BRT Apartments Corp. - Annual Report: 2010 (Form 10-K)

Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Commission file number 001-07172

BRT REALTY TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

516-466-3100
Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

NONE
(Title of Class)

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No ý

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No ý

         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 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 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 (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 o No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

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

         The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $56.7 million based on the last sale price of the common equity on March 31, 2010, which is the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second quarter.

         As of December 6, 2010, the registrant had 13,932,799 Shares of Beneficial Interest outstanding, excluding treasury shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         Portions of the proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders of BRT Realty Trust to be filed not later than January 28, 2011 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Form 10-K

i

Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements

        This Annual Report on Form 10-K, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by us, contains certain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements are generally identifiable by use of words such as "may," "will," "will likely result," "shall," "should," "could," "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project" or similar expressions or variations thereof.

        Forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us or within our control, and which could materially affect actual results, performance or achievements. Factors which may cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

•

factors described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including those set forth under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Business"



•

defaults by borrowers in paying debt service on outstanding loans;



•

limitation of credit by institutional lenders;



•

impairment in the value of real estate property we own and real estate property securing our loans;



•

availability of mortgage origination opportunities acceptable to us;



•

national and local economic and business conditions;



•

general and local commercial real estate property conditions;



•

changes in Federal government policies;



•

changes in Federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations;



•

increased competition from entities engaged in mortgage lending;



•

changes in interest rates; and



•

the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity.

        We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

ii

Table of Contents

PART I

Item l.    Business.

General

        Our primary business is to originate and hold for investment senior mortgage loans secured by commercial and multi-family real estate property in the United States. The loans we originate generally have relatively high yields and are short term or bridge loans with a duration ranging from six months to one year. We generally lend at a floating rate of interest based on a spread over the prime rate and receive an origination fee for the loans we originate. We conduct our operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes.

        From time-to-time we originate junior commercial and multi-family mortgage loans, participate as an equity investor in, and mortgage lender to, joint ventures which acquire income producing real estate property and purchase securities of other REITs.

        The unprecedented disruptions in the credit markets and the economic recession have caused significant declines in the value of real estate property assets and loss of liquidity, both long and short term, from the capital markets. As discussed below, these conditions had an adverse effect on our business, requiring us, from the latter part of Fiscal 2008 through a substantial portion of Fiscal 2010, to refocus our business activities from originating loans to servicing our loan portfolio, which included workout activities, pursuing foreclosure actions, acquiring title to real estate properties securing our loans and, subsequent to acquiring title, operating these properties and engaging in activities related to selling these properties. As we have resolved a substantial portion of the problems in our loan portfolio, we began, in the second half of Fiscal 2010, to shift our emphasis back to our primary lending business.

        Information regarding our segments is included in Note 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated herein by this reference.

        We were organized as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in June 1972. Our address is 60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 303, Great Neck, New York 11021, telephone number 516-466-3100. Our website can be accessed at www.brtrealty.com, where copies of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") can be obtained free of charge. These SEC filings are added to the website as soon as reasonably practicable.

The Effect of the Crisis in the Credit and Real Estate Markets on BRT

        The crisis in the credit and real estate markets and the recession have had, from Fiscal 2008 through Fiscal 2010, a material adverse effect on our business, resulting in net losses attributable to common shareholders of $8.0 million, $47.8 million and $260,000 for Fiscal 2010, Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2008, respectively. The net losses contributed to the decrease in BRT Realty Trust shareholders' equity from $235.2 million at September 30, 2007 to $124.6 million at September 30, 2010. Specifically, the crisis in the credit and real estate markets and the recession negatively impacted our business in the following ways:

•

Loans aggregating $34.6 million, $68.2 million and $84.2 million in principal amount became non-earning in Fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.



•

We recorded provisions for loan losses of $3.2 million, $17.1 million, $15.3 million in Fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.



•

We recorded impairment charges of $3.4 million, $31 million and $9.2 million against real estate properties in Fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

1

Table of Contents

•

We originated $17.4 million and $12.7 million of loans in Fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively, as compared to $66.0 million of loans originated in Fiscal 2008. The foregoing excludes senior purchase money mortgage loans of $17.8 million we originated in Fiscal 2009 to facilitate the sale of real estate we owned.



•

We do not currently have a credit facility. Without a credit facility, the amount of loans that we will be able to originate will be limited primarily to cash and cash equivalents, proceeds we receive from sales of securities and loan payoffs.



•

Real properties acquired by us in foreclosure proceedings had a negative cash flow in Fiscal 2010 and 2009 of $1.8 million and $3.5 million, respectively.



•

We incurred $673,000, $908,000 and $2 million of foreclosure related professional fees in Fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.



•

We incurred a tax loss in calendar 2009 of approximately $44.6 million. We expect to report a tax loss for calendar 2010 of approximately $10 million and anticipate that at December 31, 2010, our net operating loss carry-forward will be approximately $72 million. It is highly unlikely that we will pay any dividends until we have offset our future taxable income against our tax loss carry-forward and it may take us several years to use this offset in its entirety.

        As used herein, the term "foreclosure proceeding", "foreclosure" and words of similar import refer to and include judicial foreclosure proceedings, deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure, workouts, settlements or other resolutions of non-performing loans.

Our Loan Portfolio

        At September 30, 2010, we had twelve senior loans outstanding, secured by properties located in six states, of which 70% were secured by properties located in the New York metropolitan area. Our outstanding loans had an aggregate principal balance as of September 30, 2010 of $57.7 million, before allowance for possible losses of $3.17 million, and an average contractual interest rate of 9.50%. At September 30, 2010, two of our loans, with a principal balance of an aggregate of $5.3 million, or 9% of our outstanding loans, represented senior purchase money mortgage loans provided by us to facilitate the sale of real estate properties acquired in foreclosure proceedings. With respect to the outstanding loans at September 30, 2010, $35.1 million, or 61% of our loan portfolio, was not earning interest. This compares with a loan portfolio, including loans held for sale, at September 30, 2009 of $81.2 million, before allowance for possible losses of $1.6 million, with an average contractual rate of interest of 9.11%. Of the loans outstanding at September 30, 2009, $19.1 million, or 23.5% of our loan portfolio, was not earning interest.

        In Fiscal 2010, we originated $17.4 million of new loans and an aggregate of $22.5 million loans were repaid, in whole or in part. Interest on our loans is payable to us monthly. In the first two months of Fiscal 2011, we originated five loans in aggregate principal amount of $24.5 million. Our loans usually require that our borrowers pay to us monthly escrow amounts that are adequate to pay, when due, real estate tax installments on the properties securing our loans. We may also require and hold funds in escrow for the payment of casualty insurance premiums. At September 30, 2010, our three largest loans outstanding of approximately $26.1 million (which is non-performing), $9 million and $8.5 million (which is non-performing), represented approximately 14.0%, 4.9% and 4.6%, respectively, of our total assets. There were no other loans in our portfolio that, at such date, represented more than 2.2% of our total assets.

        With respect to certain loans originated by us, the borrower funds an interest reserve out of the loan proceeds, from which all or a portion of the interest payments due to us are made for a specified period of time. We generally lend at a floating rate of interest based on a spread over the prime rate, with a stated minimum interest rate. In Fiscal 2009, we provided senior purchase money mortgages with

2

Table of Contents

a fixed rate of interest to purchasers of properties acquired by us in foreclosure proceedings to facilitate the sale of these properties. Additionally, in certain loan work-out situations, we converted existing floating interest rate loans to fixed rate loans to reduce the risk of borrower defaults. As a result, the percentage of our loan portfolio which was at a floating rate of interest at September 30, 2010 was less than our historical percentage. At September 30, 2010, approximately 43% of our outstanding loans had a floating rate of interest and 57%, were fixed rate mortgages.

        The following table sets forth information regarding mortgage loans outstanding at September 30, 2010 (including senior purchase money mortgages) before giving effect to deferred fee income:

Loan Defaults

        At September 30, 2010, three loans, each to a separate borrower, with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $35.1 million, before allowances for possible losses of $3.2 million, were not earning interest. The following table sets forth information concerning these loans:

        In the event of a default by a borrower on a loan, we will, in substantially all cases, foreclose on the loan or other collateral held by us and may seek to protect our investment through negotiations with the borrower or other interested parties. Once a loan becomes non-performing, we generally do not receive interest payments on our loan, thereby reducing our revenues and net income (and taxable income). Foreclosure proceedings in certain jurisdictions can take considerable time, and may extend for as long as two years. In addition, if a borrower files for protection under the United States bankruptcy laws during the foreclosure process, the delays may be longer. In a foreclosure proceeding,

3

Table of Contents

we will typically seek to have a receiver appointed by the court or an independent third party property manager appointed with the borrower's consent in order to preserve the property's income stream and provide for the maintenance of the property. From time-to-time, we make cash advances to the borrower, a court appointed receiver or an independent third-party manager for emergency repair items and for real estate taxes. At the conclusion of the foreclosure or negotiated workout process, the rents collected by the receiver or the third party manager, as the case may be, less costs and expenses of operating the property and the receiver's or manager's fees are remitted to us.

Our Real Estate Assets

        At September 30, 2010, we owned real estate properties having a book value of $55.8 million. These properties include assemblage sites and additional properties located in downtown Newark, NJ (vacant land, vacant buildings, retail, office and parking). The Newark, NJ properties, owned by a consolidated joint venture, had a total book value of $41.9 million at September 30, 2010, representing 75% of our real estate assets and 22% of our total assets. None of our other real estate assets accounted for more than 10% of our total assets at September 30, 2010. See "—Newark Joint Venture."

        In Fiscal 2010, we sold five properties with an aggregate book value of $13.8 million for net sales proceeds of $15.7 million.

        With respect to properties we acquire in foreclosure proceedings, we supervise local property managers, and our staff supervises, or is directly responsible for, repairs and improvements at such properties and completing any construction projects unfinished by borrowers. In Fiscal 2010, we expended $4.1 million for improvements and development work at properties acquired in foreclosure proceedings.

        With respect to unsold individual residential condominium units we acquire in foreclosure proceedings, we examine the local real estate market to determine the advisability of selling and/or leasing vacant units. These activities include retaining sales and leasing agents, preparing advertising materials, negotiating brokerage agreements, supervising activities of brokers selected by us, and seeking mortgage financing opportunities for potential purchasers.

        Generally, our policy is to sell properties we acquire in foreclosure proceedings after completing necessary repairs and maintenance and engaging in leasing activities, if required. We may retain a property if we determine that holding it will result in a substantial increase in its market value. We may provide senior purchase money mortgage loans at competitive fixed interest rates, if necessary, in order to consummate a sale which we deem to be beneficial to us. In Fiscal 2010, we did not provide any senior purchase money mortgage financing and in Fiscal 2009 we provided $17.8 million of such financing.

        At September 30, 2010, less than 1% of our total assets, or an aggregate of approximately $775,000, were represented by interests in unconsolidated joint ventures that collectively own two properties. None of the real estate properties acquired by us in foreclosure proceedings are owned by these joint ventures. During Fiscal 2009, we sold our joint venture interest in four joint ventures, each of which owned one real estate property located in Connecticut, to our joint venture partner for a total consideration of $1.35 million, resulting in a gain to us of $271,000.

Newark Joint Venture

Background

        Two of our wholly-owned subsidiaries are members of a joint venture (which we refer to as the Newark Joint Venture) with two members that are not affiliated with us. The Newark Joint Venture

4

Table of Contents

owns assemblage sites and additional properties located in downtown Newark, NJ. The assemblage sites are surrounded by a variety of governmental, educational, cultural and entertainment institutions and facilities. In close proximity to both assemblage sites is Rutgers University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Essex County College, Seton Hall Law School, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Prudential Arena (home of the National Hockey League New Jersey Devils and temporary home of the National Basketball Association New Jersey Nets), the Essex County Court Complex, Newark's City Hall and a Federal Courthouse. Both assemblage sites are within walking distance of Newark Penn Station, which provides access to Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains and are accessible to local bus routes. The assemblage sites are served by various highways, including the Garden State Parkway, Interstate-95, Interstate-78 and Interstate-280.

        The Newark Joint Venture intends to redevelop all or a portion of the sites, particularly the assemblage sites, with personnel hired by the Newark Joint Venture or with development partners or sell some of its sites to developers or end users. The financial condition and the results of operations of the Newark Joint Venture are consolidated with our financial statements. Accordingly, the assets of the Newark Joint Venture are included in our real estate properties, and our $27 million loan to the Newark Joint Venture (which is secured by substantially all of the real estate assets of the Newark Joint Venture), is eliminated in consolidation and is not included in our outstanding loans. The properties owned by the Newark Joint Venture have adequate insurance coverage for their current use.

        Immediately prior to the formation of the Newark Joint Venture, we held loans aggregating approximately $38 million, secured by substantially all of the properties conveyed to the Newark Joint Venture by our borrowers. We entered into loan work-out negotiations with our borrowers and, as a result of such negotiations, entered into the Newark Joint Venture. In connection with the work-out of our loans and the formation of the Newark Joint Venture, our loans were refinanced with a mortgage loan of $27 million (which we currently, as described below, hold as two separate mortgage loans), with the balance of our loans converted into a $6.9 million preferred capital account interest and a 50.1% membership interest in the Newark Joint Venture, providing us with a separate capital account of $3.9 million. The other members caused all the properties secured by our loans, and additional properties (unencumbered by our loans) and contract rights to acquire additional properties, all located in downtown Newark, NJ, to be contributed to the Newark Joint Venture for which the other members received a 49.9% membership interest in the Newark Joint Venture (with a separate capital account of $3.9 million). Our loans are the senior mortgage loans with respect to substantially all of the properties owned by the Newark Joint Venture.

        In connection with an $8.6 million financing provided by an institutional lender with respect to the Teachers Village project (described under "—Information and Activities Related to Assemblage Sites"), our $27 million mortgage loan was bi-furcated into a $7.5 million loan secured by the Teachers Village properties and a $19.5 million loan secured by substantially all of the other properties owned by the Newark Joint Venture. The $7.5 million loan matures September 14, 2011 with the option to extend until March 14, 2012. Further, if the $8.6 million loan is extended, refinanced or satisfied, there is an additional option to extend the $7.5 million loan until the earlier of (i) the maturity date of such lender's loan as so extended or the replacement of such lender's loan or (ii) June 3, 2016. The $19.5 million loan matures on June 3, 2014, with a two-year extension option. These loans provide for an interest rate of 11% per annum, of which 6% is paid currently and 5% accrues and is paid at maturity. The extension option cannot be exercised unless specified conditions are met. See "—Information and Activities Relating to Assemblage Sites" for material terms of the financing provided by an institutional lender.

5

Table of Contents

Current Property Information

        The following table sets forth, as of September 30, 2010, information regarding the properties owned in fee by the Newark Joint Venture:

6

Table of Contents

        The following table sets forth as of September 30, 2010, summary schedule of the annual lease expirations of the Newark Joint Venture's real estate assets, assuming that none of the tenants exercise renewal or cancellation options, if any, at or prior to the scheduled expirations:

Information and Activities Relating to Assemblage Sites

        Assemblage #1 is an approximately 98,000 square foot site, representing approximately 303,406 rentable square feet. The site is bounded by Market Street, Campbell Street, Washington Street and University Avenue in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Potential redevelopment opportunities with respect to this site include an office complex with a retail component, a medical office complex containing offices, research laboratories and other medical related services, a retail center, corporate headquarters, university offices, classrooms and/or dormitories, or a combination of one or more of these uses. The Newark Joint Venture may redevelop this site for its own account, but will only do so if it has entered into long-term lease transactions with credit worthy lessees and has obtained satisfactory assurances that it will obtain necessary construction financing. Alternatively, the Newark Joint Venture may enter into a joint venture with a development partner or sell all or portions of the site. Although the Newark Joint Venture has conducted discussions and responded to requests for bid proposals with various parties concerning the development of portions of the site, which have included build to suit construction for potential users on a sale/leaseback or long-term lease basis and the sale of portions of the property to end users and/or developers, the Newark Joint Venture has not entered into any understandings or agreements concerning the redevelopment of all or any portion of the site and there is no assurance that it will be able to conclude any such arrangement or obtain the financing necessary to proceed with any arrangement which it may conclude.

        Assemblage #2, referred to herein as "Teachers Village", encompasses an area bounded by Branford Street to the north, Treat Place to the east, Hill Street to the south and Washington Street to the west, and is adjacent to Halsey Street. The Teachers Village site aggregates approximately 185,000 square feet, of which approximately 137,000 square feet is comprised of existing parking lots and vacant buildings to be demolished or rehabilitated and the balance is comprised of existing structures under lease. The project contemplates a mix of residential, educational and retail facilitates and will include both the renovation of an existing nine story structure and the construction of approximately six

7

Table of Contents

additional buildings. Two of the buildings are being designed for occupancy by three charter schools and the remaining buildings are being designed to provide approximately 200 residential rental units. It is contemplated that the ground floor level of the charter school buildings and the residential buildings will provide for approximately 65,000 square feet of retail space. The project can be constructed and financed in stages.

        The cost of the entire Teachers Village project was, in September 2010, projected by the Newark Joint Venture to be approximately $125 million. The Newark Joint Venture is proceeding with the project on the assumption that it will develop the site for its account, although it may in the future elect to partner with a developer or developers for all or a portion of the project. If it proceeds with the development on its own, the Newark Joint Venture contemplates that the project will be financed by a combination of public (federal, state and local) and private sources. Potential public financing sources include, without limitation, New Market Tax Credits, Urban Transit Hub Tax Credits and Economic Recovery Growth Grants. Private financing would be provided by conventional construction financing, if available. An institutional lender has agreed to provide the Newark Joint Venture with up to $8.6 million in financing secured by a pledge of 100% of the equity interests of the borrowing entity and a subordinate mortgage encumbering the Teachers Village properties. The loan bears interest at the rate of 17% per annum and matures in September 2011, subject to the right to extend to March 2012 upon satisfaction of specified conditions. The loan proceeds can only be used for the project's "soft costs" (including, without limitation, the cost of architects, engineers, specified consultants, permits and legal and accounting fees). Through September 30, 2010, the Newark Joint Venture has drawn down $1.83 million of the committed amount. The balance of the funds may be drawn in two tranches upon satisfaction of specified conditions applicable to the particular tranche, including without limitation, conditions relating to the Newark Joint Venture having obtained governmental approvals with respect to specified financing and grant arrangements, guaranties as to rental payments from tenants or prospective tenants (or their affiliates) of the contemplated structures and the receipt of term sheets and/or commitments with respect to construction financing for the project. The Trust and its joint venture partners each have severally guaranteed up to 25% of any amount drawn down under this facility and the amount drawn down under this facility is subordinate to the Trust's mortgage of $7,500,000 applicable to the Teachers Village properties.

        No assurance can be given that sufficient financing will be obtained to complete the Teachers Village project or any portion thereof, that our $7.5 million loan with respect to the Teachers Village project will be repaid or that the Teachers Village will be profitable for us. In addition, since it is contemplated that a substantial portion of the financing required for the project will be debt financing, the profit which the joint venture partners receives, if any, will only be received after completion of the construction and repayment of all the debt, which will be a significant period of time from the present.

Terms of the Newark Joint Venture Operating Agreement

        The following is a summary of the material provisions of the amended and restated limited liability company operating agreement of the Newark Joint Venture, which is qualified in its entirety by reference to the agreement, a copy of which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 9, 2009 as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K.

        Membership Interests.    We own 50.1% of the membership interests in the Newark Joint Venture, and the other members (collectively, the "Other Member") own 49.9% of the membership interests in the Newark Joint Venture.

        Manager.    An affiliate of the other members is the manager of the Newark Joint Venture and is responsible for the day to day management activities of the Newark Joint Venture, but our consent is required for all major decisions affecting the Newark Joint Venture and its properties. We may remove

8

Table of Contents

the manager upon six months advance written notice or immediately upon the occurrence of certain significant events.

        Fees to the Manager.    Until such time as the current manager is no longer the manager of the Newark Joint Venture, the Newark Joint Venture shall pay to the current manager an asset management fee and a property management fee aggregating $890,000 per annum, payable monthly in advance.

        Mandatory Capital Calls.    Members are required to make pro rata capital contributions to the Newark Joint Venture for any projected budget shortfalls.

        Buy-Sell.    Commencing on December 3, 2013 or, under specified circumstances, December 3, 2015, either member group may provide the other member group with written notice setting forth the amount they will pay to purchase all of the assets of the Newark Joint Venture. The member group which receives such notice has the option to (i) sell their membership interests in the Newark Joint Venture to the other members for their pro rata portion of the asset purchase price set forth in the written notice, or (ii) purchase the other members' membership interests in the Newark Joint Venture for their pro rata portion of the asset purchase price set forth in the written notice. If the acquirer is the Other Member, then the Other Member is required to, among other things, pay in full our mortgage and our preferred equity interest at closing.

        Right of First Refusal and Tag-along Rights.    At any time, either member group may provide the other member group with written notice setting forth the sale price at which it desires to sell all or a portion of its membership interests. The member group which received such notice may purchase the offered membership interests at the price set forth in the notice. If they do not elect to purchase the membership interest in accordance with the terms of the notice, the offering members may secure another person to purchase its offered membership interests within 180 days. The group of members which received the sale notice may tag-along in a sale to such other person and sell their pro rata portion of the membership interests.

        Distributions.    The Newark Joint Venture may not distribute any cash flow to its members until our $27 million loan has been fully repaid, including accrued interest. Once it has been fully repaid, the cash flow of the Newark Joint Venture will generally be distributed as follows: (i) first, to each member pro rata in an amount equal to their unreturned additional capital contributions, (ii) second, to our members until we receive a 10% return on our preferred capital contributions, (iii) third, to our members until we receive an amount equal to our preferred capital contributions, and (iv) fourth, to each member pro rata until such members receive a 10% return on their additional capital contributions, (v) fifth, to the members pro rata an amount equal to their common capital contributions, and (vi) the remainder shall be distributed as follows: (a) 10% to the managing member, and (b) 90% pro rata to the other members pro rata.

Manager of the Newark Joint Venture

        The manager of the Newark Joint Venture is RBH Group LLC; its managing member and President is Ron Beit-Halachmy. Mr. Beit-Halachmy, 38 years of age, has over 16 years of experience in the real estate industry and has been involved for more than nine years in acquiring sites in Newark, New Jersey. He was the managing member of the entities which acquired all of the real property currently owned by the Newark Joint Venture. Mr. Beit-Halachmy earned a BA in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a law degree from New York Law School.

Our Investment Strategy

        Our long-term objective is to provide our shareholders with returns over time, including capital appreciation and cash distributions, by originating loans secured by a diversified portfolio of

9

Table of Contents

commercial and multi-family real property. Due to the crisis in the credit and commercial real estate markets, our business focus had shifted from originating loans to servicing our loan portfolio, including workout activities, pursuing foreclosure actions, acquiring the underlying real estate properties in foreclosure proceedings and supervising real estate assets and real estate asset dispositions.

        Our loan originations in Fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 were $17.4 million, $12.7 million and $66 million, respectively. Our originations in Fiscal 2010 and 2009 were significantly less than in Fiscal 2008 due to a limited demand for our short term bridge loans and our concerns about the ability of potential borrowers, in the recessionary environment, to refinance and repay a loan we originate or to be able to sell the underlying real estate collateral or otherwise raise funds in order to repay the loan. Although we have originated five mortgage loans in aggregate amount of $24.5 million in the first two months of Fiscal 2011, there can be no assurance that such increased demand for our short-term bridge lending will continue.

        We pursue lending opportunities with purchasers and prospective purchasers of commercial and multi-family real estate properties and property owners who require short-term financing for renovation or repositioning of a real estate asset. We have also recently begun originating loans to persons purchasing their own mortgage debt or purchasing third party mortgage debt, in each case at a discount to the principal amount thereof. The purchase of third party mortgage debt is generally structured as a repurchase agreement pursuant to which we purchase the mortgage and our counterparty is obligated to repurchase such mortgage within a specified period.

        Our investment policy emphasizes the origination of short-term real estate loans secured by senior liens on real property. As of September 30, 2010, our loan portfolio only consisted of first mortgage loans or pari passu participations in first mortgage loans. Our lending activities focus on operating properties such as multi-family residential properties, residential properties being converted to condominium ownership, office buildings, retail, shopping centers, mixed use buildings, hotels/motels, and industrial buildings.

        We also will, on a limited basis, provide senior loans secured by unimproved land, but generally require that the unimproved land collateralizing our loan has proper entitlements and that zoning is in place for the intended purpose. We also originate and hold for investment loans secured by improved commercial or multi-family residential property which is vacant, pending renovation or repositioning and sale or leasing of the property. From time to time, we may sell a senior, junior or pari passu participation in a loan we originate. We may also acquire senior, junior or pari passu participations in loans originated by others, and we invest in the securities of other REITs.

        From time-to-time we will originate junior commercial loans, invest in loans as a junior participant or sell senior participations in loans we originate. When we invest in junior loans or hold junior participations, the collateral securing our loan is subordinate to the liens of senior loans or senior participations. It is possible that the amount which may be recovered by us in cases in which we hold a junior position may be less, or significantly less, than our total investment. At September 30, 2010, none of our loans was represented by a junior loan or a junior participation.

        We have historically solicited loans secured by real estate property located within the continental United States. We may expand our lending activities to include loans secured by properties located in Canada and Puerto Rico.

Our Origination Process and Underwriting Criteria

        We originate loans in a number of ways. We primarily rely on relationships developed by our officers and loan originators with real estate investors, commercial real estate brokers, mortgage brokers and bankers. We also advertise, use the internet and attend trade shows in order to develop relationships with potential borrowers and real estate brokers, mortgage brokers and bankers.

10

Table of Contents

        When underwriting a loan, the primary focus of our analysis is the value of a property, which we evaluate by considering a number of factors, including location, current use and potential for alternative use, current and potential net operating income, if any, the local market for condominium conversion, if conversion to condominium ownership is contemplated, comparable sales prices, existing zoning regulations and intended use, if the loan is to be secured by undeveloped land, and local demographics. We also examine the experience of our potential borrower's principals in real estate ownership and management and, if applicable, real estate development.

        Loan approvals are based on a review of property information as well as other due diligence activities undertaken by us. Those activities may include a site visit to the property, an in-house property valuation, a review of the results of operations of the property (historical and projected, if any) or, in the case of an acquisition of the property by our prospective borrower, a review of projected results of operations for the property, and a review of the financial condition and a credit report and background check of the principals of the prospective borrower. We do not obtain independent property appraisals, but instead rely on our in-house activities described above. If management determines that an environmental assessment of the underlying property is necessary, then such an assessment is conducted by an experienced third-party service provider. Before a loan commitment is issued, the loan must be reviewed and approved by our loan committee. Loan approval occurs after the assent of not less than four of the seven members of our loan committee, all of whom are executive officers of ours. We generally obtain a non-refundable cash deposit for legal, travel, and other expenses from a prospective borrower prior to or at the time of issuing a loan commitment, and our loan commitments are generally issued subject to receipt by us of title documentation and title insurance, in a form satisfactory to us, for the underlying property. The approval of our board of trustees is required for each loan which exceeds $20,000,000 in principal amount, and the approval of our board of trustees is also required where loans by us to one borrower exceed $50,000,000, in the aggregate.

        We usually require either a personal guarantee or a "walk-away guarantee" from the principal or principals of the borrower, in substantially all of the loans originated by us. A "walk-away guarantee" generally provides that the full guarantee of the principal or principals of the borrower terminates if the borrower conveys title to the property to us within a negotiated period of time after a loan default if the payment of mortgage interest to us, real estate taxes and other operating expenses are current. The "walk-away guarantee" is intended to provide an incentive to the principals of a borrower, in a situation where our borrower has defaulted, to have the collateral deeded to us in lieu of foreclosure, thereby reducing the cost of foreclosure proceedings. By complying with the terms of the "walk-away guarantee," the principals of the borrower can avoid the risk of being personally responsible for any difference between the amount owed to us and the amount we recover in a foreclosure proceeding. If we make more than one loan to a borrower, we may require that all or some of the outstanding loans to that borrower be cross-collateralized. In our judgment, the "walk-away guarantees" we have secured upon the origination of certain loans have provided us with leverage in negotiating loan paydowns from "walk away guarantors" and assisted in expediting the foreclosure process.

Junior Subordinated Notes

        On May 26, 2009, we entered into an exchange agreement pursuant to which an aggregate of $55 million of our outstanding trust preferred securities were exchanged for an aggregate of $58.3 million of newly issued junior subordinated notes. From May 1, 2009 through July 31, 2012, the outstanding notes bear interest at the rate of 3.5% per annum, to be paid annually in advance. From August 1, 2012 through April 28, 2016, the interest rate will be 8.37% per annum, and commencing April 29, 2016, the annual interest rate will equal LIBOR plus 2.95%. On September 29, 2009, we retired $15.9 million of our junior subordinated notes in exchange for aggregate consideration of $7.95 million, consisting of replacement securities we acquired in the open market during September 2009 and cash, which resulted in an accounting gain to us of $6.44 million. As of September 30, 2010,

11

Table of Contents

$42.4 million notional value of our junior subordinated notes was outstanding. These securities, which have an outstanding book balance of $40.8 million, mature on April 30, 2036 and are redeemable at our option at any time.

        Pursuant to the governing agreements, at all times prior to August 1, 2012, as long as we remain a REIT, we will be permitted to make distributions to our shareholders provided that (i) for tax years 2008 and 2009, such distributions are paid in the form of common shares to the maximum extent permissible under existing Internal Revenue Service regulations, with the balance payable in cash and (ii) thereafter, to satisfy REIT requirements or pay capital gains, if any, provided such distributions are paid in the form of common shares to the maximum extent permissible under the IRS regulations in effect at the time of such distributions, with the balance payable in cash.

Competition

        With respect to our real estate lending activities, we compete, in the current economic environment, for first mortgage loans with other entities, including other mortgage REITs, specialty finance companies, public and private lending companies, investment funds and others. Many of our competitors possess greater financial and other resources than we possess. Mortgage lending has been historically competitive, but in the current economic environment it is difficult to determine our direct and indirect competitors or the extent of the competition.

        Competitive variables in our lending activities include market visibility, size of loans offered, rate, fees, term and underwriting standards. To the extent a competitor offers a lower rate, is willing to risk more capital in a particular transaction, and/or employs more liberal underwriting standards, our origination volume and profit margins would be adversely impacted. We compete by offering rapid response time in terms of approval and closing and by offering "no prepayment penalty" loans. In order to supplement our marketing activities, we engage in a national advertising program.

        With respect to the sale by us of real estate assets, we compete with any entity seeking to dispose of similar properties, including other REITs, banks, pension funds, hedge funds, real estate developers and private real estate investors. Competition is primarily dependent on price and the ability to secure financing. Other competitive factors which a potential buyer may take into account are location and physical condition of the property.

Our Structure

        We share facilities, personnel and other resources with several affiliated entities including, among others, Gould Investors L.P., a master limited partnership involved in the ownership and operation of a diversified portfolio of real estate, and One Liberty Properties, Inc., a publicly-traded equity REIT. Jeffrey A. Gould, our President and Chief Executive Officer, George Zweier, our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, two other officers engaged in loan origination, underwriting and servicing activities, and four others engaged in underwriting and servicing activities devote substantially all of their business time to us, while our other personnel (including several officers) share their services on a part-time basis with us and other affiliated entities that share our executive offices. The allocation of expenses for the shared facilities, personnel and other resources is computed in accordance with a shared services agreement by and among us and the affiliated entities. The allocation is based on the estimated time devoted by executive, administrative and clerical personnel to the affairs of each entity that is a party to the Shared Services Agreement. A copy of the Shared Services Agreement was filed on December 11, 2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008.

        In addition, we are party to an Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, between us and REIT Management Corp., our advisor. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, REIT Management Corp. furnishes advisory and administrative services with respect to our business,

12

Table of Contents

including, without limitation, arranging and negotiating credit facilities, participating in our loan analysis and approvals, providing investment advice, providing assistance with building inspections and litigation strategy and support. In addition, in connection with non-performing loans, REIT Management Corp., among other activities, engages in negotiations with borrowers, guarantors, and their advisors related to workouts, participates in strategic decisions relating to workouts and foreclosures and may interface with receivers, managing agents and court appointed trustees with respect to specific collateral securing our loans. The termination date of this agreement was recently extended from December 31, 2010 to April 30, 2011.

        For services performed by REIT Management Corp. under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, REIT Management Corp. receives an asset management fee equal to 0.6% of our invested assets and an incentive fee from borrowers of 0.5% of the total commitment amount, payable upon funding a loan commitment, provided that we have received at least a loan commitment fee of 1% from the borrower in any such transaction and any loan commitment fee in excess of 1.5% of the total commitment amount is retained by us. REIT Management Corp. is wholly owned by the chairman of our Board of Trustees and he and certain of our executive officers, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, receive compensation from REIT Management Corp. We discuss compensation paid by REIT Management Corp. to our Chairman and President and Chief Executive Officer and to certain of our executive officers in our proxy statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

        We believe that the Shared Services Agreement and the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement allow us to benefit from access to, and from the services of, a group of senior executives with significant real estate knowledge and experience.

        We also engage affiliated entities in management activities with respect to some of the properties acquired by us in foreclosure proceedings and some of the properties owned by joint ventures in which we are an equity participant. These management activities include, among other things, rent billing and collection, property repair, maintenance and improvement, contractor negotiation, construction management and sales and leasing activities. In management's judgment, the fees paid by us to these affiliated entities are competitive with fees that would be charged for comparable services by unrelated entities.

13

Table of Contents

Item 1A.    Risk Factors.

        In addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, you should carefully consider the following risk factors. Any of these risks or the occurrence of any one or more uncertainties described below could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and the price of our common shares.

Risks Related to our Business

The disruptions in the credit and real estate markets may continue to adversely affect our business.

        Since mid-2007, the credit markets and the markets for real estate assets have been subject to unprecedented disruptions, which has had a material adverse effect on us. These disruptions have resulted in severe limitations on the availability of credit and a deterioration in the value of real estate assets causing a significant increase in defaults by our borrowers in their monetary obligations to us, declining revenues and increased expenses, including significant increases in provisions for loan losses and impairment charges, losses sustained in the operation of real estate properties acquired in foreclosure proceedings and foreclosure related professional fees. Although there has been some improvement in access to credit and real estate values appear to be stabilizing in different parts of the United States, the continuing limitation of credit and the uncertain economic environment may adversely impact our results of operations in the future.

If defaults on our loans continue, it will result in continuing declines in revenues and net income.

        Loan defaults result in a decrease in interest income and may require the establishment of, or an increase in, loan loss reserves. The decrease in interest income resulting from loan defaults may be for a prolonged period of time as we seek to recover, primarily through legal proceedings, the outstanding principal balance and accrued interest due on a defaulted loan, plus the legal costs incurred in pursuing our legal remedies. Legal proceedings, which may include foreclosure actions and bankruptcy proceedings, are expensive and time consuming. The decrease in interest income, and the costs involved in pursuing our legal remedies will reduce the amount of cash available to meet our expenses. In addition, the decrease in interest income, the costs incurred by us in a defaulted loan situation and increases in loan loss reserves will have an adverse impact on our net income, taxable income, and shareholders' equity.

        During Fiscal 2010, loans aggregating $34.6 million, before loan loss allowances, became non-earning. Non-earning loans represented 61% of the principal balance of our outstanding loans and 19% of our total assets at September 30, 2010. The non-payment of interest income on non-earning loans had the effect of reducing our revenues by $2.9 million in Fiscal 2010. Continuing uncertainty in the credit markets and the uncertain economic environment may result in defaults by our borrowers in the future.

Decrease in our loan originations will negatively affect our results of operations.

        In the current economic environment, we are concerned with the ability of potential borrowers to refinance or sell properties in order to repay our loans and therefore we have been conservative in originating loans. As a result, we only originated $17.4 million of loans in Fiscal 2010. Interest and fees earned on our loan portfolio, including purchase money mortgages, but excluding loans held for sale, was $3.9 million, $9.7 million and $18.8 million in Fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Until there are sustained positive changes in the credit and real estate markets and an increased demand for bridge loans, our loan originations may continue at a reduced level, which negatively affects our revenues, net income, shareholders' equity and may result in our operating at a cash flow deficit in Fiscal 2011.

14

Table of Contents

We do not have a credit facility, which will limit our loan origination activity.

        At September 30, 2010, we had $58.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and $10.3 million of securities available-for-sale, or a total of $68.8 million available for loan originations and operations. At December 1, 2010, we had approximately $33.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and approximately $10 million of securities available-for-sale, or a total of approximately $43.5 million available for originations and operations. Because we do not have, and may be unable to obtain, a credit facility, we will be limited in the amount of mortgage loans we can originate, which will limit our revenues and operating results. There can be no assurance that we will secure a new credit facility.

We may incur loan loss provisions and impairment charges in Fiscal 2011.

        We evaluate on a quarterly basis our loan and real estate portfolios for indicators of impairment. Our loan loss provisions and impairment charges reflect management's judgment of the probability and severity of loan losses and the decline in the value of real estate property assets owned by us and securing our loans. The valuation process, which is inherently difficult, is particularly difficult during a recessionary period in which the availability of credit is limited and commercial real estate transactions have significantly decreased.

        Regardless of the loan loss provisions we have taken with respect to our loans or impairment charges we have taken with respect to real estate properties owned, additional provisions and impairments may be required in the future as a result of factors beyond our control, including, among other things, the continuation or downward acceleration of the economic recession and changes in market conditions affecting the value of loan collateral and real property assets. If our loan loss provisions or impairment charges prove inadequate to cover actual losses, we could suffer additional losses.

        Due to the credit crisis and the significant decrease in commercial real estate values, we incurred loan loss provisions of $3.2 million and impairment charges of $3.4 million in Fiscal 2010, loan loss provisions of $17.1 million and impairment charges of $31 million in Fiscal 2009 and loan loss provisions of $15.3 million and $9.2 million of impairment charges in Fiscal 2008. These loan loss provisions and impairment charges contributed significantly to the losses we sustained in the past three fiscal years and in particular in Fiscal 2009. Loan loss provisions and impairment charges have adversely impacted our results of operations and may continue to do so. Our loans and real estate properties may suffer additional loan loss provisions and impairments in the future causing us to recognize additional losses.

It is highly unlikely that we will declare any dividends in the next few years.

        In December 2008, our board of trustees suspended the payment of regular quarterly dividends. Except for a special capital gain dividend of $1.15 per share paid on October 30, 2009, of which 10% of the total dividend amount was paid in cash and the balance in our common shares, no other dividends were declared or paid in Fiscal 2009 or Fiscal 2010.

        In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute 90% of our taxable income. At December 31, 2009, we had a tax loss carry-forward of $61.4 million and we anticipate a taxable loss of approximately $10 million for calendar 2010. Under current tax laws, we can offset our future taxable income against our tax loss carry-forward for twenty years or until the tax loss carry-forward has been fully used, whichever occurs first. As a result, we do not expect to pay a dividend in calendar 2011 and it is unlikely that we will be required to pay a dividend for many years thereafter in order to maintain our REIT status.

15

Table of Contents

        Though our board reviews the payment of dividends periodically, there is currently no expectation that a dividend will be paid in the 2011 calendar year and for many years thereafter. The non-payment of dividends may negatively impact the price of our common shares.

Risks of cost overruns and noncompletion of renovation of properties underlying rehabilitation loans or condominium conversions may result in significant losses.

        The renovation or refurbishment by a borrower of the property securing our loan involves risks of cost overruns and noncompletion. If such renovation or refurbishment is not completed in a timely manner, or if it costs more than projected, the borrower may experience a prolonged impairment of net operating income and may be unable to make payments on our loan, which could result in reduced income to us. In addition we may be required to complete the renovation or refurbishment if we acquire the property in foreclosure proceedings.

The increased risk of loans secured by unimproved land may harm our results of operations.

        From time-to-time, we provide loans that are secured by unimproved land. Land loans are subject to a higher risk of default because such properties are not income producing properties. In addition, the market value of such properties is volatile. Although we only make loans on undeveloped land if entitlements and zoning is in place for the intended use, there is always the risk that entitlements and zoning may be changed or lapse. Consequently, in the event of a default and foreclosure, we may not be able to sell undeveloped land for an amount equal to our investment and we may lose a significant portion of our investment. In the event of our acquisition of undeveloped land in foreclosure proceedings, we may elect to hold the property until the market becomes more favorable. In such case during the holding period, which could be for a number of years, we will not receive any income from this property and we will be required to pay the costs of carrying the property, primarily real estate taxes and insurance, which could adversely affect our net income and shareholders' equity.

Risks Related to the Newark Joint Venture.

The Newark Joint Venture may have an operating loss for the foreseeable future.

        Our real estate assets include the properties owned by the Newark Joint Venture, which properties had, at September 30, 2010, an aggregate book value of $41.9 million. At September 30, 2010, the Newark Joint Venture properties represented 75% and 22%, respectively, of our real property assets and total assets. We anticipate that the Newark Joint Venture will operate at a loss in Fiscal 2011 and for several years thereafter. If the Newark Joint Venture operates at a loss, we and our Newark Joint Venture partners will be required to fund the losses by making additional capital contributions, on a pro rata basis. Although it is possible that the need to make additional contributions will be mitigated by the sale of some of the Newark Joint Venture properties or financing secured by the Newark Joint Venture for the operation and/or development of its properties, currently, there is no assurance that we will be able to sell any of such properties on satisfactory terms or that we will obtain the financing (other than the soft-cost financing of up to $8.6 million which is already committed) to fund development and construction activities. The operations of the Newark Joint Venture could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity for several years.

We have limited experience in developing and operating assemblage sites.

        The principal assets of our Newark Joint Venture are two assemblage sites and two additional properties located in downtown Newark, NJ. Since we have not previously engaged in the real estate development business, we are subject to risks that differ from those to which we have been subject to

16

Table of Contents

historically. Although the principal of the managing member of the Newark Joint Venture (who is formerly the principal of our borrowers) is knowledgeable with respect to the local real estate market and has experience in the development of gut rehabilitation properties, this experience may not necessarily be relevant to a particular redevelopment project. As a result, to redevelop the assemblage sites, the Newark Joint Venture will have to hire personnel knowledgeable in real estate development to assist in its development, become involved with a development partner, or sell some or all of the sites to developers or potential users. There can be no assurance that the Newark Joint Venture will be successful in hiring experienced personnel, finding a development partner with skills needed to develop and/or manage the redevelopment of the sites, or that we will be able to sell some or all of the properties to developers or potential users.

The success of our Newark Joint Venture depends, to a large extent, on the principal of the Newark Joint Venture's manager.

        The principal of the manager of the Newark Joint Venture was responsible for acquiring all the properties owned by the Newark Joint Venture. We believe that the principal's continued involvement is important to the success of the Newark Joint Venture. The diminution or loss of his services due to disability, death or for any other reasons could have a material adverse effect on the Newark Joint Venture's business, which would result in a material adverse effect on our business.

        The Newark Joint Venture carries key man life insurance on the principal of the manager of the Newark Joint Venture in the amount of $20,000,000. There can be no assurance that the proceeds from such life insurance would be sufficient to compensate the Newark Joint Venture for the loss of his services, and these policies do not provide any benefits if he becomes disabled or is otherwise unable to render services to the Newark Joint Venture.

Our Newark Joint Venture is subject to risks particular to real estate development activities.

        Our Newark Joint Venture is subject to the risks associated with development activities. These risks include:

•

The inability to obtain the $125 million or more needed to fund the Teachers Village development project.



•

The failure to obtain governmental and other approvals on a timely basis;



•

Construction, financing and other costs of developing the properties owned by the Newark Joint Venture and in particular, Teachers Village, may not be obtained or if obtained exceed original estimates, possibly making such activities unprofitable;



•

Time required to complete the construction of Teachers Village or to lease up the completed project may be greater than originally anticipated, thereby adversely affecting our cash flow and liquidity; and



•

Occupancy rates and rents of a completed project may not be sufficient to make such project profitable.

We may be unable to renew leases or relet space and are exposed to the risks of defaults by tenants.

        In Fiscal 2010, approximately 59% of our rental income was generated from properties at the Newark Joint Venture. The leases at the properties owned by the Newark Joint Venture are generally short-term in nature. If our tenants decide not to renew their leases upon their expiration, we may not be able to relet the space. Even if our tenants do renew or we are able to relet the space, the terms of

17

Table of Contents

renewal or reletting may be less favorable than current lease terms. If we are unable to promptly renew the leases or relet the space, or if the rental rates upon such renewal or reletting are significantly lower than current rates, our income would be adversely affected.

        Any of our tenants may experience a downturn in their businesses that may weaken their financial condition. In the event of default or the insolvency of our tenants, we may experience a loss of rental revenue and/or delays in collecting rent and incur substantial costs in enforcing our rights as landlord. If a tenant files for bankruptcy protection, a court could allow the tenant to reject and terminate its lease with us. Our income could be adversely affected if our tenants became unable to meet their obligations to us, became insolvent or declare bankruptcy.

Risks Related to our Industry

The geographic concentration of our assets may make our revenues and the value of our assets vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions in the New York metropolitan area.

        At September 30, 2010, 70% of our outstanding loans are secured by properties located in the New York metropolitan area and 75% of our real estate assets are located in Newark, NJ. A lack of geographical diversification makes our mortgage portfolio and real estate property holdings more sensitive to local or regional economic conditions. A significant decline in the economy of the New York metropolitan area (including Newark, NJ), could result in a greater risk of default under our loans compared with the default rate for loans secured by properties in other geographic locations and a greater risk of a decrease in the value of our real estate assets compared with a decrease in value of properties located in other geographic locations. This could result in a reduction of our revenues, increases in our loan loss allowances and impairment charges and greater losses, which might not be as acute if our portfolio were more geographically diverse.

In order for real estate properties to generate positive cash flow or to make real estate properties suitable for sale, we may need to make significant capital improvements and incur deferred maintenance costs to these properties.

        Some of the properties we acquired or will acquire in foreclosure proceedings may face competition from newer, more updated properties. In order to remain competitive and increase occupancy at these properties and/or make them attractive to potential purchasers, we may have to make significant capital improvements and/or incur deferred maintenance costs with respect to these properties. The cost of these improvements and deferred maintenance items may impair our financial performance and our liquidity.

Financing with high loan-to-value ratios involves increased risk of loss and may adversely affect us.

        Our primary source of recovery in the event of a loan default is the real estate underlying a defaulted loan. Therefore, the value of our loan depends upon the value of the underlying real estate. The value of the underlying property is dependent on numerous factors outside of our control, including national, regional and local business and economic conditions, inflation, government economic policies and the availability of credit. A loan-to-value ratio is the ratio of the amount of our loan to the estimated market value of the property underlying a loan, as determined by our internal valuation process. The higher the loan to value ratio, the greater the risk that the amount obtainable from sale of a property will be insufficient to repay the loan in full upon default.

18

Table of Contents

To facilitate the sale of our real estate properties, we provided seller financing to several purchasers in Fiscal 2009 and may do so in the future.

        Due to the credit crisis, institutional lenders adopted restrictive and onerous lending policies and significantly increased the costs of borrowing, making it difficult for potential purchasers to secure financing for the purchase of a property. In Fiscal 2009 we sold properties for an aggregate of $42.9 million, of which we received an aggregate of $25.2 million in cash and provided an aggregate of $17.8 million (of which $11.6 million was repaid in Fiscal 2010) of fixed rate senior purchase money mortgages to facilitate the sale of properties we acquired in foreclosure proceedings. As a result, we only receive a portion of the sales proceeds from these properties at closing, and the balance of the sales proceeds is at risk. If we provide senior purchase money mortgages in the future in connection with the sale of real estate we acquire through foreclosure, we may only receive a portion of the sales proceeds at closing and will only receive the balance of the sales proceeds if the purchaser does not default under such financing. The sale of properties with seller financing also limits our liquidity.

We are subject to the risks associated with loan participations, such as lack of full control rights.

        Some of our investments are participating interests in loans in which we share the rights, obligations and benefits of the loan with participating lenders pursuant to a participation agreement. We may need the consent of these parties to exercise our rights under such loans, including rights with respect to amendment of loan documentation, the institution of, and control over, foreclosure actions, entering into forbearance agreements with borrowers, and sale of the underlying property upon acquisition in foreclosure. Our participant may have interests and goals that are different from ours and may desire an action or position which we oppose. As a result, we could become engaged in a dispute with a participant which may affect our ability to take action with respect to defaulted loan or disposition of the property, to our detriment.

We may have less control of our investment when we invest in joint ventures.

        From time-to-time, we have entered into joint venture agreements. Our co-venturers may have different interests or goals than we do and our co-venturers may not be able or willing to take an action that is desired by us. A disagreement with respect to the activities of the joint venture could result in a substantial diversion of time and effort by our management and could result in our exercise, or one of our co-venturers exercise, of the buy/sell provision often contained in our joint venture organizational documents. In addition, there is no limitation under our charter documents as to the amount of funds that we may invest in joint ventures. Accordingly, we could invest a substantial amount of our funds in joint ventures which ultimately may not be profitable as a result of disagreements with and among our co-venturers.

Liability relating to environmental matters may impact the value of properties that we may acquire upon foreclosure of the properties underlying our investments.

        To the extent we foreclose on properties with respect to which we have extended mortgage loans, we may be subject to environmental liabilities arising from such foreclosed properties. Under various U.S. federal, state and local laws, an owner or operator of real property may become liable for the costs of removal of certain hazardous substances released on its property. These laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances.

        The presence of hazardous substances may adversely affect an owner's ability to sell real estate or borrow using real estate as collateral. To the extent that an owner of a property underlying one of our

19

Table of Contents

loans becomes liable for removal costs, the ability of the owner to make payments to us may be reduced, which in turn may adversely affect the value of the relevant mortgage asset held by us.

        If we foreclose on properties underlying our loans, the presence of hazardous substances on a property may adversely affect our ability to sell the property and we may incur substantial remediation costs. The discovery of material environmental liabilities attached to such properties could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We operate in a highly competitive market.

        We compete with many third parties engaged in finance and real estate investment activities, including other REITs, specialty finance companies, public and private lending companies, investment funds and other entities. Some of these competitors have substantially greater financial resources than we do and generally may be able to accept more risk. As such, they have the ability to make larger loans and to reduce the risk of loss from any one loan by having a more diversified loan portfolio. They may also enjoy significant competitive advantages that result from, among other things, enhanced operating efficiencies. An increase in the availability of funds to lenders, or a decrease in the amount of borrowing activity, may increase competition for making loans and may reduce obtainable yields or increase the credit risk inherent in the available loans.

Our revenues and the value of our portfolio may be negatively affected by casualty events occurring on properties securing our loans.

        We require our borrowers to obtain, for our benefit, comprehensive insurance covering the property and any improvements to the property collateralizing our loan in an amount intended to be sufficient to provide for the cost of replacement in the event of casualty. In addition, joint ventures in which we are an equity participant carry comprehensive insurance covering the property and any improvements to the property owned by the joint venture for the cost of replacement in the event of a casualty. Further, we carry insurance for such purpose on properties owned by us. However, the amount of insurance coverage maintained for any property may not be sufficient to pay the full replacement cost following a casualty event. In addition, the rent loss coverage under a policy may not extend for the full period of time that a tenant may be entitled to a rent abatement that is a result of, or that may be required to complete restoration following a casualty event. In addition, there are certain types of losses, such as those arising from earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and terrorist attacks, that may be uninsurable or that may not be economically insurable. Changes in zoning, building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors may make it impossible for our borrower, a joint venture or us, as the case may be, to use insurance proceeds to replace damaged or destroyed improvements at a property. If any of these or similar events occur, the amount of coverage may not be sufficient to replace a damaged or destroyed property and/or to repay in full the amount due on all loans collateralized by such property. As a result, our returns and the value of our investment may be reduced.

Senior management and other key personnel are critical to our business and our future success may depend on our ability to retain them.

        We depend on the services of Fredric H. Gould, chairman of our board of trustees, Jeffrey A. Gould, our president and chief executive officer, and other members of senior management to carry out our business and investment strategies. Although Jeffrey A. Gould devotes substantially all of his business time to our affairs, he devotes a limited amount of his business time to entities affiliated with us. In addition to Jeffrey A. Gould, only three other executive officers, Mitchell Gould, our executive vice president, Lonnie Halpern, a vice president, and George Zweier, our vice president and chief

20

Table of Contents

financial officer, devote all or substantially all of their business time to us. The remainder of our executive management personnel share their services on a part-time basis with entities affiliated with us and located in the same executive offices pursuant to a shared services agreement. We rely on part-time executive officers to provide certain services to us, including legal, accounting and computer services, since we do not employ full-time executive officers to handle these services. If the shared services agreement is terminated, we will have to obtain such services or hire employees to perform them. We may not be able to replace these services or hire such employees in a timely manner or on terms, including cost and level of expertise, that are as favorable as those we receive under the shared services agreement.

        In addition, in the future we may need to attract and retain qualified senior management and other key personnel, both on a full-time and part-time basis. The loss of the services of any of our senior management or other key personnel or our inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could impair our ability to carry out our business and our investment strategies.

        We do not carry key man life insurance on members of our senior management.

Our transactions with affiliated entities involve conflicts of interest.

        Entities affiliated with us and with certain of our executive officers provide services to us and on our behalf. Although our policy is to obtain terms in transactions with affiliates that are at least as favorable as those that we would receive if the transactions were entered into with unaffiliated entities, these transactions raise the potential that we may not receive terms as favorable as those that we would receive if the transactions were entered into with unaffiliated entities.

Compliance with REIT requirements may hinder our ability to maximize profits.

        In order to qualify as a REIT for Federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning among other things, our sources of income, the amounts we distribute to our shareholders and the ownership of securities. We may also be required to make distributions to shareholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have funds readily available for distribution. Accordingly, compliance with REIT requirements may hinder our ability to operate solely on the basis of maximizing profits.

        In order to qualify as a REIT, we must also ensure that at the end of each calendar quarter at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash items, government securities and qualified REIT real estate assets. The remainder of our investment in securities cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of such issuer. In addition, no more than 5% of the value of our assets can consist of the securities of any one issuer, other than a qualified REIT security. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we must dispose of the portion of our assets in excess of such amounts within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in order to avoid losing our REIT status and suffering adverse tax consequences. This requirement could cause us to dispose of assets for consideration of less than their true value and could lead to a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments.

        None.

21

Table of Contents

Executive Officers of Registrant

        Set forth below is a list of our executive officers whose terms will expire at our 2011 annual Board of Trustees' meeting. The business history of officers who are also Trustees will be provided in our proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than January 28, 2011.

        Mitchell K. Gould (age 38), employed by us since May 1998, has been a Vice President since March 1999 and Executive Vice President since March 2007. From January 1998 until May 1998, Mr. Gould was employed by Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. where he was engaged in originating and underwriting commercial real estate loans for securitization.

        Simeon Brinberg (age 76) has been our Secretary since 1983, a Senior Vice President since 1988, and Senior Counsel since March 2006. Mr. Brinberg has been a Vice President of Georgetown Partners, Inc., the managing general partner of Gould Investors L.P., since October 1988. Gould Investors L.P. is primarily engaged in the ownership and operation of real estate properties held for investment. Since June 1989, Mr. Brinberg has been a Vice President of One Liberty Properties, Inc. (currently a Senior Vice President), a REIT engaged in the ownership of income producing real properties leased to tenants under long term leases. Mr. Brinberg is a member of the New York Bar and was engaged in the private practice of law for approximately 30 years prior to 1988.

        David W. Kalish (age 63) has been our Senior Vice President, Finance since August 1998. Mr. Kalish was our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from June 1990 until August 1998. He has been Chief Financial Officer of One Liberty Properties, Inc. and Georgetown Partners, Inc. since June 1990. For more than five years prior to June 1990, Mr. Kalish, a certified public accountant, was a partner of Buchbinder Tunick & Company LLP and its predecessors.

        Israel Rosenzweig (age 63) has been a Senior Vice President since April 1998. Mr. Rosenzweig has been a Vice President of Georgetown Partners, Inc. since May 1997 and from 2000 to March 2009 was President of GP Partners, Inc., an affiliate of Gould Investors L.P. which provided advisory services in the real estate and financial services industries to an investment advisor. He also has been a Senior Vice President of One Liberty Properties, Inc. since May 1997.

22

Table of Contents

        Mark H. Lundy (age 48) has been our General Counsel since March 2007 and a Senior Vice President since March 2005. From 1993 to March 2005 he was a Vice President. He has been the Secretary of One Liberty Properties, Inc. since June 1993 and he also serves as a Senior Vice President of One Liberty Properties, Inc. Mr. Lundy has been a Vice President of Georgetown Partners, Inc. (currently Senior Vice President) since July 1990. He is a member of the bars of New York and Washington, D.C.

        George E. Zweier (age 46) has been employed by us since June 1998 and was elected Vice President, Chief Financial Officer in August 1998. For approximately five years prior to joining us, Mr. Zweier, a certified public accountant, was an accounting officer with the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Limited in its New York office.

        Lonnie Halpern (age 35) has been employed by us since August 2005 and was elected a Vice President in March 2007. Mr. Halpern is a member of the bars of New York and Massachusetts, and was an associate at Goodwin Procter LLP, New York, N.Y. from September 2001 to March 2004 and Hogan & Hartson LLP, New York, N.Y. from April 2004 to July 2005.

Item 2.    Properties.

        Our executive offices are located at 60 Cutter Mill Road, Great Neck, New York, where we currently occupy approximately 12,000 square feet with Gould Investors L.P., REIT Management Corp., One Liberty Properties, Inc. and other related entities. The building in which our executive offices are located is owned by a subsidiary of Gould Investors L.P. For the year ended September 30, 2010, we contributed $60,000 to the annual rent of $495,000 paid by Gould Investors L.P., REIT Management Corp., One Liberty Properties, Inc., and related entities. We also lease, under a direct lease with the Gould Investors L.P. subsidiary, an additional 1,800 square feet directly adjacent to the 12,000 square feet at an annual rental of $60,000.

        At September 30, 2010, we owned four real estate properties, with an aggregate book value of $55.8 million, of which three properties were acquired in foreclosure proceedings. The properties owned by our Newark Joint Venture, having a book value of $41.9 million as of September 30, 2010, represent 22% of our total assets as of September 30, 2010. No other real estate property owned by us represents 5% of our total assets as of September 30, 2010. See "Item 1. Business—Our Real Estate Assets" and "Item 1. Business—Newark Joint Venture" for a schedule of the real property assets acquired by us in foreclosure proceedings and owned at September 30, 2010 and information relating to the Newark Joint Venture.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings.

        None.

Item 4.    [Removed and Reserved]

23

Table of Contents

PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

        Our common shares of beneficial interest, or Common Shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol "BRT." The following table shows for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of the Common Shares on the NYSE as reported on the Composite Tape and the per share dividend declared in the periods indicated:

        On December 6, 2010, the high and low sales prices of our Common Shares on the NYSE was $6.64 and $6.55, respectively.

        As of December 6, 2010, there were approximately 1,282 holders of record of our Common Shares and approximately 4,820 shareholders.

24

Table of Contents

Stock Performance Graph

        This graph compares the performance of our shares with the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and a peer group index consisting of publicly traded mortgage REITs. The graph assumes $100 invested on September 30, 2005 and assumes the reinvestment of dividends.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among BRT Realty Trust, The S&P 500 Index
And The FTSE NAREIT Mortgage REITs Index

*

$100 invested on 9/30/05 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending September 30.

Copyright© 2010 S&P, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.

25

Table of Contents