Effective January 1, 2009, the Company updated its estimate of the amount of recurring, non-revenue enhancing capital expenditures incurred on an annual basis for a standard garden style apartment. The Company now estimates that the annual amount is $800 per apartment unit compared to $780 per apartment unit in the prior year. This new amount better reflects current actual costs since the last update.
The Company has a policy to capitalize costs related to the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, construction and improvement of properties. Capital improvements are costs that increase the value and extend the useful life of an asset. Ordinary repair and maintenance costs that do not extend the useful life of the asset are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred on a lease turnover due to normal wear and tear by the resident are expensed on the turn. Recurring capital improvements typically include: appliances, carpeting and flooring, HVAC equipment, kitchen/bath cabinets, new roofs, site improvements and various exterior building improvements. Non-recurring, revenue generating upgrades include, among other items: community centers, new windows, and kitchen/bath apartment upgrades. Revenue generating capital improvements will directly result in increased rental earnings or expense savings. The Company capitalizes interest and certain internal personnel costs related to the communities under rehabilitation and construction.
The table below is a list of the items that management considers recurring, non-revenue enhancing capital and maintenance expenditures for a standard garden style apartment. Included are the per unit replacement cost and the useful life that Management estimates the Company incurs on an annual basis.
| | | | | | | | | | | Maintenance | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Capitalized | | | Expense | | | Total | |
| | Capitalized | | | | | | Expenditure | | | Cost Per | | | Cost Per | |
| | Cost Per | | | Useful | | | Per Unit | | | Unit | | | Unit | |
Category | | Unit | | | Life(1) | | | Per Year(2) | | | Per Year(3) | | | Per Year | |
Appliances | | $ | 1,436 | | | | 9 | | | $ | 160 | | | $ | 13 | | | $ | 173 | |
Blinds/shades | | | 135 | | | | 3 | | | | 45 | | | | 7 | | | | 52 | |
Carpets/cleaning | | | 770 | | | | 4 | | | | 193 | | | | 180 | | | | 373 | |
Computers, equipment, misc.(4) | | | 120 | | | | 6 | | | | 20 | | | | 18 | | | | 38 | |
Contract repairs | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 147 | | | | 147 | |
Exterior painting (5) | | | 84 | | | | 3 | | | | 28 | | | | - | | | | 28 | |
Flooring | | | 250 | | | | 9 | | | | 28 | | | | - | | | | 28 | |
Furnace/air (HVAC) | | | 824 | | | | 24 | | | | 34 | | | | 105 | | | | 139 | |
Hot water heater | | | 260 | | | | 7 | | | | 37 | | | | - | | | | 37 | |
Interior painting | | | - | | | | | | | | - | | | | 205 | | | | 205 | |
Kitchen/bath cabinets upgrades | | | 1,200 | | | | 15 | | | | 80 | | | | - | | | | 80 | |
Landscaping site | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 131 | | | | 131 | |
New roof | | | 800 | | | | 24 | | | | 33 | | | | - | | | | 33 | |
Parking lot site | | | 540 | | | | 15 | | | | 36 | | | | - | | | | 36 | |
Pool/exercise facility | | | 119 | | | | 15 | | | | 8 | | | | 54 | | | | 62 | |
Windows major | | | 1,505 | | | | 20 | | | | 75 | | | | - | | | | 75 | |
Miscellaneous (6) | | | 385 | | | | 17 | | | | 23 | | | | - | | | | 23 | |
Total | | $ | 8,428 | | | | | | | $ | 800 | | | $ | 860 | | | $ | 1,660 | |
(1) | Estimated weighted average actual physical useful life of the expenditure capitalized. |
(2) | This amount is not necessarily incurred each and every year. Some years will be higher, or lower depending on the timing of certain longer life expenditures. |
(3) | These expenses are included in the Operating and Maintenance line item of the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Maintenance labor costs are not included in the $860 per unit estimate. All personnel costs for site supervision, leasing agents, and maintenance staff are combined and disclosed in the Company's same-store expense detail schedule. |
(4) | Includes computers, office equipment/furniture, and maintenance vehicles. |
(5) | The level of exterior painting may be lower than other similarly titled presentations as the Company's portfolio has a significant amount of brick exteriors. In addition, the other exposed surfaces are most often covered in aluminum or vinyl. |
(6) | Includes items such as: balconies, siding, and concrete/sidewalks. |
In reviewing the breakdown of costs above, one must consider the Company's unique strategy in operating apartments which has been to improve every property every year regardless of age. Another part of its strategy is to purchase older properties and rehab and reposition them to enhance internal rates of return. This strategy results in higher costs of capital expenditures and maintenance costs which is more than justified by higher revenue growth, higher net operating income growth and a higher rate of property appreciation.
Capital Expenditure Summary
The Company estimates that on an annual basis $800 and $780 per unit is spent on recurring capital expenditures in 2009 and 2008, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, approximately $200 and $195 per unit, respectively, was estimated to be spent on recurring capital expenditures. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, approximately $600 and $585 per unit, respectively, was estimated to be spent on recurring capital expenditures. The table below summarizes the actual total capital improvements incurred by major categories and an estimate of the breakdown of total capital improvements by major categories between recurring and non-recurring, revenue generating capital improvements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 as follows:
For the three months ended September 30, 2009 | |
($ in thousands, except per unit data) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Non- | | | | | | Total | | | | |
| | Recurring | | | | | | Recurring | | | | | | Capital | | | | |
| | Cap Ex | | | Per Unit(a) | | | Cap Ex | | | Per Unit(a) | | | Improvements | | | Per Unit(a) | |
New buildings | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 34 | | | $ | 1 | | | $ | 34 | | | $ | 1 | |
Major building improvements | | | 1,139 | | | | 32 | | | | 2,152 | | | | 59 | | | | 3,291 | | | | 91 | |
Roof replacements | | | 298 | | | | 8 | | | | 358 | | | | 10 | | | | 656 | | | | 18 | |
Site improvements | | | 398 | | | | 11 | | | | 1,682 | | | | 47 | | | | 2,080 | | | | 58 | |
Apartment upgrades | | | 1,379 | | | | 38 | | | | 4,352 | | | | 120 | | | | 5,731 | | | | 158 | |
Appliances | | | 1,204 | | | | 33 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,204 | | | | 33 | |
Carpeting/flooring | | | 1,999 | | | | 55 | | | | 939 | | | | 26 | | | | 2,938 | | | | 81 | |
HVAC/mechanicals | | | 642 | | | | 18 | | | | 1,619 | | | | 45 | | | | 2,261 | | | | 63 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 175 | | | | 5 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 175 | | | | 5 | |
Totals | | $ | 7,234 | | | $ | 200 | | | $ | 11,136 | | | $ | 308 | | | $ | 18,370 | | | $ | 508 | |
(a) | Calculated using the weighted average number of units owned, including 35,360 core units, and 2008 acquisition units of 813 for the three months ended September 30, 2009. |
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 | |
(in thousands, except per unit data) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Non- | | | | | | Total | | | | |
| | Recurring | | | | | | Recurring | | | | | | Capital | | | | |
| | Cap Ex | | | Per Unit(b) | | | Cap Ex | | | Per Unit(b) | | | Improvements | | | Per Unit(b) | |
New Buildings | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 630 | | | $ | 17 | | | $ | 630 | | | $ | 17 | |
Major building improvements | | | 3,418 | | | | 94 | | | | 6,193 | | | | 172 | | | | 9,611 | | | | 266 | |
Roof replacements | | | 895 | | | | 25 | | | | 1,198 | | | | 33 | | | | 2,093 | | | | 58 | |
Site improvements | | | 1,194 | | | | 33 | | | | 2,577 | | | | 71 | | | | 3,771 | | | | 104 | |
Apartment upgrades | | | 4,367 | | | | 121 | | | | 13,149 | | | | 363 | | | | 17,516 | | | | 484 | |
Appliances | | | 3,371 | | | | 93 | | | | 34 | | | | 1 | | | | 3,405 | | | | 94 | |
Carpeting/Flooring | | | 5,996 | | | | 166 | | | | 2,047 | | | | 56 | | | | 8,043 | | | | 222 | |
HVAC/Mechanicals | | | 1,926 | | | | 53 | | | | 4,301 | | | | 119 | | | | 6,227 | | | | 172 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 537 | | | | 15 | | | | 908 | | | | 25 | | | | 1,445 | | | | 40 | |
Totals | | $ | 21,704 | | | $ | 600 | | | $ | 31,037 | | | $ | 857 | | | $ | 52,741 | | | $ | 1,457 | |
(b) Calculated using the weighted average number of units owned, including 35,360 core units, and 2008 acquisition units of 813 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
Capital Expenditure Summary
The schedule below summarizes the breakdown of total capital improvements between core and non-core as follows:
For the three months ended September 30, 2009 | |
($ in thousands, except per unit data) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Non- | | | | | | Total | | | | |
| | Recurring | | | | | | Recurring | | | | | | Capital | | | | |
| | Cap Ex | | | Per Unit(c) | | | Cap Ex | | | Per Unit(c) | | | Improvements | | | Per Unit(c) | |
Core Communities | | $ | 7,072 | | | $ | 200 | | | $ | 10,128 | | | $ | 286 | | | $ | 17,200 | | | $ | 486 | |
2008 Acquisition Communities | | | 162 | | | | 200 | | | | 1,008 | | | | 1,240 | | | | 1,170 | | | | 1,440 | |
Sub-total | | | 7,234 | | | | 200 | | | | 11,136 | | | | 308 | | | | 18,370 | | | | 508 | |
2009 Disposed Communities | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
2008 Disposed Communities | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Corporate office expenditures (1) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 464 | | | | - | |
| | $ | 7,234 | | | $ | 200 | | | $ | 11,136 | | | $ | 308 | | | $ | 18,834 | | | $ | 508 | |
(c) | Calculated using the weighted average number of units owned, including 35,360 core units, and 2008 acquisition units of 813 for the three months ended September 30, 2009. |
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 | |
(in thousands, except per unit data) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Non- | | | | | | Total | | | | |
| | Recurring | | | | | | Recurring | | | | | | Capital | | | | |
| | Cap Ex | | | Per Unit(d) | | | Cap Ex | | | Per Unit(d) | | | Improvements | | | Per Unit(d) | |
Core Communities | | $ | 21,216 | | | $ | 600 | | | $ | 29,087 | | | $ | 823 | | | $ | 50,303 | | | $ | 1,423 | |
2008 Acquisition Communities | | | 488 | | | | 600 | | | | 1,950 | | | | 2,399 | | | | 2,438 | | | | 2,999 | |
Sub-total | | | 21,704 | | | | 600 | | | | 31,037 | | | | 857 | | | | 52,741 | | | | 1,457 | |
2009 Disposed Communities | | | 49 | | | | 600 | | | | 126 | | | | 1,549 | | | | 175 | | | | 2,149 | |
2008 Disposed Communities | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | |
Corporate office expenditures (1) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1,226 | | | | - | |
| | $ | 21,753 | | | $ | 600 | | | $ | 31,163 | | | $ | 860 | | | $ | 54,142 | | | $ | 1,460 | |
(1) | No distinction is made between recurring and non-recurring expenditures for corporate office. Corporate office expenditures includes principally computer hardware, software and office furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements. |
(d) | Calculated using the weighted average number of units owned, including 35,360 core units, 2008 acquisition units of 813 and 2009 disposed units of 81 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. |
Adjusted Net Operating Income - Core Properties ($ in thousands)
| | Quarter | | | Quarter | | | | |
| | 9/30/2009 | | | 9/30/2008 | | | Change | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Operating Income | | $ | 72,007 | | | $ | 72,373 | | | | -0.5 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: Non Recurring Cap Ex @ 6% | | | (608 | ) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjusted Net Operating Income | | $ | 71,399 | | | $ | 72,373 | | | | -1.3 | % |
|
|
Some of our Core Property NOI reflects incremental investments in the communities above and beyond normal capital replacements. After charging ourselves a 6% cost of debt capital on these additional expenditures, what we refer to as the adjusted NOI for the quarter is recalculated and presented above.
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($ in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | # of | | | | | | Estimated | | | | | | | | | | | | % | |
| Property | | Units at | | | Estimated | | | Costs | | | Costs | | | Construction | | | Initial | | | Construction | | | Physical | |
| Type | | Completion | | | Costs | | | Per Unit | | | Incurred | | | Start | | | Occupancy | | | Completion | | | Occupancy | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Under construction: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1200 East West Highway | High Rise | | | 247 | | | $ | 80,000 | | | $ | 323.9 | | | $ | 64,043 | | | | 2Q 07 | | | | 1Q 10 | | | | 1Q 10 | | | | n/a | |
Silver Spring, MD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Courts at Huntington Station | Podium | | | 421 | | | | 129,900 | | | | 308.6 | | | | 69,244 | | | | 1Q 08 | | | | 1Q 10 | | | | 2Q 11 | | | | n/a | |
Alexandria, VA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | 668 | | | $ | 209,900 | | | $ | 314.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pre-construction: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Falkland North | High Rise | | tbd | | | tbd | | | tbd | | | | 1,799 | | | tbd | | | tbd | | | tbd | | | | n/a | |
Silver Spring, MD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ripley Street * | High Rise | | | 300 | | | tbd | | | tbd | | | | 18,081 | | | tbd | | | tbd | | | tbd | | | | n/a | |
Silver Spring, MD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 153,167 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* | Preliminary estimates. A site plan for construction of up to 314 apartment units has been filed. More detail will be provided in subsequent quarters. |