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AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES INC - Quarter Report: 2017 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017
 
Commission file number 1-12672
 
AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Maryland
 
77-0404318
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
 
Ballston Tower
671 N. Glebe Rd, Suite 800
Arlington, Virginia  22203
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
(703) 329-6300
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 
 
(Former name, if changed since last report) 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve (12) months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past ninety (90) days.
Yes ý                    No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes ý                    No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) o
Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes o                    No ý


APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date:

137,786,073 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding as of April 28, 2017.

Table of Contents

AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
FORM 10-Q
INDEX
 
 
PAGE
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
ITEM 1.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Table of Contents



AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
3/31/2017
 
12/31/2016
 
(unaudited)
 
 
ASSETS
 

 
 

Real estate:
 

 
 

Land and improvements
$
3,981,847

 
$
3,941,250

Buildings and improvements
14,496,026

 
14,314,981

Furniture, fixtures and equipment
546,523

 
532,994

 
19,024,396

 
18,789,225

Less accumulated depreciation
(3,852,593
)
 
(3,743,632
)
Net operating real estate
15,171,803

 
15,045,593

Construction in progress, including land
1,791,134

 
1,882,262

Land held for development
103,954

 
84,293

Real estate assets held for sale, net
—

 
20,846

Total real estate, net
17,066,891

 
17,032,994

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
121,705

 
214,994

Cash in escrow
247,015

 
114,983

Resident security deposits
32,167

 
32,071

Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities
183,403

 
175,116

Deferred development costs
40,110

 
40,179

Prepaid expenses and other assets
287,130

 
256,934

Total assets
$
17,978,421

 
$
17,867,271

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 

 
 

Unsecured notes, net
$
4,464,546

 
$
4,463,302

Variable rate unsecured credit facility
—

 
—

Mortgage notes payable, net
2,541,183

 
2,567,578

Dividends payable
195,657

 
185,397

Payables for construction
96,672

 
100,998

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
293,637

 
274,676

Accrued interest payable
54,143

 
38,307

Resident security deposits
57,183

 
57,023

Liabilities related to real estate assets held for sale
—

 
808

Total liabilities
7,703,021

 
7,688,089

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies


 


 
 
 
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
8,778

 
7,766

 
 
 
 
Equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; $25 liquidation preference; 50,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016; zero shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016
—

 
—

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 280,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 137,786,600 and 137,330,904 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively
1,378

 
1,373

Additional paid-in capital
10,160,183

 
10,105,654

Accumulated earnings less dividends
133,674

 
94,899

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(28,613
)
 
(30,510
)
Total equity
10,266,622

 
10,171,416

Total liabilities and equity
$
17,978,421

 
$
17,867,271

 
See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

1
Table of Contents

AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
Revenue:
 

 
 

Rental and other income
$
521,126

 
$
506,974

Management, development and other fees
1,200

 
1,524

Total revenue
522,326

 
508,498

 
 
 
 
Expenses:
 

 
 

Operating expenses, excluding property taxes
123,044

 
116,626

Property taxes
52,930

 
50,067

Interest expense, net
49,295

 
43,410

Depreciation expense
140,621

 
127,216

General and administrative expense
13,206

 
11,404

Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries
728

 
3,462

Casualty and impairment loss (gain), net
11,688

 
(2,202
)
Total expenses
391,512

 
349,983

 
 
 
 
Income before equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities, gain on sale of communities and other real estate, and income taxes
130,814

 
158,515

 
 
 
 
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities
16,672

 
27,969

Gain on sale of communities
87,949

 
51,430

Gain on sale of other real estate
366

 
—

 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
235,801

 
237,914

Income tax expense
20

 
37

 
 
 
 
Net income
235,781

 
237,877

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
94

 
54

 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
235,875

 
$
237,931

 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
 

 
 

(Loss) income on cash flow hedges
145

 
(47,757
)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings
1,752

 
1,374

Comprehensive income
$
237,772

 
$
191,548

 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share - basic:
 

 
 

Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
1.72

 
$
1.73

 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share - diluted:
 

 
 

Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
1.72

 
$
1.73

 
 
 
 
Dividends per common share
$
1.42

 
$
1.35


See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

2
Table of Contents

AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
235,781

 
$
237,877

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation expense
140,621

 
127,216

Amortization of deferred financing costs
1,826

 
1,936

Amortization of debt premium
(4,621
)
 
(4,779
)
Amortization of stock-based compensation
4,319

 
3,835

Equity in (income) loss of, and return on, unconsolidated real estate entities and noncontrolling interests, net of eliminations
(5,768
)
 
6,438

Casualty and impairment loss (gain), net
11,688

 
(2,202
)
Abandonment of development pursuits
265

 
—

Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings
1,752

 
1,374

Gain on sale of real estate assets
(97,012
)
 
(81,055
)
(Increase) decrease in cash in operating escrows
(6,433
)
 
3,009

Increase in resident security deposits, prepaid expenses and other assets
(10,630
)
 
(8,559
)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses, other liabilities and accrued interest payable
21,674

 
(7,308
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
293,462

 
277,782

 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Development/redevelopment of real estate assets including land acquisitions and deferred development costs
(259,573
)
 
(266,588
)
Acquisition of real estate assets, including partnership interest
—

 
(170,022
)
Capital expenditures - existing real estate assets
(8,015
)
 
(11,618
)
Capital expenditures - non-real estate assets
(2,429
)
 
(3,264
)
Proceeds from sale of real estate, net of selling costs
159,985

 
68,709

Increase in cash in deposit escrows
(126,467
)
 
(69,227
)
Insurance proceeds for property damage claims
4,095

 
8,702

Mortgage note receivable lending
(4,795
)
 
—

(Decrease) increase in payables for construction
(4,326
)
 
842

Distributions from unconsolidated real estate entities
11,952

 
58,652

Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities
(5,774
)
 
(913
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(235,347
)
 
(384,727
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Issuance of common stock, net
56,817

 
1,102

Dividends paid
(185,192
)
 
(171,151
)
Repayments of mortgage notes payable, including prepayment penalties
(21,037
)
 
(19,682
)
Payment of deferred financing costs
(2,315
)
 
(6,176
)
Distributions to DownREIT partnership unitholders
(11
)
 
(10
)
Contributions from joint venture and profit-sharing partners
1,038

 
—

Distributions to joint venture and profit-sharing partners
(104
)
 
(104
)
Preferred interest obligation redemption and dividends
(600
)
 
—

Net cash used in financing activities
(151,404
)
 
(196,021
)
 
 
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(93,289
)
 
(302,966
)
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
214,994

 
400,507

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
121,705

 
$
97,541

 
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for interest, net of amount capitalized
$
34,503

 
$
46,011

 
See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

3
Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:

During the three months ended March 31, 2017:

•
As described in Note 4, "Equity," 198,502 shares of common stock were issued as part of the Company's stock-based compensation plans, of which 128,482 shares related to the conversion of performance awards to restricted shares, and the remaining 70,020 shares valued at $12,538,000 were issued in connection with new stock grants; 1,165 shares valued at $205,000 were issued through the Company's dividend reinvestment plan; 57,172 shares valued at $10,149,000 were withheld to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities; and 236 restricted shares with an aggregate value of $41,000 previously issued in connection with employee compensation were canceled upon forfeiture.

•
Common stock dividends declared but not paid totaled $195,657,000.

•
The Company recorded an increase of $183,000 in redeemable noncontrolling interest with a corresponding decrease to accumulated earnings less dividends to adjust the redemption value associated with the put options held by joint venture partners and DownREIT partnership units.  For further discussion of the nature and valuation of these items, see Note 10, "Fair Value."

•
The Company recorded an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $180,000 and an increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $102,000, and a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive income, and reclassified $1,752,000 of cash flow hedge losses from other comprehensive income to interest expense, net, to record the impact of the Company's derivative and hedge accounting activity.
 
•
As discussed in Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities," the Company recognized a charge of $16,361,000 to write-off the net book value of the fixed assets destroyed by the fire that occurred in February 2017 at the Company's Avalon Maplewood Development Community ("Maplewood"), and a corresponding recovery of loss of $12,598,000 for expected property damage insurance proceeds for the Maplewood casualty loss not received during the period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016:

•
The Company issued 193,171 shares of common stock as part of the Company's stock-based compensation plans, of which 115,618 shares related to the conversion of performance awards to restricted shares, and the remaining 77,553 shares valued at $12,529,000 were issued in connection with new stock grants; 576 shares valued at $101,000 were issued through the Company's dividend reinvestment plan; 48,189 shares valued at $8,164,000 were withheld to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities; and 499 restricted shares with an aggregate value of $76,000 previously issued in connection with employee compensation were canceled upon forfeiture.

•
Common stock dividends declared but not paid totaled $185,173,000.

•
The Company recorded an increase of $299,000 in redeemable noncontrolling interest with a corresponding decrease to accumulated earnings less dividends to adjust the redemption value associated with the put options held by joint venture partners and DownREIT partnership units.

•
The Company recorded a decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets of $5,422,000 and an increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $42,335,000, and a corresponding loss to other comprehensive income of $47,757,000, and reclassified $1,374,000 of cash flow hedge losses from other comprehensive income to interest expense, net, to record the impact of the Company's derivative and hedge accounting activity.

•
The Company assumed fixed rate indebtedness with a principal amount of $67,904,000 in conjunction with the acquisition of Avalon Hoboken.


4
Table of Contents

AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)  
1.  Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Basis of Presentation

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (the "Company," which term, unless the context otherwise requires, refers to AvalonBay Communities, Inc. together with its subsidiaries), is a Maryland corporation that has elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). The Company focuses on the development, redevelopment, acquisition, ownership and operation of multifamily communities primarily in New England, the New York/New Jersey metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California.

At March 31, 2017, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 260 operating apartment communities containing 74,952 apartment homes in 10 states and the District of Columbia, of which nine communities containing 4,075 apartment homes were under redevelopment. In addition, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 24 communities under development that are expected to contain an aggregate of 7,581 apartment homes when completed. The Company also owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in land or rights to land on which the Company expects to develop an additional 28 communities that, if developed as expected, will contain an estimated 9,304 apartment homes.

The interim unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and in conjunction with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements required by GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year. Management believes the disclosures are adequate to ensure the information presented is not misleading.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments and eliminations, consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements for the interim periods, have been included.

Capitalized terms used without definition have meanings provided elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. All outstanding unvested restricted share awards contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends and participate in undistributed earnings with common shareholders and, accordingly, are considered participating securities that are included in the two-class method of computing basic earnings per share ("EPS"). Both the unvested restricted shares and other potentially dilutive common shares, and the related impact to earnings, are considered when calculating earnings per share on a diluted basis. The Company's earnings per common share are determined as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

5
Table of Contents

 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
Basic and diluted shares outstanding
 

 
 

Weighted average common shares - basic
137,068,874

 
136,785,880

Weighted average DownREIT units outstanding
7,500

 
7,500

Effect of dilutive securities
454,868

 
589,664

Weighted average common shares - diluted
137,531,242

 
137,383,044

 
 
 
 
Calculation of Earnings per Share - basic
 

 
 

Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
235,875

 
$
237,931

Net income allocated to unvested restricted shares
(652
)
 
(632
)
Net income attributable to common stockholders, adjusted
$
235,223

 
$
237,299

 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares - basic
137,068,874

 
136,785,880

 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share - basic
$
1.72

 
$
1.73

 
 
 
 
Calculation of Earnings per Share - diluted
 

 
 

Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
235,875

 
$
237,931

Add: noncontrolling interests of DownREIT unitholders in consolidated partnerships
11

 
10

Adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders
$
235,886

 
$
237,941

 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares - diluted
137,531,242

 
137,383,044

 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share - diluted
$
1.72

 
$
1.73

 

All options to purchase shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and 2016 are included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

As discussed under "Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards," as of January 1, 2017, the Company adopted the provision of ASU 2016-09 using the modified retrospective approach to recognize forfeitures as they occur. Prior to the adoption of this standard, the Company was required to estimate the forfeiture of stock options and recognized compensation cost net of the estimated forfeitures. The estimated forfeitures included in compensation cost were adjusted to reflect actual forfeitures at the end of the vesting period. The change in accounting principle had an immaterial effect on the Company's financial position and no adjustment to retained earnings or the Company's diluted shares outstanding, as prescribed under the modified retrospective approach, was required in the prior year period.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company enters into interest rate swap and interest rate cap agreements (collectively, "Hedging Derivatives") for interest rate risk management purposes and in conjunction with certain variable rate secured debt to satisfy lender requirements. The Company does not enter into Hedging Derivative transactions for trading or other speculative purposes. The Company assesses the effectiveness of qualifying cash flow and fair value hedges, both at inception and on an on-going basis. Hedge ineffectiveness is reported as a component of general and administrative expenses. The fair values of Hedging Derivatives that are in an asset position are recorded in prepaid expenses and other assets. The fair value of Hedging Derivatives that are in a liability position are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities. The Company does not present or disclose the fair value of Hedging Derivatives on a net basis. Fair value changes for derivatives that are not in qualifying hedge relationships are reported as a component of interest expense, net.  For the Hedging Derivative positions that the Company has determined qualify as effective cash flow hedges, the Company has recorded the effective portion of cumulative changes in the fair value of Hedging Derivatives in other comprehensive income (loss).  Amounts recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) will be reclassified into earnings in the periods in which earnings are affected by the hedged cash flow. The effective portion of the change in fair value of the Hedging Derivatives that the Company has determined qualified as effective fair value hedges is reported as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the corresponding debt being hedged. See Note 10, "Fair Value," for further discussion of derivative financial instruments.

6
Table of Contents


Legal and Other Contingencies

Maplewood Casualty Loss

In February 2017, a fire occurred at the Company's Avalon Maplewood Development Community, located in Maplewood, NJ, which was under construction and not yet occupied. The Company believes that liabilities to third parties resulting from the fire will not be material and will, in any event, be substantially covered by insurance subject to a deductible. The Company has commenced reconstruction of the damaged and destroyed portions of the community. See Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities," for further discussion of the casualty gains and losses associated with the Maplewood casualty loss.

Edgewater Casualty Loss

In January 2015, a fire occurred at the Company's Avalon at Edgewater apartment community located in Edgewater, New Jersey ("Edgewater"). Edgewater consisted of two residential buildings. One building, containing 240 apartment homes, was destroyed. The second building, containing 168 apartment homes, suffered minimal damage and has been repaired.

The Company has established protocols for processing claims from third parties who suffered losses as a result of the fire, and many third parties have contacted the Company's insurance carrier and settled their claims. See Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings," for further discussion of the lawsuits associated with the Edgewater casualty loss.

Three class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company on behalf of occupants of the destroyed building and consolidated in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Company has agreed with class counsel to the terms of a proposed settlement which would provide a claims process (with agreed upon protocols for instructing the adjuster as to how to evaluate claims) and, if needed, an arbitration process to determine damage amounts to be paid to individual claimants covered by the class settlement. In March 2017 the District Court granted preliminary approval of the class action settlement and in July 2017 a fairness hearing will be held to determine whether the settlement will receive final approval. A fourth class action, being heard in the same federal court, was filed against the Company on behalf of residents of the second Edgewater building that suffered minimal damage. Recently, a fifth class action lawsuit was filed against the Company seeking to certify a class on behalf of both buildings and other third parties. That action is currently stayed pending the decision by those plaintiffs either to be included in the class settlement or to formally opt-out. In addition to the class action lawsuits described above, 19 lawsuits representing approximately 146 individual plaintiffs have been filed and are currently pending in the Superior Court of New Jersey Bergen County - Law Division. All of these state court cases have been consolidated by the court. These plaintiffs, if eligible to be class members under the class settlement that has been preliminarily approved as described above, must formally opt-out of that class action settlement by May 17, 2017 if they want to continue their individual actions. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the extent of damages claimed in all of the suits. There are also five subrogation lawsuits that have been filed against the Company by insurers of Edgewater residents who obtained renters insurance; it is the Company's position that in the majority of the applicable leases the residents waived subrogation rights. One of these lawsuits has been dismissed on that basis and the other four are currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The District Court recently denied the Company's motions seeking dismissal on this basis. The Company will reassess the viability of this defense after conducting additional discovery.

Having settled many third party claims through the insurance claims process, the Company currently believes that any potential remaining liability to third parties (including any potential liability to third parties determined in accordance with the class settlement described above, if approved) will not be material to the Company and will in any event be substantially covered by the Company's insurance policies. However, the Company can give no assurances in this regard and continues to evaluate this matter. See Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities," and Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings," for further discussion of the casualty gains and losses and lawsuits associated with the Edgewater casualty loss.

Other Matters

The Company is involved in various other claims and/or administrative proceedings unrelated to the Edgewater casualty loss that arise in the ordinary course of its business. While no assurances can be given, the Company does not currently believe that any of these other outstanding litigation matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.


7
Table of Contents

Acquisitions of Investments in Real Estate

The Company accounts for acquisitions of investments in real estate in accordance with the authoritative guidance for the initial measurement, which requires the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree to be recognized at fair value. Typical assets and liabilities acquired include land, building, furniture, fixtures and equipment, debt and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above or below market leases and in-place leases. In making estimates of fair values for purposes of allocating purchase price, the Company utilizes various sources, including its own analysis of recently acquired and existing comparable properties in its portfolio and other market data. Consideration for acquisitions is typically in the form of cash unless otherwise disclosed. For an acquisition of a business, the allocation of the purchase price is based on the fair value of the net assets, and for an asset acquisition, the allocation of the purchase price is based on the relative fair value of the net assets. Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2017-01 on October 1, 2016, the Company expects that acquisitions of individual operating communities will generally be viewed as asset acquisitions.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to amounts in prior years' notes to financial statements to conform to current year presentations as a result of changes in held for sale classification and disposition activity.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-05, Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. This ASU clarifies the scope of the nonfinancial asset guidance and the derecognition of all businesses and nonprofit activities (except those related to conveyances of oil and gas mineral rights or contracts with customers). In addition, the amendments eliminate the exception in the financial asset guidance for transfers of investments (including equity method investments) in real estate entities and supersede the guidance in the Exchanges of a Nonfinancial Asset for a Noncontrolling Ownership Interest. The amendments also provide guidance on the accounting of partial sales of nonfinancial assets and contributions of nonfinancial assets to a joint venture or other noncontrolled investee. The new standard allows for either a retrospective or modified retrospective approach. The guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2018 and allows for early adoption. The Company is assessing whether the new standard will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU addresses eight specific cash flow issues including debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, distributions received from equity method investees and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The new standard requires a retrospective approach. The guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2018 and allows for early adoption. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017. The new standard did not have a material effect on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as equity or liability, statement of cash flows classification and policy election options for forfeitures. Upon adoption of the standard, the Company elected to account for forfeitures when they occur instead of estimating the forfeitures. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017, using the modified retrospective approach. The new standard did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or earnings per share as discussed in "Earnings per Common Share."

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, amending the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. The guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2019 and allows for early adoption. The new standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief.


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ASU 2016-02 provides for transition relief, which includes not electing to (i) reassess whether any expired or existing contract is a lease or contains a lease, (ii) reassess the lease classification of any expired or existing leases and (iii) expense any capitalized initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company anticipates adoption of the standard to have a material impact on its financial position and results of operations resulting from the recognition of the right to use asset and corresponding lease obligation for its long-term ground leases, currently accounted for as operating leases. The Company will continue to assess the impact of the new standard.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and in August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers-Deferral of the Effective Date, which defers the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard until the first quarter of 2018. Subsequently, the FASB has issued multiple ASUs clarifying ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2015-14.

Under the new standard, revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collectability is probable. Revenue is generally recognized net of allowances and any taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. The majority of the Company's revenue is derived from rental income, which is scoped out from this standard and will be accounted for under ASU 2016-02, Leases, discussed above. The Company's other revenue streams, which are being evaluated under this ASU, include but are not limited to management fees, other income from residents determined not to be within the scope of ASU 2016-02 and gains and losses from real estate dispositions. The Company will continue to assess the impact of the new standard and anticipates adoption as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach.

2.  Interest Capitalized

The Company capitalizes interest during the development and redevelopment of real estate assets. Capitalized interest associated with the Company's development or redevelopment activities totaled $17,821,000 and $20,609,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

3.  Mortgage Notes Payable, Unsecured Notes and Credit Facility

The Company's mortgage notes payable, unsecured notes, variable rate unsecured term loans ("Term Loans") and Credit Facility, as defined below, as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized below.  The following amounts and discussion do not include the mortgage notes related to the communities classified as held for sale, if any, as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, as shown in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (dollars in thousands) (see Note 6, "Real Estate Disposition Activities").
 
3/31/2017
 
12/31/2016
 
 
 
 
Fixed rate unsecured notes (1)
$
4,200,000

 
$
4,200,000

Term Loans (1)
300,000

 
300,000

Fixed rate mortgage notes payable - conventional and tax-exempt (2)
1,664,650

 
1,668,496

Variable rate mortgage notes payable - conventional and tax-exempt (2)
890,202

 
908,262

Total mortgage notes payable and unsecured notes
7,054,852

 
7,076,758

Credit Facility
—

 
—

Total mortgage notes payable, unsecured notes and Credit Facility
$
7,054,852

 
$
7,076,758

_____________________________________

(1)
Balances at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 exclude $8,640 and $8,930, respectively, of debt discount, and $26,814 and $27,768, respectively, of deferred financing costs, as reflected in unsecured notes, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)
Balances at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 exclude $3,044 of debt discount and $1,866 of debt premium, respectively, and $10,625 and $11,046, respectively, of deferred financing costs, as reflected in mortgage notes payable on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following debt activity occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2017:

•
In February 2017, the Company repaid $17,300,000 of variable rate debt secured by Avalon Mountain View at par at its scheduled maturity date.


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•
In February 2017, the Company entered into a $250,000,000 variable rate unsecured term loan (the "$250 million Term Loan"), of which $100,000,000 matures in February 2022 with stated pricing of LIBOR plus 0.90%, and $150,000,000 matures in February 2024 with stated pricing of LIBOR plus 1.50%. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had not drawn any of the available $250,000,000 under the variable rate unsecured term loan. See Note 11, "Subsequent Events," for further discussion.

At March 31, 2017, the Company has a $1,500,000,000 revolving variable rate unsecured credit facility with a syndicate of banks (the "Credit Facility") which matures in April 2020. The Company may extend the maturity for up to nine months, provided the Company is not in default and upon payment of a $1,500,000 extension fee. The Credit Facility bears interest at varying levels based on the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), rating levels achieved on the Company's unsecured notes and on a maturity schedule selected by the Company. The current stated pricing is LIBOR plus 0.825% per annum (1.81% at March 31, 2017), assuming a one month borrowing rate. The annual facility fee is 0.125% (or approximately $1,875,000 annually based on the $1,500,000,000 facility size and based on the Company's current credit rating).

The Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility and had $45,084,000 and $46,711,000 outstanding in letters of credit that reduced the borrowing capacity as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

In the aggregate, secured notes payable mature at various dates from November 2017 through July 2066, and are secured by certain apartment communities (with a net carrying value of $3,405,173,000, excluding communities classified as held for sale, as of March 31, 2017).

As of March 31, 2017, the Company has guaranteed a $100,000,000 mortgage note payable held by a wholly-owned subsidiary; such mortgage note payable is consolidated for financial reporting purposes. The weighted average interest rate of the Company's fixed rate mortgage notes payable (conventional and tax-exempt) was 4.4% at both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.  The weighted average interest rate of the Company's variable rate mortgage notes payable (conventional and tax-exempt), the Term Loan and its Credit Facility, including the effect of certain financing related fees, was 2.5% and 2.3% at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Scheduled payments and maturities of mortgage notes payable and unsecured notes outstanding at March 31, 2017 are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Year
 
Secured notes payments
 
Secured notes maturities
 
Unsecured notes maturities
 
Stated interest rate of unsecured notes
2017
 
13,954

 
692,191

 
—

 
N/A

2018
 
17,789

 
76,667

 
—

 
N/A

2019
 
4,696

 
655,514

 
—

 
N/A

2020
 
3,624

 
118,729

 
250,000

 
6.100
%

 


 


 
400,000

 
3.625
%
2021
 
3,551

 
27,844

 
250,000

 
3.950
%

 


 


 
300,000

 
LIBOR + 1.450%

2022
 
3,795

 
—

 
450,000

 
2.950
%
2023
 
4,040

 
—

 
350,000

 
4.200
%

 


 


 
250,000

 
2.850
%
2024
 
4,310

 
—

 
300,000

 
3.500
%
2025
 
4,585

 
84,835

 
525,000

 
3.450
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
300,000

 
3.500
%
2026
 
4,894

 
—

 
475,000

 
2.950
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
300,000

 
2.900
%
Thereafter
 
213,754

 
620,080

 
350,000

 
3.900
%
 
 
$
278,992

 
$
2,275,860

 
$
4,500,000

 
 

 

The Company was in compliance at March 31, 2017 with customary financial and other covenants under the Credit Facility, the Term Loans and the Company's fixed rate unsecured notes.

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4.  Equity

The following summarizes the changes in equity for the three months ended March 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):
 
Common
stock
 
Additional
paid-in
capital
 
Accumulated
earnings
less
dividends
 
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss
 
Total
equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
1,373

 
$
10,105,654

 
$
94,899

 
$
(30,510
)
 
$
10,171,416

Net income attributable to common stockholders
—

 
—

 
235,875

 
—

 
235,875

Gain on cash flow hedges, net
—

 
—

 
—

 
145

 
145

Cash flow hedge loss reclassified to earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,752

 
1,752

Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest
—

 
—

 
(183
)
 
—

 
(183
)
Dividends declared to common stockholders
—

 
—

 
(195,657
)
 
—

 
(195,657
)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings
5

 
47,962

 
(1,260
)
 
—

 
46,707

Amortization of deferred compensation
—

 
6,567

 
—

 
—

 
6,567

Balance at March 31, 2017
$
1,378

 
$
10,160,183

 
$
133,674

 
$
(28,613
)
 
$
10,266,622


As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company's charter authorized a total of 280,000,000 shares of common stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock for issuance.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company:

i.
issued 7,266 shares of common stock in connection with stock options exercised;
ii.
issued 1,165 common shares through the Company's dividend reinvestment plan;
iii.
issued 198,502 common shares in connection with restricted stock grants and the conversion of performance awards to restricted shares;
iv.
issued 306,177 shares under CEP IV as discussed below;
v.
withheld 57,172 common shares to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities; and
vi.
canceled 236 common shares of restricted stock upon forfeiture.

Any deferred compensation related to the Company's stock option, restricted stock and performance award grants during the three months ended March 31, 2017 is not reflected on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2017, and will not be reflected until recognized as compensation cost.

In December 2015, the Company commenced a fourth continuous equity program ("CEP IV") under which the Company may sell up to $1,000,000,000 of its common stock from time to time. Actual sales will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by the Company, including market conditions, the trading price of the Company's common stock and determinations by the Company of the appropriate sources of funding for the Company. In conjunction with CEP IV, the Company engaged sales agents who will receive compensation of up to 2.0% of the gross sales price for shares sold. CEP IV also allows the Company to enter into forward sale agreements up to $1,000,000,000 in aggregate sales price of its common stock. The Company expects that it will physically settle each forward sale agreement on one or more dates specified by the Company on or prior to the maturity date of that particular forward sale agreement, in which case the Company will expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at settlement equal to the number of shares underlying the particular forward agreement multiplied by the relevant forward sale price. However, the Company may also elect to cash settle or net share settle a forward sale agreement. In connection with each forward sale agreement, the Company will pay the relevant forward seller, in the form of a reduced initial forward sale price, a commission of up to 2.0% of the sales prices of all borrowed shares of common stock sold. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company sold 306,177 shares at an average sales price of $186.44 per share, for net proceeds of $56,228,000. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had $942,915,000 of shares remaining authorized for issuance under this program.


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5.  Investments in Real Estate Entities

Investment in Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities

As of March 31, 2017, the Company had investments in five unconsolidated real estate entities with ownership interest percentages ranging from 20.0% to 31.3%, excluding development joint ventures and joint ventures formed with Equity Residential as part of the Archstone acquisition. The Company accounts for its investments in unconsolidated real estate entities under the equity method of accounting. The significant accounting policies of the Company's unconsolidated real estate entities are consistent with those of the Company in all material respects.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, AvalonBay Value Added Fund II, L.P. ("Fund II") sold Eaves Gaithersburg, located in Gaithersburg, MD, containing 684 apartment homes, for $117,000,000. The Company's share of the gain in accordance with GAAP for the disposition was $8,697,000, which is reported as a component of equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. In conjunction with the disposition of this community during the three months ended March 31, 2017, Fund II repaid $63,200,000 of secured indebtedness at par in advance of its scheduled maturity date.

The Company has an equity interest of 31.3% in Fund II, and upon achievement of a threshold return, the Company has a right to incentive distributions for its promoted interest based on the current returns earned by Fund II, which represents 20.0% of further Fund II distributions, which is in addition to its proportionate share of the remaining 80.0% of distributions. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recognized income of $6,765,000 for its promoted interest, which is reported as a component of equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The following is a combined summary of the financial position of the entities accounted for using the equity method discussed above as of the dates presented (dollars in thousands):
 
3/31/2017
 
12/31/2016
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
Assets:
 

 
 

Real estate, net
$
862,612

 
$
954,493

Other assets
76,208

 
49,519

Total assets
$
938,820

 
$
1,004,012

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and partners' capital:
 

 
 

Mortgage notes payable, net and credit facility
$
625,256

 
$
689,573

Other liabilities
15,861

 
16,537

Partners' capital
297,703

 
297,902

Total liabilities and partners' capital
$
938,820

 
$
1,004,012

 

The following is a combined summary of the operating results of the entities accounted for using the equity method discussed above for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
 
(unaudited)
Rental and other income
$
28,642

 
$
36,955

Operating and other expenses
(11,094
)
 
(14,170
)
Gain on sale of communities
29,447

 
103,321

Interest expense, net (1)
(6,948
)
 
(20,001
)
Depreciation expense
(7,327
)
 
(9,240
)
Net income
$
32,720

 
$
96,865

_____________________________________

(1)
Amount for the three months ended March 31, 2016 includes charges for prepayment penalties and write-offs of deferred financing costs of $10,864.

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In conjunction with the formation of Fund II and North Point II JV, LP ("AVA North Point"), and the acquisition of Archstone Multifamily Partners AC LP (the "U.S. Fund"), Multifamily Partners AC JV LP (the "AC JV") and Brandywine Apartments of Maryland, LLC ("Brandywine"), the Company incurred costs in excess of its equity in the underlying net assets of the respective investments. These costs represent $37,148,000 and $38,015,000 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, of the Company's respective investment balances. These amounts are being amortized over the lives of the underlying assets as a component of equity in income of unconsolidated entities on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Investments in Consolidated Real Estate Entities

In conjunction with the development of Avalon Brooklyn Bay, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement to construct a mixed-use building that will contain rental apartments, for-sale residential condominium units and related common elements. The Company owns a 70.0% interest in the venture and will have all of the rights and obligations associated with the rental apartments, and the venture partner owns the remaining 30.0% interest and will have all of the rights and obligations associated with the for-sale residential condominium units. The Company is responsible for the development and construction of the structure, and is providing a loan to the venture partner for the venture partner's share of costs. As of March 31, 2017, the Company has a receivable from the venture partner in the form of a variable rate mortgage note, secured by the for-sale residential condominium units, in the amount of $32,036,000 for outstanding principal and interest, reported as a component of prepaid expenses and other assets on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recognizes interest income on the accrual basis. The loan will be repaid by the venture partner with the proceeds the partner receives from the sales of the residential condominium units which are expected to occur during 2017 and 2018. The venture is considered a VIE, and the Company consolidates its interest in the rental apartments and common areas.

Expensed Acquisition, Development and Other Pursuit Costs and Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company capitalizes pre-development costs incurred in pursuit of new development opportunities for which the Company currently believes future development is probable ("Development Rights"). Future development of these Development Rights is dependent upon various factors, including zoning and regulatory approval, rental market conditions, construction costs and the availability of capital. Initial pre-development costs incurred for pursuits for which future development is not yet considered probable are expensed as incurred. In addition, if the status of a Development Right changes, making future development by the Company no longer probable, any capitalized pre-development costs are expensed. The Company expensed costs related to the abandonment of Development Rights as well as costs incurred in pursuing the acquisition of assets or costs incurred pursuing the disposition of assets for which such acquisition and disposition activity did not occur, in the amounts of $728,000 and $746,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These costs are included in expensed acquisition, development, and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Abandoned pursuit costs can vary greatly, and the costs incurred in any given period may be significantly different in future periods.

The Company evaluates its real estate and other long-lived assets for impairment when potential indicators of impairment exist. Such assets are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization, unless the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable. If events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a property or long-lived asset may not be recoverable, the Company assesses its recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of the property or long-lived asset to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows. If the carrying amount exceeds the aggregate undiscounted future cash flows, the Company recognizes an impairment loss to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value of the property or long-lived asset. Based on periodic tests of recoverability of long-lived assets for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not recognize any impairment losses for wholly-owned operating real estate assets.

The Company assesses its portfolio of land held for both development and investment for impairment if the intent of the Company changes with respect to either the development of, or the expected holding period for, the land. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $9,350,000 relating to a land parcel which the Company had acquired for development in 2004 and no longer intends to develop. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recognized an aggregate impairment charge of $6,500,000 relating to two undeveloped land parcels. These charges were determined as the excess of the Company's carrying basis over the expected sales price for each parcel, and these charges are included in casualty and impairment loss (gain), net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.


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The Company evaluates its unconsolidated investments for other than temporary impairment, considering both the extent and amount by which the carrying value of the investment exceeds the fair value, and the Company's intent and ability to hold the investment to recover its carrying value. The Company also evaluates its proportionate share of any impairment of assets held by unconsolidated investments. There were no other than temporary impairment losses recognized by any of the Company's investments in unconsolidated real estate entities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Casualty Gains and Losses

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded a casualty loss of $19,481,000 composed of a charge of $16,361,000 to write-off the net book value of the fixed assets destroyed in the Maplewood casualty loss, and demolition and additional incident expenses of $3,120,000. The casualty loss was partially offset by $17,143,000 of expected property damage insurance proceeds, of which $4,545,000 was received during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The receivable for the remaining $12,598,000 of expected property damage insurance proceeds is included in prepaid expenses and other assets on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net casualty loss of $2,338,000 is included in casualty and impairment loss (gain), net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. See discussion in Note 1, "Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies, Legal and Other Contingencies," for further discussion of the Maplewood casualty loss.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company reached a final insurance settlement for the property damage and lost income for the Edgewater casualty loss. In 2015 and 2016, the Company received aggregate insurance proceeds for Edgewater of $73,150,000, after self-insurance and deductibles. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company received the final $29,008,000 of insurance proceeds, of which $8,702,000 was recognized as casualty and impairment loss (gain), net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, and $20,306,000 as business interruption insurance proceeds, which is recorded as a component of rental and other income on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. See discussion in Note 1, "Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies, Legal and Other Contingencies," and Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings," for further discussion of the Edgewater casualty loss.

6.  Real Estate Disposition Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company sold the following real estate assets.

•
Avalon Pines, located in Coram, NY, containing 450 homes, and the adjacent golf course were sold for $140,000,000. The Company's gain in accordance with GAAP on the disposition was $87,949,000, reported in gain on sale of communities on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The sale of Avalon Pines is expected to be part of a tax deferred exchange under which the Company has restricted the cash proceeds in an escrow account, classified as cash in escrow on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

•
Two undeveloped land parcels, located in Newcastle, WA, that are adjacent to one of the Company's Development Communities, and 421-a tax certificates, representing the right to qualify for certain property tax exemptions in New York City, were sold for an aggregate sales price of $22,286,000. The Company's gain in accordance with GAAP on the dispositions was $366,000, reported in gain on sale of other real estate on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

At March 31, 2017, the Company had no real estate assets that qualified as held for sale.


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7.  Segment Reporting

The Company's reportable operating segments include Established Communities, Other Stabilized Communities, and Development/Redevelopment Communities.  Annually as of January 1, the Company determines which of its communities fall into each of these categories and generally maintains that classification throughout the year for the purpose of reporting segment operations, unless disposition or redevelopment plans regarding a community change.

In addition, the Company owns land for future development and has other corporate assets that are not allocated to an operating segment.

The Company's segment disclosures present the measure(s) used by the chief operating decision maker for purposes of assessing each segment's performance. The Company's chief operating decision maker is comprised of several members of its executive management team who use net operating income ("NOI") as the primary financial measure for Established Communities and Other Stabilized Communities. NOI is defined by the Company as total property revenue less direct property operating expenses (including property taxes), and excluding corporate-level income (including management, development and other fees), corporate-level property management and other indirect operating expenses, investments and investment management expenses, expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries, interest expense, net, loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net, general and administrative expense, equity in (loss) income of unconsolidated real estate entities, depreciation expense, corporate income tax expense, casualty and impairment loss (gain), net, gain on sale of real estate assets and net operating income from real estate assets sold or held for sale. Although the Company considers NOI a useful measure of a community's or communities' operating performance, NOI should not be considered an alternative to net income or net cash flow from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. NOI excludes a number of income and expense categories as detailed in the reconciliation of NOI to net income.

A reconciliation of NOI to net income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
Net income
$
235,781

 
$
237,877

Indirect operating expenses, net of corporate income
16,297

 
16,537

Investments and investment management expense
1,321

 
1,145

Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries
728

 
3,462

Interest expense, net
49,295

 
43,410

General and administrative expense
13,206

 
11,404

Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities
(16,672
)
 
(27,969
)
Depreciation expense
140,621

 
127,216

Income tax expense
20

 
37

Casualty and impairment loss (gain), net
11,688

 
(2,202
)
Gain on sale of real estate
(88,315
)
 
(51,430
)
Net operating income from real estate assets sold or held for sale
(1,387
)
 
(8,606
)
        Net operating income
$
362,583

 
$
350,881


The following is a summary of NOI from real estate assets sold or held for sale for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
Rental income from real estate assets sold or held for sale
$
2,650

 
$
13,916

Operating expenses from real estate assets sold or held for sale
(1,263
)
 
(5,310
)
Net operating income from real estate assets sold or held for sale
$
1,387

 
$
8,606


The primary performance measure for communities under development or redevelopment depends on the stage of completion.  While under development, management monitors actual construction costs against budgeted costs as well as lease-up pace and rent levels compared to budget.


15
Table of Contents

The following table provides details of the Company's segment information as of the dates specified (dollars in thousands). The segments are classified based on the individual community's status at the beginning of the given calendar year. Therefore, each year the composition of communities within each business segment is adjusted. Accordingly, the amounts between years are not directly comparable. Segment information for total revenue and NOI for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 has been adjusted to exclude the real estate assets that were sold from January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017, or otherwise qualify as held for sale as of March 31, 2017, as described in Note 6, "Real Estate Disposition Activities." Segment information for gross real estate as of March 31, 2017 and 2016 has not been adjusted to exclude real estate assets that were sold or otherwise qualified as held for sale subsequent to the respective balance sheet dates.
 
For the three months ended
 
 
 
Total
revenue
 
NOI
 
% NOI  change from  prior year
 
Gross real estate (1)
For the three months ended March 31, 2017
 
 

 
 

Established
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

New England
$
58,607

 
$
37,816

 
3.3
%
 
$
1,875,024

Metro NY/NJ
87,544

 
60,060

 
3.8
%
 
2,903,317

Mid-Atlantic
55,755

 
39,147

 
3.7
%
 
2,062,311

Pacific Northwest
20,454

 
14,815

 
5.2
%
 
731,537

Northern California
83,323

 
63,717

 
2.0
%
 
2,815,589

Southern California
83,225

 
60,551

 
6.2
%
 
3,005,810

Total Established
388,908

 
276,106

 
3.9
%
 
13,393,588

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Stabilized
74,021

 
51,571

 
N/A

 
3,032,689

Development / Redevelopment
55,547

 
34,906

 
N/A

 
4,276,266

Land Held for Development
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
103,954

Non-allocated (3)
1,200

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
112,987

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
519,676

 
$
362,583

 
3.3
%
 
$
20,919,484

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

Established
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

New England
$
57,196

 
$
36,508

 
15.9
%
 
$
1,860,863

Metro NY/NJ
83,079

 
56,702

 
3.2
%
 
2,883,958

Mid-Atlantic
57,530

 
40,063

 
1.3
%
 
2,330,106

Pacific Northwest
19,289

 
14,078

 
5.8
%
 
795,228

Northern California
78,452

 
60,248

 
11.5
%
 
2,651,741

Southern California
71,257

 
51,041

 
9.8
%
 
2,633,553

Total Established
366,803

 
258,640

 
7.9
%
 
13,155,449

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Stabilized (2)
73,004

 
56,914

 
N/A

 
2,196,700

Development / Redevelopment
53,251

 
35,327

 
N/A

 
3,802,952

Land Held for Development
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
477,072

Non-allocated (3)
1,524

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
89,056

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
494,582

 
$
350,881

 
21.7
%
 
$
19,721,229

__________________________________

(1)
Does not include gross real estate assets held for sale of $20,341 as of March 31, 2016.
(2)
Total revenue and NOI for the three months ended March 31, 2016 includes $20,306 in business interruption insurance proceeds related to the Edgewater casualty loss.
(3)
Revenue represents third-party management, asset management and developer fees and miscellaneous income which are not allocated to a reportable segment.


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Table of Contents

8.  Stock-Based Compensation Plans

As part of its long term compensation plans, the Company has granted stock options, performance awards and restricted stock. Detail of the outstanding awards and activity is presented below.

Information with respect to stock options granted under the Company's 1994 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "1994 Plan") and its 2009 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "2009 Plan") is as follows:
 
 
2009 Plan
shares
 
Weighted average
exercise price
per share
 
1994 Plan
shares
 
Weighted average
exercise price
per share
Options Outstanding, December 31, 2016
 
177,333

 
$
124.25

 
22,541

 
$
77.91

Exercised
 
(3,085
)
 
120.74

 
(4,181
)
 
129.72

Forfeited
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Options Outstanding, March 31, 2017 (1)
 
174,248

 
$
124.31

 
18,360

 
$
66.11

__________________________________

(1)
All options outstanding are exercisable as of March 31, 2017.

Information with respect to performance awards granted is as follows:
 
 
Performance awards
 
Weighted average grant date fair value per award
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
 
251,163

 
$
136.74

  Granted (1)
 
81,708

 
176.59

  Change in awards based on performance (2)
 
49,323

 
119.26

  Converted to restricted stock
 
(128,482
)
 
118.75

  Forfeited
 
(792
)
 
160.39

Outstanding at March 31, 2017
 
252,920

 
$
155.27

__________________________________

(1)
The amount of restricted stock that ultimately may be earned is based on the total shareholder return metrics related to the Company's common stock for 49,374 performance awards and financial metrics related to operating performance and leverage metrics of the Company for 32,334 performance awards.
(2)
Represents the change in the number of performance awards earned based on performance achievement.

The Company used a Monte Carlo model to assess the compensation cost associated with the portion of the performance awards determined by using total shareholder return measures. The assumptions used are as follows:
 
 
2017
Dividend yield
 
3.2%
Estimated volatility over the life of the plan (1)
 
15.3% - 19.7%
Risk free rate
 
0.69% - 1.61%
Estimated performance award value based on total shareholder return measure
 
$175.86
__________________________________

(1)
Estimated volatility over the life of the plan is using 50% historical volatility and 50% implied volatility.

For the portion of the performance awards granted in 2017, for which achievement will be determined by using financial metrics, the compensation cost was based on a weighted average grant date value of $179.07, and the Company's estimate of corporate achievement for the financial metrics.


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Table of Contents

Information with respect to restricted stock granted is as follows:
 
 
Restricted stock shares
 
Restricted stock shares weighted average grant date fair value per share
 
Restricted stock shares converted from performance awards
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
 
136,705

 
$
158.51

 
176,698

  Granted - restricted stock shares
 
70,020

 
179.07

 
128,482

  Vested - restricted stock shares
 
(65,702
)
 
153.05

 
(69,149
)
  Forfeited
 
(236
)
 
173.73

 
—

Outstanding at March 31, 2017
 
140,787

 
$
171.25

 
236,031


Total employee stock-based compensation cost recognized in income was $3,986,000 and $3,742,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and total capitalized stock-based compensation cost was $2,078,000 and $3,048,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. At March 31, 2017, there was a total unrecognized compensation cost of $45,637,000 for unvested restricted stock and performance awards, which does not include forfeitures, and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.9 years.

9.  Related Party Arrangements

Unconsolidated Entities

The Company manages unconsolidated real estate entities for which it receives asset management, property management, development and redevelopment fee revenue. From these entities, the Company earned fees of $1,200,000 and $1,524,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These fees are recognized on an accrual basis when earned in accordance with the accounting guidance applicable to revenue recognition, and are included in management, development and other fees on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. In addition, the Company has outstanding receivables associated with its property and construction management role of $3,846,000 and $5,239,000 as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Director Compensation

The Company recorded non-employee director compensation expense relating to restricted stock grants and deferred stock awards in the amount of $371,000 and $341,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, as a component of general and administrative expense. Deferred compensation relating to these restricted stock grants and deferred stock awards to non-employee directors was $212,000 and $531,000 on March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

10.  Fair Value

Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value

Derivative Financial Instruments

Currently, the Company uses interest rate swap and interest rate cap agreements to manage its interest rate risk.  These instruments are carried at fair value in the Company's financial statements.  In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of counterparty nonperformance risk, the Company has considered the impact of its net position with a given counterparty, as well as any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts, and guarantees. The Company minimizes its credit risk on these transactions by dealing with major, creditworthy financial institutions which have an A or better credit rating by the Standard & Poor's Ratings Group. As part of its on-going control procedures, the Company monitors the credit ratings of counterparties and the exposure of the Company to any single entity, thus reducing credit risk concentration. The Company believes the likelihood of realizing losses from counterparty nonperformance is remote. Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, such as interest rate, term to maturity and volatility, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its derivatives use Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads, to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. As of March 31, 2017, the Company assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined it is not significant.  As a result, the Company has determined that its derivative valuations are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Hedge ineffectiveness did not have a material impact on earnings of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2017, or any prior period, and the Company does not anticipate that it will have a material effect in the future.

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Table of Contents


The following table summarizes the consolidated derivative positions at March 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):
 
Non-designated
Hedges
Interest Rate Caps
 
Cash Flow
Hedges
Interest Rate Caps
 
Cash Flow
Hedges
Interest Rate Swaps
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notional balance
$
696,591

 
$
35,685

 
$
900,000

Weighted average interest rate (1)
2.6
%
 
2.8
%
 
N/A

Weighted average swapped/capped interest rate
6.1
%
 
5.9
%
 
2.3
%
Earliest maturity date
Aug 2017

 
Apr 2019

 
Nov 2017

Latest maturity date
Nov 2021

 
Apr 2019

 
May 2018

____________________________________

(1)
For interest rate caps, represents the weighted average interest rate on the hedged debt.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company entered into $100,000,000 of forward interest rate swap agreements executed to reduce the impact of variability in interest rates on a portion of the Company's expected debt issuance activity in 2018. As of March 31, 2017, the Company has $900,000,000 in aggregate outstanding forward interest rate swap agreements. At maturity of the outstanding swap agreements, the Company expects to cash settle the contracts and either pay or receive cash for the then current fair value. Assuming that the Company issues the debt as expected, the hedging impact from these positions will then be recognized over the life of the issued debt as a yield adjustment.

Excluding derivatives executed to hedge secured debt on communities classified as held for sale, the Company had 13 derivatives designated as cash flow hedges and 14 derivatives not designated as hedges at March 31, 2017. Fair value changes for derivatives not in qualifying hedge relationships for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 were not material. During three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company deferred $145,000 of gains for cash flow hedges reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).

The following table summarizes the deferred losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income as a component of interest expense, net (dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings
$
1,752

 
$
1,374


The Company anticipates reclassifying approximately $6,975,000 of hedging losses from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings within the next 12 months to offset the variability of cash flows of the hedged item during this period. The Company did not have any derivatives designated as fair value hedges as of March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

The Company provided redemption options (the "Puts") that allow joint venture partners of the Company to require the Company to purchase their interests in the investment at a guaranteed minimum amount related to three ventures. The Puts are payable in cash. The Company determines the fair value of the Puts based on unobservable inputs considering the assumptions that market participants would make in pricing the obligations, applying a guaranteed rate of return to the joint venture partners' net capital contribution balances as of period end. Given the significance of the unobservable inputs, the valuations are classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Company issued units of limited partnership interest in DownREITs which provide the DownREIT limited partners the ability to present all or some of their units for redemption for cash as determined by the partnership agreement. Under the DownREIT agreements, for each limited partnership unit, the limited partner is entitled to receive cash in the amount equal to the fair value of the Company's common stock on or about the date of redemption.  In lieu of cash redemption, the Company may elect to exchange such units for an equal number of shares of the Company's common stock. The limited partnership units in the DownREITs are valued using the market price of the Company's common stock, a Level 1 price under the fair value hierarchy.


19
Table of Contents

Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalent balances are held with various financial institutions within principal protected accounts. The Company monitors credit ratings of these financial institutions and the concentration of cash and cash equivalent balances with any one financial institution and believes the likelihood of realizing material losses related to cash and cash equivalent balances is remote.  Cash and cash equivalents are carried at their face amounts, which reasonably approximate their fair values and are Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Other Financial Instruments

Rents and other receivables and prepaids, accounts and construction payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities are carried at their face amounts, which reasonably approximate their fair values.

The Company values its unsecured notes using quoted market prices, a Level 1 price within the fair value hierarchy. The Company values its notes payable and outstanding amounts under the Credit Facility and Term Loan using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each instrument. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the instrument, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves. The process also considers credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect the Company's nonperformance risk. The Company has concluded that the value of its notes payable and amounts outstanding under its Credit Facility and Term Loan are Level 2 prices as the majority of the inputs used to value its positions fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Financial Instruments Measured/Disclosed at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following tables summarize the classification between the three levels of the fair value hierarchy of the Company's financial instruments measured/disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis (dollars in thousands):
Description
 
Total Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for Identical Asset
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
3/31/2017
Non-Designated Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Caps
 
$
30

 
$
—

 
$
30

 
$
—

Cash Flow Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Swaps - Assets
 
14,955

 
—

 
14,955

 
—

Interest Rate Swaps - Liabilities
 
(102
)
 
—

 
(102
)
 
—

Puts
 
(5,928
)
 
—

 
—

 
(5,928
)
DownREIT units
 
(1,377
)
 
(1,377
)
 
—

 
—

Indebtedness
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured notes
 
(4,226,278
)
 
(4,226,278
)
 
—

 
—

Mortgage notes payable and unsecured term loan
 
(2,743,794
)
 
—

 
(2,743,794
)
 
—

Total
 
$
(6,962,494
)
 
$
(4,227,655
)
 
$
(2,728,911
)
 
$
(5,928
)

20
Table of Contents

Description
 
Total Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for Identical Asset
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
12/31/2016
Non-Designated Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Caps
 
$
79

 
$
—

 
$
79

 
$
—

Cash Flow Hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Caps
 
2

 
—

 
2

 
—

Interest Rate Swaps - Assets
 
14,775

 
—

 
14,775

 
—

Puts
 
(6,002
)
 
—

 
—

 
(6,002
)
DownREIT units
 
(1,329
)
 
(1,329
)
 
—

 
—

Indebtedness
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured notes
 
(4,218,627
)
 
(4,218,627
)
 
—

 
—

Mortgage notes payable and unsecured term loan
 
(2,744,462
)
 
—

 
(2,744,462
)
 
—

Total
 
$
(6,955,564
)
 
$
(4,219,956
)
 
$
(2,729,606
)
 
$
(6,002
)

11.  Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date on which this Form 10-Q was filed, the date on which these financial statements were issued, and identified the items below for discussion.

In April 2017, the Company borrowed the $250,000,000 available under the $250 million Term Loan discussed in Note 3, "Mortgage Notes Payable, Unsecured Notes and Credit Facility."

In May 2017, the Company repaid $498,357,000 of fixed rate mortgage notes with an effective interest rate of 3.36%, secured by eight communities at par in advance of their November 2017 maturity dates.

As of May 2, 2017, the Company has $395,000,000 outstanding under the Credit Facility.

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Table of Contents

ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") is intended to help provide an understanding of our business, financial condition and results of operations. This MD&A should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report. This report, including the following MD&A, contains forward-looking statements regarding future events or trends that should be read in conjunction with the factors described under "Forward-Looking Statements" included in this report.  Actual results or developments could differ materially from those projected in such statements as a result of the factors described under "Forward-Looking Statements" as well as the risk factors described in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the "Form 10-K").

Capitalized terms used without definition have the meanings provided elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

Executive Overview

Business Description

We develop, redevelop, acquire, own and operate multifamily apartment communities primarily in New England, the New York/New Jersey metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California. We focus on leading metropolitan areas that we believe are characterized by growing employment in high wage sectors of the economy, lower housing affordability and a diverse and vibrant quality of life. We believe these market characteristics offer the opportunity for superior risk-adjusted returns on apartment community investments relative to other markets that do not have these characteristics. We seek to create long-term shareholder value by accessing capital on cost effective terms; deploying that capital to develop, redevelop and acquire apartment communities in our selected markets; operating apartment communities; and selling communities when they no longer meet our long-term investment strategy or when pricing is attractive.

Our strategic vision is to be the leading apartment company in select US markets, providing a range of distinctive living experiences that customers value. We pursue this vision by targeting what we believe are among the best markets and submarkets, leveraging our strategic capabilities in market research and consumer insight and being disciplined in our capital allocation and balance sheet management. Our communities are predominately upscale and generally command among the highest rents in their markets. However, we also pursue the ownership and operation of apartment communities that target a variety of customer segments and price points, consistent with our goal of offering a broad range of products and services. We regularly evaluate the allocation of our investments by the amount of invested capital and by product type within our individual markets.

First Quarter 2017 Highlights

•
Net income attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $235,875,000, a decrease of $2,056,000, or 0.9%, as compared to the prior year period. The decrease is primarily due to a net casualty and impairment loss in the current year period as compared to a net gain in the prior year period, as well as increases in depreciation and interest expense. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in real estate sales and related gains and an increase in NOI from existing, acquired and newly developed operating communities.

•
Established Communities NOI for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $276,106,000, an increase of $10,316,000, or 3.9%, over the prior year period. This increase was driven by an increase in rental revenue of 3.2%, partially offset by an increase in operating expenses of 1.5% compared to the prior year period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we completed the construction of three communities, one of which is dual-branded, containing an aggregate of 1,548 apartment homes for an aggregate total capitalized cost of $648,800,000. At March 31, 2017, we owned or held a direct or indirect interest in 24 communities under construction expected to contain 7,581 apartment homes with a projected total capitalized cost of $3,399,600,000, including the total projected capitalized cost for one community being developed within an unconsolidated joint venture in which we own a 55.0% interest. In addition, as of March 31, 2017, we held a direct or indirect ownership interest in land or rights to land on which we expect to develop an additional 28 apartment communities that, if developed as expected, will contain 9,304 apartment homes, and will be developed for an aggregate total capitalized cost of $3,373,000,000, an increase of $345,000,000 from our position as of December 31, 2016.


22
Table of Contents

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we sold one wholly-owned operating community. Avalon Pines, located in Coram, NY, containing 450 homes, and the adjacent golf course were sold for $140,000,000. Our gain in accordance with GAAP on the disposition was $87,949,000.

We expect to be able to meet our reasonably foreseeable liquidity needs, as they arise, through a combination of one or more of the following sources: existing cash on hand; operating cash flows; borrowings under our Credit Facility and the $250 million Term Loan; secured debt; the issuance of corporate securities (which could include unsecured debt, preferred equity and/or common equity); the sale of apartment communities; or through the formation of joint ventures. See the discussion under "Liquidity and Capital Resources".

Maplewood Casualty Loss

In February 2017, a fire occurred at our Avalon Maplewood Development Community ("Maplewood"). See Note 1, "Organization, Basis and Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Legal and Other Contingencies," and Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities - Casualty Gains and Losses," in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussions related to the Maplewood casualty loss.

Communities Overview

Our real estate investments consist primarily of current operating apartment communities, communities in various stages of development ("Development Communities") and Development Rights (as defined below).  Our current operating communities are further distinguished as Established Communities, Other Stabilized Communities, Lease-Up Communities, Redevelopment Communities and Unconsolidated Communities. While we generally establish the classification of communities on an annual basis, we intend to update the classification of communities during the calendar year to the extent that our plans with regard to the disposition or redevelopment of a community change during the year. The following is a description of each category:

Current Communities are categorized as Established, Other Stabilized, Lease-Up, Redevelopment, or Unconsolidated according to the following attributes:

•
Established Communities (also known as Same Store Communities) are consolidated communities where a comparison of operating results from the prior year to the current year is meaningful, as these communities were owned and had stabilized occupancy as of the beginning of the respective prior year period.  For the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Established Communities are communities that are consolidated for financial reporting purposes, had stabilized occupancy as of January 1, 2016, are not conducting or planning to conduct substantial redevelopment activities and are not held for sale or planned for disposition within the current year. A community is considered to have stabilized occupancy at the earlier of (i) attainment of 95% physical occupancy or (ii) the one-year anniversary of completion of development or redevelopment.

•
Other Stabilized Communities are all other completed consolidated communities that have stabilized occupancy, as defined above, as of the beginning of the current calendar year. Other Stabilized Communities do not include communities that are conducting or planning to conduct substantial redevelopment activities within the current year. 

•
Lease-Up Communities are consolidated communities where construction has been complete for less than one year and where physical occupancy has not reached 95%.

•
Redevelopment Communities are consolidated communities where substantial redevelopment is in progress or is planned to begin during the current year.  Redevelopment is considered substantial when capital invested during the reconstruction effort is expected to exceed the lesser of $5,000,000 or 10% of the community's pre-redevelopment basis and is expected to have a material impact on the operations of the community, including occupancy levels and future rental rates.

•
Unconsolidated Communities are communities that we have an indirect ownership interest in through our investment interest in an unconsolidated joint venture.

Development Communities are communities that are under construction and for which a certificate or certificates of occupancy for the entire community have not been received.  These communities may be partially complete and operating.


23
Table of Contents

Development Rights are development opportunities in the early phase of the development process where we either have an option to acquire land or enter into a leasehold interest, where we are the buyer under a long-term conditional contract to purchase land, where we control the land through a ground lease or own land to develop a new community, or where we are the designated developer in a public-private partnership. We capitalize related pre-development costs incurred in pursuit of new developments for which we currently believe future development is probable.

We currently lease our corporate headquarters located in Arlington, Virginia, as well as our other regional and administrative offices under operating leases.

As of March 31, 2017, communities that we owned or held a direct or indirect interest in were classified as follows:
 
 
Number of
communities
 
Number of
apartment homes
 
 
 
 
 
Current Communities
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Established Communities:
 
 

 
 

New England
 
38

 
8,631

Metro NY/NJ
 
35

 
10,388

Mid-Atlantic
 
26

 
9,123

Pacific Northwest
 
13

 
3,305

Northern California
 
35

 
10,321

Southern California
 
45

 
13,330

Total Established
 
192

 
55,098

 
 
 
 
 
Other Stabilized Communities:
 
 

 
 

New England
 
7

 
1,868

Metro NY/NJ
 
11

 
2,882

Mid-Atlantic
 
7

 
2,443

Pacific Northwest
 
3

 
656

Northern California
 
3

 
1,068

Southern California
 
8

 
1,310

Non Core
 
3

 
1,014

Total Other Stabilized
 
42

 
11,241

 
 
 
 
 
Lease-Up Communities
 
3

 
1,048

 
 
 
 
 
Redevelopment Communities
 
9

 
4,075

 
 
 
 
 
Unconsolidated Communities
 
14

 
3,490

 
 
 
 
 
Total Current Communities
 
260

 
74,952

 
 
 
 
 
Development Communities (1)
 
24

 
7,581

 
 
 
 
 
Total Communities
 
284

 
82,533

 
 
 
 
 
Development Rights
 
28

 
9,304

_________________________

(1)
Development Communities includes AVA North Point, expected to contain 265 apartment homes, which is being developed within an unconsolidated joint venture.


24
Table of Contents

Results of Operations

Our year-over-year operating performance is primarily affected by both overall and individual geographic market conditions and apartment fundamentals and is reflected in changes in NOI of our Established Communities; NOI derived from acquisitions and development completions; the loss of NOI related to disposed communities; and capital market and financing activity.  A comparison of our operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 follows (unaudited, dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Rental and other income
$
521,126

 
$
506,974

 
$
14,152

 
2.8
 %
Management, development and other fees
1,200

 
1,524

 
(324
)
 
(21.3
)%
Total revenue
522,326

 
508,498

 
13,828

 
2.7
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Direct property operating expenses, excluding property taxes
104,233

 
97,387

 
6,846

 
7.0
 %
Property taxes
52,930

 
50,067

 
2,863

 
5.7
 %
Total community operating expenses
157,163

 
147,454

 
9,709

 
6.6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate-level property management and other indirect operating expenses
17,490

 
18,094

 
(604
)
 
(3.3
)%
Investments and investment management expense
1,321

 
1,145

 
176

 
15.4
 %
Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries
728

 
3,462

 
(2,734
)
 
(79.0
)%
Interest expense, net
49,295

 
43,410

 
5,885

 
13.6
 %
Depreciation expense
140,621

 
127,216

 
13,405

 
10.5
 %
General and administrative expense
13,206

 
11,404

 
1,802

 
15.8
 %
Casualty and impairment loss (gain), net
11,688

 
(2,202
)
 
13,890

 
N/A (1)

Total other expenses
234,349

 
202,529

 
31,820

 
15.7
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities
16,672

 
27,969

 
(11,297
)
 
(40.4
)%
Gain on sale of communities
87,949

 
51,430

 
36,519

 
71.0
 %
Gain on sale of other real estate
366

 
—

 
366

 
100.0
 %
Income before income taxes
235,801

 
237,914

 
(2,113
)
 
(0.9
)%
Income tax expense
20

 
37

 
(17
)
 
(45.9
)%
Net income
235,781

 
237,877

 
(2,096
)
 
(0.9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
94

 
54

 
40

 
74.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
235,875

 
$
237,931

 
$
(2,056
)
 
(0.9
)%
_________________________

(1)
Percent change is not meaningful.

25
Table of Contents

Net income attributable to common stockholders decreased $2,056,000, or 0.9%, to $235,875,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the prior year period. The decrease for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to a casualty and impairment loss in the current year period as compared to a gain in the prior year period, as well as increases in depreciation and interest expense. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in real estate sales and related gains and an increase in NOI from existing, acquired and newly developed operating communities.

NOI is considered by management to be an important and appropriate supplemental performance measure to net income because it helps both investors and management to understand the core operations of a community or communities prior to the allocation of any corporate-level or financing-related costs.  NOI reflects the operating performance of a community and allows for an easier comparison of the operating performance of individual assets or groups of assets. In addition, because prospective buyers of real estate have different financing and overhead structures, with varying marginal impact to overhead as a result of acquiring real estate, NOI is considered by many in the real estate industry to be a useful measure for determining the value of a real estate asset or group of assets. We define NOI as total property revenue less direct property operating expenses (including property taxes), and excluding corporate-level income (including management, development and other fees), corporate-level property management and other indirect operating expenses, investments and investment management expenses, expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries, interest expense, net, loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net, general and administrative expense, equity in (loss) income of unconsolidated real estate entities, depreciation expense, corporate income tax expense, casualty and impairment loss (gain), net, gain on sale of real estate assets and net operating income from real estate assets sold or held for sale.

NOI does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and NOI should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of our performance. NOI should also not be considered an alternative to net cash flow from operating activities, as determined by GAAP, as a measure of liquidity, nor is NOI indicative of cash available to fund cash needs.  Reconciliations of NOI for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 to net income for each period are as follows (unaudited, dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
235,781

 
$
237,877

Indirect operating expenses, net of corporate income
16,297

 
16,537

Investments and investment management expense
1,321

 
1,145

Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries
728

 
3,462

Interest expense, net
49,295

 
43,410

General and administrative expense
13,206

 
11,404

Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities
(16,672
)
 
(27,969
)
Depreciation expense
140,621

 
127,216

Income tax expense
20

 
37

Casualty and impairment loss (gain), net
11,688

 
(2,202
)
Gain on sale of real estate assets
(88,315
)
 
(51,430
)
Net operating income from real estate assets sold or held for sale
(1,387
)
 
(8,606
)
Net operating income
$
362,583

 
$
350,881



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Table of Contents

The NOI changes for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the prior year period, consist of changes in the following categories (unaudited, dollars in thousands):
 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
 

Established Communities
$
10,316

Other Stabilized Communities (1)
(3,020
)
Development and Redevelopment Communities
4,406

Total
$
11,702

____________________________

(1)
NOI for the three months ended March 31, 2016 includes $20,306 in business interruption insurance proceeds related to the Edgewater casualty loss.

Rental and other income increased in the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period due to additional rental income generated from newly developed, acquired and existing operating communities and an increase in rental rates at our Established Communities, discussed below.

Consolidated Communities — The weighted average number of occupied apartment homes increased to 69,069 apartment homes for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to 67,156 homes for the prior year period. The weighted average monthly revenue per occupied apartment home increased to $2,512 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $2,412 in the prior year period.

Established Communities — Rental revenue increased $11,932,000, or 3.2%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period due to an increase in average rental rates of 3.1% to $2,456 per apartment home and an increase in economic occupancy of 0.1% to 95.7%. Economic occupancy takes into account the fact that apartment homes of different sizes and locations within a community have different economic impacts on a community's gross revenue.  Economic occupancy is defined as gross potential revenue less vacancy loss, as a percentage of gross potential revenue. Gross potential revenue is determined by valuing occupied homes at leased rates and vacant homes at market rents.

The Metro New York/New Jersey region accounted for approximately 22.5% of Established Community rental revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and experienced an increase in rental revenue of 3.0% compared to the prior year period. Average rental rates increased 2.8% to $2,938 per apartment home, and economic occupancy increased 0.2% to 95.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the prior year period. While New York City is absorbing a larger pipeline of new apartment deliveries, suburban markets surrounding the city are more insulated from this new competition, and we expect to see continued growth over the prior year in the Metro New York/New Jersey region in 2017.

The Northern California region accounted for approximately 21.4% of Established Community rental revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and experienced an increase in rental revenue of 2.3% compared to the prior year period. Average rental rates increased 2.2% to $2,809 per apartment home, and economic occupancy increased 0.1% to 95.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the prior year period. We expect slower job growth and elevated levels of new apartment deliveries will temper growth in 2017 relative to prior years.

The Southern California region accounted for approximately 21.4% of Established Community rental revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and experienced an increase in rental revenue of 4.0% compared to the prior year period. Average rental rates increased 4.5% to $2,170 per apartment home, and were partially offset by a 0.5% decrease in economic occupancy to 95.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the prior year period. Southern California has seen steady job growth and limited new apartment supply, which we expect will continue to support favorable operating results in 2017.

The New England region accounted for approximately 15.1% of Established Community rental revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and experienced an increase in rental revenue of 3.0% compared to the prior year period. Average rental rates increased 2.5% to $2,363 per apartment home, and economic occupancy increased 0.5% to 95.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the prior year period. Stable job growth in the Boston metro area is expected to support apartment demand in 2017. The Fairfield market continues to experience moderate economic growth due to the area's greater exposure to the financial services sector, which has experienced slower job growth during this recovery than other industries.

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Table of Contents


The Mid-Atlantic region accounted for approximately 14.3% of Established Community rental revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and experienced an increase in rental revenue of 2.8% compared to the prior year period.  Average rental rates increased 2.3% to $2,127 per apartment home, and economic occupancy increased 0.5% to 95.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the prior year period. Although new apartment supply will remain elevated, accelerating job growth is expected to support modest growth in 2017.

The Pacific Northwest region accounted for approximately 5.3% of Established Community rental revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and experienced an increase in rental revenue of 6.1% compared to the prior year period. Average rental rates increased 6.1% to $2,150 per apartment home, and economic occupancy remained consistent at 95.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the prior year period. We believe healthy job growth will continue to support favorable operating results in 2017.
 
Management, development and other fees decreased $324,000, or 21.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the prior year period. The decrease for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to lower property and asset management fees earned as a result of dispositions from AvalonBay Value Added Fund II, L.P. ("Fund II") and the Archstone Multifamily Partners AC LP (the "U.S. Fund").

Direct property operating expenses, excluding property taxes increased $6,846,000, or 7.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the prior year period. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to the addition of newly developed and acquired apartment communities.

For Established Communities, direct property operating expenses, excluding property taxes, increased $1,430,000, or 2.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to increased maintenance costs, compensation expense and bad debt expense, partially offset by a decrease in property insurance costs.

Property taxes increased $2,863,000, or 5.7%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to the addition of newly developed and acquired apartment communities, coupled with increased assessments across our portfolio.

For Established Communities, property taxes increased $190,000, or 0.5%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to increased assessments, partially offset by successful appeals in the current year period. For communities in California, property tax changes are determined by the change in the California Consumer Price Index, with increases limited by law (Proposition 13). Massachusetts also has laws in place to limit property tax increases. We evaluate property tax increases internally and also engage third-party consultants to assist in our evaluations. We appeal property tax increases when appropriate.

Corporate-level property management and other indirect operating expenses decreased $604,000, or 3.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period, primarily due to decreased compensation related costs, including severance costs in the prior year period not present in three months ended March 31, 2017.

Expensed acquisition, development and other pursuit costs, net of recoveries primarily reflect abandoned pursuit costs as well as acquisition costs related to business acquisitions that occurred prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-01 as of October 1, 2016. Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2017-01, we expect that acquisitions of individual operating communities will generally be viewed as asset acquisitions, and result in acquisition costs being capitalized instead of expensed. Abandoned pursuit costs include costs incurred for development pursuits not yet considered probable for development, as well as the abandonment of Development Rights and disposition pursuits, and also includes costs related to acquisition pursuits. These costs can be volatile, particularly in periods of increased acquisition activity, periods of economic downturn or when there is limited access to capital, and the costs may vary significantly from period to period. These costs decreased $2,734,000, or 79.0%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period. The decrease for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to the non-cash write-off of asset management fee intangibles associated with the disposition of communities in the U.S. Fund in the prior year period, as well as acquisition costs related to two communities acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2016.


28
Table of Contents

Interest expense, net increased $5,885,000, or 13.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period. This category includes interest costs offset by capitalized interest pertaining to development and redevelopment activity, amortization of premium/discount on debt, and interest income. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is due to an increase in outstanding unsecured indebtedness, as well as a decrease in amounts of interest capitalized.

Depreciation expense increased $13,405,000, or 10.5%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the addition of newly developed and acquired apartment communities.

General and administrative expense ("G&A") increased $1,802,000, or 15.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to an increase in compensation related expenses, legal and professional fees, and sales and use tax expense.

Casualty and impairment loss (gain), net for the three months ended March 31, 2017 consists of an impairment charge recognized for a land parcel we had acquired for development and no longer intend to develop, as well as the Maplewood casualty loss, which was partially offset by expected insurance proceeds, a portion of which was received during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Casualty and impairment loss (gain), net for the three months ended March 31, 2016, consists of property damage insurance proceeds from the final insurance settlement for the Edgewater casualty loss, partially offset by impairment charges recognized for two ancillary land parcels.

Equity in income of unconsolidated real estate entities decreased $11,297,000, or 40.4%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period. The decrease for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is primarily due to the timing of gains on the sale of communities in various ventures compared to the prior year period, as well as decreased NOI from the ventures due to disposition activity in 2016 and 2017.

Gain on sale of communities increased for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the prior year period. The amount of gain realized in a given period depends on many factors, including the number of communities sold, the size and carrying value of the communities sold and the market conditions in the local area.


29
Table of Contents

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Consistent with the definition adopted by the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts® ("NAREIT"), we calculate Funds from Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders ("FFO") as net income or loss attributable to common stockholders computed in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for:

•
gains or losses on sales of previously depreciated operating communities;
•
cumulative effect of change in accounting principle;
•
impairment write-downs of depreciable real estate assets;
•
write-downs of investments in affiliates due to a decrease in the value of depreciable real estate assets held by those affiliates;
•
depreciation of real estate assets; and
•
adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.

FFO and FFO adjusted for non-core items, or "Core FFO," as defined below, are generally considered by management to be appropriate supplemental measures of our operating and financial performance. In calculating FFO, we exclude gains or losses related to dispositions of previously depreciated property and exclude real estate depreciation, which can vary among owners of identical assets in similar condition based on historical cost accounting and useful life estimates. FFO can help one compare the operating performance of a real estate company between periods or as compared to different companies. By further adjusting for items that are not considered part of our core business operations, Core FFO allows one to compare the core operating performance of the Company between periods. We believe that in order to understand our operating results, FFO and Core FFO should be examined with net income as presented in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.

We calculate Core FFO as FFO, adjusted for:

•
joint venture gains, costs, and promoted interests;
•
casualty and impairment losses or gains, net;
•
gains or losses from early extinguishment of consolidated borrowings;
•
abandoned pursuits;
•
business interruption insurance proceeds and the related lost NOI that is covered by the business interruption insurance proceeds;
•
property and casualty insurance proceeds and legal settlements;
•
gains or losses on sales of assets not subject to depreciation;
•
severance related costs;
•
expensed acquisition costs related to business acquisitions that occurred prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-01 as of October 1, 2016; and
•
other non-core items.

FFO and Core FFO do not represent net income in accordance with GAAP, and therefore should not be considered an alternative to net income, which remains the primary measure, as an indication of our performance. In addition, FFO and Core FFO as calculated by other REITs may not be comparable to our calculations of FFO and Core FFO.

The following is a reconciliation of net income attributable to common stockholders to FFO attributable to common stockholders and to Core FFO attributable to common stockholders (unaudited, dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

30
Table of Contents

 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to common stockholders
$
235,875

 
$
237,931

Depreciation - real estate assets, including joint venture adjustments
140,957

 
127,701

Distributions to noncontrolling interests
11

 
10

Gain on sale of unconsolidated entities holding previously depreciated real estate
(8,697
)
 
(29,625
)
Gain on sale of previously depreciated real estate
(87,949
)
 
(51,430
)
FFO attributable to common stockholders
280,197

 
284,587

 
 
 
 
Adjusting items:
 
 
 
Joint venture losses (1)
266

 
4,994

Joint venture promote (2)
(6,765
)
 
—

Impairment loss on real estate (3)(5)
9,350

 
6,500

Casualty loss (gain), net on real estate (4)(5)
2,338

 
(8,702
)
Business interruption insurance proceeds (6)
—

 
(20,334
)
Lost NOI from casualty losses covered by business interruption insurance (7)
1,805

 
1,870

Severance related costs
124

 
585

Development pursuit and other write-offs
423

 
433

Gain on sale of other real estate
(366
)
 
—

Acquisition costs
—

 
1,101

Core FFO attributable to common stockholders
$
287,372

 
$
271,034

 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
137,531,242

 
137,383,044

 
 
 
 
EPS per common share - diluted
$
1.72

 
$
1.73

FFO per common share - diluted
$
2.04

 
$
2.07

Core FFO per common share - diluted
$
2.09

 
$
1.97

_________________________

(1)
Amount for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is primarily composed of our proportionate share of yield maintenance charges incurred for the early repayment of debt associated with joint venture disposition activity and the write-off of asset management fee intangibles primarily associated with the disposition of communities in the U.S. Fund.
(2)
Amount for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is for the recognition of our promoted interest in Fund II.
(3)
Amount for the three months ended March 31, 2017 includes an impairment charge for a land parcel we had acquired for development and no longer intend to develop. Amount for the three months ended March 31, 2016 includes impairment charges relating to ancillary land parcels.
(4)
Amount for the three months ended March 31, 2017 includes $19,481 for the Maplewood casualty loss, partially offset by $17,143 of expected property damage insurance proceeds, a portion of which was received during the period. Amount for the three months ended March 31, 2016 includes $8,702 in property damage insurance proceeds for the Edgewater casualty loss.
(5)
The aggregate impact of (i) impairment loss on real estate and (ii) casualty loss (gain), net on real estate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 is a loss of $11,688 and a gain of $2,202, respectively.
(6)
Amount for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is primarily composed of business interruption insurance proceeds resulting from the final insurance settlement of the Edgewater casualty loss.
(7)
Amounts relate to lost NOI resulting from the Edgewater casualty loss, for which we received $20,306 in business interruption insurance proceeds in the first quarter of 2016.

FFO and Core FFO also do not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and therefore should not be considered an alternative to net cash flows from operating activities, as determined by GAAP, as a measure of liquidity. Additionally, it is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs.


31
Table of Contents

A presentation of GAAP based cash flow metrics is as follows (unaudited, dollars in thousands) and a discussion of "Liquidity and Capital Resources" can be found later in this report:

 
For the three months ended
 
3/31/2017
 
3/31/2016
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
293,462

 
$
277,782

Net cash used in investing activities
$
(235,347
)
 
$
(384,727
)
Net cash used in financing activities
$
(151,404
)
 
$
(196,021
)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We employ a disciplined approach to our liquidity and capital management. When we source capital, we take into account both our view of the most cost effective alternative then available and our desire to maintain a balance sheet that provides us with flexibility. Our principal short-term liquidity needs are to fund:

•
development and redevelopment activity in which we are currently engaged;
•
the minimum dividend payments on our common stock required to maintain our REIT qualification under the Code;
•
debt service and principal payments either at maturity or opportunistically before maturity; and
•
normal recurring operating expenses and corporate overhead expenses.

Factors affecting our liquidity and capital resources are our cash flows from operations, financing activities and investing activities (including dispositions) as well as general economic and market conditions. Operating cash flow has historically been determined by: (i) the number of apartment homes currently owned, (ii) rental rates, (iii) occupancy levels and (iv) operating expenses with respect to apartment homes. The timing and type of capital markets activity in which we engage, as well as our plans for development, redevelopment, acquisition and disposition activity, are affected by changes in the capital markets environment, such as changes in interest rates or the availability of cost-effective capital. We regularly review our liquidity needs, the adequacy of cash flows from operations and other expected liquidity sources to meet these needs.

We had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $121,705,000 at March 31, 2017, a decrease of $93,289,000 from $214,994,000 at December 31, 2016. As presented in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included elsewhere in this report, the following discussion relates to changes in cash due to operating, investing and financing activities.

Operating Activities — Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $293,462,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from $277,782,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The change was driven primarily by increased NOI from existing, acquired and newly developed communities.

Investing Activities — Net cash used in investing activities totaled $235,347,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The net cash used was primarily due to:

•
investment of $259,573,000 in the development and redevelopment of communities; and
•
capital expenditures of $10,444,000 for our operating communities and non-real estate assets.

These amounts are partially offset by:

•
proceeds from dispositions, net of amounts held in escrow related to a planned tax deferred exchange, of $33,518,000; and
•
net distributions from unconsolidated real estate entities of $6,178,000.

Financing Activities — Net cash used in financing activities totaled $151,404,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The net cash used was primarily due to:

•
payment of cash dividends in the amount of $185,192,000; and
•
repayment of secured notes in the amount of $21,037,000.

These amounts are partially offset by the issuance of common stock in the amount of $56,817,000, primarily through CEP IV.


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Table of Contents

Variable Rate Unsecured Credit Facility

We have a $1,500,000,000 revolving variable rate unsecured credit facility with a syndicate of banks (the "Credit Facility") which matures in April 2020. We may extend the maturity for up to nine months, provided we are not in default and upon payment of a $1,500,000 extension fee. The Credit Facility bears interest at varying levels based on the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), rating levels achieved on our unsecured notes and on a maturity schedule selected by us. The current stated pricing is LIBOR plus 0.825% per annum (1.82% at April 28, 2017), assuming a one month borrowing rate. The annual facility fee is 0.125% (or approximately $1,875,000 annually based on the $1,500,000,000 facility size and based on our current credit rating).

We had $395,000,000 outstanding under the Credit Facility and had $45,084,000 outstanding in letters of credit that reduced our borrowing capacity as of April 28, 2017.

Financial Covenants

We are subject to financial and other covenants contained in the Credit Facility, the Term Loans and the indenture under which our unsecured notes were issued. The principal financial covenants include the following:

•
limitations on the amount of total and secured debt in relation to our overall capital structure;
•
limitations on the amount of our unsecured debt relative to the undepreciated basis of real estate assets that are not encumbered by property-specific financing; and
•
minimum levels of debt service coverage.

We were in compliance with these covenants at March 31, 2017.

In addition, our secured borrowings may include yield maintenance, defeasance, or prepayment penalty provisions, which would result in us incurring an additional charge in the event of a full or partial prepayment of outstanding principal before the scheduled maturity. These provisions in our secured borrowings are generally consistent with other similar types of debt instruments issued during the same time period in which our borrowings were secured.

Continuous Equity Offering Program

In December 2015, we commenced a fourth continuous equity program ("CEP IV") under which we may sell up to $1,000,000,000 of our common stock from time to time. Actual sales will depend on a variety of factors to be determined, including market conditions, the trading price of our common stock and determinations of the appropriate sources of funding. In conjunction with CEP IV, we engaged sales agents who will receive compensation of up to 2.0% of the gross sales price for shares sold. CEP IV also allows us to enter into forward sale agreements up to $1,000,000,000 in aggregate sales price of our common stock. We expect that we will physically settle each forward sale agreement on one or more dates prior to the maturity date of that particular forward sale agreement, in which case we will expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at settlement equal to the number of shares underlying the particular forward agreement multiplied by the relevant forward sale price. However, we may also elect to cash settle or net share settle a forward sale agreement. In connection with each forward sale agreement, we will pay the relevant forward seller, in the form of a reduced initial forward sale price, a commission of up to 2.0% of the sales prices of all borrowed shares of common stock sold. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we sold 306,177 shares at an average sales price of $186.44 per share, for net proceeds of $56,228,000. As of April 28, 2017, we had $942,915,000 of shares remaining authorized for issuance under this program.

Forward Interest Rate Swap Agreements

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we entered into $100,000,000 of forward interest rate swap agreements executed to reduce the impact of variability in interest rates on a portion of our expected debt issuance activity in 2018. As of March 31, 2017, we had $900,000,000 in aggregate outstanding forward interest rate swap agreements. At maturity of the outstanding swap agreements, we expect to cash settle the contracts and either pay or receive cash for the then current fair value. Assuming that we issue the debt as expected, the hedging impact from these positions will then be recognized over the life of the issued debt as a yield adjustment.

In April 2017, we entered into an additional $100,000,000 of forward interest rate swap agreements executed to reduce the impact of variability in interest rates on a portion of our expected debt issuance activity in 2018. In addition, in April 2017 we settled $185,100,000 of forward interest rate swap agreements, making a payment of $2,326,000.


33
Table of Contents

Future Financing and Capital Needs — Debt Maturities

One of our principal long-term liquidity needs is the repayment of long-term debt at maturity.  For both our unsecured and secured notes, a portion of the principal of these notes may be repaid prior to maturity. Early retirement of our unsecured or secured notes could result in gains or losses on extinguishment. If we do not have funds on hand sufficient to repay our indebtedness as it becomes due, it will be necessary for us to refinance or otherwise provide liquidity to satisfy the debt at maturity. This refinancing may be accomplished by uncollateralized private or public debt offerings, equity issuances, additional debt financing that is secured by mortgages on individual communities or groups of communities or borrowings under our Credit Facility. Although we believe we will have the capacity to meet our currently anticipated liquidity needs, we cannot assure you that additional debt financing or debt or equity offerings will be available or, if available, that they will be on terms we consider satisfactory.

The following debt activity occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2017:

•
In February 2017, we repaid $17,300,000 of variable rate debt secured by Avalon Mountain View at par at its scheduled maturity date.

•
In February 2017, we entered into a $250,000,000 variable rate unsecured term loan (the "$250 million Term Loan"), of which $100,000,000 matures in February 2022 with stated pricing of LIBOR plus 0.90%, and $150,000,000 matures in February 2024 with stated pricing of LIBOR plus 1.50%. As of March 31, 2017, we had not drawn any of the available $250,000,000 under the variable rate unsecured term loan. In April 2017, we drew the $250,000,000 available balance.

The following table details our consolidated debt maturities for the next five years, excluding our Credit Facility and amounts outstanding related to communities classified as held for sale, for debt outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands). We are not directly or indirectly (as borrower or guarantor) obligated in any material respect to pay principal or interest on the indebtedness of any unconsolidated entities in which we have an equity or other interest.

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Table of Contents

 
 
All-In
interest
rate (1)
 
Principal
maturity
date
 
Balance Outstanding
 
Scheduled Maturities
Community
 
 
 
12/31/2016
 
3/31/2017
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
Thereafter
Tax-exempt bonds (2)
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed rate
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Avalon Oaks West
 
7.55
%
 
Apr-2043

15,420

 
15,384

 
170

 
241

 
257

 
275

 
293

 
14,148

Avalon at Chestnut Hill
 
6.16
%
 
Oct-2047

38,564

 
38,482

 
384

 
536

 
566

 
596

 
629

 
35,771

Avalon Westbury
 
3.81
%
 
Nov-2036
(3)
62,200

 
62,200

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
62,200

 
 
 

 
 
 
116,184

 
116,066

 
554

 
777

 
823

 
871

 
922

 
112,119

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable rate (4)
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Avalon Mountain View
 
1.42
%
 
Feb-2017
(5)
17,300

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Eaves Mission Viejo
 
1.87
%
 
Jun-2025
(6)
7,635

 
7,635

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
7,635

AVA Nob Hill
 
1.78
%
 
Jun-2025
(6)
20,800

 
20,800

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
20,800

Avalon Campbell
 
2.10
%
 
Jun-2025
(6)
38,800

 
38,800

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
38,800

Eaves Pacifica
 
2.12
%
 
Jun-2025
(6)
17,600

 
17,600

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
17,600

Avalon Bowery Place I
 
3.69
%
 
Nov-2037
(6)
93,800

 
93,800

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
93,800

Avalon Acton
 
2.45
%
 
Jul-2040
(6)
45,000

 
45,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
45,000

Avalon Morningside Park
 
1.98
%
 
May-2046
(3)
100,000

 
100,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
345

 
99,655

Avalon Clinton North
 
2.60
%
 
Nov-2038
(6)
147,000

 
147,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
147,000

Avalon Clinton South
 
2.60
%
 
Nov-2038
(6)
121,500

 
121,500

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
121,500

Avalon Midtown West
 
2.51
%
 
May-2029
(6)
100,500

 
100,500

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
100,500

Avalon San Bruno I
 
2.49
%
 
Dec-2037
(6)
64,450

 
64,450

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
64,450

Avalon Calabasas
 
2.33
%
 
Apr-2028
(6)
44,410

 
44,410

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
44,410

 
 
 
 
 
 
818,795

 
801,495

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
345

 
801,150

Conventional loans (2)
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed rate
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

$250 million unsecured notes
 
6.19
%
 
Mar-2020

250,000

 
250,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
250,000

 
—

 
—

$250 million unsecured notes
 
4.04
%
 
Jan-2021

250,000

 
250,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
250,000

 
—

$450 million unsecured notes
 
4.30
%
 
Sep-2022

450,000

 
450,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
450,000

$250 million unsecured notes
 
3.00
%
 
Mar-2023

250,000

 
250,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
250,000

$400 million unsecured notes
 
3.78
%
 
Oct-2020

400,000

 
400,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
400,000

 
—

 
—

$350 million unsecured notes
 
4.30
%
 
Dec-2023

350,000

 
350,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
350,000

$300 million unsecured notes
 
3.66
%
 
Nov-2024

300,000

 
300,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
300,000

$525 million unsecured notes
 
3.55
%
 
Jun-2025
 
525,000

 
525,000

  
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
525,000

$300 million unsecured notes
 
3.62
%
 
Nov-2025

300,000

 
300,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
300,000

$475 million unsecured notes
 
3.35
%
 
May-2026

475,000

 
475,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
475,000

$300 million unsecured notes
 
3.01
%
 
Oct-2026
 
300,000

 
300,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
300,000

$350 million unsecured notes
 
3.95
%
 
Oct-2046
 
350,000

 
350,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
350,000

Avalon Orchards
 
7.80
%
 
Jul-2033

16,075

 
15,988

 
408

 
577

 
619

 
663

 
710

 
13,011

Avalon Walnut Creek
 
4.00
%
 
Jul-2066

3,420

 
3,420

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3,420

Avalon Mission Oaks
 
6.04
%
 
May-2019

19,545

 
19,456

 
258

 
367

 
18,831

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Stratford
 
6.02
%
 
May-2019

38,221

 
38,048

 
503

 
717

 
36,828

 
—

 
—

 
—

AVA Belltown
 
6.00
%
 
May-2019

60,766

 
60,491

 
800

 
1,140

 
58,551

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Encino
 
6.06
%
 
May-2019

33,882

 
33,729

 
446

 
636

 
32,647

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Run East
 
5.95
%
 
May-2019

36,305

 
36,141

 
478

 
681

 
34,982

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Wilshire
 
6.18
%
 
May-2019

61,268

 
60,990

 
805

 
1,150

 
59,035

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon at Foxhall
 
6.06
%
 
May-2019

54,583

 
54,336

 
718

 
1,024

 
52,594

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon at Gallery Place
 
6.06
%
 
May-2019

42,410

 
42,218

 
558

 
796

 
40,864

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon at Traville
 
5.91
%
 
May-2019

71,871

 
71,545

 
945

 
1,348

 
69,252

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Bellevue
 
5.92
%
 
May-2019

24,695

 
24,583

 
325

 
463

 
23,795

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon on the Alameda
 
5.91
%
 
May-2019

49,930

 
49,704

 
657

 
937

 
48,110

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon at Mission Bay I
 
5.90
%
 
May-2019

67,772

 
67,465

 
891

 
1,272

 
65,302

 
—

 
—

 
—

AVA Pasadena
 
4.06
%
 
Jun-2018

11,287

 
11,232

 
158

 
11,074

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon La Jolla Colony
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017
(7)
26,682

 
26,682

 
26,682

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Eaves Old Town Pasadena
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017
(7)
14,120

 
14,120

 
14,120

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Eaves Thousand Oaks
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017
(7)
26,392

 
26,392

 
26,392

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Archstone Lexington
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017

21,601

 
21,601

 
21,601

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Eaves Los Feliz
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017

41,302

 
41,302

 
41,302

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—


35
Table of Contents

Avalon Oak Creek
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017
(7)
69,696

 
69,696

 
69,696

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Del Mar Station
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017
(7)
70,854

 
70,854

 
70,854

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Courthouse Place
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017
(7)
118,112

 
118,112

 
118,112

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Pasadena
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017
(7)
25,805

 
25,805

 
25,805

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Eaves West Valley
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017
(7)
146,696

 
146,696

 
146,696

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Eaves Woodland Hills
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017

98,732

 
98,732

 
98,732

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Russett
 
3.36
%
 
Nov-2017

32,199

 
32,199

 
32,199

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon San Bruno II
 
3.85
%
 
Apr-2021

30,001

 
29,910

 
377

 
534

 
564

 
591

 
27,844

 
—

Avalon Westbury
 
4.88
%
 
Nov-2036
(3)
17,745

 
17,426

 
976

 
1,358

 
1,426

 
1,499

 
1,574

 
10,593

Avalon San Bruno III
 
3.18
%
 
Jun-2020

54,408

 
54,204

 
889

 
1,226

 
1,264

 
50,825

 
—

 
—

Avalon Andover
 
3.28
%
 
Apr-2018

13,844

 
13,758

 
261

 
13,497

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Natick
 
3.14
%
 
Apr-2019

14,170

 
14,086

 
255

 
349

 
13,482

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Hoboken
 
3.55
%
 
Dec-2020

67,904

 
67,904

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
67,904

 
—

 
—

Avalon Columbia Pike
 
3.24
%
 
Nov-2019

70,019

 
69,759

 
1,121

 
1,553

 
67,085

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
 

 
 
 
5,752,312

 
5,748,584

 
704,020

 
40,699

 
625,231

 
771,482

 
280,128

 
3,327,024

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable rate (4)
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Avalon Calabasas
 
2.41
%
 
Aug-2018
(6)
53,570

 
53,022

 
926

 
52,096

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Avalon Natick
 
2.75
%
 
Apr-2019
(6)
35,897

 
35,685

 
645

 
884

 
34,156

 
—

 
—

 
—

Term Loan - $300 million
 
2.32
%
 
Mar-2021

300,000

 
300,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
300,000

 
—

Term Loan - $100 million
 
N/A

 
Feb-2022
(8)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Term Loan - $150 million
 
N/A

 
Feb-2024
(8)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
 

 
 
 
389,467

 
388,707

 
1,571

 
52,980

 
34,156

 
—

 
300,000

 
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total indebtedness - excluding Credit Facility
 
 

 
 
 
$
7,076,758

 
$
7,054,852

 
$
706,145

 
$
94,456

 
$
660,210

 
$
772,353

 
$
581,395

 
$
4,240,293

_________________________

(1)
Includes credit enhancement fees, facility fees, trustees' fees, the impact of interest rate hedges, offering costs, mark to market amortization and other fees.
(2)
Balances outstanding represent total amounts due at maturity, and exclude deferred financing costs and debt discount for the unsecured notes of $35,454 and $36,698 as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and deferred financing costs and debt discount associated with secured notes of $13,669 as of March 31, 2017, and deferred financing costs net of premium of $9,180 as of December 31, 2016, as reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included elsewhere in this report.
(3)
Maturity date reflects the contractual maturity of the underlying bond. There is also an associated earlier credit enhancement maturity date.
(4)
Variable rates are given as of March 31, 2017.
(5)
In February 2017, we repaid this borrowing at par at its scheduled maturity date.
(6)
Financed by variable rate debt, but interest rate is capped through an interest rate protection agreement.
(7)
In May 2017, we repaid $498,357 of fixed rate mortgage notes secured by eight communities at par in advance of their maturity dates.
(8)
In April 2017, we drew the available $250,000 balance on the $250 million Term Loan of which $100,000 was borrowed at 1.89% and matures in February 2022, and $150,000 was borrowed at 2.49% and matures in February 2024.

Future Financing and Capital Needs — Portfolio and Capital Markets Activity

During the remainder of 2017, we expect to meet our liquidity needs from a variety of internal and external sources, including (i) real estate dispositions, (ii) cash balances on hand as well as cash generated from our operating activities, (iii) borrowing capacity under our Credit Facility and (iv) secured and unsecured debt financings. Additional sources of liquidity in 2017 may include the issuance of common and preferred equity. Our ability to obtain additional financing will depend on a variety of factors, such as market conditions, the general availability of credit, the overall availability of credit to the real estate industry, our credit ratings and credit capacity, as well as the perception of lenders regarding our long or short-term financial prospects.

Before beginning new construction or reconstruction activity, including activity related to communities owned by unconsolidated joint ventures, we intend to plan adequate financing to complete these undertakings, although we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such financing. In the event that financing cannot be obtained, we may have to abandon Development Rights, write off associated pre-development costs that were capitalized and/or forego reconstruction activity. In such instances, we will not realize the increased revenues and earnings that we expected from such Development Rights or reconstruction activity and significant losses could be incurred.

36
Table of Contents


From time to time we use joint ventures to hold or develop individual real estate assets. We generally employ joint ventures primarily to mitigate asset concentration or market risk and secondarily as a source of liquidity. We may also use joint ventures related to mixed-use land development opportunities where our partners bring development and operational expertise to the venture. Each joint venture or partnership agreement has been individually negotiated, and our ability to operate and/or dispose of a community in our sole discretion may be limited to varying degrees depending on the terms of the joint venture or partnership agreement. We cannot assure you that we will achieve our objectives through joint ventures.

In evaluating our allocation of capital within our markets, we sell assets that do not meet our long-term investment criteria or when capital and real estate markets allow us to realize a portion of the value created over the past business cycle and redeploy the proceeds from those sales to develop and redevelop communities. Because the proceeds from the sale of communities may not be immediately redeployed into revenue generating assets that we develop, redevelop or acquire, the immediate effect of a sale of a community for a gain is to increase net income, but reduce future total revenues, total expenses and NOI until such time as the proceeds have been redeployed into revenue generating assets. We believe that the temporary absence of future cash flows from communities sold will not have a material impact on our ability to fund future liquidity and capital resource needs.

Unconsolidated Real Estate Investments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Unconsolidated Investments

Fund II was established to engage in a real estate acquisition program through a discretionary investment fund. We believe this investment format provides the following attributes: (i) third-party joint venture equity as an additional source of financing to expand and diversify our portfolio; (ii) additional sources of income in the form of property management and asset management fees and, potentially, incentive distributions if the performance exceeds certain thresholds; and (iii) additional visibility into the transactions occurring in multifamily assets that helps us with other investment decisions related to our wholly-owned portfolio.

Fund II has six institutional investors, including us. One of our wholly-owned subsidiaries is the general partner of Fund II and, excluding costs incurred in excess of our equity in the underlying net assets of Fund II, we have an equity investment of $24,038,000 (net of distributions), representing a 31.3% combined general partner and limited partner equity interest. Upon achievement of a threshold return, we have a right to incentive distributions for our promoted interest based on the current returns earned by Fund II, which represents the first 20.0% of further Fund II distributions, which are in addition to our share of the remaining 80.0% of distributions. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recognized income of $6,765,000 for our promoted interest. Fund II served as the exclusive vehicle for acquiring apartment communities from its formation in 2008 through the close of its investment period in August 2011. Fund II has a term that expires in August 2020, assuming the exercise of two, one-year extension options.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, Fund II sold one community containing 684 apartment homes for a sales price of $117,000,000. Our share of the gain in accordance with GAAP was $8,697,000. In conjunction with the disposition of this community, Fund II repaid $63,200,000 of secured indebtedness at par in advance of the scheduled maturity date.

The U.S. Fund has six institutional investors, including us. We are the general partner of the U.S. Fund and, excluding costs incurred in excess of our equity in the underlying net assets of the U.S. Fund, we have an equity investment of $49,401,000 (net of distributions), representing a 28.6% combined equity interest. The U.S. Fund was formed in July 2011 and is fully invested. The U.S. Fund has a term that expires in July 2023, assuming the exercise of two, one-year extension options.

The AC JV has four institutional investors, including us. Excluding costs incurred in excess of our equity in the underlying net assets of the AC JV, we have an equity investment of $50,366,000 (net of distributions), representing a 20.0% equity interest. The AC JV was formed in 2011.

As of March 31, 2017, we had investments in unconsolidated real estate accounted for under the equity method of accounting shown in the following table, excluding development joint ventures. Refer to Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities," of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report, which includes information on the aggregate assets, liabilities and equity, as well as operating results, and our proportionate share of their operating results. For ventures holding operating apartment communities as of March 31, 2017, detail of the real estate and associated funding underlying our unconsolidated investments is presented in the following table (dollars in thousands).


37
Table of Contents

 
 
Company
 ownership percentage
 
# of Apartment homes
 
Total capitalized cost (1)
 
Debt (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate (3)
 
Maturity date
Unconsolidated Real Estate Investments
 
 
 
 
Amount
 
Type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fund II
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
1. Briarwood Apartments - Owings Mills, MD
 
 

 
348

 
$
46,100

 
$
25,144

 
Fixed
 
3.64
%
 
Nov 2017
2. Avalon Watchung - Watchung, NJ
 
 

 
334

 
66,700

 
39,425

 
Fixed
 
3.37
%
 
Apr 2019
Total Fund II
 
31.3
%
 
682

 
112,800

 
64,569

 
 
 
3.48
%
 
 
U.S. Fund
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
1. Eaves Sunnyvale - Sunnyvale, CA (4)
 
 

 
192

 
67,289

 
32,747

 
Fixed
 
5.33
%
 
Nov 2019
2. Avalon Studio 4121 - Studio City, CA
 
 

 
149

 
56,921

 
29,370

 
Fixed
 
3.34
%
 
Nov 2022
3. Avalon Marina Bay - Marina del Rey, CA (5)
 
 

 
205

 
77,146

 
51,300

 
Fixed
 
1.56
%
 
Dec 2020
4. Avalon Venice on Rose - Venice, CA
 
 

 
70

 
57,238

 
29,614

 
Fixed
 
3.28
%
 
Jun 2020
5. Avalon Station 250 - Dedham, MA
 
 

 
285

 
96,383

 
57,230

 
Fixed
 
3.73
%
 
Sep 2022
6. Avalon Grosvenor Tower - Bethesda, MD
 
 

 
237

 
79,748

 
44,357

 
Fixed
 
3.74
%
 
Sep 2022
7. Avalon Kirkland at Carillon - Kirkland, WA
 
 

 
131

 
60,686

 
28,855

 
Fixed
 
3.75
%
 
Feb 2019
Total U.S. Fund
 
28.6
%
 
1,269

 
495,411

 
273,473

 
 
 
3.43
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AC JV
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
1. Avalon North Point - Cambridge, MA (6)
 
 

 
426

 
187,294

 
111,653

 
Fixed
 
6.00
%
 
Aug 2021
2. Avalon Woodland Park - Herndon, VA (6)
 
 

 
392

 
85,744

 
50,647

 
Fixed
 
6.00
%
 
Aug 2021
3. Avalon North Point Lofts - Cambridge, MA
 
 
 
103

 
26,805

 
—

 
N/A
 
N/A

 
N/A
Total AC JV
 
20.0
%
 
921

 
299,843

 
162,300

 
 
 
6.00
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Operating Joint Ventures
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
1. MVP I, LLC
 
25.0
%
 
313

 
124,955

 
103,000

 
Fixed
 
3.24
%
 
Jul 2025
2. Brandywine Apartments of Maryland, LLC
 
28.7
%
 
305

 
19,309

 
23,172

 
Fixed
 
3.40
%
 
Jun 2028
Total Other Joint Ventures
 
 
 
618

 
144,264

 
126,172

 
 
 
3.27
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Total Unconsolidated Investments
 
 
 
3,490

 
$
1,052,318

 
$
626,514

 
 
 
4.07
%
 
 
_____________________________

(1)
Represents total capitalized cost as of March 31, 2017.
(2)
We have not guaranteed the debt of unconsolidated investees and bear no responsibility for the repayment.
(3)
Represents weighted average rate on outstanding debt as of March 31, 2017.
(4)
Borrowing on this community is comprised of two mortgage loans.
(5)
Borrowing on this community is a variable rate loan which has been converted to a fixed rate borrowing with an interest rate swap.
(6)
Borrowing is comprised of four mortgage loans made by the equity investors in the venture in proportion to their equity interests.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

In addition to our investment interests in consolidated and unconsolidated real estate entities, we have certain off-balance sheet arrangements with the entities in which we invest.  Additional discussion of these entities can be found in Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities," of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.

We have not guaranteed the debt of our unconsolidated real estate entities, as referenced in the table above, nor do we have any obligation to fund this debt should the unconsolidated real estate entities be unable to do so. In the future, in the event the unconsolidated real estate entities were unable to meet their obligations under a loan, we cannot predict at this time whether we would provide any voluntary support, or take any other action, as any such action would depend on a variety of factors, including the amount of support required and the possibility that such support could enhance the return of the unconsolidated real estate entities and/or our returns by providing time for performance to improve.


38
Table of Contents

With respect to Fund II, each individual mortgage loan was made to a special purpose, single asset subsidiary of Fund II. Each mortgage loan provides that it is the obligation of the respective subsidiary only, except under exceptional circumstances (such as fraud or misapplication of funds) in which case Fund II could also have obligations with respect to the mortgage loan. In no event do the mortgage loans provide for recourse against investors in Fund II, including against us or our wholly-owned subsidiaries that invest in Fund II. A default by Fund II or a Fund II subsidiary on any loan to it would not constitute a default under any of our loans or any loans of our other non-Fund subsidiaries or affiliates. If Fund II or a subsidiary of Fund II were unable to meet its obligations under a loan, the value of our investment in Fund II would likely decline.  If a Fund II subsidiary or Fund II were unable to meet its obligations under a loan, we and/or the other investors might evaluate whether it was in our respective interests to voluntarily support Fund II through additional equity contributions and/or take other actions to avoid a default under a loan or the consequences of a default (such as foreclosure of a Fund II asset).

There are no other material lines of credit, side agreements, financial guarantees or any other derivative financial instruments related to or between our unconsolidated real estate entities and us. In evaluating our capital structure and overall leverage, management takes into consideration our proportionate share of the indebtedness of unconsolidated entities in which we have an interest.

Contractual Obligations

We currently have contractual obligations consisting primarily of long-term debt obligations and lease obligations for certain land parcels and regional and administrative office space.  As of March 31, 2017, other than as discussed in this Form 10-Q, there have been no other material changes in our scheduled contractual obligations as disclosed in our Form 10-K.

Development Communities

As of March 31, 2017, we owned or held a direct or indirect interest in 24 Development Communities under construction. We expect these Development Communities, when completed, to add a total of 7,581 apartment homes to our portfolio for a total capitalized cost, including land acquisition costs, of approximately $3,399,600,000, including the total projected capitalized cost for one community being developed within an unconsolidated joint venture in which we own a 55.0% interest. We cannot assure you that we will meet our schedule for construction completion or that we will meet our budgeted costs, either individually or in the aggregate. You should carefully review Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of our Form 10-K for a discussion of the risks associated with development activity.

The following table presents a summary of the Development Communities. We hold a fee simple ownership interest in these communities (directly or through a wholly-owned subsidiary) unless otherwise noted in the table.

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Number of
apartment
homes
 
Projected total
capitalized cost (1)
($ millions)
 
Construction
start
 
Initial  projected occupancy (2)
 
Estimated
completion
 
Estimated
stabilized operations (3)
1.
 
Avalon West Hollywood (4)
West Hollywood, CA
294

 
$
153.6

 
Q2 2014
 
Q1 2017
 
Q4 2017
 
Q2 2018
2.
 
Avalon North Station
Boston, MA
503

 
271.2

 
Q3 2014
 
Q4 2016
 
Q1 2018
 
Q3 2018
3.
 
Avalon Esterra Park (4)
Redmond, WA
482

 
137.8

 
Q3 2014
 
Q1 2016
 
Q2 2017
 
Q4 2017
4.
 
Avalon Princeton
Princeton, NJ
280

 
95.5

 
Q4 2014
 
Q3 2016
 
Q3 2017
 
Q1 2018
5.
 
Avalon Hunt Valley
Hunt Valley, MD
332

 
74.0

 
Q1 2015
 
Q3 2016
 
Q3 2017
 
Q1 2018
6.
 
AVA NoMa
Washington, D.C.
438

 
148.3

 
Q2 2015
 
Q1 2017
 
Q1 2018
 
Q3 2018
7.
 
Avalon Quincy
Quincy, MA
395

 
94.9

 
Q2 2015
 
Q2 2016
 
Q3 2017
 
Q1 2018
8.
 
Avalon Great Neck
Great Neck, NY
191

 
79.6

 
Q2 2015
 
Q2 2017
 
Q4 2017
 
Q2 2018
9.
 
Avalon Brooklyn Bay (5)
Brooklyn, NY
180

 
89.7

 
Q3 2015
 
Q3 2017
 
Q4 2017
 
Q2 2018
10.
 
Avalon Newcastle Commons I (4)
Newcastle, WA
378

 
116.3

 
Q3 2015
 
Q4 2016
 
Q4 2017
 
Q2 2018
11.
 
Avalon Chino Hills
Chino Hills, CA
331

 
96.6

 
Q3 2015
 
Q4 2016
 
Q4 2017
 
Q1 2018
12.
 
Avalon Maplewood (6)
Maplewood, NJ
235

 
65.4

 
Q4 2015
 
Q1 2018
 
Q4 2018
 
Q2 2019
13.
 
Avalon Rockville Centre II
Rockville Centre, NY
165

 
57.8

 
Q4 2015
 
Q3 2017
 
Q1 2018
 
Q3 2018
14.
 
AVA Wheaton
Wheaton, MD
319

 
75.6

 
Q4 2015
 
Q3 2017
 
Q2 2018
 
Q4 2018
15.
 
Avalon Dogpatch
San Francisco, CA
326

 
203.4

 
Q4 2015
 
Q4 2017
 
Q3 2018
 
Q1 2019
16.
 
Avalon Easton
Easton, MA
290

 
64.0

 
Q1 2016
 
Q1 2017
 
Q1 2018
 
Q3 2018
17
 
Avalon Somers
Somers, NY
152

 
45.1

 
Q2 2016
 
Q3 2017
 
Q1 2018
 
Q3 2018
18.
 
AVA North Point (7)
Cambridge, MA
265

 
113.9

 
Q2 2016
 
Q1 2018
 
Q4 2018
 
Q2 2019
19.
 
Avalon Boonton
Boonton, NJ
350

 
91.2

 
Q3 2016
 
Q2 2019
 
Q1 2020
 
Q3 2020
20.
 
11 West 61st Street (4)
New York, NY
172

 
603.7

 
Q4 2016
 
Q2 2019
 
Q4 2019
 
Q2 2020
21.
 
Avalon Belltown Towers (4)
Seattle, WA
275

 
146.9

 
Q4 2016
 
Q3 2019
 
Q4 2019
 
Q2 2020
22.
 
Avalon Public Market
Emeryville, CA
285

 
139.6

 
Q4 2016
 
Q3 2018
 
Q1 2019
 
Q3 2019
23.
 
Avalon Teaneck
Teaneck, NJ
248

 
70.4

 
Q4 2016
 
Q4 2018
 
Q2 2019
 
Q4 2019
24.
 
AVA Hollywood (4)
Hollywood, CA
695

 
365.1

 
Q4 2016
 
Q2 2019
 
Q2 2020
 
Q4 2020
 
 
Total
7,581

 
$
3,399.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________

(1)
Projected total capitalized cost includes all capitalized costs projected to be or actually incurred to develop the respective Development Community, determined in accordance with GAAP, including land acquisition costs, construction costs, real estate taxes, capitalized interest and loan fees, permits, professional fees, allocated development overhead and other regulatory fees.  Projected total capitalized cost for communities identified as having joint venture ownership, either during construction or upon construction completion, represents the total projected joint venture contribution amount.
(2)
Initial projected occupancy dates are estimates. There can be no assurance that we will pursue to completion any or all of these proposed developments.
(3)
Stabilized operations is defined as the earlier of (i) attainment of 95% or greater physical occupancy or (ii) the one-year anniversary of completion of development.

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(4)
Development communities containing at least 10,000 square feet of retail space include Avalon West Hollywood (32,000 square feet), Avalon Esterra Park (17,000 square feet), Avalon Newcastle Commons I (15,000 square feet), 11 West 61st Street (67,000 square feet), Avalon Belltown Towers (11,000 square feet) and AVA Hollywood (19,000 square feet).
(5)
We are developing this project with a private development partner. We will own the rental portion of the development on floors 3 through19 and the partner will own the for-sale condominium portion of the development on floors 20 through 30. The information above represents only our portion of the project. We are providing a construction loan to the development partner, expected to be $48,800,000, which together with the partner's contributed equity is expected to fund the condominium portion of the project.
(6)
In February 2017, a fire occurred at Maplewood. See Note 1, "Organization, Basis and Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Legal and Other Contingencies," and Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities - Casualty Gains and Losses," in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussions related to the Maplewood casualty loss.
(7)
We are developing this project within an unconsolidated joint venture that was formed in July 2016, in which we own a 55.0% interest. The projected total capitalized cost above represents the total cost for the venture.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we completed the development of the following communities:
 
Number of
apartment
homes
 
Total capitalized 
cost (1)
($ millions)
 
Approximate rentable area
(sq. ft.)
 
Total capitalized cost per sq. ft.
1.
 
Avalon Willoughby Square/AVA DoBro
Brooklyn, NY
826

 
$
456.3

 
606,579

 
$
752

2.
 
Avalon Huntington Beach (2)
Huntington Beach, CA
378

 
120.1

 
322,073

 
$
373

3.
 
Avalon Laurel
Laurel, MD
344

 
72.4

 
378,688

 
$
191

 
 
Total
1,548

 
$
648.8

 
 
 
 

__________________________________

(1)
Total capitalized cost is as of March 31, 2017. We generally anticipate incurring additional costs associated with these communities that are customary for new developments.
(2)
Avalon Huntington Beach contains 10,000 square feet of retail space.

We anticipate commencing the construction of 10 apartment communities during the balance of 2017, which, if completed as expected, will contain 3,106 apartment homes and be constructed for a total capitalized cost of $920,900,000.

Redevelopment Communities

As of March 31, 2017, there were nine communities under redevelopment. We expect the total capitalized cost to redevelop these communities to be $164,100,000, excluding costs incurred prior to redevelopment. We have found that the cost to redevelop an existing apartment community is more difficult to budget and estimate than the cost to develop a new community. Accordingly, we expect that actual costs may vary from our budget by a wider range than for a new development community. We cannot assure you that we will meet our schedule for reconstruction completion or for attaining restabilized operations, or that we will meet our budgeted costs, either individually or in the aggregate. We anticipate maintaining or increasing our current level of redevelopment activity related to communities in our current operating portfolio for the remainder of 2017. You should carefully review Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of our Form 10-K for a discussion of the risks associated with redevelopment activity.


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The following presents a summary of these Redevelopment Communities:
 
 
 
 
Number of
apartment
homes
 
Projected total
capitalized cost (1)
($ millions)
 
Reconstruction
start
 
Estimated
reconstruction
completion
 
Estimated
restabilized
operations (2)
1.
 
Avalon at Arlington Square
Arlington, VA
 
842

 
$
32.8

 
Q4 2014
 
Q2 2017
 
Q4 2017
2.
 
AVA Studio City I
Studio City, CA
 
450

 
28.4

 
Q1 2016
 
Q2 2017
 
Q4 2017
3.
 
Avalon Towers on the Peninsula
Mountain View, CA
 
211

 
13.5

 
Q2 2016
 
Q2 2017
 
Q4 2017
4.
 
Toluca Hills Apartments by Avalon
Los Angeles, CA
 
1,151

 
40.0

 
Q1 2017
 
Q1 2020
 
Q3 2020
5.
 
Eaves Old Town Pasadena
Pasadena, CA
 
96

 
5.7

 
Q1 2017
 
Q3 2017
 
Q1 2018
6.
 
Avalon on the Alameda
San Jose, CA
 
305

 
6.2

 
Q1 2017
 
Q1 2018
 
Q3 2018
7.
 
Avalon Prudential Center II
Boston, MA
 
266

 
18.7

 
Q1 2017
 
Q3 2019
 
Q1 2020
8.
 
Avalon at Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill, MA
 
204

 
9.2

 
Q1 2017
 
Q4 2017
 
Q2 2018
9.
 
Avalon Midtown West
New York, NY
 
550

 
9.6

 
Q1 2017
 
Q4 2017
 
Q2 2018
 
 
Total
 
4,075

 
$
164.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
____________________________________

(1)
Projected total capitalized cost does not include capitalized costs incurred prior to redevelopment.
(2)
Restabilized operations is defined as the earlier of (i) attainment of 95% or greater physical occupancy or (ii) the one-year anniversary of completion of redevelopment.

Development Rights

At March 31, 2017, we had $103,954,000 in acquisition and related capitalized costs for direct interests in land parcels we own, and $40,110,000 in capitalized costs (including legal fees, design fees and related overhead costs) related to Development Rights for which we control the land parcel, typically through a conditional agreement or option to purchase or lease the land, as well as land associated with the building destroyed in the Edgewater casualty loss not considered a Development Right. Collectively, the land held for development and associated costs for deferred development rights relate to 28 Development Rights for which we expect to develop new apartment communities in the future. The cumulative capitalized costs for land held for development as of March 31, 2017 includes $78,980,000 in original land acquisition costs. The Development Rights range from those beginning design and architectural planning to those that have completed site plans and drawings and can begin construction almost immediately. We estimate that the successful completion of all of these communities would ultimately add approximately 9,304 apartment homes to our portfolio. Substantially all of these apartment homes will offer features like those offered by the communities we currently own.

For 19 Development Rights, we control the land through a conditional agreement or option to purchase or lease the parcel. While we generally prefer to hold Development Rights through conditional agreements or options to acquire land, for seven Development Rights we either currently own the land, have an ownership interest in a joint venture that owns the land or have executed a long term land lease for the parcel of land on which a community would be built if we proceeded with development. In addition, two Development Rights are additional development phases of existing stabilized operating communities we own, and will be constructed on land currently associated with those operating communities. During the next 12 months we expect to commence construction of apartment communities on six of the Development Rights for which we currently own the land, with a carrying basis of $88,041,000.


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The properties comprising the Development Rights are in different stages of the due diligence and regulatory approval process.  The decisions as to which of the Development Rights to invest in, if any, or to continue to pursue once an investment in a Development Right is made, are business judgments that we make after we perform financial, demographic and other analyses.  In the event that we do not proceed with a Development Right, we generally would not recover any of the capitalized costs incurred in the pursuit of those communities, unless we were to recover amounts in connection with the sale of land; however, we cannot guarantee a recovery.  Pre-development costs incurred in the pursuit of Development Rights for which future development is not yet considered probable are expensed as incurred.  In addition, if the status of a Development Right changes, making future development no longer probable, any capitalized pre-development costs are charged to expense. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we incurred a charge of approximately $728,000 for development pursuits that were not yet probable of future development at the time incurred, or for pursuits that we determined would not likely be developed.

You should carefully review Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of our Form 10-K for a discussion of the risks associated with Development Rights.

The following presents a summary of the Development Rights as of March 31, 2017:
Market
 
Number of rights
 
Estimated
number of homes
 
Projected total
capitalized cost ($ millions) (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New England
 
6

 
1,388

 
$
474

Metro NY/NJ
 
11

 
4,628

 
1,644

Mid-Atlantic
 
3

 
998

 
314

Pacific Northwest
 
3

 
911

 
238

Northern California
 
4

 
904

 
458

Southern California
 
1

 
475

 
245

Total
 
28

 
9,304

 
$
3,373

____________________________________

(1)
Projected total capitalized cost includes all capitalized costs incurred to date (if any) and projected to be incurred to develop the respective community, determined in accordance with GAAP, including land acquisition costs, construction costs, real estate taxes, capitalized interest and loan fees, permits, professional fees, allocated development overhead and other regulatory fees.

Land Acquisitions

We acquired two land parcels for development during the three months ended March 31, 2017 for an aggregate investment of $21,488,000 and anticipate starting construction on these parcels during the next twelve months.

Other Land and Real Estate Assets

We own land parcels with a carrying value of $28,738,000, on which we do not currently plan to develop and operate an apartment community. These parcels consist of both ancillary parcels acquired in connection with Development Rights that we had not planned to develop and land parcels which we acquired for development and now intend to sell. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recognized an impairment charge of $9,350,000 for a land parcel included in the population of land we do not currently plan to develop, resulting from our decision to no longer develop the land parcel. We believe that the current carrying value for all other land parcels is such that there is no indication of impaired value, or further need to record a charge for impairment in the case of assets previously impaired. However, we may be subject to the recognition of further charges for impairment in the event that there are indicators of such impairment and we determine that the carrying value of the assets is greater than the current fair value, less costs to dispose.


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Inflation and Deflation

Substantially all of our apartment leases are for a term of one year or less. In an inflationary environment, this may allow us to realize increased rents upon renewal of existing leases or the beginning of new leases. Short-term leases generally minimize our risk from the adverse effects of inflation, although these leases generally permit residents to leave at the end of the lease term and therefore expose us to the effect of a decline in market rents. Similarly, in a deflationary rent environment, we may be exposed to declining rents more quickly under these shorter-term leases.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  You can identify forward-looking statements by our use of the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "assume," "project," "plan," "may," "shall," "will" and other similar expressions in this Form 10-Q, that predict or indicate future events and trends and that do not report historical matters.  These statements include, among other things, statements regarding our intent, belief or expectations with respect to:

•
our potential development, redevelopment, acquisition or disposition of communities;

•
the timing and cost of completion of apartment communities under construction, reconstruction, development or redevelopment;

•
the timing of lease-up, occupancy and stabilization of apartment communities;

•
the pursuit of land on which we are considering future development;

•
the anticipated operating performance of our communities;

•
cost, yield, revenue, NOI and earnings estimates;

•
our declaration or payment of distributions;

•
our joint venture and discretionary fund activities;

•
our policies regarding investments, indebtedness, acquisitions, dispositions, financings and other matters;

•
our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code;

•
the real estate markets in Northern and Southern California and markets in selected states in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, Metro New York/New Jersey and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States and in general;

•
the availability of debt and equity financing;

•
interest rates;

•
general economic conditions including the potential impacts from current economic conditions;

•
trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations; and

•
the impact of legal proceedings relating to the Edgewater casualty loss and related matters, including liability to third parties resulting therefrom.

We cannot assure the future results or outcome of the matters described in these statements; rather, these statements merely reflect our current expectations of the approximate outcomes of the matters discussed. We do not undertake a duty to update these forward-looking statements, and therefore they may not represent our estimates and assumptions after the date of this report. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.  These risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should carefully review the discussion under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in this report, for a discussion of risks associated with forward-looking statements.

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Some of the factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

•
we may fail to secure development opportunities due to an inability to reach agreements with third-parties to obtain land at attractive prices or to obtain desired zoning and other local approvals;

•
we may abandon or defer development opportunities for a number of reasons, including changes in local market conditions which make development less desirable, increases in costs of development, increases in the cost of capital or lack of capital availability, resulting in losses;

•
construction costs of a community may exceed our original estimates;

•
we may not complete construction and lease-up of communities under development or redevelopment on schedule, resulting in increased interest costs and construction costs and a decrease in our expected rental revenues;

•
occupancy rates and market rents may be adversely affected by competition and local economic and market conditions which are beyond our control;

•
financing may not be available on favorable terms or at all, and our cash flows from operations and access to cost effective capital may be insufficient for the development of our pipeline which could limit our pursuit of opportunities;

•
our cash flows may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest, and we may be unable to refinance existing indebtedness or the terms of such refinancing may not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness;

•
we may be unsuccessful in our management of Fund II, the U.S. Fund, the AC JV or the REIT vehicles that are used with each respective joint venture;

•
we may be unsuccessful in managing changes in our portfolio composition; and

•
our expectations, estimates and assumptions as of the date of this filing regarding the outcome of investigations and/or legal proceedings resulting from the Edgewater casualty loss, are subject to change.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions.  If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, or different assumptions were made, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied, resulting in different financial results or a different presentation of our financial statements.  Our critical accounting policies consist primarily of the following: (i) principles of consolidation, (ii) cost capitalization, (iii) abandoned pursuit costs and asset impairment, (iv) REIT status and (v) acquisition of investments in real estate.  Our critical accounting policies and estimates have not changed materially from the discussion of our significant accounting policies found in Management's Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations in our Form 10-K.


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ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes to our exposures to market risk since December 31, 2016.

ITEM 4.
CONTROL AND PROCEDURES

(a)
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. 

The Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2017. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

We continue to review and document our disclosure controls and procedures, including our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that our systems evolve with our business.

(b)
Changes in internal controls over financial reporting.

During the first quarter of 2017, the Company commenced the implementation of a new construction and development management system that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Company’s operational and financial accounting processes for construction and development related activity. This implementation is expected to continue through the end of 2017. Consistent with any process change that we implement, the design of the internal controls has and will continue to be evaluated for effectiveness as part of our overall assessment of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. We expect that the implementation of this system will improve our internal controls over financial reporting as related to construction and development related operational and financial accounting functions.

PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As discussed in this Form 10-Q in Note 1, "Organization, Basis and Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Legal and Other Contingencies," to the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, in January 2015, a fire occurred at the Company's Avalon at Edgewater apartment community in Edgewater, NJ. The Company believes that the fire was caused by sparks from a torch used during repairs being performed by a Company employee who was not a licensed plumber. The Company has since revised its maintenance policies to require that non-flame tools be used for plumbing repairs where possible or, where not possible inside the building envelope, that a qualified third party vendor perform the work in accordance with AvalonBay policies.

The Company has established protocols for processing claims from third parties who suffered losses as a result of the fire, and many third parties have contacted the Company's insurance carrier and settled their claims. Through the date of this Form 10-Q, of the 229 occupied apartments destroyed in the fire, the residents of approximately 101 units have settled claims with the Company's insurer. Due to the preliminary approval of the class settlement (referenced below), this claims process is currently suspended.

Three class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company on behalf of occupants of the destroyed building and consolidated in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Company has agreed with class counsel to the terms of a proposed settlement which would provide a claims process (with agreed upon protocols for instructing the adjuster as to how to evaluate claims) and, if needed, an arbitration process to determine damage amounts to be paid to individual claimants covered by the class settlement. In March 2017 the District Court granted preliminary approval of the class action settlement and in July 2017 a fairness hearing will be held to determine whether the settlement will receive final approval. A fourth class action, being heard

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in the same federal court, was filed against the Company on behalf of residents of the second Edgewater building that suffered minimal damage. Recently, a fifth class action lawsuit was filed against the Company seeking to certify a class on behalf of both buildings and other third parties. That action is currently stayed pending the decision by those plaintiffs either to be included in the class settlement or to formally opt-out. In addition to the class action lawsuits described above, 19 lawsuits representing approximately 146 individual plaintiffs have been filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey Bergen County - Law Division and are currently pending. All of these state court cases have been consolidated by the court. These plaintiffs, if eligible to be class members under the class settlement that has been preliminarily approved as described above, must formally opt-out of that class action settlement by May 17, 2017 if they want to continue their individual actions. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the extent of damages claimed in all of the suits. There are also five subrogation lawsuits that have been filed against the Company by insurers of Edgewater residents who obtained renters insurance; it is the Company's position that in the majority of the applicable leases the residents waived subrogation rights. One of these lawsuits has been dismissed on that basis and the other four are currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The District Court recently denied the Company's motions seeking dismissal on this basis. The Company will reassess the viability of this defense after conducting additional discovery.

Having settled many third party claims through the insurance claims process, the Company currently believes that any potential remaining liability to third parties (including any potential liability to third parties determined in accordance with the class settlement described above, if approved) will not be material to the Company and will in any event be substantially covered by the Company's insurance policies. However, the Company can give no assurances in this regard and continues to evaluate this matter.

The Company is involved in various other claims and/or administrative proceedings unrelated to the Edgewater casualty loss that arise in the ordinary course of its business. While no assurances can be given, the Company does not currently believe that any of these other outstanding litigation matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 1A. 
RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risk factors which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results discussed in our Form 10-K in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors." The risks described in our Form 10-K are not the only risks that could affect the Company.  Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results in the future.  There have been no material changes to our risk factors since December 31, 2016.


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ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
 
(a)
Total Number of Shares
Purchased (1)
 
(b)
Average Price Paid 
Per Share
 
(c)
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
 
(d)
Maximum Dollar
Amount that May Yet
be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs
(in thousands) (2)
January 1 - January 31, 2017
 
1,075

 
$
177.15

 
—

 
$
200,000

February 1 - February 28, 2017
 
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
$
200,000

March 1 - March 31, 2017
 
56,097

 
$
183.31

 
—

 
$
200,000

___________________________________

(1)
Reflects shares surrendered to the Company in connection with exercise of stock options as payment of exercise price, as well as for taxes associated with the vesting of restricted share grants.
(2)
As disclosed in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, represents amounts outstanding under the Company's $500,000,000 Stock Repurchase Program. There is no scheduled expiration date to this program.

ITEM 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4.        MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.        OTHER INFORMATION

None.


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ITEM 6.        EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
 
 
 
Description
 
 
 
 
 
3(i).1
 
—
 
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Articles of Incorporation of the Company, dated as of June 4, 1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i).1 to Form 10-K of the Company filed March 1, 2007.)
3(i).2
 
—
 
Articles of Amendment, dated as of October 2, 1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i).2 to Form 10-K of the Company filed March 1, 2007.)
3(i).3
 
—
 
Articles of Amendment, dated as of May 22, 2013. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i).3 to Form 8-K of the Company filed May 22, 2013.)
3(ii).1
 
—
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as adopted by the Board of Directors on November 12, 2015. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii).1 to Form 10-K of the Company filed February 26, 2016.)
3(ii).2
 
—
 
Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as adopted by the Board of Directors on February 16, 2017. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Form 8-K of the Company filed February 21, 2017.)
4.1
 
—
 
Indenture for Senior Debt Securities, dated as of January 16, 1998, between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company (File No. 333-139839), filed January 8, 2007.)
4.2
 
—
 
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 20, 1998, between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company (File No. 333-139839), filed January 8, 2007.)
4.3
 
—
 
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 7, 1998, between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company (File No. 333-139839), filed January 8, 2007.)
4.4
 
—
 
Amended and Restated Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 10, 2000 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company (File No. 333-139839), filed January 8, 2007.)
4.5
 
—
 
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 18, 2006, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company (File No. 333-139839), filed January 8, 2007.)
4.6
 
—
 
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2014, between the Company and the Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K of the Company filed November 21, 2014.)
4.7
 
—
 
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan of the Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company (File No. 333-87063), filed September 14, 1999.)
4.8
 
—
 
Amendment to the Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan filed December 17, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to the Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 on December 17, 1999.)
4.9
 
—
 
Amendment to the Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan filed March 26, 2004. (Incorporated by reference to the Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 on March 26, 2004.)
4.10
 
—
 
Amendment to the Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan filed May 15, 2006. (Incorporated by reference to the Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 on May 15, 2006.)

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10.1
 
—
 
Term Loan Agreement, dated February 28, 2017, among the Company, as Borrower, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agency and a bank, The Bank of New York, Mellon, and Sun Trust Bank, each as Syndication Agent and a bank, and a syndicate of other financial institutions serving as banks. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K of the Company filed February 28, 2017.)
10.2
 
—
 
Form of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. Award Terms of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units for use with Performance Awards with Performance Periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017, including Form of Stock Grant and Restricted Stock Agreement for use with restricted stock issued on settlement of Performance Awards (also used with annual stock grants and other restricted stock awards). (Filed herewith.)
12.1
 
—
 
Statements re: Computation of Ratios. (Filed herewith.)
31.1
 
—
 
Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Executive Officer). (Filed herewith.)
31.2
 
—
 
Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Financial Officer). (Filed herewith.)
32
 
—
 
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer). (Furnished herewith.)
101
 
—
 
XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language). The following materials from AvalonBay Communities, Inc.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017, formatted in XBRL: (i) condensed consolidated balance sheets, (ii) condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iii) condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, and (iv) notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 2, 2017
/s/ Timothy J. Naughton
 
 
Timothy J. Naughton
 
 
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
Date:
May 2, 2017
/s/ Kevin P. O'Shea
 
 
Kevin P. O'Shea
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)


51