recorded as "Identified intangible assets" in "Other assets, net" in the balance sheets and are amortized to "Depreciation and amortization expenses" in our statements of operations over the remaining term of the existing lease.

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The fair value of the in-place property management, leasing, asset management, and development and construction management contracts is based on revenue and expense projections over the estimated life of each contract discounted using a market discount rate. These management contract intangibles are amortized to "Depreciation and amortization expenses" in our statements of operations over the weighted average life of the management contracts.

The fair value of investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures and related noncontrolling interests is based on the estimated fair values of the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed of each venture, including future expected cash flows from promote interests.

The fair value of the mortgages payable assumed is determined using current market interest rates for comparable debt financings. The fair values of the interest rate swaps and caps are based on the estimated amounts we would receive or pay to terminate the contract at the acquisition date and are determined using interest rate pricing models and observable inputs. The carrying value of cash, restricted cash, working capital balances, leasehold improvements and equipment, and other assets acquired and liabilities assumed approximates fair value.