The primary source of liquidity is our cash flows from operations. Operating cash flows have historically been determined by: (i) the number of facilities we lease or have mortgages on; (ii) rental and mortgage rates; (iii) our debt service obligations; (iv) general and administrative expenses and (v) our operators’ ability to pay amounts owed. The timing, source and amount of cash flows provided by or used in financing activities and in investing activities are sensitive to the capital markets environment, especially to changes in interest rates. Changes in the capital markets environment may impact the availability of cost-effective capital and affect our plans for acquisition and disposition activity.
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $104.6 million as of June 30, 2021, a decrease of $63.0 million as compared to the balance at December 31, 2020. The following is a discussion of changes in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash due to operating, investing and financing activities, which are presented in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Operating Activities – Operating activities generated $378.3 million of net cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2021, as compared to $329.4 million for the same period in 2020, an increase of $48.9 million, which is primarily driven by an increase of $45.9 million of net income, adjusted for non-cash items, due to revenue growth as a result of facility acquisitions and transitions, investments in mortgages and other investments. A $3.0 million change in the net movements of the operating assets and liabilities, primarily driven by a reduction in lease inducements provided to our operators, also contributed to the overall increase in cash provided by operating activities.
Investing Activities – Net cash flow from investing activities was an outflow of $387.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, as compared to an outflow of $96.7 million for the same period in 2020. The $290.4 million change in cash flow from investing activities related primarily to (i) a $579.0 million increase in real estate acquisitions and (ii) a $8.5 million increase in investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, offset by (i) a $145.1 million increase in proceeds from the sales of real estate investments, (ii) a $79.6 million increase in mortgages collections, net of placements, (iii) a $38.5 million decrease in investment in construction in progress and capital expenditures, (iv) a $27.4 million increase in other investment proceeds, net of new investments, (v) a $3.1 million increase in receipts from insurance proceeds and (vi) a $2.5 million refund of an acquisition related deposit in the first quarter of 2021.
Financing Activities – Net cash flow from financing activities was an outflow of $54.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, as compared to an outflow of $224.1 million for the same period in 2020. The $169.8 million change in cash provided by financing activities was primarily related to (i) a $148.9 million increase in cash proceeds from the issuance of common stock in 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, (ii) a $73.5 million increase in net proceeds from our dividend reinvestment plan in 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020 and (iii) $7.8 million increase in proceeds from other long-term borrowings, net of repayments offset by (i) a $48.1 million increase in payment of financing related costs and (ii) a $9.4 million increase in dividends paid.
Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
During the quarter ended June 30, 2021, there were no material changes in our primary market risk exposures or how those exposures are managed from the information disclosed under Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Item 4 – Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) are controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.