Disclosure of Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]

Disclosure of Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following disclosure of estimated fair value was determined by management using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair value. Accordingly, the following estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized on disposition of the financial instruments at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued interest, dividend and distributions payable and other liabilities are reasonable estimates of fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of the outstanding amounts under the Company's credit facility is a reasonable estimate of fair value because interest rates float at a rate based on LIBOR.

The Company determines the fair value of its interest rate swaps by using the standard methodology of netting discounted future fixed cash payments with the discounted expected variable cash receipts. These variable cash receipts of interest rate swaps are based on expectations of future LIBOR interest rates (forward curves) estimated by observing market LIBOR interest rate curves. This is a Level 2 fair value calculation. Also, credit valuation adjustments are factored into the fair value calculations to account for potential nonperformance risk. These credit valuation adjustments were concluded to be not significant inputs for the fair value calculations for the periods presented. See Note 13 - Derivative Instruments.

The Company used a discounted cash flow model to determine the estimated fair value of its debt as of September 30, 2015. This is a Level 3 fair value calculation. The inputs used in preparing the discounted cash flow model include actual maturity dates and scheduled cash flows as well as estimates for market value discount rates. The Company updates the discounted cash flow model on a quarterly basis to reflect any changes in the Company's debt holdings and changes to discount rate assumptions.

The following summarizes the fair value of the Company's mortgage loans and unsecured notes as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015 (in thousands):



	Mortgage Loans				Unsecured Notes
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
As of December 31, 2014	$	487,301	$	501,231	$	2,509,094	$	2,704,069
As of September 30, 2015	$	372,660	$	381,500	$	2,608,307	$	2,621,855

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details