FIRST REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST OF NEW JERSEY - Annual Report: 2013 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2013

Commission File No. 000-25043

201-488-6400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

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

Shares of Beneficial Interest

(Title of class)

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes x  No o

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

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

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

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

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s shares of beneficial interest held by non-affiliates was approximately $99 million. Computation is based on the closing sales price of such shares as quoted on the over-the-counter-market on April 30, 2013, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter.

As of January 14, 2014, the number of shares of beneficial interest outstanding was 6,921,743

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 3, 2014 are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-K

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain information included in this Annual Report contains or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The registrant cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to the registrant’s investment policies and objectives; the financial performance of the registrant; the ability of the registrant to borrow and service its debt; the economic and competitive conditions which affect the registrant’s business; the ability of the registrant to obtain the necessary governmental approvals for the development, expansion or renovation of its properties, the impact of environmental conditions affecting the registrant’s properties, and the registrant’s liquidity and capital resources, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors, including, without limitation, the registrant’s future financial performance; the availability of capital; general market conditions; national and local economic conditions, particularly long-term interest rates; federal, state and local governmental regulations that affect the registrant; and the competitive environment in which the registrant operates, including, the availability of retail space and residential apartment units in the areas where the registrant’s properties are located. In addition, the registrant’s continued qualification as a real estate investment trust involves the application of highly technical and complex rules of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Annual Report and the registrant assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons actual results could differ from those projected in such forward-looking statements.

PART I

First Real Estate Investment Trust of New Jersey (“FREIT”) is an equity real estate investment trust (“REIT”) organized in New Jersey in 1961. FREIT acquires, develops, constructs and holds real estate properties for long-term investment and not for resale.

FREIT’s long-range investment policy is to review and evaluate potential real estate investment opportunities for acquisition that it believes will (i) complement its existing investment portfolio, (ii) generate increased income and distributions to its shareholders, and (iii) increase the overall value of FREIT’s portfolio. FREIT’s investments may take the form of wholly-owned fee interests, or if the circumstances warrant diversification of risk, ownership on a joint venture basis with other parties, including employees and affiliates of Hekemian & Co., Inc., FREIT’s managing agent (“Hekemian”) (See “Management Agreement”), provided FREIT is able to maintain management control over the property. While our general investment policy is to hold and maintain properties for the long-term, we may, from time-to-time, sell or trade certain properties in order to (i) obtain capital to be used to purchase, develop or renovate other properties which we believe will provide a higher rate of return and increase the value of our investment portfolio, and (ii) divest properties which we have determined or determine are no longer compatible with our growth strategies and investment objectives for our real estate portfolio.

FREIT Website: All of FREIT’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings for the past three years are available free of charge on FREIT’s website, which can be accessed at http://www.FREITNJ.com.

Fiscal Year 2013 Developments

The modernization and expansion project at the Damascus Center was completed in November 2011. Total construction costs, inclusive of tenant improvement costs, approximated $22.7 million. The building plans incorporated an expansion of retail space from 140,000 sq. ft. to approximately 150,000 sq. ft., anchored by a modern 58,000 sq. ft. Safeway supermarket. Construction was completed in three phases, with the final phase being completed in November 2011. Additional tenant fit-up costs are expected, once all of the new space is leased and occupied. Funding for this project was made available under a construction loan facility and advances by FREIT (see above). Because of this expansion, leases for certain tenants were allowed to expire and were not renewed. This has caused occupancy to decline, on a temporary basis, during the construction phase. However, with the completion of each of the three phases, certain tenant leases have been renewed and occupancy is beginning to increase. As of October 31, 2013, approximately 86% of the space at the Damascus Center is leased and 76.8% is occupied.

Development plans and studies for the expansion and renovation of our Rotunda property in Baltimore, MD (owned by our 60% owned affiliate Grande Rotunda, LLC) were substantially completed during Fiscal 2008. The Rotunda, on an 11.5-acre site, currently consists of an office building containing 138,000 sq. ft. of office space and 78,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the lower floor of the main building. The original building plans incorporated an expansion of approximately 180,500 sq. ft. of retail space, approximately 302 residential rental apartments, 56 condominium units and 120 hotel rooms, and structured parking. Development costs for this project were expected to approximate $200 million. Due to the difficult economic environment, that redevelopment activity was placed on hold by FREIT during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008. As of October 31, 2013, the Company has incurred approximately $14.6 million of pre-development costs, of which $3.7 million was written-off in Fiscal 2012 as a result of revisions to the scope of the redevelopment project (see discussion below). During Fiscal 2012, the original plans for the Rotunda redevelopment project were revised, primarily attributable to the lease termination by Giant of Maryland, LLC (“Giant”) and related termination agreement. (See Competitive Condition: (C) Renewal of Leases and Reletting of Space for more details.) As a result, we will not be required to construct a lower level Giant supermarket as part of the redevelopment plans at the Rotunda, which represented a costly component to the project. In addition, the Giant lease contained significant restrictions on Grande’s ability to make modifications to the property. This termination of the Giant lease cleared the way for Grande to move forward with the redevelopment planning for this property.

As a result of Giant terminating its lease and vacating its space at the Grande Rotunda shopping center, the results for Fiscal 2012, include income of $2.95 million relating to the Giant early lease termination, offset by a $1.49 million deferred project cost write-off relating to a change in the future development plans for the Rotunda shopping center, specifically the impact that the Giant portion of the project had on the design fees incurred to date and included in Construction in Progress (“CIP”). The early lease termination fee is comprised of the net present value of the monthly rent in accordance with the terms of the terminated lease, projected common area maintenance charges and real estate taxes from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2015. In addition, included in the $2.95 million lease termination fee are the write-off of the balances in Below Market Value Acquisition Costs, and In-Place Lease Costs relating to the Giant lease. In light of the Giant lease termination and its potential impact on the scope of the development plans for the Rotunda site, management proposed further revisions to the scope of the Rotunda development project. On July 24, 2012, the Board approved the revisions to the scope of the project, thereby further reducing the complexity and projected cost of the project. The revised building plans incorporate an expansion of approximately 115,000 square feet of retail space, approximately 350 residential rental apartments, and structured parking. As a result of the Board’s decision to move forward with the revised development plans, an additional $2.2 million of certain deferred project costs relating to planning and feasibility costs that had been included in CIP were no longer deemed to have any utility, and were written-off in the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal 2012. Due to the revised scope of the development and the improved economic and financing climate, FREIT has now resumed the redevelopment of the Rotunda. On December 9, 2013, Grande Rotunda, LLC and FREIT closed with Wells Fargo Bank on a construction loan of up to $120 million, for the purpose of funding the major redevelopment and expansion project planned for the Rotunda. The construction loan will be for a term of four (4) years, with one 12-month extension, at a rate of 225 basis points over the monthly LIBOR. In order to avoid beginning construction during the winter months, Rotunda began construction on the parking lot areas in September 2013.

On July 7, 2010, FREIT’s Board of Trustees authorized management to pursue a sale of the 251,991 sq. ft. Westridge Square Shopping Center (“Westridge”) located in Frederick, Maryland. The decision to sell the property (acquired in 1992) was based on the Board’s desire to re-deploy the net proceeds or other consideration arising from the sale to real estate assets in other areas of FREIT’s operations. On April 15, 2011, FREIT was notified by Giant, the former tenant and operator of the 55,330 sq. ft. Giant Supermarket at Westridge, that Giant would not extend the term of its lease, which expired on October 31, 2011. FREIT actively pursued the re-leasing of the space vacated by Giant. On July 27, 2012, FREIT signed a lease agreement with G-Mart Frederick, Inc. (“G-Mart”) for a significant portion (40,000 square feet) of the space previously occupied by Giant. G-Mart began operations at the center in September 2013. (See Note 2 for more details.) FREIT will reevaluate its decision to market Westridge for sale in light of the Giant lease expiration, and the subsequent releasing of the space to G-Mart. See “Segment Information – Commercial Segment” under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” below.

On June 3, 2011, FREIT’s Board authorized management to pursue the sale of the Palisades Manor Apartments, in Palisades Park, NJ, the Grandview Apartments in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, and the Heights Manor Apartments in Spring Lake Heights, NJ. The decision to pursue the sale of these properties was based on the Board’s desire to re-deploy the net proceeds arising from the sale to real estate assets in other areas of FREIT’s operations. Both the Palisades Manor and Grandview properties were sold in Fiscal 2013, and the Heights Manor property was sold in Fiscal 2012 (See Note 3 for more details).

On May 2, 2012, FREIT’s Board authorized management to pursue the sale of its South Brunswick, NJ property. The decision to sell this property was based on the Board’s desire to re-deploy the net proceeds arising from the sale to real estate assets in other areas of FREIT’s operations. On December 20, 2013, the South Brunswick property was sold for $11 million, resulting in an estimated gain of approximately $8.7 million (See Note 15 for more details).

FREIT has two reportable segments: Commercial Properties and Residential Properties. These reportable segments have different types of tenants and are managed separately because each requires different operating strategies and management expertise. Segment information for the three years ended October 31, 2013 is included in Note 14 “Segment Information” to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.

FREIT was founded and organized for the principal purpose of acquiring, developing, and owning a portfolio of diverse income producing real estate properties. FREIT’s developed properties include residential apartment communities and commercial properties that consist of multi and single tenanted properties. Our properties are located in New Jersey, Maryland and on Long Island, NY. We also currently own approximately 7.37 acres of unimproved land in New Jersey. See Item 2, “Properties - Portfolio of Investments.” 

FREIT elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. FREIT operates in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT in order to take advantage of certain favorable tax aspects of the REIT structure. Generally, a REIT will not be subject to federal income taxes on that portion of its ordinary income or capital gain that is currently distributed to its equity holders.

As an equity REIT, we generally acquire interests in income producing properties to be held as long-term investments. FREIT’s return on such investments is based on the income generated by such properties mainly in the form of rents.

From time to time, FREIT has sold, and may sell again in the future, certain of its properties in order to (i) obtain capital used or to be used to purchase, develop or renovate other properties which we believe will provide a higher rate of return and increase the value of our investment portfolio, and (ii) divest properties which FREIT has determined or determines are no longer compatible with our growth strategies and investment objectives for our real estate portfolio.

We do not hold any patents, registered trademarks, or licenses. 

Portfolio of Real Estate Investments

At October 31, 2013, FREIT’s real estate holdings included (i) six (6) apartment buildings or complexes containing 964 rentable units, (ii) ten (10) commercial properties (retail and office) containing approximately 1,264,000 square feet of leasable space, including one (1) single tenant store, two (2) separate one acre parcels subject to ground leases, and (iii) four (4) parcels of undeveloped land consisting of approximately 40.37 acres. On December 20, 2013, the South Brunswick property totaling 33 acres was sold. FREIT and its subsidiaries own all such properties in fee simple. See Item 2, “Properties - Portfolio of Investments” of this Annual Report for a description of FREIT’s separate investment properties and certain other pertinent information with respect to such properties that is relevant to FREIT’s business.

Investment in Subsidiaries 

The consolidated financial statements (See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K) include the accounts of the following subsidiaries of FREIT:

Westwood Hills, LLC (“Westwood Hills”): FREIT owns a 40% membership interest in Westwood Hills, which owns and operates a 210-unit residential apartment complex in Westwood, NJ.

Wayne PSC, LLC (“WaynePSC”): FREIT owns a 40% membership interest in Wayne PSC, which owns a 322,000 sq. ft. community center in Wayne, NJ.

S And A Commercial Associates Limited Partnership (“S And A”): S And A owns a 100% interest in Pierre Towers, LLC, which owns a 269-unit residential apartment complex in Hackensack, NJ. FREIT owns a 65% partnership interest in S And A.

Grande Rotunda, LLC: FREIT owns a 60% membership interest in Grande Rotunda, which owns a 217,000 square foot mixed use property in Baltimore, MD.

Damascus Centre, LLC: FREIT owns a 70% membership interest in Damascus Centre, LLC which owns the Damascus Center that has recently been renovated and expanded. See Item 1-a (ii), “Construction”.

Damascus Second, LLC: FREIT owns a 70% interest in Damascus Second, LLC, which assumed a $21.3 million (originally $27.3 million) construction loan from Bank of America for the purpose of assisting Damascus Centre, LLC in owning, operating, managing and, as required, renovating the land and premises of the Damascus Center. On December 26, 2012, Damascus Centre, LLC refinanced the construction loan with long-term financing provided by People’s United Bank. The amount of the new loan is $25 million, of which $20 million has been drawn. The balance, up to an additional $5 million, will be available as a one-time draw over the 36 month period ending December 26, 2015, and the amount available will depend on future leasing at the shopping center.

WestFREIT Corp: FREIT owns a 100% membership interest in WestFREIT, which owns Westridge, a 252,000 square foot shopping center in Frederick, MD.

WestFredic LLC: FREIT owns a 100% membership interest in WestFredic, which assumed a $22 million mortgage loan that is secured by Westridge in Frederick, MD.

Employees

On October 31, 2013 FREIT and its subsidiaries had twenty one (21) full-time employees and four (4) part-time employees who work solely at the properties owned by FREIT or its subsidiaries. The number of part-time employees varies seasonally.

Mr. Robert S. Hekemian, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Donald W. Barney, President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. John A. Aiello, Esq., Secretary and Executive Secretary, are the executive officers of FREIT. Mr. Hekemian devotes approximately seventy percent (70%) of his business activities to FREIT, Mr. Barney devotes approximately fifteen percent (15%) of his business activities to FREIT, and Mr. Aiello devotes approximately six percent (6%) of his business activities to FREIT. Refer to “Item 10 – Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.” Hekemian has been retained by FREIT to manage FREIT’s properties and is responsible for recruiting, on behalf of FREIT, the personnel required to perform all services related to the operation of FREIT’s properties. See “Management Agreement” below. 

Management Agreement

On April 10, 2002, FREIT and Hekemian executed a Management Agreement whereby Hekemian would continue as Managing Agent for FREIT. The term of the Management Agreement renewed on November 1, 2013 for a two-year term and will expire on October 31, 2015. The Management Agreement automatically renews for successive periods of two years unless either party gives not less than six (6) months prior notice to the other of non-renewal. The salient provisions of the Management Agreement are as follows: FREIT retains Hekemian as the exclusive management and leasing agent for properties which FREIT owned as of April 2002 and for the Preakness Shopping Center acquired on November 1, 2002 by Wayne PSC. However, FREIT may retain other managing agents to manage certain other properties acquired after April 10, 2002 and to perform various other duties such as sales, acquisitions, and development with respect to any or all properties. Hekemian does not serve as the exclusive advisor for FREIT to locate and recommend to FREIT investments, which Hekemian deems suitable for FREIT, and is not required to offer potential acquisition properties exclusively to FREIT before acquiring those properties for its own account. The Management Agreement includes a detailed schedule of fees for those services, which Hekemian may be called upon to perform. The Management Agreement provides for a termination fee in the event of a termination or non-renewal of the Management Agreement under certain circumstances.

Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, FREIT pays Hekemian certain fees and commissions as compensation for its services. From time to time, FREIT engages Hekemian to provide certain additional services, such as consulting services related to development and financing activities of FREIT. Separate fee arrangements are negotiated between Hekemian and FREIT or its affiliates, with respect to such additional services. During the 4^th quarter of Fiscal 2007, FREIT’s Board of Trustees (“Board”) approved, in general, development fee arrangements for the development services to be performed at the Rotunda (owned by Grande Rotunda, LLC), and the Damascus Center (owned by Damascus Centre, LLC). These fees will be payable to Hekemian Development Resources LLC (“Resources”), a wholly owned affiliate of Hekemian. Definitive agreements for the development services to be performed at the Rotunda and the Damascus Center have been executed. The development fee arrangement for the Rotunda provides for Resources to receive a fee equal to 6.375% of the total development costs of up to $84.6 million (as may be modified, and less the amount of $3 million previously paid to Hekemian for the Rotunda project). In addition, the Board approved the payment of a fee to Resources in the amount of $1.4 million, in connection with the revision to the scope of the Rotunda development project. The fee will be paid to Resources upon the following terms: (i) $500,000 of the $1.4 million will be paid on a monthly basis during the design phase (the $500,000 was paid in Fiscal 2013); and (ii) $900,000 of the $1.4 million will be paid upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the multi-family portion of the project. The fee for the redevelopment of the Damascus Center was an amount equal to 7% of the redevelopment costs of up to approximately $17.3 million (as may be modified). The minority ownership interests of Grande Rotunda, LLC and Damascus Centre, LLC are owned by Rotunda 100, LLC and Damascus 100, LLC, which are principally owned by employees of Hekemian, including certain members of the immediate family of Robert S. Hekemian, FREIT’s CEO and Chairman, and Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., a trustee of FREIT, and the members of the Hekemian family have majority management control of these entities. (See Note 9 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)

Mr. Robert S. Hekemian, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a Trustee of FREIT, is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Hekemian. Mr. Hekemian owns approximately 0.2% of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Hekemian. Mr. Robert S. Hekemian, Jr, a Trustee of FREIT, is the President of Hekemian, and owns approximately 33.3% of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Hekemian.

Real Estate Financing

FREIT funds acquisition opportunities and the development of its real estate properties largely through debt financing, including mortgage loans against certain of its properties. At October 31, 2013, FREIT’s aggregate outstanding mortgage debt was $199.4 million with an average interest cost on a weighted average basis of 5.53%. FREIT has mortgage loans against certain properties, which serve as collateral for such loans. See the tables in Item 2, “Properties - Portfolio of Investments” for the outstanding mortgage balances at October 31, 2013 with respect to each of these properties.

FREIT is currently highly leveraged and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. This increased level of indebtedness also presents an increased risk of default on the obligations of FREIT and an increase in debt service requirements that could adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of FREIT. A number of FREIT’s mortgage loans are being amortized over a period that is longer than the terms of such loans; thereby requiring balloon payments at the expiration of the terms of such loans. FREIT has not established a cash reserve sinking fund with respect to such obligations and at this time does not expect to have sufficient funds from operations to make such balloon payments when due under the terms of such loans. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” under Item 7.

FREIT is subject to the normal risks associated with debt financing, including the risk that FREIT’s cash flow will be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest; the risk that indebtedness on its properties will not be able to be renewed, repaid or refinanced when due; or that the terms of any renewal or refinancing will not be as favorable as the terms of the indebtedness being replaced. If FREIT were unable to refinance its indebtedness on acceptable terms, or at all, FREIT might be forced to dispose of one or more of its properties on disadvantageous terms which might result in losses to FREIT. These losses could have a material adverse effect on FREIT and its ability to make distributions to shareholders and to pay amounts due on its debt. If a property is mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness and FREIT is unable to meet mortgage payments, the mortgagee could foreclose upon the property, appoint a receiver and receive an assignment of rents and leases or pursue other remedies, all with a consequent loss of revenues and asset value to FREIT. Further, payment obligations on FREIT’s mortgage loans will not be reduced if there is a decline in the economic performance of any of FREIT’s properties. If any such decline in economic performance occurs, FREIT’s revenues, earnings, and funds available for distribution to shareholders would be adversely affected.

Neither FREIT’s Declaration of Trust nor any policy statement formally adopted by FREIT’s Board of Trustees limits either the total amount of indebtedness or the specified percentage of indebtedness (based on the total capitalization of FREIT), which may be incurred by FREIT. Accordingly, FREIT may incur in the future additional secured or unsecured indebtedness in furtherance of its business activities, including, if or when necessary, to refinance its existing debt. Future debt incurred by FREIT could bear interest at rates which are higher than the rates on FREIT’s existing debt. Future debt incurred by FREIT could also bear interest at a variable rate. Increases in interest rates would increase FREIT’s variable interest costs (to the extent that the related indebtedness was not protected by interest rate protection arrangements), which could have a material adverse effect on FREIT and its ability to make distributions to shareholders and to pay amounts due on its debt or cause FREIT to be in default under its debt. Further, in the future, FREIT may not be able to, or may determine that it is not able to, obtain financing for property acquisitions or for capital expenditures to develop or improve its properties on terms which are acceptable to FREIT. In such event, FREIT might elect to defer certain projects unless alternative sources of capital were available, such as through an equity or debt offering by FREIT.

Competitive Conditions

FREIT is subject to normal competition with other investors to acquire real property and to profitably manage such property. Numerous other REITs, banks, insurance companies and pension funds, as well as corporate and individual developers and owners of real estate, compete with FREIT in seeking properties for acquisition and for tenants. Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial resources than FREIT.

In addition, retailers at FREIT’s commercial properties face increasing competition from discount shopping centers, outlet malls, sales through catalogue offerings, discount shopping clubs, marketing and shopping through cable and computer sources, particularly over the internet, and telemarketing. In many markets, the trade areas of FREIT’s commercial properties overlap with the trade areas of other shopping centers. Renovations and expansions at those competing shopping centers and malls could negatively affect FREIT’s commercial properties by encouraging shoppers to make their purchases at such new, expanded or renovated shopping centers and malls. Increased competition through these various sources could adversely affect the viability of FREIT’s tenants, and any new commercial real estate competition developed in the future could potentially have an adverse effect on the revenues of and earnings from FREIT’s commercial properties.

The revenues and value of FREIT’s commercial and residential apartment properties may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including, without limitation, the national economic climate; the regional economic climate (which may be adversely affected by plant closings, industry slow downs and other local business factors); local real estate conditions (such as an oversupply of retail space or apartment units); perceptions by retailers or shoppers of the security, safety, convenience and attractiveness of a shopping center; perception by residential tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of an apartment building or complex; the proximity and the number of competing shopping centers and apartment complexes; the availability of recreational and other amenities and the willingness and ability of the owner to provide capable management and adequate maintenance. In addition, other factors may adversely affect the fair market value of a commercial property or apartment building or complex without necessarily affecting the revenues, including changes in government regulations (such as limitations on development or on hours of operation) changes in tax laws or rates, and potential environmental or other legal liabilities.

FREIT believes that its revenues and earnings; its ability to meet its debt obligations; and its funds available for distribution to shareholders would be adversely affected if space in FREIT’s multi-store shopping center properties could not be leased or if anchor store tenants or satellite tenants failed to meet their lease obligations.

The success of FREIT’s investment in its shopping center properties is largely dependent upon the success of its tenants. Unfavorable economic, demographic, or competitive conditions may adversely affect the financial condition of tenants and consequently the lease revenues from and the value of FREIT’s investments in its shopping center properties. If the sales of stores operating in FREIT’s shopping center properties were to decline due to deteriorating economic conditions, the tenants may be unable to pay their base rents or meet other lease charges and fees due to FREIT. In addition, any lease provisions providing for additional rent based on a percentage of sales would not be operative in this economic environment. In the event of default by a tenant, FREIT could suffer a loss of rent and experience extraordinary delays while incurring additional costs in enforcing its rights under the lease, which may or may not be recaptured by FREIT.

As at October 31, 2013 the following table lists the ten (10) largest commercial tenants, which account for approximately 51.4% of FREIT’s leased commercial rental space and 35.1% of fixed commercial rents.

There is no assurance that we will be able to retain tenants at our commercial properties upon expiration of their leases. Upon expiration or termination of leases for space located in FREIT’s commercial properties, the premises may not be relet or the terms of reletting (including the cost of concessions to tenants) may not be as favorable as lease terms for the terminated lease. If FREIT were unable to promptly relet all or a substantial portion of this space or if the rental rates upon such reletting were significantly lower than current or expected rates, FREIT’s revenues and earnings, FREIT’s ability to service its debt, and FREIT’s ability to make expected distributions to its shareholders, could be adversely affected.

On February 3, 2012, Grande Rotunda, LLC (“Grande”) a 60% owned affiliate of FREIT entered into a lease termination agreement (“Agreement”) with Giant, the tenant and operator of the 35,994 sq. ft. Giant supermarket at Grande’s property located in Baltimore, Maryland. Giant, under the terms of the Agreement, agreed to (i) waive its right to extend the term of the lease through March 31, 2035, (ii) terminate the lease and surrender the premises to Grande no later than the earlier of commencement of the redevelopment of the property or March 31, 2015, and (iii) notwithstanding any earlier termination date, continue to pay monthly fixed rent payments plus its share of common area maintenance charges and taxes for the Rotunda property through March 31, 2015. Grande has agreed (i) not to lease more than 20,000 sq. ft. of any space in the property for use as a food supermarket through March 31, 2035, and (ii) if Grande decides to lease such space for use as a food supermarket, it must first offer the space for the same use under the terms acceptable to Grande, to Giant, which will have thirty days to accept the offer before the space may be leased to a third party.

During Fiscal 2011, FREIT was notified by the former tenant and operator of the 55,330 sq. ft. Giant Supermarket at Westridge that it would not extend the term of its lease, which expired on October 31, 2011. On July 27, 2012, FREIT signed a lease agreement with G-Mart Frederick, Inc. (“G-Mart”) for a significant portion (40,000 square feet) of the space previously occupied by Giant. G-Mart began operations at the center in September 2013.

There were no other material lease expirations during Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012. There are no material lease expirations expected during Fiscal 2014.

Equity real estate investments are relatively illiquid. Accordingly, the ability of FREIT to vary its portfolio in response to changing economic, market or other conditions is limited. Also, FREIT’s interests in its partially owned subsidiaries are subject to transfer constraints imposed by the operating agreements which govern FREIT’s investment in these partially owned subsidiaries. Even without such restrictions on the transfer of its interests, FREIT believes that there would be a limited market for its interests in these partially owned subsidiaries.

If FREIT had to liquidate all or substantially all of its real estate holdings, the value of such assets would likely be diminished if a sale was required to be completed in a limited time frame. The proceeds to FREIT from any such sale of the assets in FREIT’s real estate portfolio might be less than the fair market value of those assets.

Impact of Governmental Laws and Regulations on Registrant’s Business

FREIT’s properties are subject to various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, including those relating to the environment and local rent control and zoning ordinances.

Both federal and state governments are concerned with the impact of real estate construction and development programs upon the environment. Environmental legislation affects the cost of selling real estate, the cost to develop real estate, and the risks associated with purchasing real estate.

Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, an owner of real property may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances at, on, in or under such property, as well as certain other potential costs relating to hazardous or toxic substances (including government fines and penalties and damages for injuries to persons and adjacent property). Such laws often impose such liability without regard to whether the owners knew of, or were responsible for, the presence or disposal of such substances. Such liability may be imposed on the owner in connection with the activities of any operator of, or tenant at, the property. The cost of any required remediation, removal, fines or personal injury or property damages and the property owner’s liability therefore could exceed the value of the property and/or the aggregate assets of the owner. In addition, the presence of such substances, or the failure to properly dispose of or remediate such substances, may adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell or rent such property or to borrow using such property as collateral. If FREIT incurred any such liability, it could reduce FREIT’s revenues and ability to make distributions to its shareholders.

A property can also be negatively impacted by either physical contamination or by virtue of an adverse effect upon value attributable to the migration of hazardous or toxic substances, or other contaminants that have or may have emanated from other properties.

At this time, FREIT is aware of the following environmental matters affecting its properties:

This property is in a Flood Hazard Zone. FREIT maintains flood insurance in the amount of $500,000 for the subject property, which is the maximum available under the Flood Program for the property. Any reconstruction of that portion of the property situated in the flood hazard zone is subject to regulations promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”), which could require extraordinary construction methods.

The redeveloped Franklin Crossing shopping center was completed during the summer of 1997. Also in 1997, a historical discharge of hazardous materials was discovered at Franklin Crossing. The discharge was reported to the NJDEP in accordance with applicable regulations. FREIT completed the remediation required by the NJDEP.

In November 1999, FREIT received a No Further Action Letter from the NJDEP concerning the contaminated soil at Franklin Crossing. Monitoring of the groundwater will continue pursuant to a memorandum of agreement filed with the NJDEP.

Prior to its purchase, in November 2002, by Wayne PSC, a Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessment of the Preakness shopping center revealed soil and ground water contamination with Percloroethylene (Dry Cleaning Fluid) caused by the mishandling of this chemical by a former Dry Cleaner tenant.

The seller of the center to Wayne PSC is in the process of performing the remedial work in accordance with the requirements of the NJDEP. Additionally, the seller has escrowed the estimated cost of the remediation and has purchased a cap-cost insurance policy covering any expenses over and above the estimated cost.

In performing the remedial work, possible contamination of this property by groundwater migrating from an offsite source was discovered. The NJDEP has not made any determination with respect to responsibility for remediation of this possible condition, and it is not possible to determine whether or to what extent Wayne PSC will have potential liability with respect to this condition or whether or to what extent insurance coverage may be available.

a) The State of New Jersey has adopted an underground fuel storage tank law and various regulations with respect to underground storage tanks.

FREIT no longer has underground storage tanks on any of its properties.

In prior years, FREIT conducted environmental audits for all of its properties except for its undeveloped land; retail properties in Franklin Lakes (Franklin Crossing) and Glen Rock, New Jersey. Except as noted in subparagraph (iii) above, the environmental reports secured by FREIT have not revealed any environmental conditions on its properties, which require remediation pursuant to any applicable Federal or state law or regulation.

b) FREIT has determined that several of its properties contain lead based paint (“LBP”). FREIT believes that it complies with all federal, state and local requirements as they pertain to LBP.

FREIT does not believe that the environmental conditions described in subparagraphs (i) - (iv) above will have a material adverse effect upon the capital expenditures, revenues, earnings, financial condition or competitive position of FREIT.

Each of the apartment buildings or complexes owned by FREIT is subject to some form of rent control ordinance which limits the amount by which FREIT can increase the rent for renewed leases, and in some cases, limits the amount of rent which FREIT can charge for vacated units, except for Westwood Hills and The Boulders at Rockaway which are not subject to any rent control law or regulation.

Local zoning ordinances may prevent FREIT from renovating, expanding or converting its existing properties for their highest and best use as determined by FREIT’s Board of Trustees.

FREIT does not engage in operations in foreign countries and it does not derive any portion of its revenues from customers in foreign countries.

Almost all of FREIT’s income and cash flow are derived from the net rental income (revenues after expenses) from our properties. FREIT’s business and financial results are affected by the following fundamental factors:

A negative or adverse quality change in the above factors could potentially cause a detrimental effect on FREIT’s revenue, earnings and cash flow. If rental revenues decline, we would expect to have less cash available to pay our indebtedness and distribute to our shareholders.

Adverse Changes in General Economic Climate: FREIT derives the majority of its revenues from renting apartments to individuals or families, and from retailers renting space at its shopping centers. The improvement in the U.S. economy has been uneven, but trending data seems to indicate the recovery has finally gained traction. The following U.S. developments and factors are positive: (a) the improvement in the housing market is expected to continue and drag along ancillary services; (b) falling energy prices and slower increases in health care costs are keeping inflation low; (c) increasing consumer confidence should push spending modestly higher in 2014; (d) private sector employment is expected to grow steadily; and (e) credit availability has improved. These factors should aid economic growth in the United States. However, there are factors that can be a drag on long-term economic growth: (i) continued gridlock in Washington; (ii) regulatory uncertainties; (iii) continued infrastructure deterioration; and (iv) a dramatic international debacle.

We receive a substantial portion of our operating income as rent under long-term leases with commercial tenants. At any time, any of our commercial tenants could experience a downturn in its business that might weaken its financial condition. These tenants might defer or fail to make rental payments when due, delay lease commencement, voluntarily vacate the premises or declare bankruptcy, which could result in the termination of the tenant’s lease, and could result in material losses to us and harm to our results of operations. Also, it might take time to terminate leases of underperforming or nonperforming tenants and we might incur costs to remove such tenants. Also, if tenants are unable to comply with the terms of our leases, we might modify lease terms in ways that are less favorable to us.

Tenants unable to pay rent: Financially distressed tenants may be unable to pay rents and expense recovery charges, where applicable, and may default on their leases. Enforcing our rights as landlord could result in substantial costs and may not result in a full recovery of unpaid rent. If a tenant files for bankruptcy, the tenant’s lease may be terminated. In each such instance FREIT’s income and cash flow would be negatively impacted.

Costs of re-renting space: If tenants fail to renew leases, fail to exercise renewal options, or terminate their leases early, the lost rents due to vacancy and the costs of re-renting the space could prove costly to FREIT. In addition to cleaning and renovating the vacated space, we may be required to grant concessions to a new tenant, and may incur leasing brokerage commissions. The lease terms to a new tenant may be less favorable than the prior tenant’s lease terms, and will negatively impact FREIT’s income and cash flow and adversely affect our ability to pay mortgage debt and interest or make distributions to our shareholders. FREIT is currently in the process of actively pursuing the re-leasing of the space at The Rotunda that was vacated by Giant as of April 2012, and has re-leased a portion of the space (40,000 of 55,330 square feet of available space) that was vacated by Giant at its Westridge Square property to G-Mart, an international grocery chain. G-Mart opened for business at the center in September 2013.

Inflation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations: Increased inflation could have a pronounced negative impact on our operating and administrative expenses, as these costs may increase at a higher rate than our rents. While increases in most operating expenses at our commercial properties can be passed on to retail tenants, increases in expenses at our residential properties cannot be passed on to residential tenants. Unreimbursed increased operating expenses may reduce cash flow available for payment of mortgage debt and interest, and for distributions to shareholders.

Development and construction risks: As part of its investment strategy, FREIT seeks to acquire property for development and construction, as well as to develop and build on land already in its portfolio. FREIT has recently completed a major expansion project at the Damascus Center and is engaged in a major redevelopment at the Rotunda property in Baltimore, Maryland. Development and construction activities are challenged with the following risks, which may adversely affect our cash flow:

Debt financing could adversely affect income and cash flow: FREIT relies on debt financing to fund its growth through acquisitions and development activities. To the extent third party debt financing is not available or not available on acceptable terms, acquisitions and development activities will be curtailed.

As of October 31, 2013, FREIT had approximately $197.4 million of non-recourse mortgage debt subject to fixed interest rates, and $2.0 million of variable interest rate debt relating to outstanding draws on its line of credit. These mortgages are being repaid over periods (amortization schedules) that are longer than the terms of the mortgages. Accordingly, when the mortgages become due (at various times) significant balloon payments (the unpaid principal amounts) will be required. FREIT expects to refinance the individual mortgages with new mortgages when their terms expire. To this extent we have exposure to capital availability and interest rate risk. If interest rates, at the time any individual mortgage note is due, are higher than the current fixed interest rate, higher debt service may be required and/or refinancing proceeds may be less than the amount of the mortgage debt being retired. The $22.5 million mortgage loan entered into by Grande Rotunda, LLC for the acquisition of the Rotunda was scheduled to come due on July 19, 2009, and was extended by the bank until February 1, 2010. On February 1, 2010, a principal payment of $3 million was made reducing the original loan amount of $22.5 million to $19.5 million and the due date was extended until February 1, 2013. In order to meet the bank’s annual debt service coverage ratio requirement, a principal payment of $110,000 was made on the loan in February 2012. As part of the terms of the loan extension agreement, the loan was further collateralized by a first mortgage lien and the assignment of the ground lease on FREIT’s Rochelle Park, NJ land parcel. Under the restructured terms, the interest rate was adjusted to 350 basis points above the BBA LIBOR with a floor of 4%, and monthly principal payments of $10,000 were required. The due date of the loan was further extended to May 1, 2013 from February 1, 2013. Even though the bank agreed to an additional ninety-day (90) extension of the maturity of the loan from May 1, 2013, FREIT elected to purchase the Rotunda loan from the bank and have all the bank’s rights assigned to FREIT. The purchase of this loan by FREIT was completed on May 28, 2013. FREIT intended to sell this loan to the lender providing the construction financing for the expansion of the Rotunda project. On December 9, 2013, Grande Rotunda, LLC closed with Wells Fargo Bank on a construction loan of up to $120 million to be used for the purpose of funding the major redevelopment and expansion project planned for the Rotunda. The construction loan will be for a term of four (4) years, with one 12-month extension, at a rate of 225 basis points over the monthly LIBOR. Under the agreement with the equity owners of Grande Rotunda, LLC, FREIT would be responsible for 60% of any cash required by Grande Rotunda, LLC, and 40% would be the responsibility of the minority interest.

To the extent we are unable to refinance our indebtedness on acceptable terms; we may need to dispose of one or more of our properties upon disadvantageous terms.

Our revolving $13 million credit line (of which $11 million was available as of October 31, 2013), and our Grande Rotunda construction loan, which was entered into on December 9, 2013, contain financial covenants that could restrict our acquisition activities and result in a default on these loans if we fail to satisfy these covenants.

Failure of banking and financing institutions: Banking and financing institutions such as insurance companies provide FREIT with credit lines and construction financing. The credit lines available to FREIT may be used for a variety of business purposes, including general corporate purposes, acquisitions, construction, and letters of credit. Construction financing enables FREIT to develop new properties, or renovate or expand existing properties. A failure of the banking institution making credit lines available may render the line unavailable and adversely affect FREIT’s liquidity, and negatively impact our operations in a number of ways. A failure of a financial institution unable to fund its construction financing obligations to FREIT may cause the construction to halt or be delayed. Substitute financing may be significantly more expensive, and construction delays may subject FREIT to delivery penalties.

Failure of insurance carriers: FREIT’s properties are insured against unforeseen liability claims, property damages, and other hazards. The insurance companies FREIT uses have good ratings at the time the policies are put into effect. Financial failure of our carriers may result in their inability to pay current and future claims. This inability to pay claims may have an adverse impact on FREIT’s financial condition. In addition, a failure of a FREIT insurance carrier may cause FREIT’s insurance renewal or replacement policy costs to increase.

Real estate is a competitive business: FREIT is subject to normal competition with other investors to acquire real property and to profitably manage such property. Numerous other REITs, banks, insurance companies and pension funds, as well as corporate and individual developers and owners of real estate, compete with FREIT in seeking properties for acquisition and for tenants. Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial resources than FREIT. In addition, retailers at FREIT’s commercial properties face increasing competition from discount shopping centers, outlet malls, sales through catalogue offerings, discount shopping clubs, marketing and shopping through cable and computer sources, particularly over the internet, and telemarketing. In many markets, the trade areas of FREIT’s commercial properties overlap with the trade areas of other shopping centers. Renovations and expansions at those competing shopping centers and malls could negatively affect FREIT’s commercial properties by encouraging shoppers to make their purchases at such new, expanded or renovated shopping centers and malls. Increased competition through these various sources could adversely affect the viability of FREIT’s tenants, and any new commercial real estate competition developed in the future could potentially have an adverse effect on the revenues of and earnings from FREIT’s commercial properties.

Illiquidity of real estate investment: Real estate investments are relatively difficult to buy and sell quickly. Accordingly, the ability of FREIT to vary its portfolio in response to changing economic, market or other conditions is limited. Also, FREIT’s interests in its partially owned subsidiaries are subject to transfer constraints by the operating agreements that govern FREIT’s investment in these partially owned subsidiaries.

Environmental problems may be costly: Both federal and state governments are concerned with the impact of real estate construction and development programs upon the environment. Environmental legislation affects the cost of selling real estate, the cost to develop real estate, and the risks associated with purchasing real estate.

Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, an owner of real property may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances at, on, in or under such property, as well as certain other potential costs relating to hazardous or toxic substances (including government fines and penalties and damages for injuries to persons and adjacent property). Such laws often impose such liability without regard to whether the owners knew of, or were responsible for, the presence or disposal of such substances. Such liability may be imposed on the owner in connection with the activities of any operator of, or tenant at the property. The cost of any required remediation, removal, fines or personal injury or property damages and the property owner’s liability therefore could exceed the value of the property and/or the aggregate assets of the owner. In addition, the presence of such substances, or the failure to properly dispose of or remediate such substances, may adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell or rent such property or to borrow using such property as collateral. If FREIT incurred any such liability, it could reduce FREIT’s revenues and ability to make distributions to its shareholders.

A property can also be negatively impacted by either physical contamination or by virtue of an adverse effect upon value attributable to the migration of hazardous or toxic substances, or other contaminants that have or may have emanated from other properties.

Qualification as a REIT: Since its inception in 1961, FREIT has elected to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, and will continue to operate so as to qualify as a REIT. In order to qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy a number of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Governmental legislation, new regulations, and administrative interpretations may significantly change the tax laws with respect to the requirements for qualification as a REIT, or the federal income tax consequences of qualifying as a REIT. Although FREIT intends to continue to operate in a manner to allow it to qualify as a REIT, future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause it to revoke the REIT election or fail to qualify as a REIT. Such a revocation would subject FREIT’s income to federal income tax at regular corporate rates, and failure to qualify as a REIT would also eliminate the requirement that we pay dividends to our shareholders.

Change of investment and operating policies: FREIT’s investment and operating policies, including indebtedness and dividends, are exclusively determined by FREIT’s Board of Trustees, and not subject to shareholder approval.

None.

Portfolio of Investments: The following tables set forth certain information relating to each of FREIT’s real estate investments in addition to the specific mortgages encumbering the properties.  

Commercial Properties as of October 31, 2013:

* Average annualized rent per sq ft includes the impact of straight-line rent escalations and the amortization of rent concessions and abatements.

(1) Security for draws against FREIT’s Credit Line.

(2) The original 33,000 sq. ft. shopping center was replaced with a new 87,041 sq. ft. center that opened in October 1997.

(3) FREIT owns a 100% interest in WestFREIT Corp, that owns the center.

(4) FREIT owns a 40% equity interest in WaynePSC, that owns the center.

(5) FREIT owns a 70% equity interest in Damascus Centre, LLC, that owns the center. Major renovation and expansion project completed November 1, 2011.

(6) FREIT owns a 60% equity interest in Grande Rotunda, LLC, that owns the center.

(7) Effective January 1, 2013, interest rate on loan was renegotiated to a fixed rate of 4.5%. All other terms of the loan remain unchanged.

(8) On December 26, 2012, Damascus Centre, LLC refinanced the construction loan with a new mortgage loan in the amount of $20 million, bearing a floating rate equal to 210 basis points over the BBA LIBOR, and the new loan will mature on January 3, 2023.

(9) FREIT purchase Rotunda loan of $19 million from bank on May 28, 2013. FREIT intended to sell this loan to the lender providing the construction financing for the expansion of the Rotunda project.

(10) Giant supermarket, which leases 55,330 sq ft, elected not to extend their lease as of November 1, 2011. Effective April 2013, 40,000 sq ft of this space leased to G-Mart.

(11) Giant supermarket, which leases 35,994 sq ft, vacated their space in April 2012, and mutually agreed to continue to make payments under the terms of their lease through March 31, 2015.  

Residential Apartment Properties as of October 31, 2013:

(1) FREIT owns a 40% equity interest in Westwood Hills. See “Investment in Subsidiaries”.

(2) Pierre Towers is 100% owned by S And A Commercial Associates LP, which is 65% owned by FREIT.

(3) Construction completed in August 2006 on land acquired in 1963 / 1964.

(4) On November 19, 2013, the Hammel Gardens loan was refinanced in the amount of $8.5 million at an interest rate of 4.54%.

(5) On November 19, 2013, the Steuben Arms loan was refinanced in the amount of $11.2 million at an interest rate of 4.54%.

Supplemental Segment Information:

Land Under Development and Vacant Land as of October 31, 2013:

FREIT believes that it has a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial properties. FREIT’s business is not materially dependent upon any single tenant or any one of its properties.

In Fiscal 2013, FREIT had two (2) properties that contributed over 15% of FREIT’s total consolidated revenue. Within FREIT’s residential segment, Pierre Towers in Hackensack, NJ accounted for 15.6% of total consolidated revenue, and within FREIT’s commercial segment, the Preakness Center in Wayne, NJ accounted for 15.1% of total consolidated revenue. For fiscal years 2012 and 2011, none of FREIT’s properties accounted for 15% or more of FREIT’s total consolidated revenue.

Although FREIT’s general investment policy is to hold properties as long-term investments, FREIT could selectively sell certain properties if it determines that any such sale is in FREIT’s and its shareholders’ best interests. See “Business-Planned Disposition” under Item 1 above. With respect to FREIT’s future acquisition and development activities, FREIT will evaluate various real estate opportunities, which FREIT believes would increase FREIT’s revenues and earnings, as well as complement and increase the overall value of FREIT’s existing investment portfolio.

Except for the Pathmark supermarket located in Patchogue, Long Island, the TD Bank branch located in Rockaway, NJ and the Pascack Community Bank branch located on our land in Rochelle Park, NJ, all of FREIT’s and its subsidiaries’ commercial properties have multiple tenants.

FREIT and its subsidiaries’ commercial properties have seventeen (17) anchor/major tenants, which account for approximately 56.8% of the space leased. The balance of the space is leased to one hundred and fifty eight (158) satellite and office tenants. The following table lists the anchor / major tenants at each center and the number of satellite tenants:  

(1) Giant Food of Maryland vacated in May 2011. Replaced by G-Mart in September 2013.

(2) FREIT has a 40% interest in this property.  

(3) FREIT has a 70% interest in this property.

(4) FREIT has a 60% interest in this property. Giant Food of Maryland vacated in April 2012, but mutually agreed to continue to pay rent in accordance with lease terms through 3/31/2015. 

With respect to most of FREIT’s commercial properties, lease terms range from five (5) years to twenty-five (25) years with options, which if exercised would extend the terms of such leases. The lease agreements generally provide for reimbursement of real estate taxes, maintenance, insurance and certain other operating expenses of the properties. During the last three (3) completed fiscal years, occupancy at FREIT’s commercial properties averaged 84.7%, which represents the actual “physical” occupancy rate (based upon possession and use of leased space). The lower average occupancy level was primarily attributable to the vacancies at the Rotunda resulting from Giant vacating its space in April 2012, but agreeing to continue to pay rent in accordance with its lease terms through March 31, 2015, and at Westridge resulting from Giant vacating its premises in May 2011, while continuing to pay rent in accordance with its lease through the expiration of the lease on October 31, 2011. On July 27, 2012, FREIT signed a lease agreement with G-Mart Frederick, Inc. (“G-Mart”), an international grocery chain, for a significant portion of the space (40,000 of 55,330 square feet of available space) that was vacated by Giant at its Westridge Square property. G-Mart has begun operations at the center in September 2013.

Leases for FREIT’s apartment buildings and complexes are usually one (1) year in duration. Even though the residential units are leased on a short-term basis, FREIT has averaged, during the last three (3) completed fiscal years, a 94.6% occupancy rate with respect to FREIT’s available apartment units.

FREIT does not believe that any seasonal factors materially affect FREIT’s business operations and the leasing of its commercial and apartment properties.

FREIT believes that its properties are covered by adequate fire and property insurance provided by reputable companies and with commercially reasonable deductibles and limits. 

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which FREIT is a party, or of which any of its properties is the subject. There is, however, ordinary and routine litigation involving FREIT’s business including various tenancy and related matters. Except for the environmental conditions involving remediation disclosed in “Item 1(c) Narrative Description of Business - Impact of Governmental Laws and Regulations on Registrant’s Business; Environmental Matters,” there are no legal proceedings concerning environmental issues with respect to any property owned by FREIT.

Not applicable.

PART II

Shares of Beneficial Interest

Beneficial interests in FREIT are represented by shares without par value (the “Shares”). The Shares represent FREIT’s only authorized issued and outstanding class of equity. As of January 14, 2014, there were approximately 500 holders of record of the Shares.

The Shares are traded in the over-the-counter market through use of the OTC Bulletin Board Service (the “OTC Bulletin Board”) provided by FINRA, Inc. FREIT does not believe that an active United States public trading market exists for the Shares since historically only small volumes of the Shares are traded on a sporadic basis. The following table sets forth, at the end of the periods indicated, the Bid and Asked quotations for the Shares on the OTC Bulletin Board.

The bid quotations set forth above for the Shares reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. The source of the bid and asked quotations is Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC members of the New York Stock Exchange and other national securities exchanges.

Dividends

The holders of Shares are entitled to receive distributions as may be declared by FREIT’s Board of Trustees. Dividends may be declared from time to time by the Board of Trustees and may be paid in cash, property, or Shares. The Board of Trustees’ present policy is to distribute annually at least ninety percent (90%) of FREIT’s REIT taxable income as dividends to the holders of Shares in order to qualify as a REIT for Federal income tax purposes. Distributions are made on a quarterly basis. In Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012, FREIT paid or declared aggregate total dividends of $1.56 and $1.10 per share, respectively, to the holders of Shares.

See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Distributions to Shareholders.”

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

See Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.”

The selected consolidated financial data for FREIT for each of the five (5) fiscal years in the period ended October 31, 2013 are derived from financial statements herein or previously filed financial statements. This data should be read in conjunction with Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Annual Report and with FREIT’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report. 

(a) Represents gain of $9,493 net of federal and state tax of $1,965.

* In 2010, includes $2.1 million prepayment penalty on early debt extinguishment.

OVERVIEW

FREIT is an equity real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that is self-administered and externally managed. FREIT owns a portfolio of residential apartment and commercial properties. Our revenues consist primarily of fixed rental income from our residential and commercial properties and additional rent in the form of expense reimbursements derived from our income producing commercial properties. Our properties are primarily located in northern New Jersey and Maryland. We acquire existing properties for investment. We also acquire properties, that we feel have redevelopment potential, and we make changes and capital improvements to these properties. We develop and construct properties on our vacant land. Our policy is to acquire and develop real property for long-term investment.

The economic and financial environment: The recovery in the U.S. has finally gained traction: (a) the housing market continues to improve; (b) inflation is expected to remain in check; (c) consumer spending is increasing modestly; (d) private sector employment is growing steadily; and (e) credit availability has improved. These factors should continue to aid economic growth in the United States.

Residential Properties: We have aggressively increased rental rates. As a result, our rental rates continue to show year-over-year increases. However, this practice has increased the vacancies in some of our residential properties in the short-term. We expect this aggressive rental rate policy will more than offset short-term rental revenue losses resulting from increased vacancies. We expect increases in rental rates to taper; however, the increased rental rates that are in place should positively impact future revenues.

Commercial Properties: The retail outlook has shown improvement because of increases in consumer spending over the past year and this improvement is expected to continue over the next couple of years.

Development Projects and Capital Expenditures: We continue to make only those capital expenditures that are absolutely necessary. As of November 2011, the expansion and renovation of the Damascus Center was completed. On July 24, 2012, the FREIT Board of Trustees approved revisions to the scope of the Rotunda redevelopment project, thereby reducing the complexity and projected cost of the project. In order to avoid beginning construction during the winter months, Rotunda began construction on the parking lot areas in September 2013.

Debt Financing Availability: Financing for development projects has become more available. As a result, on December 9, 2013, Grande Rotunda, LLC closed with Wells Fargo Bank on a construction loan of up to $120 million to be used for the purpose of funding the major redevelopment and expansion project planned for the Rotunda.

Operating Cash Flow and Dividend Distributions: We expect that cash provided by net operating income will be adequate to cover mandatory debt service payments (excluding balloon payments), necessary capital improvements and dividends necessary to retain qualification as a REIT (90% of taxable income). Until the economic climate indicates that a change is appropriate, it is FREIT’s intention to maintain its quarterly dividend at a level not less than that required to maintain its REIT status for Federal income tax purposes.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Pursuant to the SEC disclosure guidance for “Critical Accounting Policies,” the SEC defines Critical Accounting Policies as those that require the application of management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often because of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods.

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, the preparation of which takes into account estimates based on judgments and assumptions that affect certain amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from these estimates. The accounting policies and estimates used, which are outlined in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements which is presented elsewhere in this Form 10-K, have been applied consistently as at October 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, and for the years ended October 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011. We believe that the following accounting policies or estimates require the application of management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments:

Revenue Recognition: Base rents, additional rents based on tenants’ sales volume and reimbursement of the tenants’ share of certain operating expenses are generally recognized when due from tenants. The straight-line basis is used to recognize base rents under leases if they provide for varying rents over the lease terms. Straight-line rents represent unbilled rents receivable to the extent straight-line rents exceed current rents billed in accordance with lease agreements. Before FREIT can recognize revenue, it is required to assess, among other things, its collectibility.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets: We periodically assess the carrying value of long-lived assets whenever we determine that events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. When FREIT determines that the carrying value of long-lived assets may be impaired, the measurement of any impairment is based on a projected discounted cash flow method determined by FREIT’s management. While we believe that our discounted cash flow methods are reasonable, different assumptions regarding such cash flows may significantly affect the measurement of impairment.

Real Estate Development Costs: It is FREIT’s policy to capitalize pre-development costs, which generally include legal and professional fees and other directly related third-party costs. Real estate taxes and interest costs incurred during the development and construction phases are also capitalized. FREIT ceases capitalization of these costs when the project or portion thereof becomes operational, or when construction has been postponed. Capitalization of these costs will recommence once construction on the project resumes.

Adopted and recently issued accounting standards:

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-10, “Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Derecognition of in Substance Real Estate-a Scope Clarification”. The purpose of this update is to resolve the diversity in practice about whether the guidance under FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 360-20, “Property, Plant, and Equipment-Real Estate Sales”, applies to a parent that ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary, as specified under ASC Subtopic 810-10, “Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51”, that is in substance real estate as a result of default on the subsidiary’s nonrecourse debt. The new guidance is intended to emphasize that accounting for such transactions “is based on their substance rather than their form”, specifically that the parent should only deconsolidate the real estate subsidiary when legal title to the real estate is transferred to the lender and the related nonrecourse debt has been extinguished. The standard takes effect for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years beginning on or after June 15, 2012. The adoption of this guidance in the year ended October 31, 2013 did not have any impact on our financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which supersedes the presentation options in ASC Topic 220, “Reporting of Comprehensive Income”. The new standard provides guidance for the presentation of comprehensive income and its components in the financial statements. The new guidance only affects the presentation of comprehensive income, and not the components that must be reported therein. The standard takes effect for public companies effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this standard on November 1, 2012 and elected to present a separate Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. This update stated that the specific requirement in ASU 2011-05 to present items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income alongside their respective components of net income and other comprehensive income will be deferred. In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This update requires companies to present the effects on the line items of net income of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income if the amount being reclassified is required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles to be reclassified in its entirety to net income in the same reporting period. ASU 2013-02 is effective prospectively for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012 with early adoption permitted. The Company has not yet adopted this guidance, and does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

Results of Operations:

Fiscal Years Ended October 31, 2013 and 2012

Summary revenues and net income for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013 (“Fiscal 2013”) and October 31, 2012 (“Fiscal 2012”) are as follows:

(a) Represents gain of $9,493 net of federal and state tax of $1,965.

Real estate revenue for Fiscal 2013 decreased 1.8% to $41,337,000, compared to $42,078,000 for Fiscal 2012, exclusive of income of $2,950,000 relating to an early lease termination by Giant.

Net Income attributable to common equity (“net income common equity”) for Fiscal 2013 was $7,449,000 ($1.07 per share basic), compared to $11,351,000 ($1.64 per share basic) for Fiscal 2012. Included in net income common equity for Fiscal 2013 were gains from the sale of real estate amounting to $3,545,000. For Fiscal 2012, net income common equity included the net after-tax gain of $7,528,000 related to the sale of real estate. Also included in income from discontinued operations for Fiscal 2013 is a $720,000 income tax credit related to the sale of the Heights Manor property. Additionally, Fiscal 2012 included certain other items that affect comparability, specifically $2,950,000 of income relating to the Giant early lease termination, offset by the related deferred project cost write-off of $3,726,000. Adjusting income from continuing operations for the above mentioned comparability items included therein, adjusted income from continuing operations for Fiscal 2013 was $3,600,000 ($0.52 per share basic), compared to $4,784,000 ($0.69 per share basic) for Fiscal 2012. Adjusted income from continuing operations is a non-GAAP measure, which management believes is a useful and meaningful gauge to investors of our operating performance, since it excludes the impact of unusual and infrequent items specifically: the Giant lease termination fee income, and the related project abandonment cost write-off, as well as income applicable to discontinued operations. (Refer to the segment disclosure below for a more detailed discussion on the financial performance of FREIT’s commercial and residential segments.)

The schedule below provides a detailed analysis of the major changes that impacted revenue and net income-common equity for Fiscal 2013 and 2012:

(a) Represents gain of $9,493 net of federal and state fax of $1,965.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The following table sets forth comparative net operating income (“NOI”) data for FREIT’s real estate segments and reconciles the NOI to consolidated net income-common equity for Fiscal 2013, as compared to Fiscal 2012 (See below for definition of NOI.):

NOI is based on operating revenue and expenses directly associated with the operations of the real estate properties, but excludes deferred rents (straight lining), lease amortization, depreciation, financing costs and other items. FREIT assesses and measures segment operating results based on NOI.

Same Property NOI: FREIT considers same property net operating income (“Same Property NOI”) to be a useful supplemental non-GAAP measure of our operating performance. We define same property within both our commercial and residential segments to be those properties that we have owned and operated for both the current and prior periods presented, excluding those properties that we acquired, redeveloped or classified as discontinued operations during those periods. Any newly acquired property that has been in operation for less than a year, any property that is undergoing a major redevelopment, but may still be in operation at less than full capacity, and/or any property that is under contract for sale are not considered same property.

NOI and Same Property NOI are non-GAAP financial measures and are not measures of operating results or cash flow as measured by generally accepted accounting principles, and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity.

COMMERCIAL SEGMENT

The commercial segment contains ten (10) separate properties. Seven are multi-tenanted retail or office centers, and one is a single tenanted store. In addition, FREIT owns land in Rockaway, NJ and Rochelle Park, NJ from which it receives monthly rental income, from tenants who have built and operate bank branches on the land. As indicated in the table above under the caption Segment Information, total revenue and NOI from FREIT’s commercial segment for Fiscal 2013 decreased by 2.2% and 1.6%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2012. The major contributing factors to the overall decline in revenue for Fiscal 2013 were the vacancy resulting from the termination of the Giant lease for 35,994 square feet of space at the Rotunda property in February 2012, and $300,000 in non-recurring easement income recognized by the Franklin Crossing Shopping Center, in Franklin Lakes, NJ during the 4^th quarter of Fiscal 2012. It is not anticipated that the Giant space at the Rotunda (or a reconfiguration of this space) will be leased until the redevelopment of the Rotunda is completed. (See discussion below.) The decrease in rental revenue for the current year was slightly offset by a lower level of administrative expenses for Fiscal 2013, primarily due to a higher level of bad debt expense incurred in Fiscal 2012.

Same Property Operating Results: FREIT’s commercial segment currently contains ten (10) same properties. (See definition of same property under Segment Information above.) For Fiscal 2013, same property revenue and same property NOI for our commercial segment decreased by 2.2% and 1.6%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2012.

Leasing: The following table reflects leasing activity at our commercial properties for comparable leases (leases executed for spaces in which there was a tenant at some point during the previous twelve-month period) and non-comparable leases for Fiscal 2013:

(a) These leasing costs are presented as annualized costs per square foot and are allocated uniformly over the initial lease term.

The US economic recovery continued to show signs of improvement during 2013, with retail sales also showing slight improvement. Exclusive of the Giant space at the Rotunda (see discussion below); tenant fall-out at our other properties has been minor. Average occupancy rates for Fiscal 2013, exclusive of the Giant space at the Rotunda, decreased 0.8% from last year’s comparable period.

Construction related to the expansion and renovation of the Damascus Center was completed in November 2011. We are currently in the negotiation process with potential tenants for the new, currently available space constructed in the final phase (Phase III) of this project. As of October 31, 2013, approximately 86% of the space at the Damascus Center is leased and 76.8% is occupied.

At Westridge Square, Giant elected not to extend its lease beyond October 31, 2011, and vacated its space at the center during May 2011. On July 27, 2012, FREIT signed a lease agreement with G-Mart Frederick, Inc. (“G-Mart”) for a significant portion (40,000 square feet) of the space previously occupied by Giant. G-Mart manages an international grocery store chain, and the operation of a G-Mart International Foods store at Westridge Square is expected to complement other retailers in the center and generate increased consumer traffic at the shopping center. FREIT incurred approximately $940,000 in tenant improvement costs associated with the lease to G-Mart, which began operations at the center in September 2013.

On February 3, 2012, Grande Rotunda, LLC (“Grande”), a 60% owned affiliate of FREIT, entered into a lease termination agreement (“Agreement”) with Giant, the former tenant and operator of a 35,994 sq. ft. Giant supermarket at Grande’s Rotunda property located in Baltimore, Maryland. Under the terms of the Agreement, Giant agreed to (i) waive its right to extend the term of the lease through March 31, 2035, (ii) terminate the lease and surrender the premises to Grande no later than the earlier of commencement of the redevelopment of the property or March 31, 2015, and (iii) notwithstanding any earlier termination date, continue to pay monthly fixed rent payments plus its share of common area maintenance charges and taxes for the Rotunda property through March 31, 2015. Grande has agreed (i) not to lease more than 20,000 sq. ft. of any space in the Rotunda for use as a food supermarket through March 31, 2035, and (ii) if Grande decides to lease such space for use as a food supermarket, it must first offer the space to Giant for the same use under the terms acceptable to Grande, and Giant will have thirty days to accept the offer before the space may be leased to a third party. As a result of the Giant lease termination and the terms of the Agreement, Grande will not be required to construct a lower level Giant supermarket as part of the redevelopment project at the Rotunda, which represented a costly component of the project. In addition, the Giant lease contained significant restrictions on Grande’s ability to make modifications to the property. This development cleared the way for Grande to move forward with the redevelopment planning for this property. As a result of Giant terminating its lease and vacating its space at the Rotunda in April 2012, the results for Fiscal 2012 include income of $2.95 million relating to the Giant early lease termination, offset by a $3.73 million deferred project cost write-off relating to a change in development plans for the Rotunda, specifically $1.49 related to the write-off of the design fees relating to the Giant portion of the project and $2.24 million of certain planning and feasibility costs that were no longer deemed to have any utility. The early lease termination fee is comprised of the net present value of the monthly rent in accordance with the terms of the terminated lease, projected common area maintenance charges, and real estate taxes from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2015. In addition, included in the $2.95 million lease termination fee are the write-off of the balances in Below Market Value Lease Acquisition Costs, and In-Place Lease Costs relating to the Giant lease. In order to avoid starting construction during the winter months, FREIT started construction on the parking lot areas this past September 2013.

On May 2, 2012, FREIT’s Board authorized management to pursue the sale of its South Brunswick, NJ property. The decision to sell this property was based on the Board’s desire to re-deploy the net proceeds arising from the sale to real estate assets in other areas of FREIT’s operations. A contract for the sale of the South Brunswick property, with a carrying value of $1.1 million at October 31, 2013, had been entered into, which was subject to the completion of the due diligence review and the resolution of certain environmental issues. On December 20, 2013, the South Brunswick property was sold for $11 million, resulting in an estimated gain of approximately $8.7 million net of sales fees and commissions (see Note 15 for more details).

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

The modernization and expansion project at the Damascus Center was completed in November 2011. Total construction costs, inclusive of tenant improvement costs, approximated $22.7 million. The building plans incorporated an expansion of retail space from 140,000 sq. ft. to approximately 150,000 sq. ft., anchored by a modern 58,000 sq. ft. Safeway supermarket. Construction was completed in three phases. Phase III construction began in June 2011, and was completed in November 2011. Certain tenant fit-up costs have been incurred with respect to space leased since November 2011, and additional tenant fit-up costs are expected, once the remaining new space is leased and occupied. For Fiscal 2013, total tenant fit-up costs incurred were approximately $1,096,000. Total construction costs were funded from a $21.3 million construction loan entered into on February 12, 2008. With the completion of each of the three phases of construction, certain tenant leases have been renewed and occupancy is beginning to increase. Approximately 86% of the space at the Damascus Center is leased and 76.8% is occupied. On December 26, 2012, Damascus Centre, LLC refinanced its construction loan with long-term financing provided by People’s United Bank. The amount of the new loan is $25 million, of which $20 million has been drawn. The balance, up to an additional $5 million, will be available as a one-time draw over the 36 month period ending December 26, 2015, and the amount available will depend on future leasing at the shopping center. The new loan bears a floating interest rate equal to 210 basis points over the BBA LIBOR and the loan will mature on January 3, 2023.

The Rotunda property in Baltimore, MD (owned by our 60% owned affiliate Grande Rotunda, LLC) is an 11.5 acre site containing a 130,000 sq. ft. office building and approximately 78,000 sq. ft of retail space on the lower level of the office building. Plans completed in 2008 for the renovation and expansion of the property included the building of 350 residential apartment units, condominiums, apartment units, a hotel structure, expansion of the retail space (including an underground super market), and structured underground parking. As a result of Giant vacating its space, the scope of the project and the development plans were revised to include, in addition to the office building, 379 residential apartment units, 170,675 sq. ft. of retail space, and over 864 above level parking spaces. With regard to the Rotunda’s redevelopment project, approximately $14.6 million has been incurred through October 31, 2013 for planning and feasibility studies, of which $3.7 million was written-off in Fiscal 2012 as a result of revisions to the scope of the redevelopment project. During Fiscal 2013, an additional $6.2 million in planning and feasibility study costs were incurred, of which $1.4 million relates to predevelopment fees payable to Hekemian Development Resources LLC. (See Note 9 for additional details.) All planning and feasibility study costs are being capitalized to Construction In Progress (“CIP”) until the project is completed and becomes operational. In order to avoid beginning construction during the winter months, Rotunda began construction on the parking lot areas in September 2013.

On December 9, 2013, Grande Rotunda, LLC and FREIT closed with Wells Fargo Bank on a construction loan of up to $120 million, for the purpose of funding the major redevelopment and expansion project planned for the Rotunda. The construction loan will be for a term of four (4) years, with one 12-month extension, at a rate of 225 basis points over the monthly LIBOR.

RESIDENTIAL SEGMENT

FREIT currently operates six (6) multi-family apartment communities totaling 964 apartment units. As indicated in the table above under the caption Segment Information, total revenue and NOI from FREIT’s residential segment for Fiscal 2013 decreased by 1.0% and 6.2%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2012. The decrease in total revenue for Fiscal 2013 was primarily attributable to higher vacancy levels at several of our residential properties. Average occupancy levels for Fiscal 2013 decreased 2.6%, as compared to last year’s comparable period. The lower occupancy levels for the current year, combined with a higher level of operating expenses for the current year, specifically repair and maintenance expense, were the primary reasons for the decrease in NOI for Fiscal 2013.

Same Property Operating Results: FREIT’s residential segment currently contains six (6) same properties. (See definition of same property under Segment Information above.) Same property revenue and same property NOI for FREIT’s residential segment for Fiscal 2013 decreased by 1.0% and 6.2%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2012. The Palisades Manor property, which was sold in April 2013, and the Grandview Apartments property, which was sold in August 2013, are classified as discontinued operations and therefore not included as same property. (See discussion below.)

Our residential revenue is principally composed of monthly apartment rental income. Total rental income is a factor of occupancy and monthly apartment rents. Monthly average residential rents at the end of Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 were $1,706 and $1,659, respectively. A 1% decline in annual average occupancy and a 1% decline in average rents from current levels result in annual revenue declines of approximately $197,000 and $181,000, respectively.

On April 26, 2013, FREIT sold its Palisades Manor Apartments in Palisades Park, New Jersey and recognized a capital gain of $1.4 million from the sale. FREIT intended to structure this sale in a manner that would qualify as a like-kind exchange of real estate pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, which would have resulted in a deferral for income tax purposes of the $1.4 million gain of the Palisades Manor sale. However, the acquisition of the property identified in the 1031 exchange did not take place. Therefore, since the 1031 exchange did not occur, management decided to pay out the gain of $1.4 million as a capital gain dividend to FREIT shareholders in the 4^th quarter of Fiscal 2013. The gain on the sale, as well as the earnings of the Palisades Manor operation are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying income statements for all periods presented.

On August 13, 2013, FREIT sold its Grandview Apartments in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey for $2.5 million. FREIT recognized a $2.2 million capital gain from the sale of this property, which has been recorded in FREIT’s 4^th Quarter operating results. FREIT intended to structure this sale in a manner that would qualify as a like-kind exchange of real estate pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, which would have resulted in a deferral for income tax purposes of the gain of the Grandview sale. However, management could not identify any property for the 1031 exchange. Therefore, since the 1031 exchange did not occur, management decided to pay out the gain of $2.2 million as a capital gain dividend to FREIT shareholders in the 4^th Quarter of Fiscal 2013. In addition, the earnings of the Grandview operation have been classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying income statements for all periods presented.

In connection with the sale of FREIT’s Heights Manor property in August 2012, FREIT recognized a capital gain of approximately $9.5 million of which it distributed approximately $5 million to its shareholders during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012. As FREIT did not intend to distribute to its shareholders the remaining $4.5 million of capital gain, FREIT paid approximately $1.5 million federal and $400,000 state income taxes on such undistributed gain, which was charged to discontinued operations. In the quarter ended January 31, 2013, FREIT decided to elect, under Section 858 of the Internal Revenue Code, to treat the $1.4 million dividend paid during such period as a distribution of the prior year’s capital gain and, accordingly, reversed $720,000 of the income tax liability, which has been credited to discontinued operations in Fiscal 2013.

Capital expenditures: Since all of our apartment communities, with the exception of The Boulders, were constructed more than 25 years ago, we tend to spend more in any given year on maintenance and capital improvements than may be spent on newer properties. Major renovation programs (apartment renovations, parking structure restoration, and air conditioning system replacement) are underway at The Pierre. We have substantially completed modernizing, where required, all apartments and some of the building’s mechanical services. As of October 31, 2013, approximately $6.2 million was expended at The Pierre for these capital improvements, of which $839,000 relates to Fiscal 2013. The remaining apartments will be renovated as they become temporarily vacant at an estimated cost of $1 - $1.5 million. The parking structure restoration project at The Pierre is expected to be completed within the next year, at a cost of approximately $600,000. In addition, we are in the planning stages of a major project to replace the current air conditioning system at The Pierre, which is expected to be completed within the next 2 years, at an estimated cost of $1.5 million. These costs will be financed from operating cash flow and cash reserves.

FINANCING COSTS

Financing costs are summarized as follows: 

Total financing costs for Fiscal 2013 increased 2.1%, as compared to Fiscal 2012. The increase for Fiscal 2013 was primarily attributable to the Westwood Plaza and Damascus refinancings included under new first mortgages. The interest related to the variable rate Damascus construction loan for Fiscal 2013 relates to interest incurred up until the date the loan was refinanced on December 26, 2012. (See Note 5 for more details.)

INVESTMENT INCOME

Investment income for Fiscal 2013 increased 10.4% to $191,000, as compared to Fiscal 2012. The primary reason for the increase in investment income for the current year was due to the recognition of interest income related to the discounting of the Giant lease termination fee at the Rotunda. (See Commercial Segment disclosure above.) Investment income is principally derived from interest earned from cash on deposit in institutional money market funds and interest earned from secured loans receivable (loans made to Hekemian employees, including certain members of the immediate family of Robert S. Hekemian, FREIT CEO and Chairman of the Board, and Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., a trustee of FREIT, for their equity investment in Grande Rotunda, LLC, a limited liability company in which FREIT owns a 60% equity interest, and Damascus Centre, LLC, a limited liability company in which FREIT owns a 70% equity interest).

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (“G & A”)

During Fiscal 2013, G & A was $1,623,000, as compared to $1,624,000 for the prior year’s period. The primary components of G&A are accounting fees, legal & professional fees and Trustees’ fees.

DEPRECIATION

Depreciation expense for Fiscal 2013 was $6,233,000, as compared to $6,171,000 for the prior year’s period. The increase was primarily attributable to the Damascus Center redevelopment project becoming operational, in addition to current renovation and capitalized tenant improvements becoming operational in Fiscal 2013.

Results of Operations:

Fiscal Years Ended October 31, 2012 and 2011

Summary revenues and net income for Fiscal 2012 and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011 (“Fiscal 2011”) are as follows:

Real estate revenue for Fiscal 2012 decreased 1.2% to $42,078,000, compared to $42,601,000 for Fiscal 2011. Revenue for Fiscal 2012 is exclusive of income of $2,950,000 relating to an early lease termination by Giant.

Net Income attributable to common equity (“net income common equity”) for Fiscal 2012 was $11,351,000 ($1.64 per share basic), compared to $5,378,000 ($0.77 per share basic) for Fiscal 2011. Net income common equity for Fiscal 2012 included a $7,528,000 net after-tax gain from the sale of real estate. Additionally, Fiscal 2012 included certain other items that affect comparability, specifically $2,950,000 of income relating to the Giant early lease termination, offset by the related deferred project cost write-off of $3,726,000. Adjusting income from continuing operations for the above mentioned comparability items included therein, adjusted income from continuing operations for Fiscal 2012 was $4,784,000 ($0.69 per share basic), compared to $6,229,000 ($0.90 per share basic) for Fiscal 2011. Adjusted income from continuing operations is a non-GAAP measure, which management believes is a useful and meaningful gauge to investors of our operating performance, since it excludes the impact of unusual and infrequent items specifically: the Giant lease termination fee income, and the related project abandonment cost write-off, as well as income applicable to discontinued operations. (Refer to the segment disclosure below for a more detailed discussion on the financial performance of FREIT’s commercial and residential segments.)

The schedule below provides a detailed analysis of the major changes that impacted revenue and net income-common equity for Fiscal 2012 and 2011:

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The following table sets forth comparative operating data related to continuing operations for FREIT’s real estate segments:

COMMERCIAL SEGMENT

FREIT’s commercial properties consist of ten (10) properties totaling approximately 1,126,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 138,000 sq. ft. of office space for Fiscal 2012. Seven (7) are multi-tenanted retail or office centers, and one is a single tenanted store. In addition, FREIT has two parcels of leased land, from which it receives rental income. One is from a tenant who has built and operates a bank branch on land FREIT owns in Rockaway, NJ. The other is from a tenant who has built and operates a bank branch on land FREIT owns in Rochelle Park, NJ. As indicated in the table above under the caption “Segment Information”, total rental revenue and NOI from FREIT’s commercial segment for Fiscal 2012 decreased by 3.0% and 4.8%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2011. The primary reasons for the decrease in revenue for Fiscal 2012 were Giant vacating its space at the Westridge Square shopping center (see discussion below), and higher real estate taxes at the Damascus Center, a portion of which could not be billed back to the tenants, since the center is not fully occupied, offset in part by $300,000 in non-recurring easement income recognized by the Franklin Crossing Shopping Center, in Franklin Lakes, NJ during the 4^th Quarter of Fiscal 2012.

Same Property Operating Results: FREIT’s commercial segment currently contains ten (10) same properties. (See definition of same property under Segment Information above.) For Fiscal 2012, same property revenue and same property NOI for our commercial segment decreased by 3.0% and 4.8%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2011.

On February 3, 2012, Grande Rotunda, LLC (“Grande”), a 60% owned affiliate of FREIT, entered into a lease termination agreement (“Agreement”) with Giant, the former tenant and operator of the 35,994 sq. ft. Giant supermarket at Grande’s property located in Baltimore, Maryland. Giant, under the terms of the Agreement, agreed to (i) waive its right to extend the term of the lease through March 31, 2035, (ii) terminate the lease and surrender the premises to Grande no later than the earlier of commencement of the redevelopment of the property or March 31, 2015, and (iii) notwithstanding any earlier termination date, continue to pay monthly fixed rent payments plus its share of common area maintenance charges and taxes for the Rotunda property through March 31, 2015. Grande has agreed (i) not to lease more than 20,000 sq. ft. of any space in the property for use as a food supermarket through March 31, 2035, and (ii) if Grande decides to lease such space for use as a food supermarket, it must first offer the space for the same use under the terms acceptable to Grande, to Giant, which will have thirty days to accept the offer before the space may be leased to a third party. As a result of the Giant lease termination and the terms of the Agreement, Grande will not be required to construct a lower level Giant supermarket as part of the redevelopment project at the Rotunda, which represented a costly component of the project. In addition, the Giant lease contained significant restrictions on Grande’s ability to make modifications to the property. This development clears the way for Grande to move forward with the redevelopment planning for this property. As a result of Giant terminating its lease and vacating its space at the Grande Rotunda shopping center in April 2012, the results for Fiscal 2012 include income of $2.95 million relating to the Giant early lease termination, offset by a $1.49 million deferred project cost write-off relating to a change in development plans for the Rotunda, specifically the write-off of the design fees relating to the Giant portion of the project incurred to date and included in CIP. The early lease termination fee is comprised of the net present value of the monthly rent in accordance with the terms of the terminated lease, projected common area maintenance charges, and real estate taxes from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2015. In addition, included in the $2.95 million lease termination fee are the write-off of the balances in Below Market Value Lease Acquisition Costs, and In-Place Lease Costs relating to the Giant lease. In light of the Giant lease termination and its potential impact on the scope of the development plans for the Rotunda site, management proposed further revisions to the scope of the Rotunda development project. On July 24, 2012, the Board approved the revisions to the scope of the project, thereby further reducing the complexity and projected cost of the project. As a result of the Board’s decision to move forward with the revised development plans, an additional $2.2 million of certain deferred project costs relating to planning and feasibility costs included in CIP were no longer deemed to have any utility, and were also written-off in the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal 2012.

At Westridge Square, a major tenant, Giant, elected not to extend its lease beyond October 31, 2011, and vacated its space at the center during May 2011. Since Giant vacated its space at Westridge Square, FREIT has been endeavoring to re-lease the space to a new tenant or tenants that would enhance the shopping experience at Westridge Square. However, no rent has been generated from the space since November 1, 2011. This vacancy has adversely affected Westridge Square’s operating results, resulting in revenue reductions for the Westridge Square property of approximately 26% for Fiscal 2012. The impact on FREIT’s per share earnings for Fiscal 2012 is approximately $0.09 per share. On July 27, 2012, FREIT signed a lease agreement with G-Mart Frederick, Inc. (“G-Mart”) for a significant portion (40,000 square feet) of the space previously occupied by Giant. G-Mart manages an international grocery store chain, and the operation of a G-Mart International Foods store at Westridge Square is expected to complement other retailers in the center and be a welcome addition to the surrounding neighborhood. G-Mart began operations at the center in September 2013. Approximately 15,000 square feet of space previously occupied by Giant remains vacant.

Construction related to the expansion and renovation of the Damascus Center was completed in November 2011. We are currently in the negotiation process with potential tenants for the new, currently available space constructed in the final phase (Phase III) of this project. As of October 31, 2012, approximately 80% of the space at the Damascus Center is leased or under letters-of-intent, and 72% of the space is occupied.

RESIDENTIAL SEGMENT

FREIT operates six (6) multi-family apartment communities totaling 964 apartment units. As indicated in the table above, total rental revenue from FREIT’s residential segment for Fiscal 2012 reflected an increase of 2.3% over Fiscal 2011. The increase in total revenue for Fiscal 2012 is primarily attributable to higher base rental income at many of our residential properties. NOI for Fiscal 2012 decreased 1.6% from Fiscal 2011. The primary reasons for the decrease in NOI were higher real estate taxes at our residential properties for the current year, and a $235,000 insurance recovery relating to storm damages incurred and expensed during Fiscal 2011 at FREIT’s Pierre Towers apartment complex. The insurance recovery has been recorded as an offset within operating expenses. The increases in real estate taxes along with last year’s insurance recovery, more than offset the positive increase in rental revenue for Fiscal 2012. Average occupancy for Fiscal 2012 remained relatively level with occupancy levels for Fiscal 2011.

Same Property Operating Results: FREIT’s residential segment currently contains six (6) same properties. (See definition of same property under Segment Information above.) Same property revenue for FREIT’s residential segment for Fiscal 2012 increased by 2.3%, as compared to Fiscal 2011. Same property NOI for FREIT’s residential segment for Fiscal 2012 decreased by 1.6%, as compared to Fiscal 2012.

Our residential revenue is principally composed of monthly apartment rental income. Total rental income is a function of occupancy and monthly apartment rents. Monthly average residential rents at the end of Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011 period were $1,659 and $1,629, respectively. A 1% decline in annual average occupancy and a 1% decline in average rents from current levels result in annual revenue declines of approximately $192,000 and $182,000, respectively.

On August 29, 2012, FREIT closed on its contract for the sale of the Heights Manor Apartments in Spring Lake Heights, NJ and recognized a gain of $9.5 million from the sale ($7.5 million after-tax). In addition, FREIT was required to pay off the related mortgage loan on the Heights Manor property in the amount of approximately $2.8 million from the proceeds of the sale. In compliance with current accounting guidance, the gain on the sale, as well as the earnings of the Heights Manor operation are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying income statements for all periods presented.

Capital expenditures: Since all of our apartment communities, with the exception of The Boulders, were constructed more than 25 years ago, we tend to spend more in any given year on maintenance and capital improvements than may be spent on newer properties. Major renovation programs (apartment renovations, parking structure restoration, and air conditioning system replacement) are underway at The Pierre. We have substantially completed modernizing, where required, all apartments and some of the building’s mechanical services. The remaining apartments will be renovated as they become temporarily vacant at an estimated cost of $1 - $1.5 million. The parking structure restoration project at The Pierre is expected to be completed within the next year, at a cost of approximately $600,000. In addition, we are in the planning stages of a major project to replace the current air conditioning system at The Pierre, which is expected to be completed within the next 2 years, at an estimated cost of $1.5 million. These costs are being financed from operating cash flow and cash reserves. Through October 31, 2012, approximately $5.3 million was expended at The Pierre for these capital improvements, of which approximately $698,000 related to Fiscal 2012.

FINANCING COSTS

Financing costs are summarized as follows: 

Total financing costs for Fiscal 2012 increased 2.2%, as compared to Fiscal 2011. The primary reason for the increase was an increase in the interest rate for the Damascus construction loan.

INVESTMENT INCOME

Investment income for Fiscal 2012 increased 71.3% to $173,000, as compared to the comparable prior year’s period. The primary reason for the significant increase in investment income for the current year was the recognition of interest income related to the discounting of the Giant lease termination fee at the Rotunda. (See Commercial Segment disclosure above.) Investment income is principally derived from interest earned from cash on deposit in institutional money market funds and interest earned from secured loans receivable (loans made to Hekemian employees, including certain members of the immediate family of Robert S. Hekemian, FREIT CEO and Chairman of the Board, and Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., a trustee of FREIT, for their equity investment in Grande Rotunda, LLC, a limited liability company in which FREIT owns a 60% equity interest, and Damascus Centre, LLC, a limited liability company in which FREIT owns a 70% equity interest).

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (“G & A”)

During Fiscal 2012, G & A was $1,624,000, as compared to $1,543,000 for the prior year’s period. The primary components of G&A are accounting fees, legal & professional fees and Trustees’ fees. The increase for Fiscal 2012 was primarily attributable to increases in Trustee fees, legal and professional fees, and an increase in office expenses.

DEPRECIATION

Depreciation expense for Fiscal 2012 was $6,171,000, as compared to $6,054,000 for the prior year’s period. The increase was primarily attributable to the Damascus Center redevelopment project becoming operational, in addition to current renovation and capitalized tenant improvements becoming operational in Fiscal 2012.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our financial condition remains strong. Net cash provided by operating activities was $10.5 million for Fiscal 2013 compared to $13.1 million for Fiscal 2012. We expect that cash provided by operating activities and cash reserves will be adequate to cover mandatory debt service payments (including payments of interest, but excluding balloon payments), real estate taxes, recurring capital improvements and dividends necessary to retain qualification as a REIT (90% of taxable income).

Included in cash provided by investing activities for Fiscal 2013 are net proceeds of approximately $3.8 million related to the sales of FREIT’s Palisades Manor and Grandview Apartment properties. In Fiscal 2012, cash provided by investing activities includes net proceeds of approximately $9.9 million related to the sale of FREIT’s Heights Manor Apartments. (See discussion under Residential Segment.)

As at October 31, 2013, FREIT had cash and marketable securities totaling $7.8 million compared to $10.6 million at October 31, 2012.

The modernization and expansion project at the Damascus Center was completed in November 2011. Total construction costs, inclusive of tenant improvement costs, approximate $22.7 million. Total construction and development costs were funded, in part, from a $21.3 million (as modified) construction loan facility, of which approximately $15 million was drawn and advances by FREIT in the approximate aggregate amount of $3.2 million. The construction loan, including the exercise of a one twelve (12) month extension option, was scheduled to mature on February 12, 2013. On December 26, 2012, Damascus Centre, LLC refinanced the construction loan with long-term financing provided by People’s United Bank. The amount of the new loan is for $25 million of which $20 million has been drawn. The balance, up to an additional $5 million, will be available as a one-time draw over the 36 month period ending December 26, 2015, and the amount available will depend on future leasing at the shopping center. The new loan will mature on January 3, 2023. The loan bears a floating interest rate equal to 210 basis points over the BBA LIBOR. In order to minimize interest rate volatility during the term of the loan, Damascus Centre, LLC entered into an interest rate swap agreement that in effect, converted the floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate of 3.81% over the term of the loan. The interest rate swap is considered a derivative financial instrument that will be used only to reduce interest rate risk, and not held or used for trading purposes.

We are planning a major expansion at The Rotunda in Baltimore, MD. During Fiscal 2008, we substantially completed the planning and feasibility studies and expended approximately $8.0 million during this phase. Due to the difficult economic environment, that redevelopment activity was placed on hold by FREIT during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008. During Fiscal 2012, the original plans for the Rotunda redevelopment project were revised, primarily attributable to the Giant lease termination and related termination agreement. As a result, we will not be required to construct a lower level Giant supermarket as part of the redevelopment project at the Rotunda, which represented a costly component to the project. In addition, the Giant lease contained significant restrictions on Grande Rotunda, LLC’s ability to make modifications to the property. This development clears the way for Grande Rotunda, LLC to move forward with the redevelopment planning for this property. In light of the Giant lease termination and its potential impact on the scope of the development plans for the Rotunda site, management proposed further revisions to the scope of the Rotunda development project. On July 24, 2012, the Board approved the revisions to the scope of the project, thereby further reducing the complexity and projected cost of the project. The capital investment related to the revised redevelopment plan at the Rotunda is estimated at approximately $100 million, which is a significant reduction from the $200 million estimated for the original development plans. As a result of the Giant lease termination and the resulting change in project scope, and the Board’s decision to move forward with the revised development plans, $3.7 million of certain deferred project costs relating to planning and feasibility costs included in CIP were no longer deemed to have any utility, and were written-off in Fiscal 2012.

As at October 31, 2013, FREIT’s aggregate outstanding mortgage debt was $199.4 million. This debt bears a weighted average interest rate of 5.53%. The mortgages, which have an average life of approximately 4.3 years, are subject to repayment (amortization) schedules that are longer than the term of the mortgages. As such, balloon payments for all mortgage debt will be required as follows:  

The $22.5 million mortgage loan entered into by Grande Rotunda, LLC for the acquisition of the Rotunda was scheduled to come due on July 19, 2009, and was extended by the bank until February 1, 2010. On February 1, 2010, a principal payment of $3 million was made reducing the original loan amount of $22.5 million to $19.5 million and the due date was extended until February 1, 2013. As part of the terms of the loan extension agreement, the loan is further collateralized by a first mortgage lien and the assignment of the ground lease on FREIT’s Rochelle Park, NJ land parcel. Under the restructured terms, the interest rate was adjusted to 350 basis points above the BBA LIBOR with a floor of 4%, and monthly principal payments of $10,000 were required. In order to meet the bank’s annual debt service coverage ratio requirement, a principal payment of $110,000 was made in February 2012. The due date of the loan was further extended to May 1, 2013 from February 1, 2013. Even though the bank agreed to an additional ninety-day (90) extension of the maturity of the loan from May 1, 2013, FREIT elected to purchase the Rotunda loan from the bank and have all the bank’s rights assigned to FREIT. The purchase of this loan by FREIT was completed on May 28, 2013. FREIT intended to sell this loan to the lender providing the construction financing for the expansion of the Rotunda project. On December 9, 2013, Grande Rotunda, LLC closed with Wells Fargo Bank on a construction loan of up to $120 million to be used for the purpose of funding the major redevelopment and expansion project planned for the Rotunda. The construction loan will be for a term of four (4) years, with one 12-month extension, at a rate of 225 basis points over the monthly LIBOR. Under the agreement with the equity owners of Grande Rotunda, LLC, FREIT would be responsible for 60% of any cash required by Grande Rotunda, LLC, and 40% would be the responsibility of the minority interest.

The following table shows the estimated fair value and carrying value of our long-term debt at October 31, 2013 and 2012: 

Fair values are estimated based on market interest rates at the end of each fiscal year and on discounted cash flow analysis. Changes in assumptions or estimation methods may significantly affect these fair value estimates.

FREIT expects to re-finance the individual mortgages with new mortgages when their terms expire. To this extent we have exposure to interest rate risk on our fixed rate debt obligations. If interest rates, at the time any individual mortgage note is due, are higher than the current fixed interest rate, higher debt service may be required, and/or re-financing proceeds may be less than the amount of mortgage debt being retired. For example, a 1% interest rate increase would reduce the fair value of our debt by $9.6 million, and a 1% decrease would increase the fair value by $10.2 million.

We believe that the values of our properties will be adequate to command re-financing proceeds equal to, or higher than, the mortgage debt to be re-financed. We continually review our debt levels to determine if additional debt can prudently be utilized for property acquisition additions to our real estate portfolio that will increase income and cash flow to shareholders.

Credit Line: FREIT has a line of credit provided by the Provident Bank in the amount of $13 million. The line of credit is for a two year term ending on July 29, 2014, but can be cancelled by the bank, at its will, within 60 days before or after each anniversary date. The credit line will automatically be extended at the termination date of the current term and each subsequent term for an additional period of 24 months, provided there is no default and the credit line has not been cancelled. Draws against the credit line can be used for general corporate purposes, for property acquisitions, construction activities, and letters of credit. Draws against the credit line are secured by mortgages on FREIT’s Franklin Crossing Shopping Center, Franklin Lakes, NJ, and retail space in Glen Rock, NJ. Interest rates on draws will be set at the time of each draw for 30, 60, or 90-day periods, based on our choice of the prime rate or at 175 basis points over the 30, 60, or 90-day LIBOR rates at the time of the draws. The interest rate on the line of credit has a floor of 3.5%. The Palisades Manor property was sold in April 2013, and the Grandview Apartments were sold in August 2013. These properties were collateral for the credit line provided by Provident Bank. Provident Bank has released these properties as collateral for the credit line, and as a result, the credit line was reduced to approximately $13 million as of July 2013 from $18 million. As of October 31, 2013, approximately $11 million was available under the line of credit, and $2 million was outstanding.

Interest rate swap contract: To reduce interest rate volatility, FREIT uses a “pay fixed, receive floating” interest rate swap to convert floating interest rates to fixed interest rates over the term of a certain loan. We enter into this swap contract with a counterparty that is usually a high-quality commercial bank.

In essence, we agree to pay our counterparty a fixed rate of interest on a dollar amount of notional principal (which corresponds to our mortgage debt) over a term equal to the term of the mortgage note. Our counterparty, in return, agrees to pay us a short-term rate of interest - generally LIBOR - on that same notional amount over the same term as our mortgage note.

Current GAAP requires us to mark-to-market fixed pay interest rate swaps. As the floating interest rate varies from time-to-time over the term of the contract, the value of the contract will change upward or downward. If the floating rate is higher than the fixed rate, the value of the contract goes up and there is a gain and an asset. If the floating rate is less than the fixed rate, there is a loss and a liability. These gains or losses will not affect our income statement. Changes in the fair value of these swap contracts will be reported in other comprehensive income and appear in the equity section of our balance sheet. This gain or loss represents the economic consequence of liquidating our fixed rate swap contracts and replacing them with like-duration funding at current market rates, something we would likely never do. Periodic cash settlements of the swap contract will be accounted for as an adjustment to interest expense.

FREIT had a variable interest rate mortgage securing its Damascus Center property. To reduce interest rate fluctuations FREIT entered into an interest rate swap contract. This interest rate swap contract effectively converted variable interest rate payments to fixed interest rate payments. The contract was initially based on a notional amount of approximately $20,000,000 ($19,729,000 at October 31, 2013). FREIT has the following derivative-related risks with its swap contract: 1) early termination risk, and 2) counterparty credit risk.

Early Termination Risk: If FREIT wants to terminate its swap contract before maturity, it would be bought out or terminated at market value; i.e., the difference in the present value of the anticipated net cash flows from each of the swap’s parties. If current variable interest rates are significantly below FREIT’s fixed interest rate payments, this could be costly. Conversely, if interest rates rise above FREIT’s fixed interest payments and FREIT elected early termination, FREIT would realize a gain on termination. At October 31, 2013, FREIT’s swap contract was in-the-money. If FREIT had terminated its contract at that date it would have realized a gain of approximately $.98 million. This amount has been included as an asset in FREIT’s balance sheet as at October 31, 2013, and the change (gain or loss) between reporting periods included in comprehensive income.

Counterparty Credit Risk: Each party to a swap contract bears the risk that its Counterparty will default on its obligation to make a periodic payment. FREIT reduces this risk by entering swap contracts only with major financial institutions that are experienced market makers in the derivatives market.

On January 14, 2013, FREIT refinanced its Westwood Plaza mortgage loan in the amount of $8.0 million, with a new mortgage loan in the amount of $22,750,000. The new loan is at a fixed interest rate of 4.75%, and matures in January 2023. Excess funds from this refinancing will be used to fund tenant fit-up costs at our retail shopping centers, as well as other operational and financing cash flow needs.

On November 19, 2013, FREIT refinanced the first mortgages on its Hammel Gardens and Steuben Arms properties that were scheduled to mature on December 1, 2013. The mortgages, aggregating $9.4 million, were refinanced for $19.7 million. The new mortgage amounts reflect, in part, the appreciated value of those assets. This refinancing resulted in: (i) a reduction of annual interest costs from 6.4% to 4.54%, and (ii) net refinancing proceeds of approximately $10 million that are available for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes.

FREIT’s total contractual obligations under its mortgage loan and construction contracts in place as of October 31, 2013 are as follows:  

* On November 19, 2013, FREIT refinanced the mortgages on its Hammel Gardens and Steuben Arms properties that were scheduled to mature on December 1, 2013. The mortgages, aggregating $9.4 million, were refinanced for $19.7 million and mature on December 1, 2023.

(a) Represents draws on line of credit with Provident Bank.

FREIT’s annual estimated cash requirements related to interest on its mortgage loans and construction contracts in place as of October 31, 2013 are as follows: