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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Revenue and real estate sales gain recognition
The Company accounts for sales of real estate in accordance with FASB ASC 360-20, Real Estate Sales. For sale transactions meeting the requirements for full accrual profit recognition, such as the Company no longer having continuing involvement in the property, we remove the related assets and liabilities from our Consolidated Balance Sheets and record the gain or loss in the period the transaction closes. For sale transactions that do not meet the full accrual sale criteria due to our continuing involvement, we evaluate the nature of the continuing involvement and account for the transaction under an alternate method of accounting. Unless certain limited criteria are met, non-monetary transactions, including property exchanges, are accounted for at fair value.
Sales to entities in which we retain or otherwise own an interest are accounted for as partial sales. If all other requirements for recognizing profit under the full accrual method have been satisfied and no other forms of continuing involvement are present, we recognize profit proportionate to the outside interest in the buyer and will defer the gain on the interest we retain. The Company will recognize any deferred gain when the property is then sold to a third party. In transactions accounted by us as partial sales, we determine if the buyer of the majority equity interest in the venture was provided a preference as to cash flows in either an operating or a capital waterfall. If a cash flow preference has been provided, we recognize profit only to the extent that proceeds from the sale of the majority equity interest exceed costs related to the entire property.
Marketable Securities
Marketable Securities
Marketable securities represented common stock in a publicly held company. Marketable securities were classified as “available-for-sale,” and were carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company sold marketable securities for $3.5 million, resulting in a gross realized gain of $3.1 million, which is included in “Other Income” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The cost of securities sold was based on the specific identification method. Unrealized gains of $3.5 million were reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) into earnings during the six months ended June 30, 2011.
The amortization of any discount and interest income on previously held debt securities are included in “Other Income” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Due to the structure of the Company as a REIT and the nature of the operations for the operating properties, no provision for federal income taxes has been provided for at UDR. Historically, the Company has generally incurred only state and local income, excise and franchise taxes. UDR has elected for certain consolidated subsidiaries to be treated as Taxable REIT Subsidiaries (“TRS”), primarily those engaged in development activities.
Income taxes for our TRS are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rate is recognized in earnings in the period of the enactment date. The Company’s deferred tax assets are generally the result of differing depreciable lives on capitalized assets and timing of expense recognition for certain accrued liabilities. As of June 30, 2011, UDR recorded a net current liability of $205,000 and a deferred tax asset of $6.6 million (net of a valuation allowance of $53.1 million). For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, UDR recorded income tax expense of $59,000 and $145,000 and $81,000 and $146,000, respectively, which is classified in “General and Administrative” expenses.
FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes (“Topic 740”) defines a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Topic 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods, disclosure and transition.
The Company recognizes its tax positions and evaluates them using a two-step process. First, we determine whether a tax position is more likely than not (greater than 50 percent probability) to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Then the Company will determine the amount of benefit to recognize and record the amount that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement.
UDR had no unrecognized tax benefit, accrued interest or penalties at June 30, 2011. UDR and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state jurisdictions. The tax years 2006 — 2010 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which we are subject. When applicable, UDR recognizes interest and/or penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.
Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
UDR, Inc., collectively with our consolidated subsidiaries (“UDR”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is a self-administered real estate investment trust, or REIT, that owns, acquires, renovates, develops, redevelops, and manages apartment communities. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of UDR and its subsidiaries, including United Dominion Realty, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”). As of June 30, 2011, there were 182,479,015 units in the Operating Partnership outstanding, of which 174,849,339 units or 95.8% were owned by UDR and 7,629,676 units or 4.2% were owned by limited partners. The consolidated financial statements of UDR include the non-controlling interests of the unitholders in the Operating Partnership.
The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared according to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted according to such rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments and eliminations necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position as of June 30, 2011, and results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 have been included. Such adjustments are normal and recurring in nature. The interim results presented are not necessarily indicative of results that can be expected for a full year. The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in UDR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2011.
The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the dates of the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements and the amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual amounts realized or paid could differ from those estimates. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation.
The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date its financial statements were issued. Except as disclosed in Note 16, Subsequent Events, no other recognized or non-recognized subsequent events were noted.