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CENTERSPACE - Quarter Report: 2019 March (Form 10-Q)

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
þ    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019
or 
☐    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
Commission File Number 001-35624
INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
North Dakota
45-0311232
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
1400 31st Avenue SW, Suite 60, Post Office Box 1988, Minot, ND 58702-1988
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(701) 837-4738
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 the filing requirements for at least the past 90 days.
Yes þ
No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically 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 þ
No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, a 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 þ
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller Reporting Company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐
No þ
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, no par value
IRET
New York Stock Exchange
Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares
IRET-C
New York Stock Exchange
The number of common shares of beneficial interest outstanding as of April 29, 2019, was 11,754,251.
 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page
 
 
 
 

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PART I
Item 1. Financial Statements.

INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
Real estate investments
 
 
 
Property owned
$
1,673,158

 
$
1,627,636

Less accumulated depreciation
(371,672
)
 
(353,871
)
 
1,301,486

 
1,273,765

Unimproved land
2,252

 
5,301

Mortgage loans receivable
10,260

 
10,410

Total real estate investments
1,313,998

 
1,289,476

Cash and cash equivalents
23,329

 
13,792

Restricted cash
4,819

 
5,464

Other assets
29,166

 
27,265

TOTAL ASSETS
$
1,371,312

 
$
1,335,997

LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY, AND EQUITY
 
 
 
LIABILITIES
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$
40,697

 
$
40,892

Revolving lines of credit
118,677

 
57,500

Term loans, net of unamortized loan costs of $964 and $1,009, respectively
144,036

 
143,991

Mortgages payable, net of unamortized loan costs of $1,637 and $1,777, respectively
430,950

 
444,197

TOTAL LIABILITIES
$
734,360

 
$
686,580

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 6)

 

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS – CONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE ENTITIES

 
5,968

SERIES D PREFERRED UNITS (Cumulative convertible preferred units, $100 par value, 166 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and no units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018, aggregate liquidation preference of $16,560)
16,560

 

EQUITY
 
 
 
Series C Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (Cumulative redeemable preferred shares, no par value, $25 per share liquidation preference, 4,118 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, aggregate liquidation preference of $102,971)
99,456

 
99,456

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest (Unlimited authorization, no par value, 11,768 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and 11,942 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018)
895,381

 
899,234

Accumulated distributions in excess of net income
(443,661
)
 
(429,048
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
(3,139
)
 
(856
)
Total shareholders’ equity
$
548,037

 
$
568,786

Noncontrolling interests – Operating Partnership (1,365 units at March 31, 2019 and 1,368 units at December 31, 2018)
66,060

 
67,916

Noncontrolling interests – consolidated real estate entities
6,295

 
6,747

Total equity
$
620,392

 
$
643,449

TOTAL LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY, AND EQUITY
$
1,371,312

 
$
1,335,997

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
REVENUE
$
45,608

 
$
43,035

EXPENSES
 
 
 
Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes
14,804

 
14,246

Real estate taxes
5,232

 
5,021

Property management expense
1,554

 
1,377

Casualty loss
641

 
50

Depreciation and amortization
18,111

 
20,516

General and administrative expenses
3,806

 
3,619

TOTAL EXPENSES
$
44,148

 
$
44,829

Operating income (loss)
1,460

 
(1,794
)
Interest expense
(7,896
)
 
(8,296
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(2
)
 
(121
)
Interest income
407

 
673

Other income
17

 
16

Income (loss) before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments and income (loss) from discontinued operations
(6,014
)
 
(9,522
)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments
54

 
2,304

Income (loss) from continuing operations
(5,960
)
 
(7,218
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 
13,882

NET INCOME (LOSS)
$
(5,960
)
 
$
6,664

Dividends to preferred unitholders
(57
)
 

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests – Operating Partnership
743

 
(580
)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests – consolidated real estate entities
576

 
520

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interests
(4,698
)
 
6,604

Dividends to preferred shareholders
(1,705
)
 
(1,705
)
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
$
(6,403
)
 
$
4,899

Earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations – basic and diluted
$
(0.54
)
 
$
(0.63
)
Earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations – basic and diluted

 
1.04

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE – BASIC & DILUTED
$
(0.54
)
 
$
0.41

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)


 
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Net income (loss)
$
(5,960
)
 
$
6,664

Other comprehensive income:
 
 
 
Unrealized gain (loss) from derivative instrument
(2,282
)
 
1,720

(Gain) loss on derivative instrument reclassified into earnings
(1
)
 
102

Total comprehensive income (loss)
$
(8,243
)
 
$
8,486

Net comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests – Operating Partnership
980

 
(772
)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests – consolidated real estate entities
576

 
520

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interests
$
(6,687
)
 
$
8,234


See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


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INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (unaudited)

 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
PREFERRED
SHARES
NUMBER
OF
COMMON
SHARES
 
COMMON
SHARES
 
ACCUMULATED
DISTRIBUTIONS
IN EXCESS OF
NET INCOME
 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
NONREDEEMABLE
NONCONTROLLING
INTERESTS
 
TOTAL
EQUITY
Balance December 31, 2017
$
99,456

12,004

 
$
902,305

 
$
(374,365
)
 
$
(539
)
 
$
87,186

 
$
714,043

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interests and nonredeemable noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
 
6,604

 
 
 
281

 
6,885

Change in fair value of derivatives
 
 
 
 
 


 
1,822

 


 
1,822

Distributions - common shares and units ($0.70 per share and unit)
 
 
 
 
 
(8,405
)
 
 
 
(990
)
 
(9,395
)
Distributions – Series C preferred shares ($0.4140625 per Series C share)
 
 
 
 
 
(1,705
)
 
 
 
 
 
(1,705
)
Shares issued and share-based compensation
 

2

 
441

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
441

Redemption of units for common shares


2

 
34

 
 
 
 
 
(34
)
 

Redemption of units for cash
 



 


 
 
 
 
 
(2,237
)
 
(2,237
)
Shares repurchased

(29
)
 
(1,442
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
(1,442
)
Other
 

 
(26
)
 
 
 
 
 
81

 
55

Balance March 31, 2018
$
99,456

11,979

 
$
901,312

 
$
(377,871
)
 
1,283

 
$
84,287

 
$
708,467

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance December 31, 2018
$
99,456

11,942

 
$
899,234

 
$
(429,048
)
 
$
(856
)
 
$
74,663

 
$
643,449

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interests and nonredeemable noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
 
(4,698
)
 
 
 
(1,145
)
 
(5,843
)
Change in fair value of derivatives
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2,283
)
 
 
 
(2,283
)
Distributions – common shares and units ($0.70 per share and unit)
 
 
 
 
 
(8,210
)
 
 
 
(957
)
 
(9,167
)
Distributions – Series C preferred shares ($0.4140625 per Series C share)
 
 
 
 
 
(1,705
)
 
 
 
 
 
(1,705
)
Shares issued and share-based compensation
 

 
 
436

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
436

Redemption of units for cash
 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
(156
)
 
(156
)
Shares repurchased


(174
)
 
(8,815
)
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
(8,815
)
Acquisition of redeemable noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
4,549

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,549

Other
 

 
 
(23
)
 
 
 
 
 
(50
)
 
(73
)
Balance March 31, 2019
$
99,456

11,768

 
$
895,381

 
$
(443,661
)
 
$
(3,139
)
 
$
72,355

 
$
620,392

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

 
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Net income (loss)
$
(5,960
)
 
$
6,664

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization, including amortization of capitalized loan costs
18,413

 
20,859

(Gain) loss on sale of real estate, land, other investments and discontinued operations
(54
)
 
(16,036
)
Share-based compensation expense
416

 
425

Other, net
374

 
835

Changes in other assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

Other assets
(1,542
)
 
(5,026
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
(5,355
)
 
(3,972
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
6,292

 
$
3,749

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Increase in notes receivable

 
(4,493
)
Proceeds from sale of real estate and other investments
2,912

 
34,732

Payments for acquisitions of real estate assets
(27,741
)
 
(128,934
)
Payments for improvements of real estate assets
(801
)
 
(2,504
)
Other investing activities
109

 
24

Net cash provided by (used by) investing activities
$
(25,521
)
 
$
(101,175
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Principal payments on mortgages payable
(13,503
)
 
(42,804
)
Proceeds from revolving lines of credit
79,677

 
72,000

Principal payments on revolving lines of credit
(18,500
)
 
(153,000
)
Principal payments on construction debt

 
(21,689
)
Payments for acquisition of noncontrolling interests – consolidated real estate entities
(1,239
)
 

Repurchase of common shares
(8,815
)
 
(1,442
)
Repurchase of partnership units
(156
)
 
(2,237
)
Distributions paid to common shareholders
(8,336
)
 
(8,405
)
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders

 
(1,705
)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests – Unitholders of the Operating Partnership
(957
)
 
(990
)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests – consolidated real estate entities
(50
)
 
(53
)
Net cash provided by (used by) financing activities
$
28,121

 
$
(160,325
)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH
8,892

 
(257,751
)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
19,256

 
286,226

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD
$
28,148

 
$
28,475

SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 

 
 

Accrued capital expenditures
$
1,167

 
$
(222
)
Distributions declared but not paid
1,705

 

Property acquired through issuance of Series D preferred units
16,560

 

 
 
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 

 
 

Cash paid for interest
$
7,350

 
$
8,114

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
NOTE 1 • ORGANIZATION 
Investors Real Estate Trust, collectively with our consolidated subsidiaries (“IRET,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), is a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) focused on the ownership, management, acquisition, redevelopment, and development of apartment communities. As of March 31, 2019, we owned interests in 88 apartment communities consisting of 13,975 apartment homes.
NOTE 2 • BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
We conduct a majority of our business activities through our consolidated operating partnership, IRET Properties, A North Dakota Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), as well as through a number of other consolidated subsidiary entities. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of all our subsidiaries in which we maintain a controlling interest, including the Operating Partnership. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. On September 20, 2018, our Board of Trustees approved a change in our fiscal year-end from April 30 to December 31, beginning on January 1, 2019. We filed a transition report on Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2018, in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. Beginning on January 1, 2019, all fiscal years will be from January 1 to December 31.
On December 14, 2018, the Board approved a reverse stock split of our outstanding common shares, no par value per share, and limited partnership units ("Units") at a ratio of 1-for-10. The reverse stock split was effective as of the close of trading on December 27, 2018, with trade commencing on a split-adjusted basis on December 28, 2018. We have adjusted all shares and Units and per share and Unit data for all periods presented.
The condensed consolidated financial statements also reflect the Operating Partnership's ownership of certain joint venture entities in which the Operating Partnership has a general partner or controlling interest. These entities are consolidated into our operations, with noncontrolling interests reflecting the noncontrolling partners’ share of ownership, income, and expenses.
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, certain disclosures accompanying annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP are omitted. The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods, have been included.
The current period’s results of operations are not necessarily indicative of results which ultimately may be achieved for the year. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2019.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
The following table provides a brief description of recent accounting standards updates (“ASUs”).



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Standard
Description
Date of Adoption
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2016-02, Leases; ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; ASU 2018-11, Leases: Targeted Improvements; ASU 2018-20, Leases (Topic 842) - Narrow-Scope Improvements for Leases
These ASUs amend existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet and making certain changes to lessor accounting.
These ASUs are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted these standards using the modified retrospective approach effective January 1, 2019.
Our residential leases, where we are the lessor, will continue to be accounted for as operating leases under the new standards. As a result of adopting these standards, there were no significant changes in the accounting for lease revenue. For leases where we are the lessee, we recognized a right of use asset and lease liability of $889,000 and $1.0 million, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheets. There are also additional disclosures required under the new standard. Refer to the Leases section below for more information regarding the impact of adopting the standards on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820) - Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirement for Fair Value Measurements
This ASU eliminates certain disclosure requirements affecting all levels of measurement, and modifies and adds new disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements.
This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.
We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on our disclosures.
ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Topic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract
This ASU reduces the complexity for the accounting for costs of implementing a cloud computing service arrangement. The standard aligns various requirements for capitalizing implementation costs.
This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted.

We are currently evaluating the impact the new standard may have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2019-01, Leases (Topic 842) - Codification Improvements
This ASU provides clarification on various lease related issues and provides for reduced transition disclosure requirements.
This ASU has two effective dates. The various lease issues are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The transition disclosures are effective with the ASU 2016-02, Leases. We adopted this standard using the modified retrospective approach effective January 1, 2019.
The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements. Refer to the Leases section below for transition disclosures.

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH
 
(in thousands)
Balance sheet description
March 31, 2019

 
March 31, 2018

Cash and cash equivalents
$
23,329

 
$
24,422

Restricted cash
4,819

 
4,053

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
28,148

 
$
28,475


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As of March 31, 2019, restricted cash consisted of $4.8 million of escrows held by lenders for real estate taxes, insurance, and capital additions.
LEASES
Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted ASUs 2016-02, 2018-10, 2018-11, 2018-20, and 2019-01 related to leases using the modified retrospective approach. We elected to adopt the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which permits us not to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, classification, and initial direct costs under the new standard, and the practical expedient related to land easements, which allows us to not evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for under ASC 840. We made an accounting policy election to exclude leases in which we are a lessee with a term of 12 months or less from the balance sheet.
As a lessor, we primarily lease multifamily apartment homes which qualify as operating leases with terms that are generally one year or less. Some of our apartment communities have commercial spaces available for lease. Lease terms for these spaces typically range from three to fifteen years. The leases for commercial spaces generally include options to extend the lease for additional terms.
Many of our leases contain non-lease components for utility reimbursement from our residents and common area maintenance from our commercial tenants. We have elected the practical expedient to combine lease and non-lease components for all asset classes. The combined components are included in lease income and are accounted for under ASC 842. The following table shows the lease income recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
March 31, 2019

 
March 31, 2018

Lease income - operating leases
 
$
44,826

 
$
40,225

Non-lease components
 

 
1,211

Total lease income - included in Revenue
 
$
44,826

 
$
41,436

The aggregate amount of future scheduled lease income on our operating leases for commercial spaces, excluding any variable lease income and non-lease components, as of March 31, 2019, was as follows:
Year
 
(in thousands)
2019 (remainder)
 
$
2,751

2020
 
3,349

2021
 
3,356

2022
 
3,344

2023
 
3,108

Thereafter
 
7,967

Total scheduled lease income - operating leases
 
$
23,875

REVENUES
We adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as of May 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective approach. We elected to apply the new standard to contracts that were not complete as of May 1, 2018. We also elected to omit disclosing the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less. Under the new standard, revenue is recognized in accordance with the transfer of goods and services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration the company expects to be entitled for those goods and services.
We primarily lease multifamily apartments under operating leases generally with terms of one year or less. Rental revenues are recognized in accordance with ASC 842, Leases, using a method that represents a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Rental income represents approximately 98.3% of our total revenues and includes gross market rent less adjustments for concessions, vacancy loss, and bad debt. Other property revenues represent the remaining 1.7% of our total revenue and are primarily driven by other fee income, which is typically recognized at a point in time.
Revenue streams that are included in ASU 2014-09 include:
Other property revenues: We recognize revenue for rental related income not included as a component of a lease, such as application fees, as earned, and have concluded that this is appropriate under the new standard.

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Gains or losses on sales of real estate: Subsequent to the adoption of the new standard, a gain or loss is recognized when the criteria for derecognition of an asset are met, including when (1) a contract exists and (2) the buyer obtained control of the nonfinancial asset that was sold. As a result, we may recognize a gain on real estate disposition transactions that previously did not qualify as a sale or for full profit recognition under the previous accounting standard.

The following table presents the disaggregation of revenue streams for the three months ended March 31, 2019:
 
 
 
(in thousands, except percentages)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Revenue Stream
Applicable Standard
 
Amount of Revenue

Percent of Revenue

Rental revenue
Leases
 
$
44,826

98.3
%
Other property revenue
Revenue from contracts with customers
 
782

1.7
%
Total Revenue
 
 
$
45,608

100.0
%

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
We periodically evaluate our long-lived assets, including investments in real estate, for impairment indicators. The impairment evaluation is performed on assets by property such that assets for a property form an asset group. The judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions, expected holding period of each asset group, and legal and environmental concerns. If indicators exist, we compare the expected future undiscounted cash flows for the long-lived asset group against the carrying amount of that asset group. If the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying amount of the asset group. If our anticipated holding period for properties, the estimated fair value of properties, or other factors change based on market conditions or otherwise, our evaluation of impairment charges may be different and such differences could be material to our consolidated financial statements. The evaluation of anticipated cash flows is subjective and is based, in part, on assumptions regarding future occupancy, rental rates, and capital requirements that could differ materially from actual results. Reducing planned property holding periods may increase the likelihood of recording impairment losses.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded no impairment charges.
MORTGAGE RECEIVABLE AND NOTES RECEIVABLE
In August 2017, we sold 13 multifamily communities in exchange for cash and an $11.0 million note secured by a mortgage on the assets. As of March 31, 2019, the balance of the note was $10.3 million, with 12 communities remaining in the pool of assets used to secure the mortgage. The note bears an interest rate of 5.5% and matures in August 2020. Monthly payments are interest-only, with the principal balance payable at maturity. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, we received and recognized approximately $143,000 and $151,000 of interest income, respectively.
In July 2017, we originated a $16.2 million loan in a multifamily development located in New Hope, MN, a Minneapolis suburb. As of July 31, 2018, we had funded the full initial loan balance, which appears in other assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; however, we may fund additional amounts upon satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the loan agreement. The note bears an interest rate of 6%, matures in July 2023, and provides us an option to purchase the development prior to the loan maturity date.
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
We have determined that our Operating Partnership and each of our less-than-wholly owned real estate partnerships is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), as the limited partners or the functional equivalent of limited partners lack substantive kick-out rights and substantive participating rights. We are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs, and the VIEs are required to be consolidated on our balance sheet because we have a controlling financial interest in the VIEs and have both the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs as well as the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs. Because our Operating Partnership is a VIE, all of our assets and liabilities are held through a VIE.
NOTE 3 • EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of our common shares of beneficial interest (“common shares”) outstanding during the period. We have issued restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under our 2015 Incentive Plan and Series D Convertible Preferred Units ("Series D preferred

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units"), which could have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share upon exercise of the RSUs or upon conversion of the Series D preferred units (refer to Note 4 for further discussion of the preferred units). Other than the issuance of RSUs and Series D preferred units, we have no outstanding options, warrants, convertible stock or other contractual obligations requiring issuance of additional shares that would result in dilution of earnings. Under the terms of the Operating Partnership’s Agreement of Limited Partnership, limited partners have the right to require the Operating Partnership to redeem their limited partnership units (“Units”) any time following the first anniversary of the date they acquired such Units (“Exchange Right”).  Upon the exercise of Exchange Rights, and in our sole discretion, we may issue common shares in exchange for Units on a one-for-one basis.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, 38,000 and 10,000 performance-based restricted stock awards and RSUs were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the assumed proceeds per share plus the average unearned compensation were greater than the average market price of the common stock for the periods presented and, therefore, were anti-dilutive.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:  
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
NUMERATOR
 

 
 

Income (loss) from continuing operations – controlling interests
$
(4,698
)
 
$
(5,813
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations – controlling interests

 
12,417

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interests
(4,698
)
 
6,604

Dividends to preferred shareholders
(1,705
)
 
(1,705
)
Numerator for basic earnings (loss) per share – net income available to common shareholders
(6,403
)
 
4,899

Noncontrolling interests – Operating Partnership
(743
)
 
580

Numerator for diluted earnings (loss) per share
$
(7,146
)
 
$
5,479

DENOMINATOR
 

 
 

Denominator for basic earnings per share weighted average shares
11,763

 
11,972

Effect of redeemable operating partnership units
1,367

 
1,424

Denominator for diluted earnings per share
13,130

 
13,396

Earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations – basic and diluted
$
(0.54
)
 
$
(0.63
)
Earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued operations – basic and diluted

 
1.04

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE – BASIC & DILUTED
$
(0.54
)
 
$
0.41

NOTE 4 • EQUITY AND MEZZANINE EQUITY
Operating Partnership Units. The Operating Partnership had 1.4 million outstanding Units at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Common Shares and Equity Awards. Common shares outstanding on March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, totaled 11.8 million and 11.9 million, respectively. There were 207 shares issued upon the vesting of equity awards under our 2015 Incentive Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2019, with a total grant-date fair value of $10,000. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we issued 1,084 shares, with a total grant-date fair value of $62,000 under our 2015 Incentive Plan. These shares vest based on performance and service criteria.
Exchange Rights. Pursuant to the exercise of Exchange Rights, we redeemed Units during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 as detailed in the table below.
 
(in thousands, except per Unit amounts)
Three months ended March 31,
Number of Units

 
Aggregate Cost(1)

 
Average Price Per Unit

2019
3

 
$
156

 
$
58.95

2018
40

 
$
2,237

 
$
56.60

(1)
The redemption price is determined using the volume weighted average price for the ten trading days prior to the date a unitholder provides notification of their intent to redeem units.

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We also redeemed Units in exchange for common shares in connection with Unitholders exercising their Exchange Rights during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 as detailed in the table below.
 
(in thousands)
Three months ended March 31,
Number of Units

 
Total Book Value

2019

 

2018
3

 
$
34

Share Repurchase Program. On December 14, 2018, our Board of Trustees reauthorized our $50 million share repurchase program for an additional one-year period. Under this program, we may repurchase common shares in open-market purchases, including pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 and Rule 10b-18 plans, as determined by management and in accordance with the requirements of the SEC. The extent to which we repurchase our shares, and the timing of repurchases, will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, regulatory requirements, and other corporate considerations, as determined by the executive management team. This program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. As of March 31, 2019, $24.6 million remained available under our $50 million authorized share repurchase program. Common shares repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 are detailed in the table below.
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Three months ended March 31,
Number of Shares

 
Aggregate Cost(1)

 
Average Price Per Share

2019
174

 
$
8,804

 
$
50.54

2018
29

 
$
1,442

 
$
49.79

(1)
Amount includes commissions.
Series C Preferred Shares. Series C preferred shares outstanding were 4.1 million shares at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. The Series C preferred shares are nonvoting and redeemable for cash at $25.00 per share at our option after October 2, 2022. Holders of these shares are entitled to cumulative distributions, payable quarterly (as and if declared by the Board of Trustees). Distributions accrue at an annual rate of $1.65625 per share, which is equal to 6.625% of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference ($103.0 million liquidation preference in the aggregate).
Series D Preferred Units (Mezzanine Equity). During the three months ended March 31, 2019 we issued 165,600 newly created Series D preferred units at an issuance price of $100 per preferred unit as partial consideration for the acquisition of SouthFork Townhomes. The Series D preferred unit holders receive a preferred distribution at the rate of 3.862% per year. The Series D preferred units have a put option which allows the holder to redeem any or all of the Series D preferred units for cash equal to the issue price. Each Series D preferred unit is convertible, at the holder's option, into 1.37931 Units, representing a conversion exchange rate of $72.50 per unit.  The holders of the Series D preferred units do not have any voting rights.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Mezzanine Equity). Redeemable noncontrolling interests on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets represent the noncontrolling interest in joint ventures in which our unaffiliated partner, at its election, could require us to buy its interest at a purchase price to be determined by an appraisal conducted in accordance with the terms of the agreement, or at a negotiated price. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we acquired the remaining 34.5% noncontrolling interests in the real estate partnership that owns Commons and Landing at Southgate for $1.2 million . Below is a table reflecting the activity of the redeemable noncontrolling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
 
(in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2018
$
5,968

Net income
(174
)
Acquisition of redeemable noncontrolling interests
(5,794
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
$


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NOTE 5 • SEGMENT REPORTING 
We operate in a single reportable segment which includes the ownership, management, development, redevelopment, and acquisition of apartment communities. Each of our operating properties is considered a separate operating segment because each property earns revenues, incurs expenses, and has discrete financial information. Our chief operating decision-makers evaluate each property's operating results to make decisions about resources to be allocated and to assess performance. We do not group our operations based on geography, size, or type. Our apartment communities have similar long-term economic characteristics and provide similar products and services to our residents. No apartment community comprises more than 10% of consolidated revenues, profits, or assets. Accordingly, our apartment communities are aggregated into a single reportable segment.
Our executive management team comprises our chief operating decision-makers. This team measures the performance of our reportable segment based on net operating income (“NOI”), which we define as total real estate revenues less property operating expenses, including real estate taxes. We believe that NOI is an important supplemental measure of operating performance for real estate because it provides a measure of operations that is unaffected by depreciation, amortization, financing, property management overhead, casualty losses, and general and administrative expense. NOI does not represent cash generated by operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net income, net income available for common shareholders, or cash flow from operating activities as a measure of financial performance.
The following tables present NOI for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, along with reconciliations to net income in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Segment assets are also reconciled to total assets as reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Multifamily

 
All Other

 
Total

Revenue
$
44,814

 
$
794

 
$
45,608

Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes
19,688

 
348

 
20,036

Net operating income
$
25,126

 
$
446

 
$
25,572

Property management
 
 
 
 
(1,554
)
Casualty gain (loss)
 
 
 
 
(641
)
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
 
 
(18,111
)
General and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
(3,806
)
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
(7,896
)
Loss on debt extinguishment
 
 
 
 
(2
)
Interest and other income
 
 
 
 
424

Income (loss) before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments
 
 
 
 
(6,014
)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments
 
 
 
 
54

Net income (loss)
 
 
 
 
$
(5,960
)


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(in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Multifamily

 
All Other

 
Total

Revenue
$
40,054

 
$
2,981

 
$
43,035

Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes
18,128

 
1,139

 
19,267

Net operating income
$
21,926

 
$
1,842

 
$
23,768

Property management
 
 
 
 
(1,377
)
Casualty gain (loss)
 
 
 
 
(50
)
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
 
 
(20,516
)
General and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
(3,619
)
Interest expense
 
 
 
 
(8,296
)
Loss on debt extinguishment
 
 
 
 
(121
)
Interest and other income
 
 
 
 
689

Income (loss) before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments and income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 
 
 
(9,522
)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments
 
 
 
 
2,304

Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
(7,218
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 
 
 
13,882

Net income (loss)
 
 
 
 
$
6,664

Segment Assets and Accumulated Depreciation
Segment assets are summarized as follows as of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively, along with reconciliations to the condensed consolidated financial statements:
 
(in thousands)
As of March 31, 2019
Multifamily

 
All Other

 
Total

Segment assets
 

 
 

 
 

Property owned
$
1,628,195

 
$
44,963

 
$
1,673,158

Less accumulated depreciation
(357,420
)
 
(14,252
)
 
(371,672
)
Total property owned
$
1,270,775

 
$
30,711

 
$
1,301,486

Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
 
23,329

Restricted cash
 
 
 
 
4,819

Other assets
 
 
 
 
29,166

Unimproved land
 
 
 
 
2,252

Mortgage loans receivable
 
 
 
 
10,260

Total Assets
 
 
 
 
$
1,371,312

 
(in thousands)
As of December 31, 2018
Multifamily

 
All Other

 
Total

Segment assets
 

 
 

 
 

Property owned
$
1,582,917

 
$
44,719

 
$
1,627,636

Less accumulated depreciation
(340,081
)
 
(13,790
)
 
(353,871
)
Total property owned
$
1,242,836

 
$
30,929

 
$
1,273,765

Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
 
13,792

Restricted cash
 
 
 
 
5,464

Other assets
 
 
 
 
27,265

Unimproved land
 
 
 
 
5,301

Mortgage loans receivable
 
 
 
 
10,410

Total Assets
 
 
 
 
$
1,335,997

NOTE 6 • COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation.  In the ordinary course of our operations, we become involved in litigation. At this time, we know of no material pending or threatened legal proceedings, or other proceedings contemplated by governmental authorities, that would have a material impact on us.

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Environmental Matters.  Under various federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal of, or remediation of, certain hazardous or toxic substances in, on, around, or under the property. While we currently have no knowledge of any material violation of environmental laws, ordinances, or regulations at any of our properties, there can be no assurance that areas of contamination will not be identified at any of our properties or that changes in environmental laws, regulations, or cleanup requirements would not result in material costs to us.
Restrictions on Taxable Dispositions.  Twenty-five of our properties, consisting of 4,372 apartment homes, are subject to restrictions on taxable dispositions under agreements entered into with some of the sellers or contributors of the properties and are effective for varying periods. We do not believe that the agreements materially affect the conduct of our business or our decisions whether to dispose of restricted properties during the restriction period because we generally hold these and our other properties for investment purposes rather than for sale. In addition, where we deem it to be in our shareholders' best interests to dispose of such properties, we generally seek to structure sales of such properties as tax deferred transactions under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). Otherwise, we may be required to provide tax indemnification payments to the parties to these agreements.
NOTE 7 • DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
We report in discontinued operations the results of operations and the related gains or losses on the sales of properties that have either been disposed of or classified as held for sale and meet the classification of a discontinued operation as described in ASC 205, "Presentation of Financial Statements," and ASC 360, "Property, Plant, and Equipment: Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity." Under this standard, a disposal (or classification as held for sale) of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results.
We classified no new dispositions or properties held for sale as discontinued operations during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
The following information shows the effect on net income and the gains or losses from the sales of properties classified as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively:
 
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
REVENUE

 
$
196

EXPENSES
 

 
 

Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes

 
7

Real estate taxes

 
35

Depreciation and amortization

 
2

General and administrative

 
5

TOTAL EXPENSES

 
$
49

Operating income (loss)

 
147

Interest expense

 
(1
)
Other income

 
4

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations

 
150

Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations

 
13,732

INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 
$
13,882

NOTE 8 • ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS
ACQUISITIONS
We added $44.0 million of new real estate to our portfolio during the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $128.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018. Our acquisitions during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 are detailed below.

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
Date
Acquired
 
(in thousands)
 
 
Total
Acquisition
Cost

 
Form of Consideration
 
Investment Allocation
Acquisitions
 
 
Cash

 
Units(1)

 
Land

 
Building

 
Intangible
Assets

272 homes - SouthFork Townhomes- Lakeville, MN
February 26, 2019
 
$
44,000

 
$
27,440

 
$
16,560

 
$
3,502

 
$
39,950

 
$
548

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Acquisitions
 
 
$
44,000

 
$
27,440

 
$
16,560

 
$
3,502

 
$
39,950

 
$
548

(1)
Value of Series D preferred units at the acquisition date.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
Date
Acquired
 
(in thousands)
 
 
Total
Acquisition
Cost(1)

 
Investment Allocation
Acquisitions
 
 
Land

 
Building

 
Intangible
Assets

390 homes - Westend - Denver, CO
March 28, 2018
 
$
128,700

 
$
25,525

 
$
102,101

 
$
1,074

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Acquisitions
 
 
$
128,700

 
$
25,525

 
$
102,101

 
$
1,074

(1)
Acquisition cost was paid in cash.
DISPOSITIONS
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we sold one parcel of land for a sale price of $3.0 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we sold three commercial properties for an aggregate sale price of $36.0 million. The following tables detail our dispositions for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Dispositions
Date
Disposed
 
Sales Price

 
Book Value
and Sale Cost

 
Gain/(Loss)

Unimproved Land
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Creekside Crossing - Bismarck, ND
March 1, 2019
 
$
3,049

 
$
3,205

 
$
(156
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Dispositions
 
 
$
3,049

 
$
3,205

 
$
(156
)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Dispositions
Date
Disposed
 
Sale Price

 
Book Value
and Sale Cost

 
Gain/(Loss)

Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
43,404 sq ft Garden View - St. Paul, MN
January 19, 2018
 
$
14,000

 
$
6,191

 
$
7,809

52,116 sq ft Ritchie Medical - St. Paul, MN
January 19, 2018
 
16,500

 
10,419

 
6,081

22,187 sq ft Bismarck 715 East Broadway - Bismarck, ND
March 7, 2018
 
5,500

 
3,215

 
2,285

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Dispositions
 
 
$
36,000

 
$
19,825

 
$
16,175

NOTE 9 • DEBT
As of March 31, 2019, we owned 88 apartment communities, of which 48 served as collateral for mortgage loans. The majority of these mortgage loans were non-recourse to us other than for standard carve-out obligations. As of March 31, 2019, we believe that there are no material defaults or instances of noncompliance in regards to any of these mortgages payable.

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As of March 31, 2019, we owned 40 apartment communities that were not encumbered by mortgages, with 30 of those properties providing credit support for our unsecured borrowings. Our primary unsecured credit facility is a revolving, multi-bank line of credit, with the Bank of Montreal serving as administrative agent. Our line of credit has total commitments of $250.0 million, with borrowing capacity based on the value of properties contained in the unencumbered asset pool ("UAP"). As of March 31, 2019, the UAP provided for a borrowing capacity of $204.4 million, with additional borrowing availability of $85.7 million beyond the $118.7 million drawn, including the balance on our operating line of credit (discussed below). This credit facility matures on August 31, 2022, with one twelve-month option to extend the maturity date at our election.
We have unsecured term loans of $70.0 million and $75.0 million, which mature on January 15, 2024 and on August 31, 2025, respectively.
The interest rates on the line of credit and term loans are based, at our option, on either the lender's base rate plus a margin, ranging from 35-85 basis points, or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), plus a margin that ranges from 135-190 basis points based on our consolidated leverage. Our line of credit and term loans are subject to customary financial covenants and limitations. We believe that we are in compliance with all such financial covenants and limitations as of March 31, 2019.
We also have a $6.0 million operating line of credit. This operating line of credit is designated to enhance treasury management activities and more effectively manage cash balances. This operating line has a one-year term, with pricing based on a market spread plus the one-month LIBOR index rate. As of March 31, 2019, we had $4.5 million outstanding on this operating line compared to no outstanding balance as of December 31, 2018.
The following table summarizes our indebtedness at March 31, 2019:
 
(in thousands)
 
 
March 31, 2019

December 31, 2018

Weighted Average Maturity in Years at March 31, 2019
Unsecured lines of credit(1)
$
103,677

$
57,500

3.3
Term loans
145,000

145,000

5.6
Unsecured debt
248,677

202,500

 
Secured line of credit(1)
15,000


3.4
Mortgages payable - fixed
432,587

445,974

4.2
Total debt
$
696,264

$
648,474

4.3
Weighted average interest rate on primary line of credit
3.90
%
3.72
%
 
Weighted average interest rate on operating line of credit
4.40
%

 
Weighted average interest rate on term loans (rate with swap)
3.99
%
4.01
%
 
Weighted average interest rate on mortgages payable
4.54
%
4.58
%
 
(1)
Our revolving line of credit consists primarily of unsecured borrowings. A portion of the line was secured in connection with our acquisition of SouthFork Townhomes, under an agreement that allowed us to offer the seller tax protection upon purchase.
The aggregate amount of required future principal payments on mortgages payable and term loans as of March 31, 2019, was as follows:
 
(in thousands)
2019 (remainder)
$
25,926

2020
76,873

2021
104,547

2022
40,917

2023
48,546

Thereafter
280,778

Total payments
$
577,587

NOTE 10 • DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
Our objective in using interest rate derivatives is to add stability to interest expense and to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. To accomplish this objective, we primarily use interest rate swap contracts to fix the variable interest rate on our term loans. The interest rate swap contracts qualify as cash flow hedges.
Under ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, the ineffective portion of a hedging instrument is not required to be recognized currently in earnings or disclosed. Changes in the

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fair value of cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged transaction affects earnings. Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income for our interest rate swap will be reclassified to interest expense as interest expense is incurred on our term loans. During the next twelve months, we estimate an additional $164,000 will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense.
At March 31, 2019, we had two interest rate swap contracts in effect with a notional amount of $145.0 million and one additional interest rate swap that becomes effective on January 31, 2023 with a notional amount of $70.0 million.
The table below presents the fair value of our derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
Total derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments - interest rate swaps
Other Assets
 
$
26

 
$
818

 
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
 
$
3,165

 
$
1,675

The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as of March 31, 2019 and 2018.
 
(in thousands)
 
Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
 
Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
Three months ended March 31,
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
Total derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships - Interest rate contracts
$
(2,282
)
 
$
1,720

 
Interest expense
 
$
1

 
$
(102
)
NOTE 11 • FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities are carried at amounts that reasonably approximate their fair value due to their short-term nature. For variable rate line of credit debt that re-prices frequently, fair values are based on carrying values.
In determining the fair value of other financial instruments, we apply FASB ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures," or ASC 820.  ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (Levels 1 and 2) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (Level 3). Fair value estimates may differ from the amounts that may ultimately be realized upon sale or disposition of the assets and liabilities.
Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
The fair value of our interest rate swaps is determined using the market standard methodology of netting discounted expected variable cash payments and receipts. The variable cash payments and receipts are based on an expectation of future interest rates (a forward curve) derived from observable market interest rate curves. We also consider both our own nonperformance risk and the counterparty's nonperformance risk in the fair value measurement.

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Fair Value Measurements on a Nonrecurring Basis
There were no non-financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2019. Non-financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2018, consisted of real estate investments that were written-down to estimated fair value during the transition period ended December 31, 2018. The aggregate fair value of these assets by their levels in the fair value hierarchy is as follows:
 
(in thousands)
 
Total

 
Level 1

 
Level 2

 
Level 3

December 31, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Real estate investments valued at fair value
$
3,049

 

 

 
$
3,049

As of December 31, 2018, we estimated the fair value of our real estate investments using a market offer to purchase.
Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value
The fair value of mortgages payable and mortgage and notes receivable are estimated based on the discounted cash flows of the loans using market research and management estimates of comparable interest rates (Level 3).
The estimated fair values of our financial instruments as of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively, are as follows:
 
(in thousands)
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
FINANCIAL ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
23,329

 
$
23,329

 
$
13,792

 
$
13,792

Mortgage and note receivable
$
26,659

 
$
26,659

 
$
26,809

 
$
26,809

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Revolving lines of credit
$
118,677

 
$
118,677

 
$
57,500

 
$
57,500

Term loans(1)
$
145,000

 
$
145,000

 
$
145,000

 
$
145,000

Mortgages payable
$
432,587

 
$
433,844

 
$
445,974

 
$
444,241

(1)
Excluding the effect of interest rate swap agreements.

NOTE 12 • SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Share-based awards are provided to officers, non-officer employees, and trustees under our 2015 Incentive Plan approved by shareholders on September 15, 2015, which allows for awards in the form of cash, unrestricted and restricted common shares, and restricted stock units ("RSUs") up to an aggregate of 425,000 shares over the ten-year period in which the plan will be in effect. Under our 2015 Incentive Plan, officers and non-officer employees may earn share awards under a long-term incentive plan, which is a forward-looking program that measures long-term performance over the stated performance period. These awards are payable to the extent deemed earned in shares. The terms of the long-term incentive awards granted under the revised program may vary from year to year.
2019 LTIP Awards
Awards granted to officers on March 8, 2019, consist of time-based RSU awards for 6,391 shares and performance-based RSU awards based on relative total shareholder return (“TSR”), for 12,781 shares. All of these awards are classified as equity awards. The time-based RSU awards vest as to one-third of the shares on each of March 8, 2020, March 8, 2021, and March 8, 2022.
The performance-based RSU awards are earned based on our TSR as compared to the MSCI U.S. REIT Index over a forward-looking three-year period. The maximum number of RSUs eligible to be earned under this performance-based award is 25,562 RSUs, which is 200% of the RSUs granted. Earned awards (if any) will fully vest as of the last day of the measurement period. These awards have market conditions in addition to service conditions that must be met for the awards to vest. We recognize compensation expense ratably based on the grant date fair value, as determined using the Monte Carlo valuation model, regardless of whether the market conditions are achieved and the awards ultimately vest. Therefore, previously recorded compensation expense is not adjusted in the event that the market conditions are not achieved. We based the expected volatility

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on the historical volatility of our daily closing share price, the risk-free interest rate on the interest rates on U.S. treasury bonds with a maturity equal to the remaining performance period of the award, and the expected term on the performance period of the award. The assumptions used to value the performance RSU awards were an expected volatility of 25.5%, a risk-free interest rate of 2.43%, and an expected life of 2.82 years. The share price at the grant date, March 8, 2019, was $58.06 per share.
Total Compensation Expense
Share-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated financial statements for all outstanding share-based awards was $416,000 and $404,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report, our audited financial statements for the transition period ended December 31, 2018, which are included in our Form 10-KT filed with the SEC on February 27, 2019, and the risk factors in Item 1A., “Risk Factors,” of our Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2018.
We consider this and other sections of this Report to contain 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 (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to our expectations for future periods. Forward-looking statements do not discuss historical fact, but instead include statements related to expectations, projections, intentions or other items related to the future. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and variations of those words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results of operations, financial conditions, or plans expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be achieved. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact should be deemed forward-looking statements. As a result, reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors beyond our control and could differ materially from our actual results and performance.
The following factors, among others, could cause our future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:
economic conditions in the markets where we own properties or markets in which we may invest in the future;
rental conditions in our markets, including occupancy levels and rental rates, our potential inability to renew residents or obtain new residents upon expiration of existing leases, changes in tax and housing laws, or other factors;
adverse changes in real estate markets, including future demand for apartment homes in our significant markets, barriers of entry into new markets, limitations on our ability to increase rental rates, our ability to identify and consummate attractive acquisitions and dispositions on favorable terms, our ability to reinvest sales proceeds successfully, and our inability to accommodate any significant decline in the market value of real estate serving as collateral for our mortgage obligations;
reliance on a single asset class (multifamily) and certain geographic areas (Midwest and West regions) of the U.S.;
inability to succeed in any new markets we enter;
failure of new acquisitions to achieve anticipated results or be efficiently integrated;
inability to complete lease-up of our projects on schedule and on budget;
inability to sell our non-core properties on terms that are acceptable;
failure to reinvest proceeds from sales of properties into tax-deferred exchanges, which could necessitate special dividend and tax protection payments;
inability to fund capital expenditures out of cash flow;
inability to pay, or need to reduce, dividends on our common shares;
inability to raise additional equity capital;
financing risks, including our potential inability to obtain debt or equity financing on favorable terms, or at all;
level and volatility of interest or capitalization rates or capital market conditions;
changes in operating costs, including real estate taxes, utilities, and insurance costs;
the availability and cost of casualty insurance for losses;
inability to continue to satisfy complex rules in order to maintain our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, inability of the Operating Partnership to satisfy the rules to maintain its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and the risk of changes in laws affecting REITs;

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inability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
cyber liability or potential liability for breaches of our privacy or information security systems;
inability to address catastrophic weather, natural events, and climate change;
inability to comply with environmental laws and regulations; and
other risks identified in this Report, in other SEC reports, or in other documents that we publicly disseminate.
New factors may also arise from time to time that could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.  Except as otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or changes in expectations after the date on which this Report is filed.  Readers also should review the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” contained in our Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2018.
Executive Summary
We own, manage, acquire, redevelop, and develop apartment communities.  We primarily focus on investing in markets characterized by stable and growing economic conditions, strong employment, and an attractive quality of life that we believe, in combination, lead to higher demand for our apartment homes and retention of our residents.  As of March 31, 2019, we owned interests in 88 apartment communities consisting of 13,975 apartment homes. Property owned, as presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, was $1.7 billion at March 31, 2019, compared to $1.6 billion at December 31, 2018.
Renting apartment homes is our primary source of revenue, and our business objective is to provide great homes for our residents. We strive to maximize resident satisfaction and retention by investing in high-quality assets in desirable locations and creating vibrant apartment communities through service-oriented operations. We believe that delivering superior resident experiences will enhance resident satisfaction while also driving profitability for our business and our shareholders. We have paid quarterly distributions continuously since our first distribution in 1971.

Overview of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, revenues increased by $2.6 million to $45.6 million, compared to $43.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Expenses decreased by $681,000 to $44.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $44.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The drivers of these changes are discussed in more detail in the “Results of Operations” section below.
In keeping with our focus on target markets with strong fundamentals and our execution of strategic priorities, we completed the following transactions during the first quarter of 2019:
We acquired SouthFork Townhomes, a 272-home apartment community located in Lakeville, Minnesota, for a total purchase price of $44.0 million, with $27.4 million paid in cash and $16.6 million paid through the issuance of Series D preferred units that have a 3.862% coupon and are convertible, at the holders' option, into Units at an exchange rate of $72.50 per Unit. The Series D preferred units also have a put feature that allows the holders to put all or any of the Series D preferred units to IRET for a cash payment equal to the issue price.
We acquired the remaining 34.5% noncontrolling interests in the real estate partnership that owns Commons and Landing at Southgate, located in Minot, North Dakota, for $1.2 million.
We sold one parcel of land in Bismarck, North Dakota, for a total sale price of $3.0 million.
We repurchased approximately 174,000 common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $8.8 million, including commissions.
See Note 8 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Report for a table detailing our acquisitions and dispositions during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.



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Results of Operations
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
The discussion that follows is based on our consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
 
(in thousands, except percentages)
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2019 vs. 2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same-store
$
39,612

 
$
38,048

 
$
1,564

 
4.1
 %
Non-same-store
5,202

 
2,006

 
3,196

 
159.3
 %
Other properties and dispositions
794

 
2,981

 
(2,187
)
 
(73.4
)%
Total
45,608

 
43,035

 
2,573

 
6.0
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same-store
17,806

 
17,191

 
615

 
3.6
 %
Non-same-store
1,882

 
937

 
945

 
100.9
 %
Other properties and dispositions
348

 
1,139

 
(791
)
 
(69.4
)%
Total
20,036

 
19,267

 
769

 
4.0
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net operating income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same-store
21,806

 
20,857

 
949

 
4.6
 %
Non-same-store
3,320

 
1,069

 
2,251

 
210.6
 %
Other properties and dispositions
446

 
1,842

 
(1,396
)
 
(75.8
)%
Total
$
25,572

 
$
23,768

 
$
1,804

 
7.6
 %
Property management expenses
(1,554
)
 
(1,377
)
 
177

 
12.9
 %
Casualty gain (loss)
(641
)
 
(50
)
 
591

 
1,182.0
 %
Depreciation and amortization
(18,111
)
 
(20,516
)
 
(2,405
)
 
(11.7
)%
General and administrative expenses
(3,806
)
 
(3,619
)
 
187

 
5.2
 %
Interest expense
(7,896
)
 
(8,296
)
 
(400
)
 
(4.8
)%
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(2
)
 
(121
)
 
(119
)
 
(98.3
)%
Interest income
407

 
673

 
(266
)
 
(39.5
)%
Other income
17

 
16

 
1

 
6.3
 %
Income (loss) before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments and income (loss) from discontinued operations
(6,014
)
 
(9,522
)
 
3,508

 
36.8
 %
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments
54

 
2,304

 
(2,250
)
 
(97.7
)%
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(5,960
)
 
(7,218
)
 
1,258

 
(17.4
)%
Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 
13,882

 
(13,882
)
 
(100.0
)%
NET INCOME (LOSS)
$
(5,960
)
 
$
6,664

 
$
(12,624
)
 
(189.4
)%
Dividends to preferred unitholders
(57
)
 

 
57

 
n/a

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests – Operating Partnership
743

 
(580
)
 
1,323

 
(228.1
)%
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests – consolidated real estate entities
576

 
520

 
56

 
10.8
 %
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interests
(4,698
)
 
6,604

 
(11,302
)
 
(171.1
)%
Dividends to preferred shareholders
(1,705
)
 
(1,705
)
 

 
 %
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
$
(6,403
)
 
$
4,899

 
$
(11,302
)
 
(230.7
)%
Weighted Average Occupancy(1)
March 31, 2019

 
March 31, 2018

Same-store
95.6
%
 
94.2
%
Non-same-store
94.9
%
 
75.5
%
Total
95.5
%
 
93.0
%

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(1)
Weighted average occupancy is defined as the percentage resulting from dividing actual rental revenue by scheduled rental revenue. Scheduled rental revenue represents the value of all apartment homes, with occupied homes valued at contractual rental rates pursuant to leases and vacant homes valued at estimated market rents. When calculating actual rents for occupied homes and market rents for vacant homes, delinquencies and concessions are not taken into account. Market rates are determined using the currently offered effective rates on new leases at the community and are used as the starting point in determination of the market rates of vacant apartment homes. We believe that weighted average occupancy is a meaningful measure of occupancy because it considers the value of each vacant unit at its estimated market rate. Weighted average occupancy may not completely reflect short-term trends in physical occupancy and our calculation of weighted average occupancy may not be comparable to that disclosed by other REITs.
Number of Apartment Homes
March 31, 2019

 
March 31, 2018

Same-store
12,848

 
12,844

Non-same-store
1,127

 
855

Total
13,975

 
13,699

We have provided certain information on a same-store and non-same-store basis. Same-store apartment communities are owned or in service for the entirety of the periods being compared, and, in the case of development properties, have achieved a target level of physical occupancy of 90%. On the first day of each calendar year, we determine the composition of our same-store pool for that year as well as adjust the previous year, which allows us to evaluate full period-over-period operating comparisons for existing apartment communities and their contribution to net income. Management believes that measuring performance on a same-store basis is useful to investors because it enables evaluation of how our communities are performing year-over-year. Management uses this measure to assess whether or not it has been successful in increasing net operating income ("NOI"), renewing the leases on existing residents, controlling operating costs, and making prudent capital improvements. The discussion below focuses on the main factors affecting real estate revenue and expenses from same-store apartment communities because changes from one year to another in real estate revenue and expenses from non-same-store apartment communities are due to the addition of those properties to or from our real estate portfolio, and accordingly provide less useful information for evaluating ongoing operational performance of our real estate portfolio.
For the comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, one community (Park Place) moved into the same-store pool and four apartment communities were non-same-store. Sold communities are included in "Other," which also includes non-multifamily properties and the non-multifamily components of mixed-use properties.
Revenues.  Revenue increased by 6.0% to $45.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to $43.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018. Four non-same-store communities contributed $3.2 million to the increase, offset by a $2.2 million decrease from dispositions and other properties. Revenue from same-store communities increased 4.1% or $1.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was attributable to 2.7% growth in average rental revenue, including approximately $291,000 due to an adjustment in our estimation of bad debt allowance in the prior year comparable period, and 1.4% growth in occupancy as weighted average occupancy increased to 95.6% from 94.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes.  Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes, increased by 4.0% to $20.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $19.3 million in the same period of the prior year.  An increase of $945,000 at non-same-store communities was partially offset by a decrease of $791,000 from other properties and dispositions. Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes, at same-store communities increased by 3.6% or $615,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in the prior year. Utilities, insurance, and real estate taxes comprised $201,000 of the increase and rose by 2.3%, despite a reduction of $158,000 in real estate taxes due to the receipt of 2018 tax invoices which were at amounts less than provided for as of December 31, 2018. Controllable operating expenses, which exclude utilities, insurance, and real estate taxes, increased by $414,000 or 4.9%, primarily due to an increase of $411,000 in snow removal costs as a result of record levels of snowfall impacting certain markets.
Net operating income. Net Operating Income, or NOI, is a non-GAAP measure, which we define as total real estate revenues less property operating expenses, including real estate taxes. We believe that NOI is an important supplemental measure of operating performance for real estate because it provides a measure of operations that is unaffected by depreciation, amortization, financing, property management overhead, casualty losses, and general and administrative expenses. NOI does not represent cash generated by operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net income, net income available for common shareholders, or cash flow from operating activities as a measure of financial performance.
Property management expenses. Property management expense, consisting of property management overhead and property management fees paid to third parties, was $1.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $1.4 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase in property management expenses is primarily due to technology initiatives and

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compensation costs, including severance. Generally, we expect higher property management expenses in 2019 as we implement new technology solutions.
Casualty gain (loss). Casualty loss was $641,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $591,000 from the same period of the prior year. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, many of our markets were impacted by a series of adverse weather-related events. These events included extreme cold and record-setting snowfall, which caused excess ice and snow accumulation resulting in water damage to some of our apartment communities. We believe that the damages will be covered by insurance and have recorded casualty losses of $641,000 during the quarter, representing the aggregate annual stop loss under our insurance coverage.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization decreased by 11.7% to $18.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $20.5 million in the same period of the prior year, primarily attributable to an adjustment in the prior comparable period due to shortening the estimated useful life of a non-multifamily property, which elevated depreciation expense in the three months ended March 31, 2018.
General and administrative expenses.  General and administrative expenses increased by 5.2% to $3.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $3.6 million in the same period of the prior year, primarily attributable to increases of $316,000 in legal costs related to our pursuit of recovery under a construction defect claim and $193,000 in audit and tax fees which resulted from the acceleration of costs in conjunction with our new fiscal year end. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $117,000 in severance costs.
Interest expense.  Interest expense decreased by 4.8% to $7.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $8.3 million in the same period of the prior year, due primarily to a decrease in the average balance of our outstanding indebtedness and the replacement of maturing debt with term loans at lower rates.
Interest and other income. We recorded interest income in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 of $407,000 and $673,000, respectively. The decrease for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the same period of the prior year was due to a lower balance of cash on hand as proceeds received in December 2017 from the disposition of our medical office portfolio were not deployed until the end of March 2018.
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments. We recorded net gains of $54,000 and $2.3 million in continuing operations in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 
Income from discontinued operations. We recorded no income from discontinued operations in the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $13.9 million in the same period of the prior year. See Note 7 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for further information on discontinued operations.
Net income (loss) available to shareholders. Net loss available to shareholders was $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to net income of $4.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in net income available to shareholders was driven by decreases in income from discontinued operations and gains on sale of real estate, partially offset by increased revenue and decreased depreciation expense.
Funds from Operations. FFO applicable to common shares and Units for the three months ended March 31, 2019, increased to $10.1 million compared to $9.2 million for the comparable period ended March 31, 2018, an increase of 10.8%. This increase was primarily due to higher net operating income at same-store and non-same-store communities and a reduction in interest expense. The increase was partially offset by increases in weather-related casualty loss, general and administrative expense, and property management expense.
We consider Funds from Operations (“FFO”) to be a useful measure of performance for an equity REIT. We use the definition of FFO adopted by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (“Nareit”). Nareit currently defines FFO as net income or loss calculated in accordance with GAAP, excluding:
depreciation and amortization related to real estate;
gains and losses from the sale of certain real estate assets; and
impairment write-downs of certain real estate assets and investments in entities when the impairment is directly attributable to decreases in the value of depreciable real estate held by the entity.
Due to limitations of the FFO definition adopted by Nareit, we have made certain interpretations in applying the definition. We believe that all such interpretations not specifically provided for in the Nareit definition are consistent with the definition. Nareit's FFO White Paper 2018 Restatement clarified that impairment write-downs of land related to a REIT's main business are excluded from FFO and a REIT has the option to exclude impairment write-downs of assets that are incidental to the main business.

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We believe that FFO, which is a standard supplemental measure for equity real estate investment trusts, is helpful to investors in understanding our operating performance, primarily because its calculation excludes depreciation and amortization expense on real estate assets, thereby providing an additional perspective on our operating results. We believe that GAAP historical cost depreciation of real estate assets is not correlated with changes in the value of those assets, whose value does not diminish predictably over time, as historical cost depreciation implies. The exclusion in Nareit’s definition of FFO of impairment write-downs and gains and losses from the sale of real estate assets helps to identify the operating results of the long-term assets that form the base of our investments, and assists management and investors in comparing those operating results between periods.
While FFO is widely used by us as a primary performance metric, not all real estate companies use the same definition of FFO or calculate FFO the same way. Accordingly, FFO presented here is not necessarily comparable to FFO presented by other real estate companies. FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other GAAP measurement of performance, but rather should be considered as an additional, supplemental measure. FFO also does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and is not necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of our needs or our ability to service indebtedness or make distributions.
Reconciliation of Net Income Available to Common Shareholders to Funds from Operations
 
(in thousands, except per share and unit amounts)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2019
 
2018
 
Amount
 
Weighted Avg
Shares and
Units(1)
 
Per Share
and
Unit
(2)
 
Amount
 
Weighted Avg
Shares and
Units(1)
 
Per Share
and
Unit(2)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
$
(6,403
)
 
11,763

 
$
(0.54
)
 
$
4,899

 
11,972

 
$
0.41

Adjustments:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Noncontrolling interests – Operating Partnership
(743
)
 
1,367

 
 
 
580

 
1,424

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
18,111

 
 

 
 
 
20,518

 
 

 
 

Less depreciation  non real estate entities
(85
)
 
 
 
 
 
(79
)
 
 
 
 
Less depreciation  partially owned entities
(678
)
 
 
 
 
 
(723
)
 
 
 
 
Gains on sale of real estate
(54
)
 
 

 
 
 
(16,036
)
 
 

 
 

Funds from operations applicable to common shares and Units
$
10,148

 
13,130

 
$
0.77

 
$
9,159

 
13,396

 
$
0.68

(1)    Pursuant to Exchange Rights, Units of the Operating Partnership are redeemable for cash or, at our discretion, for common shares on a one-for-one basis.
(2)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders is calculated on a per common share basis. FFO is calculated on a per common share and Unit basis.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
During the first quarter of 2019, we acquired a $44.0 million apartment community, compared to $128.7 million of acquisitions in the first quarter of 2018. During the first quarter of 2019, we sold one parcel of unimproved land for a sale price of $3.0 million compared to dispositions totaling $36.0 million in the first quarter of 2018. See Note 8 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for a table detailing our acquisitions and dispositions during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Distributions
Distributions of $0.70 per common share and Unit were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. Distributions of $0.4140625 per Series C preferred share were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity and Financial Condition
We desire to create and maintain a strong balance sheet that offers financial flexibility and enables us to pursue and acquire apartment communities that enhance our portfolio composition, operating metrics, and cash flow growth prospects. We intend to strengthen our capital and liquidity positions by continuing to focus on improving our core fundamentals, which include generating positive cash flows from operations, maintaining appropriate debt levels and leverage ratios, and controlling overhead costs.
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents on hand, our unsecured credit facility, and cash flows generated from operations. Other sources include availability under our unsecured lines of credit, proceeds from property dispositions, offerings of preferred and common stock under our shelf registration statement, offerings of preferred and common units under our limited partnership agreement, and unsecured term loans or long-term secured mortgages.

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Our primary liquidity demands are normally-recurring operating and overhead expenses, debt service and repayments, capital improvements to our communities, distributions to the holders of our preferred shares, common shares, and Units, value-add redevelopment, common share buybacks and Unit redemptions, and acquisitions of additional communities.
We believe that our financial condition and liquidity are sufficient to meet our reasonably anticipated liquidity demands during 2019 and 2020. Factors that could increase or decrease our future liquidity include, but are not limited to, volatility in capital and credit markets, our ability to access capital and credit markets, the minimum REIT dividend requirements, and our ability to complete asset purchases, sales, or developments.
Capital Resources and Cash Flows
As of March 31, 2019, we had total liquidity of approximately $109.0 million, which included $85.7 million available on our line of credit and $23.3 million of cash and cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2018, we had total liquidity of approximately $188.8 million, which included $175.0 million on our line of credit and $13.8 million of cash and cash equivalents.
We also had restricted cash of $4.8 million and $5.5 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, consisting of escrows held by lenders for real estate taxes, insurance, and capital additions.
We have an unsecured credit facility for $395.0 million, with the commitment allocated to a revolving line of credit for $250.0 million and the remaining $145.0 million allocated between two term loans: a $70.0 million unsecured term loan that matures on January 15, 2024 and a $75.0 million unsecured term loan that matures on August 31, 2025.
As of March 31, 2019, our line of credit had total commitments of $250.0 million, with borrowing capacity based on the value of properties contained in an unencumbered asset pool ("UAP"). The UAP provided for a borrowing capacity of approximately $204.4 million at quarter-end, offering additional borrowing availability of $85.7 million beyond the $118.7 million drawn, including the balance on our operating line of credit, as of March 31, 2019. At December 31, 2018, the line of credit borrowing capacity was $232.5 million based on the UAP, of which $57.5 million was drawn on the line.
As of March 31, 2019, we had 40 unencumbered apartment communities representing 46.6% of first quarter 2019 multifamily NOI, of which 10 apartment communities, representing approximately 7.4% of first quarter 2019 multifamily NOI, are not pledged under the UAP.
We also have a $6.0 million operating line of credit. This operating line of credit is designed to enhance treasury management activities and more effectively manage cash balances. This operating line has a one-year term, with pricing based on a market spread plus the one-month LIBOR index rate.
For information regarding our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, see the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in Part I, Item 1 above.
In addition to cash flow from operations, during the three months ended March 31, 2019, we generated capital from various activities, including:
The disposition of one parcel of land in Bismarck, North Dakota, for a total sale price of $3.0 million.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we used capital for various activities, including:
Acquiring SouthFork Townhomes, a 272-home residential apartment community located in Lakeville, Minnesota, for a total purchase price of $44.0 million, with $27.4 million paid in cash and $16.6 million paid through the issuance of Series D preferred units;
Repaying $13.4 million of mortgage principal;
Repurchasing approximately 174,000 common shares for an aggregate total cost of approximately $8.8 million;
Acquiring the remaining 34.5% noncontrolling interests in the real estate partnership that owns Commons and Landing at Southgate, located in Minot, North Dakota, for $1.2 million; and
Funding capital expenditures for apartment communities of approximately $800,000.
Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments
Contractual obligations and other commitments were disclosed in our Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2018. There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations and other commitments since that report was filed.

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2019, we had no significant off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.
Critical Accounting Policies
In preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements, management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. A summary of our critical accounting policies is included in our Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2019 under the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02, "Leases" which required lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet through right of use assets and lease liabilities. It also made certain changes to lessor accounting. Refer to Note 2 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this report for additional information. There have been no other significant changes to our critical accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our exposure to market risk is primarily related to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates on our current and future fixed and variable rate debt obligations. We currently use interest rate swaps to offset the impact of interest rate fluctuations on our variable-rate term loans. We do not enter into derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The interest rate swaps expose us to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties under the terms of the agreements.
See our Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the eight months ended December 31, 2018 under the heading "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for a more complete discussion of our interest rate sensitivity. As of March 31, 2019, our exposure to market risk has not changed materially since our Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the eight months ended December 31, 2018.


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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures:  
Management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2019, such disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting:  
In connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d), management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has identified no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during that quarter ended March 31, 2019 and that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
As of January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases. There were no changes to the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) due to the adoption of this new standard that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of our operations, we become involved in litigation. At this time, we know of no material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which we or any of our subsidiaries is a party or of which any of our property is the subject.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors previously disclosed in Item 1A in our Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2018.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 
Sales of Securities
During the first quarter of 2019, we issued no unregistered Common Shares to limited partners of the Operating Partnership or any other unregistered equity securities.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
 
 
 
 
Maximum Dollar
 
 
 
 
Total Number of Shares
Amount of Shares That
 
 
Total Number of
Average Price
Purchased as Part of
May Yet Be Purchased 
 
 
Shares and Units
Paid per
Publicly Announced
Under the Plans or
Period
 
Purchased (1)
Share and Unit
Plans or Programs
Programs(2)
January 1 - 31, 2019
 
174,085

$
50.54

173,916

$
24,587,276

February 1 - 28, 2019
 
30

57.89


24,587,276

March 1 - 31, 2019
 
2,443

59.56


24,587,276

Total
 
176,558

$
50.67

173,916

 

(1)
Includes a total of 2,642 Units redeemed for cash pursuant to the exercise of exchange rights.
(2)
Represents amounts outstanding under our $50 million share repurchase program, which was reauthorized by our Board of Trustees on December 14, 2018.
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
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report.
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
1.1
3.1
 
3.2
3.3
31.1*
31.2*
32.1*
32.2*
101 INS**
INSTANCE DOCUMENT
101 SCH**
SCHEMA DOCUMENT
101 CAL**
CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
101 LAB**
LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
101 PRE**
PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
101 DEF**
DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
*
Filed herewith
**
Submitted electronically herewith.  Attached as Exhibit 101 are the following materials from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) notes to these 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.
INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST
(Registrant)
/s/ Mark O. Decker, Jr.
 
Mark O. Decker, Jr.
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
/s/ John A. Kirchmann
 
John A. Kirchmann
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
Date: May 8, 2019
 

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