UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
x         ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
OR
o           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from            to
Commission File Number:  000-24843
 
AMERICA FIRST TAX EXEMPT INVESTORS, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
47-0810385
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
1004 Farnam Street, Suite 400
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
 
(402) 444-1630
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Beneficial Unit Certificates representing assignments of limited partnership interests in
America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P. (the “BUCs")
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
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) 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 Date File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of the chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period) that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.
YES  o  NO  o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of the chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the 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. [X]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ®
Accelerated filer  x
Non- accelerated filer  ®
Smaller reporting company  ®
 
 
(do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
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 BUCs held by non-affiliates based on the final sales price of the BUCs on the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $89,109,161.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None

 

INDEX
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business
Risk Factors
Unresolved Staff Comments
Properties
Legal Proceedings
[Reserved]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Security Holder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Selected Financial Data
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
Other Information
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Principal Accountant Fee and Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

PART I
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
This report (including, but not limited to, the information contained in “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”) contains forward-looking statements.  All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this report, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.  When used, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  We have based forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  This report also contains estimates and other statistical data made by independent parties and by us relating to market size and growth and other industry data.  This data involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates.  We have not independently verified the statistical and other industry data generated by independent parties and contained in this report.  In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the industries in which we operate are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described under the headings “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this report.
 
These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those relating to:
 
•    
defaults on the mortgage loans securing our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds;
 
•    
risks associated with investing in multifamily apartments, including changes in business conditions and the general economy;
 
•    
changes in short-term interest rates;
 
•    
our ability to use borrowings to finance our assets;
 
•    
current negative economic and credit market conditions; and
 
•    
changes in government regulations affecting our business.
 
Other risks, uncertainties and factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by securities law.
 
Item 1.  Business.
 
America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P. was formed for the primary purpose of acquiring a portfolio of federally tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that are issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing of multifamily residential properties.  Interest paid on these bonds is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes.  As a result, most of the income earned by the Partnership is exempt from federal income taxes.
 
The Partnership has been in operation since 1998 and owned 21 federally tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds with an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $189.3 million as of December 31, 2010.  These bonds were issued by various state and local housing authorities in order to provide construction and/or permanent financing of 21 multifamily residential apartments containing a total of 4,042 rental units located in the states of Florida, Iowa, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio, one multifamily residential apartment complex under construction in Texas that will contain a total of 76 rental units, and a 142-bed student housing facility in Nebraska.  In each case the Partnership owns, either directly or indirectly, 100% of the bonds issued for these properties. Each bond is secured by a first mortgage or deed of trust on the financed apartment property. Of the 21 bonds owned, eight are owned directly by the Partnership and 13 are owned by ATAX TEBS I, LLC, a special purpose entity owned and controlled by the Partnership, created to facilitate the Tax Exempt Bond Securitization (“TEBS”) Financing with Freddie Mac (see Notes 2, 9 and 10). Six of the entities that own the apartment properties financed by six of the Partnership's tax exempt bonds were deemed to be Consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs") of the Partnership at December 31, 2010 and, as a result, these bonds are eliminated in consolidation on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Two bonds secured by the three properties, Crescent Village, Post Woods, and Willow Bend apartments in Ohio (the “Ohio Properties”) subject to a sales agreement (see Note 6) are eliminated in consolidation on the Company's financial statements. Additionally, six of the bonds also provide for the payment of contingent interest determined by the net cash flow and net capital appreciation of the

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underlying real estate properties.  As a result, these mortgage revenue bonds provide the Partnership with the potential to participate in future increases in the cash flow generated by the financed properties, either through operations or from their ultimate sale.  
 
The ability of the properties collateralizing our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds to make payments of base and contingent interest is a function of the net operating income generated by these properties.  Net operating income from a multifamily residential property depends on the rental and occupancy rates of the property and the level of operating expenses.  Occupancy rates and rents are directly affected by the supply of, and demand for, apartments in the market areas in which a property is located.  This, in turn, is affected by several factors such as local or national economic conditions, the amount of new apartment construction and interest rates on single-family mortgage loans.  In addition, factors such as government regulation, inflation, real estate and other taxes, labor problems and natural disasters can affect the economic operations of a property.  Because the return to the Partnership from its investments in tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds depends upon the economic performance of the multifamily residential properties which collateralize these bonds, the Partnership may be considered to be in competition with other multifamily rental properties located in the same geographic areas as the properties financed with its tax-exempt bonds.
 
 The Partnership may also invest in other types of tax-exempt securities that may or may not be secured by real estate.  These tax-exempt securities must be rated in one of the four highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized securities rating agency and may not represent more than 25% of the Partnership's assets at the time of acquisition.  To date, the Partnership has not made any investments of this type.
 
The Partnership may also make taxable mortgage loans secured by multifamily properties which are financed by tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds held by the Partnership.  The Partnership does this in order to provide financing for capital improvements at these properties or to otherwise support property operations when we determine it is in the best long-term interest of the Partnership.
 
The Partnership generally does not seek to acquire direct interests in real property as long term or permanent investments.  The Partnership may, however, acquire real estate securing its tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds or taxable mortgage loans through foreclosure in the event of a default.  In addition, the Partnership may acquire interests in multifamily apartment properties (“MF Properties”) in order to position itself for future investments in tax-exempt bonds issued to finance these properties.  The Partnership currently holds interests in eight MF Properties containing 964 rental units, of which three are located in Ohio and are currently subject to a sales agreement, two are located in Kentucky, one is located in Virginia, one is located in North Carolina and one is located in Georgia.  The Partnership expects each of these MF Properties to eventually be sold to a not-for-profit entity or in connection with a syndication of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (“LIHTCs”) under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”).  The Partnership expects to acquire tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds issued to provide debt financing for these properties at the time the property ownership is restructured.  Such restructurings will generally be expected to occur within 36 months of the Partnership's initial investment in an MF Property and will often coincide with the expiration of the compliance period relating to LIHTCs previously issued with respect to the MF Property.  The Partnership will not acquire LIHTCs in connection with these transactions.  Current credit markets and general economic conditions have resulted in very few LIHTC syndication and tax-exempt bond financing transactions being completed in recent years.  These types of transactions represent a long-term market opportunity for the Partnership and should provide us with a pipeline of future bond investment opportunities when the market for LIHTC syndications strengthens.  Until the market for LIHTC syndication transactions strengthens, the Partnership will explore other transactions for the sale of the MF Properties.
 
Business Objectives and Strategy
 
Our business objectives are to (i) preserve and protect our capital and (ii) provide regular and increasing cash distributions to our unitholders which are substantially exempt from federal income tax.  We have sought to meet these objectives by primarily investing in a portfolio of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that were issued to finance, and are secured by first mortgages on, multifamily apartment properties, including student housing.  Certain of these bonds may be structured to provide a potential for an enhanced federally tax-exempt yield through the payment of contingent interest which is payable out of net cash flow from operations and net capital appreciation of the financed apartment properties.
 
We are pursuing a business strategy of acquiring additional tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds on a leveraged basis in order to (i) increase the amount of tax-exempt interest available for distribution to our unitholders; (ii) reduce risk through asset diversification and interest rate hedging; and (iii) achieve economies of scale.  We are pursuing this growth strategy by investing in additional tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and related investments, taking advantage of attractive financing structures available in the tax-exempt securities market and entering into interest rate risk management instruments.  We may finance the acquisition of additional tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds through the reinvestment of cash flow, the issuance of additional units, or securitization financing using our existing portfolio of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.  Our operating policy is to

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use securitizations or other forms of leverage to maintain a level of debt financing between 40% and 60% of the total par value of our mortgage bond portfolio.
 
In connection with our business strategy, we continually assess opportunities to reposition our existing portfolio of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.  The principal objective of this assessment is to improve the quality and performance of our revenue bond portfolio and, ultimately, increase the amount of cash available for distribution to our unitholders.  In some cases, we may elect to redeem selected tax-exempt bonds that are secured by multifamily properties that have experienced significant appreciation.  Through the selective redemption of the bonds, a sale or refinancing of the underlying property will be required which, if sufficient sale or refinancing proceeds exist, may entitle the Partnership to receive payment of contingent interest on its bond investment.  In other cases, we may elect to sell bonds on properties that are in stagnant or declining markets.  The proceeds received from these transactions would be redeployed into other tax-exempt investments consistent with our investment objectives.  We may also be able to use a higher-quality investment portfolio to obtain higher leverage to be used to acquire additional investments.
 
In executing our growth strategy, we expect to invest primarily in bonds issued to provide affordable rental housing, but may also consider bonds issued to finance student housing projects and housing for senior citizens.  The four basic types of multifamily housing revenue bonds which we may acquire as investments are as follows:
 
1.    
Private activity bonds issued under Section 142(d) of the Internal Revenue Code;
 
2.    
Bonds issued under Section 145 of the Internal Revenue Code by not-for-profit entities qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
 
3.    
Essential function bonds issued by a public instrumentality to finance an apartment property owned by such instrumentality; and
 
4.    
Existing “80/20 bonds” that were issued under Section 103(b)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. 
 
Each of these bond structures permits the issuance of tax-exempt bonds to finance the construction or acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing.  Under applicable Treasury Regulations, any affordable apartment project financed with tax-exempt bonds must set aside a percentage of its total rental units for occupancy by tenants whose incomes do not exceed stated percentages of the median income in the local area.  In each case, the balance of the rental units in the apartment project may be rented at market rates.  With respect to private activity bonds issued under Section 142(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, the owner of the apartment project may elect, at the time the bonds are issued, whether to set aside a minimum of 20% of the units for tenants making less than 50% of area median income (as adjusted for household size) or 40% of the units for tenants making less than 60% of the area median income (as adjusted for household size).  Multifamily housing bonds that were issued prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (so called “80/20” bonds) require that 20% of the rental units be set aside for tenants whose income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, without adjustment for household size.
 
We expect that many of the private activity housing bonds that we evaluate for acquisition will be issued in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs by the owner of the financed apartment project.  Additionally, to facilitate our investment strategy of acquiring additional tax-exempt mortgage bonds secured by MF Properties, we may acquire ownership positions in the MF Properties.  We expect to acquire tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds on these MF Properties in many cases at the time of a restructuring of the MF Property ownership.  Such restructuring may involve the syndication of LIHTCs in conjunction with property rehabilitation.
 
Investment Types
 
Tax-Exempt Mortgage Revenue Bonds. The Partnership invests in tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that are secured by a first mortgage or deed of trust on multifamily apartment projects.  Each of these bonds bears interest at a fixed annual base rate.  Six of the 21 bonds currently owned by the Partnership also provide for the payment of contingent interest, which is payable out of the net cash flow and net capital appreciation of the underlying apartment properties.  As a result, the amount of interest earned by the Partnership from its investment in tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds is a function of the net operating income generated by the properties collateralizing the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.  Net operating income from a multifamily residential property depends on the rental and occupancy rates of the property and the level of operating expenses.
 

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Other Tax-Exempt Securities.  The Partnership may invest in other types of tax-exempt securities that may or may not be secured by real estate.  These tax-exempt securities must be rated in one of the four highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized securities rating agency and may not represent more than 25% of the Partnership's assets at the time of acquisition.
 
Taxable Mortgage Loans.  The Partnership may also make taxable mortgage loans secured by multifamily properties which are financed by tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that are held by the Partnership.
 
Other Investments.  While the Partnership generally does not seek to acquire equity interests in real property as long-term or permanent investments, it may acquire real estate securing its revenue bonds or taxable mortgage loans through foreclosure in the event of a default.  In addition, as part of its growth strategy, the Partnership may acquire direct or indirect interests in MF Properties on a temporary basis in order to position itself for a future investment in tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds issued to finance the acquisition or substantial rehabilitation of such apartment complexes by a new owner.  A new owner would typically seek to obtain LIHTCs in connection with the issuance of the new tax-exempt bonds, but if LIHTCs had previously been issued for the property, such a restructuring could not occur until the expiration of a 15-year compliance period for the initial LIHTCs.  The Partnership may acquire an interest in MF Properties prior to the end of the LIHTC compliance period.  After the LIHTC compliance period, the Partnership would expect to sell its interest in such MF Property to a new owner which could syndicate new LIHTCs and seek tax-exempt bond financing on the MF Property which the Partnership could acquire.  Such restructurings will generally be expected to occur within 36 months of the acquisition by the Partnership of an interest in an MF Property.  The Partnership will not acquire LIHTCs in connection with these transactions.
 
Investment Opportunities
 
There continues to be a significant unmet demand for affordable multifamily housing in the United States.  The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) reports that there are approximately 7.1 million American households in need of quality affordable housing.  The types of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds in which we invest offer developers of affordable housing a low-cost source of construction and permanent debt financing for these types of properties.  Investors purchase these bonds because the income paid on these bonds is exempt from federal income taxation.  The National Council of State Housing Agencies Fact Sheet and HUD have captured some key scale metrics and opportunities of this market:
 
•    
HUD has provided over 1.0 million lower-income Americans with affordable rental housing opportunities;
 
•    
Housing Finance Agencies  (HFAs) use multifamily tax-exempt housing bonds to finance more than 100,000 apartments each year; and
 
•    
The availability of tax-exempt bond financing for affordable multifamily housing to be owned by private, for-profit developers in each state in each calendar year is limited by the statewide volume cap distributed as described in Section 146 of the Internal Revenue Code; this private activity bond financing is based on state population and indexed to inflation. 
 
•    
The supply of rental units is expected to fall short of demand with apartment vacancies continuing to decline.
 
In addition to tax-exempt revenue bonds, the federal government promotes affordable housing through the use of LIHTCs for affordable multifamily rental housing.  The syndication and sale of LIHTCs along with tax-exempt bond financing is attractive to developers of affordable housing because it helps them raise equity and debt financing for their projects.  Under this program, developers that receive an allocation of private activity bonds will also receive an allocation of federal LIHTCs as a method to encourage the development of affordable multifamily housing.  The Partnership does not invest in LIHTCs, but is attracted to tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that are issued in association with federal LIHTC syndications because in order to be eligible for federal LIHTCs a property must either be newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated and; therefore, may be less likely to become functionally obsolete in the near term than an older property.  There are various requirements in order to be eligible for federal LIHTCs, including rent and tenant income restrictions.  In general, the property owner must elect to set aside either 40% or more of the property's residential units for occupancy by individuals whose income is 60% or less of the area median gross income or 20% or more of the property's residential units for occupancy by individuals whose income is 50% or less of the area median gross income.  These units remain subject to these set aside requirements for a minimum of 30 years.
 
The 2008 Housing Act simplified and expanded the use of LIHTCs and tax-exempt bond financing for low-income multifamily housing industry.  Additionally, it exempted newly issued tax-exempt private activity bonds from Alternative Minimum Tax.  Previously, these tax-exempt private activity bonds were Alternative Minimum Tax preference items for individual taxpayers.  We believe these changes should enhance the Partnership's opportunities for making investments in accordance with its investment criteria.

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Current credit markets and general economic issues have had a significant negative impact on these types of transactions.  At this time very few LIHTC syndication and tax-exempt bond financing transactions are being completed.  While these types of transactions represent a long-term market opportunity for the Partnership, they are not the current investment focus.
 
Effects of Recent Credit Markets and Economic Conditions
 
The disruptions in domestic and international financial markets, and the resulting restrictions on the availability of debt financing that had prevailed since 2008 began to subside in 2010. While economic trends show signs of a stabilization of the economy and debt availability has increased significantly from two years ago, overall availability remains limited and the cost of credit may continue to be adversely impacted. These conditions, in our view, will continue to create potential investment opportunities for the Partnership.  Many participants in the multifamily housing debt sector either reduced their participation in the market or were forced to liquidate some or all of their existing portfolio investments in order to meet their liquidity needs.  We believe this continues to create opportunities to acquire existing tax-exempt bonds from distressed holders at attractive yields.  The Partnership continues to evaluate potential investments in bonds which are available on the secondary market.  We believe many of these bonds will meet our investment criteria and that we have a unique ability to analyze and close on these opportunities while maintaining our ability and willingness to also participate in primary market transactions.
 
Current credit and real estate market conditions also create opportunities to acquire quality MF Properties from distressed owners and lenders.  Our ability to restructure existing debt, together with the ability to improve the operations of the apartment properties through our affiliated property management company, can position these MF Properties for an eventual financing with tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds meeting our investment criteria and that will be supported by a valuable and well-run apartment property.  We believe we can selectively acquire MF Properties, restructure debt and improve operations in order to create value to our unitholders in the form of a strong tax-exempt bond investment.
 
On the other hand, continued economic weakness in some markets may limit our ability to access additional debt financing that the Partnership uses to partially finance its investment portfolio or otherwise meet its liquidity requirements.  The inability to access debt financing may result in adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to finance additional acquisitions of tax-exempt bonds through either additional equity or debt financing.  Although the consequences of market and economic conditions and their impact on our ability to pursue our plan to grow through investments in additional tax-exempt housing bonds are not fully known, we do not anticipate that our existing assets will be adversely affected in the long-term.   In addition, the economic conditions including higher levels of unemployment, lack of job growth and low home mortgage interest rates have had a negative effect on some of the apartment properties which collateralize our tax-exempt bond investments and our MF Properties in the form of lower occupancy during the past two years.  Overall economic occupancy (which is adjusted to reflect rental concessions, delinquent rents and non-revenue units such as model units and employee units) of the apartment properties that the Partnership has financed with tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds was approximately 81% during both 2010 as compared to 84% during 2009.  Overall economic occupancy of the MF Properties has remained at approximately 83% during both years 2010 and 2009.  These issues may continue to negatively affect property operations and profitability in the shortterm. We expect that property operations will improve in 2011 and 2012 and that rental rate and occupancy trends will be positive.
 
Financing Arrangements
 
The Partnership may finance the acquisition of additional tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds through the reinvestment of cash flow, the issuance of additional units or with debt financing collateralized by our existing portfolio of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, including the securitization of these bonds.
 
Debt Financing.  At December 31, 2010, the Partnership has outstanding debt financing of $95.6 million secured by 13 tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds with a total par value of $125.6 million plus approximately $15.2 million in restricted cash.  Our operating policy is to maintain a level of debt financing between 40% and 60% of the total par value of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond portfolio.  As of December 31, 2010, the debt outstanding related to the total par value of the Partnerships' total bond portfolio of approximately $189.3 million results in a leverage ratio of 51%.  The outstanding debt financing is a Tax-Exempt Bond Securitization facility (“TEBS”) with Freddie Mac (see Note 9).  Additionally, the MF Properties are encumbered by mortgage loans with an aggregate principal balance of approximately $10.6 million.  These mortgage loans mature at various times from November 2011 through November 2013 (see Note 10). The total debt financing plus mortgage loans of $106.2 million results in a leverage ratio to Total Assets of 44%.
 

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Equity Financing.  Beginning in 2007, the Partnership has issued BUCs from time to time to raise additional equity capital to fund investment opportunities. Through December 31, 2010, the Partnership had issued a total of 20,285,000 additional BUCs raising net proceeds of approximately $108.2 million after payment of an underwriter’s discount and other offering costs of approximately $7.8 million. In April 2010, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 was declared effective by SEC under which the Partnership may offer up to $200.0 million of additional BUCs from time to time. The most recent issuance, included above, was completed in April 2010. The Partnership issued an additional 8,280,000 BUCs through an underwritten public offering at a public offering price of $5.37 per BUC pursuant to this new Registration Statement. Net proceeds realized by the Partnership from the issuance of these BUCs were approximately $41.6 million after payment of an underwriter's discount and other offering costs of approximately $2.8 million (see Note 11).
 
Recent Developments
 
Bond Acquisitions. In February 2011, the Partnership acquired the Briarwood Manor Apartments tax-exempt private activity mortgage revenue bond for approximately $4.5 million which represented 100% of the bond issuance. The bond's approximate outstanding par value is $5.5 million and earns interest at an annual rate of 5.3% with a monthly interest and principal payment and stated maturity date of June 1, 2038. Based on the purchase price discount, the bond will yield approximately 7.0% to the Partnership. The bond was issued for the construction of the Briarwood Manor Apartments, a 100 unit multifamily apartment complex located in Montclair, California, in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs. The bond does not provide for contingent interest.
 
In November 2010, the Partnership acquired the Autumn Pines Apartments tax-exempt private activity mortgage revenue bond for approximately $12.3 million which represented 100% of the bond issuance. The bond's approximate outstanding par value is $13.4 million and earns interest at an annual rate of 5.8% with a monthly interest and principal payment and stated maturity date of October 1, 2046. Based on the purchase price discount, the bond will yield approximately 7.0% to the Partnership. The bond was issued for the construction of the Autumn Pines Apartments , a 250 unit multifamily apartment complex located in Humble, Texas, in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs. The bond does not provide for contingent interest.
 
MF Property Sale. In June 2010, the Company completed a sales transaction whereby four of the MF Properties, Crescent Village, Post Woods (I and II) and Willow Bend apartments in Ohio (the “Ohio Properties”), were sold to three new ownership entities controlled by an unaffiliated not-for-profit entity. The Company acquired 100% of the $18.3 million tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds issued by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency as part of a plan of financing for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Ohio Properties. The tax-exempt mortgage bonds secured by the Ohio Properties were acquired by the Company at par and consisted of two series. The Series A bond has a par value of $14.7 million and bears interest at an annual rate of 7.0%. The Series B bond has a par value of $3.6 million and bears interest at an annual interest rate of 10.0%. Both series of bonds mature in June 2050. The Company had previously acquired a 99% interest in the Ohio Properties as part of its strategy of acquiring existing multifamily apartment properties that it expects will be partially financed with new tax-exempt mortgage bonds at the time the properties become eligible for the issuance of additional LIHTCs. In addition to the new tax-exempt bonds acquired by the Company, the plan of financing for the acquisition included other subordinated debt issued by the Company. The new owners ultimately plan to sell limited partnership interests in the properties and syndicate LIHTCs as part of the overall plan of finance. The new owners have not contributed any capital to the transaction and the Company has effectively provided 100% of the capital structure to the new owners as part of the sale transaction. Pursuant to accounting guidance for property, plant, and equipment - real estate sales, the sale and restructure does not meet the criteria for derecognition of the properties or full accrual accounting for the gain. The guidance requires sufficient equity capital as part of a sales transaction to indicate a commitment from the buyer (typically a minimum of 3 to 5% investment by the new owners). As the buyer has no equity capital in this transaction and the property operations are the current support for the debt service, the Company, in substance, remains the owner for accounting purposes. As such, the Company will continue to consolidate the Ohio Properties as if the sale was not completed. Under the sales agreement, the Ohio properties were sold for a total purchase price of $16.2 million. Cash received by the selling limited partnerships as part of the sale transaction represents a gain on the sale transaction of approximately $1.8 million. The properties will continue to be presented as MF Properties and no gain will be recognized until such time as the transaction meets the criteria for derecognition of the properties and gain recognition (see Note 5 and 6).
 
Evaluation of Specific Bond Holdings. The Partnership continues to monitor the three tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds for which certain actions may be necessary to protect the Partnership's position as a secured bondholder and lender.  These bonds are Woodland Park, Residences at DeCordova ("DeCordova") (formerly known as ("f/k/a") The Gardens of DeCordova) and Residences at Weatherford ("Weatherford") (f/k/a The Gardens of Weatherford).  As of December 31, 2010, Woodland Park owes the Partnership approximately $15.7 million under tax-exempt bonds and approximately $914,000 under taxable loans; DeCordova owes the Partnership approximately $4.9 million under tax-exempt bonds and $648,000 under taxable loans; and Weatherford owes the Partnership approximately $4.7 million under tax-exempt bonds and $1.1 million under taxable loans.   The following

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is a discussion of the circumstances related to each of these bonds.
 
Woodland Park.  The construction of Woodland Park was completed in November 2008 and lease-up continues, however, the property has not yet reached stabilization which is defined in the bond documents as the generation of a 1.15:1 debt service coverage ratio for six straight months.  Additionally, there was insufficient funds on deposit with the bond trustee to make the debt service payment of approximately $452,000 on the bonds which was due on May 3, 2010 and the property owner did not provide additional capital to fund the shortfall. As a result, a payment default on the bonds occurred. In order to protect its investment, the Partnership issued a formal notice of default through the bond trustee and started the foreclosure process. The foreclosure process is expected to be complete in the first half of 2011. This action will allow a new property owner to re-syndicate the LIHTCs associated with this property. If the LIHTCs can be successfully re-syndicated, it will provide additional capital to the project which can be used to support debt service payments on the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds until property operations improve to the point that sufficient cash is generated to pay any past due amounts on the bonds as well as ongoing debt service. If the re-syndication is not successful, the Partnership may pursue other options including making additional taxable loans to the property or completing the foreclosure process and taking direct ownership of the property. The Partnership believes that the most significant issue in the slow lease-up of the property and its failure to achieve stabilization has been the 100% set aside of the rental units for tenants that make less than 60% of the area median income. At the request of the Partnership, in April 2010, the property owner reduced the number of units set aside for affordable tenants to 75% and began leasing 59 units to market rate tenants. Additionally, the property owner has agreed that, if needed to stabilize the property, it would further reduce the units set aside for affordable tenants to 60% thereby making an additional 35 units available to market rate tenants. As of December 31, 2009, the property had 116 units leased out of total available units of 236, or 49% physical occupancy. As of December 31, 2010, the property had 190 units leased out of total available units of 236, or 81% physical occupancy.  Based on the level of leasing activity resulting from the change in the mix of affordable and market rate tenants, the Partnership continues to believe that Woodland is capable of reaching stabilization.
 
Residences at DeCordova.  This property is a senior (55+) affordable housing project located in Granbury, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Construction was completed in April 2009 and lease-up continues, however, the property has not yet reached stabilization which is defined in the bond documents as the generation of a 1.15:1 debt service coverage ratio for six straight months.  In January 2010, the Partnership issued a Notice of Default through the bond trustee to begin foreclosure procedures in order to remove the limited partner. Such notice was issued in February 2010 and the foreclosure was completed in March 2010. At that time the general partner was allowed to continue in that capacity and a new limited partner was admitted. The foreclosure was a reconsideration event under the variable interest entity guidance and as a result of the reevaluation, the bond was eliminated and the entity which owns the property was consolidated as a VIE effective March 2010. At the request of the Partnership, in April 2010, the property owners reduced the number of units set aside for affordable tenants to 60% and began leasing 30 units to market rate tenants. The property continued to experience slow lease-up and in December 2010, the Partnership issued a second Notice of Default through the bond trustee to begin foreclosure procedures in order to remove both the general partner and the limited partner and take ownership of the property. This second foreclosure was completed in February 2011 at which time the ownership of the property was taken by the Partnership. As of December 31, 2009, the property had 31 units leased out of total available units of 76, or 41% physical occupancy. As of December 31, 2010, the property had 65 units leased out of total available units of 76, or approximately 86% physical occupancy and an additional eight leases are pending. At this time the Partnership expects to operate the property as a market rate apartment property. Once the property is leased up and stabilized the Partnership will evaluate its options in order to recoup its investment in DeCordova.
 
Residences at Weatherford.  Residences at Weatherford are currently under construction and will contain 76 units upon completion. This property is a senior (55+) affordable housing project located in Weatherford, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. At this time infrastructure construction activities have been substantially completed but no construction has begun on the actual apartment buildings. In January 2010, the Partnership issued a Notice of Default through the bond trustee and began foreclosure procedures to remove the limited partner. Such notice was issued in February 2010 and the foreclosure was completed in March 2010. At that time the general partner was allowed to continue in that capacity and a new limited partner was admitted. The foreclosure was a reconsideration event under the variable interest entity guidance and as a result of the reevaluation, the bond was eliminated and the entity that owns the property was consolidated as a VIE effective in March 2010. Through this process the Partnership anticipated that the new property owner would recapitalize the property by pursuing an alternative plan of financing. Specifically, the Partnership worked with the general partner of the owner to identify available Tax Credit Assistance Program (“TCAP”) funding through application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (“TDHCA”). In March 2010, a TCAP Written Agreement with TDHCA was approved and entered into which committed TCAP funds to the project pending the completion of formal agreements. Formal agreements and funding were originally expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2010, however, the

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process was delayed due to the large number of transactions to be closed by TDHCA. During the delay, TDHCA identified certain issues in funding and compliance with other projects in which the General Partner of Residences at Weatherford is involved. As a result of these issues, in October 2010, TDHCA issued a Notice of Termination of TCAP Funding to the General Partner. Together with the General Partner, the Company unsuccessfully appealed the termination. Based on the termination notice, the Company has determined that the property fixed assets of Residences at Weatherford and the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond which is eliminated in consolidation was impaired. As of December 31, 2010 the property fixed assets, consisting of land and land improvements, and the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership have been written down. The resulting impairment charge and provision for loan losses of approximately $3.3 million is attributable to the unitholders. As a result of the failure of the property owner to secure an alternative plan of financing, the Partnership issued a second Notice of Default through the bond trustee to begin foreclosure procedures in order to remove both the General Partner and the limited partner and take ownership of the property. This second foreclosure was completed in February 2011 at which time the ownership of the property was taken by the Partnership. The Partnership has taken over the project and intends to fund the construction and stabilization of the project. Upon the completion of construction, the Partnership expects to operate the property as a market rate apartment property. Once the property is leased up and stabilized the Partnership will evaluate its options in order to recoup its investment in Weatherford.
 
The Partnership evaluated all its bond holdings, including the three discussed above, for an other-than-temporary decline in value and any related taxable loans for potential impairment as of December 31, 2010 (see Note 2 for discussion of our impairment testing method).  Based on this evaluation, the Partnership has concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment of its tax-exempt bond holdings existed at December 31, 2010 for Woodland Park and DeCordova, but an impairment of approximately $2.7 million was recorded for Weatherford during 2010.  The Partnership also concluded that the taxable loans made to DeCordova were not impaired, however, an allowance for loan loss of approximately $900,000 was recorded to reserve for the entire taxable loan balance due from Woodland Park. The Partnership will continue to monitor these investments for changes in circumstances that might warrant an impairment charge. 
 
Management and Employees
 
The Partnership is managed by its general partner, America First Capital Associates Limited Partnership Two (“AFCA 2”) which is an affiliate of The Burlington Capital Group LLC ("Burlington").  The Partnership has no employees, executive officers or directors.  Certain services are provided to the Partnership by employees of Burlington, which is the general partner of AFCA 2, and the Partnership reimburses Burlington for its allocated share of these salaries and benefits.  The Partnership is not charged, and does not reimburse Burlington, for the services performed by executive officers of Burlington.
 
Competition
 
The Partnership competes with private investors, lending institutions, trust funds, investment partnerships and other entities with objectives similar to the Partnership for the acquisition of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and other investments.  This competition could reduce the availability of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds for acquisition and reduce the interest rate that issuers pay on these bonds.
 
Because the Partnership holds tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds secured entirely by multifamily residential properties and holds an interest in the MF Properties, the Partnership may be considered to be in competition with other residential real estate in the same geographic areas.  In each city in which the properties financed by the Partnership's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds owned by the Partnership or MF Properties are located, such properties compete with a substantial number of other multifamily properties.  Multifamily properties also compete with single-family housing that is either owned or leased by potential tenants.  To compete effectively, the apartment properties financed or owned by the Partnership must offer quality apartments at competitive rental rates.  In order to maintain occupancy rates and attract quality tenants, the Partnership's apartment properties may also offer rental concessions, such as free rent to new tenants for a stated period.  These apartment properties also compete by offering quality apartments in attractive locations and that provide tenants with amenities such as recreational facilities, garages and pleasant landscaping.
 

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Environmental Matters
 
The Partnership believes that each of the MF Properties and the properties collateralizing its tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds are in compliance, in all material respects, with federal, state and local regulations regarding hazardous waste and other environmental matters and is not aware of any environmental contamination at any of such properties that would require any material capital expenditure by the underlying properties, and therefore the Partnership, for the remediation thereof.
 
Tax Status
 
The Partnership is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and accordingly, it makes no provision for income taxes.  The distributive share of the Partnership's income, deductions and credits is included in each unitholder's income tax return.
 
The Partnership's subsidiaries are “C” corporations for income tax purposes and file separate income tax returns.  Therefore, the Partnership is only subject to income taxes on this investment to the extent it receives dividends from the subsidiaries.
 
The VIEs which are reported on a consolidated basis with the Partnership for GAAP reporting purposes as described below under “Effect of Implementation of Guidance Changes on Consolidations on Financial Reporting” are separate legal entities who record and report income taxes based upon their individual legal structure which may include corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies.  The Partnership does not presently believe that the consolidation of VIEs for reporting under GAAP will impact the Partnership's tax status, amounts reported to unitholders on IRS Form K-1, the Partnership's ability to distribute tax-exempt income to unitholders, the current level of quarterly distributions or the tax-exempt status of the underlying mortgage revenue bonds.
 
Effect of Implementation of the Guidance Changes on Consolidations on Financial Reporting
 
The Partnership is required to consolidate the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of certain entities that meet the definition of a VIE into the Partnership's financial statements under the consolidation guidance for variable interest entities. Management has determined that six of the entities which own multifamily apartment properties financed by the Partnership's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds are VIEs.  Because management determined that the Partnership is the primary beneficiary of each of these VIEs pursuant to the terms of each tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond and the criteria within the consolidation guidance, the Partnership consolidated the assets, liabilities and results of operations of these VIEs' multifamily properties into the Partnership's financial statements.  Transactions and accounts between the Partnership and the consolidated VIEs, including the indebtedness underlying the tax-exempt mortgage bonds and taxable loans secured by the properties owned by the VIEs, have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
All financial information in this Form 10-K presented on the basis of Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America, is that of the Partnership and the VIEs on a consolidated basis.  We refer to the Partnership, its wholly owned subsidiaries (each a “Holding Company”), and the consolidated VIEs throughout this Form 10-K as the “Company”.  We refer to the Partnership and Holding Company, without consolidation of the VIEs, as the “Partnership.”
 
General Information
 
We are a Delaware limited partnership.  Our general partner is AFCA 2, whose general partner is Burlington.  Since 1984, Burlington has specialized in the management of investment funds, many of which were formed to acquire real estate investments such as tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, mortgage securities and multifamily real estate properties.  Burlington maintains its principal executive offices at 1004 Farnam Street, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, and its telephone number is (402) 444-1630.
 
We do not have any employees of our own.  Employees of Burlington, acting through our general partner, are responsible for our operations and we reimburse Burlington for the allocated salaries and benefits of these employees and for other expenses incurred in running our business operations.  In connection with the operation of the Partnership, our general partner is entitled to an administrative fee in an amount equal to 0.45% per annum of the principal amount of the revenue bonds, other tax-exempt investments and taxable mortgage loans held by the Partnership.  Ten of the tax-exempt revenue bonds held by the Partnership provide for the payment of this administrative fee to the general partner by the owner of the financed property.  When the administrative fee is payable by a property owner, it is subordinated to the payment of all base interest to the Partnership on the tax-exempt revenue bond on that property.  Our Agreement of Limited Partnership provides that the administrative fee will be paid directly by the Partnership with respect to any investments for which the administrative fee is not payable by the property owner or a third party.  In addition, our Agreement of Limited Partnership provides that the Partnership will pay the administrative fee to the general partner with respect to any foreclosed mortgage bonds.

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Our general partner or its affiliates may also earn mortgage placement fees in connection with the identification and evaluation of additional investments that we acquire.  Any mortgage placement fees will be paid by the owners of the properties financed by the acquired mortgage revenue bonds out of bond proceeds.  The amount of mortgage placement fees, if any, will be subject to negotiation between the general partner or its affiliates and such property owners.
 
Properties Management is an affiliate of Burlington that is engaged in the management of apartment complexes.  Properties Management currently manages the eight MF Properties and nine of the properties whose tax-exempt bonds are held by the Partnership and earns a fee paid out of property revenues.  Properties Management may also seek to become the manager of apartment complexes financed by additional mortgage bonds acquired by the Partnership, subject to negotiation with the owners of such properties.  If the Partnership acquires ownership of any property through foreclosure of a revenue bond, Properties Management may provide property management services for such property and, in such case, earn a fee payable out of property revenues.
 
Our sole limited partner is America First Fiduciary Corporation Number Five, a Nebraska corporation. BUCs represent assignments by the sole limited partner of its rights and obligations as a limited partner.
 
Information Available on Website
 
The Partnership's annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and press releases are available free of charge at www.ataxfund.com as soon as reasonably practical after they are filed with the SEC.  The information on the website is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.
 
 
Item 1A.  Risk Factors
 
The financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership are affected by various factors, many of which are beyond the Partnership's control.  These include the following:
 
  Cash distributions from the Partnership may change depending on the amount of cash available for distribution.
 
Cash distributions made by the Partnership to unitholders may increase or decrease at the determination of the General Partner based on its assessment of the amount of cash available to the Partnership for this purpose.  Beginning with the distribution for the second quarter 2009, the Partnership's annual distribution was reduced from $0.54 per unit to $0.50 per unit due to the General Partner's determination that higher borrowing costs and other factors would reduce the cash available to the Partnership to make distributions.  If the Partnership's actual results of operations vary from current projections and the actual cash generated is less than the new regular distribution, the Partnership may need to reduce the distribution rate further.  Any change in our distribution policy could have a material adverse effect on the market price of units. 
 
The receipt of interest and principal payments on our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds will be affected by the economic results of the underlying multifamily properties.
 
Although our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds are issued by state or local housing authorities, they are not obligations of these governmental entities and are not backed by any taxing authority.  Instead, each of these revenue bonds is backed by a non-recourse loan made to the owner of the underlying apartment complex and is secured by a first mortgage lien on the property.  Because of the non-recourse nature of the underlying mortgage loans, the sole source of cash to pay base and contingent interest on the revenue bond, and to ultimately pay the principal amount of the bond, is the net cash flow generated by the operation of the financed property and the net proceeds from the ultimate sale or refinancing of the property, except in limited cases where a property owner has provided a limited guarantee of certain payments.  This makes our investments in these mortgage revenue bonds subject to the kinds of risks usually associated with direct investments in multifamily real estate.  If a property is unable to sustain net cash flow at a level necessary to pay its debt service obligations on our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond on the property, a default may occur.  Net cash flow and net sale proceeds from a particular property are applied only to debt service payments of the particular mortgage revenue bond secured by that property and are not available to satisfy debt service obligations on other mortgage revenue bonds that we hold.  In addition, the value of a property at the time of its sale or refinancing will be a direct function of its perceived future profitability.  Therefore, the amount of base and contingent interest that we earn on our mortgage revenue bonds, and whether or not we will receive the entire principal balance of the bonds as and when due, will depend to a large degree on the economic results of the underlying apartment complexes.
 

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The net cash flow from the operation of a property may be affected by many things, such as the number of tenants, the rental rates, operating expenses, the cost of repairs and maintenance, taxes, government regulation, competition from other apartment complexes, mortgage rates for single-family housing and general and local economic conditions.  In most of the markets in which the properties financed by our bonds are located, there is significant competition from other apartment complexes and from single-family housing that is either owned or leased by potential tenants.  Low mortgage interest rates and federal tax credits make single-family housing more accessible to persons who may otherwise rent apartments.
 
The value of the properties is the only source of repayment of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.
 
The principal of most of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds does not fully amortize over their terms.  This means that all or some of the balance of the mortgage loans underlying these bonds will be repaid as a lump-sum “balloon” payment at the end of the term.  The ability of the property owners to repay the mortgage loans with balloon payments is dependent upon their ability to sell the properties securing our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds or obtain adequate refinancing.  The mortgage revenue bonds are not personal obligations of the property owners, and we rely solely on the value of the properties securing these bonds for security.  Similarly, if a tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond goes into default, our only recourse is to foreclose on the underlying multifamily property.  If the value of the underlying property securing the bond is less than the outstanding principal balance and accrued interest on the bond, we will suffer a loss.
 
In the event a property securing a tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond is not sold prior to the maturity or remarketing of the bond, any contingent interest payable from the net sale or refinancing proceeds of the underlying property will be determined on the basis of the appraised value of the underlying property.  Real estate appraisals represent only an estimate of the value of the property being appraised and are based on subjective determinations, such as the extent to which the properties used for comparison purposes are comparable to the property being evaluated and the rate at which a prospective purchaser would capitalize the cash flow of the property to determine a purchase price.  Accordingly, such appraisals may result in us realizing less contingent interest from a tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond than we would have realized had the underlying property been sold.
  
There is additional credit risk when we make a taxable loan on a property.
 
The taxable mortgage loans that we make to owners of the apartment properties that secure tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds held by us are non-recourse obligations of the property owner.  As a result, the sole source of principal and interest payments on these taxable loans is the net cash flow generated by these properties or the net proceeds from the sale of these properties.  The net cash flow from the operation of a property may be affected by many things as discussed above.  In addition, any payment of principal and interest on a taxable loan on a particular property will be subordinate to payment of all principal and interest (including contingent interest) on the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond secured by the same property.  As a result, there may be a higher risk of default on the taxable loans than on the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.  If a property is unable to sustain net cash flow at a level necessary to pay current debt service obligations on the taxable loan on such property, a default may occur.  While these taxable loans are secured by the underlying properties, in general, the Partnership does not expect to pursue foreclosure or other remedies against a property upon default of a taxable mortgage loan if the property is not in default on the tax-exempt bonds financing the property.
 
There are risks associated with our strategy of acquiring ownership interests in MF Properties in anticipation of future tax-exempt bond financings of these projects.
 
To facilitate our investment strategy of acquiring additional tax-exempt mortgage bonds secured by multifamily apartment properties, we may acquire ownership positions in MF Properties that we expect to ultimately sell in a syndication of LIHTCs after the expiration of the compliance period relating to existing LIHTCs issued with respect to the MF Properties.  Our plan is to provide tax-exempt mortgage financing to the new property owners at the time of a syndication of new LIHTCs in connection with a rehabilitation of these MF Properties.  Current credit market and general economic conditions have had a significant negative effect on the market for LIHTC syndications and, as a result, few LIHTC syndications are being completed at this time.  For this and other reasons, there is no assurance that the Partnership will be able to sell its interests in the MF Properties after the applicable LIHTC compliance period.  In addition, the value of the Partnership's interest in MF Properties will be affected by the economic performance of the MF Properties and other factors generally affecting the value of residential rental properties.  As a result, there is no assurance the Partnership will not incur a loss upon the sale of its interest in an MF Property.  In addition, there is no assurance that we will be able to acquire tax-exempt bonds on the MF Properties even if we are able to sell our interests in the MF Properties in connection with the syndication of new LIHTCs.  During the time the Partnership owns an interest in an MF Property, any net income it receives from these MF Properties will not be exempt from federal or state income taxation.
 

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We may suffer adverse consequences from changing interest rates.
 
We have financed the acquisition of some of our assets using variable-rate debt financing.  The interest that we pay on this financing fluctuates with a specific interest rate index.  All of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds bear interest at fixed rates and, notwithstanding the contingent interest feature on some of these bonds, the amount of interest we earn on these bonds will not increase with a general rise in interest rates.  Accordingly, an increase in our interest expense due to an increase in the interest rate index used for our variable rate debt financing will reduce the amount of cash we have available for distribution to unitholders and may affect the market value of our units.
 
An increase in interest rates could also decrease the value of our tax-exempt mortgage bonds.    A decrease in the value of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds could also decrease the amount we could realize on the sale of our investments and would thereby decrease the amount of funds available for distribution to our unitholders.
 
During periods of low prevailing interest rates, the interest rates we earn on new tax exempt mortgage revenue bonds that we acquire may be lower than the interest rates on our existing portfolio of tax-exempt bonds.  To the extent we finance the acquisition of additional tax-exempt bonds through the issuance of additional units or from the proceeds from the sale of existing tax-exempt bonds and we earn a lower interest rate on these additional bonds, the amount of cash available for distribution on a per unit basis may be reduced.
 
We are subject to various risks associated with our derivative agreements.
 
We use derivative instruments, such as interest rate caps, to mitigate the risks we are exposed to as a result of changing interest rates.  However, there is no assurance that these instruments will fully insulate the Partnership from the interest rate risks to which it is exposed.  In addition, there are costs associated with these derivative instruments and there is no assurance these costs will not ultimately turn out to exceed the losses we would have suffered, if any, had these instruments not been in place.  There is also a risk that a counterparty to such an instrument will be unable to perform its obligations to the Partnership.  If a liquid secondary market does not exist for these instruments, we may be required to maintain a position until exercise or expiration, which could result in losses to the Partnership.  In addition, we are required to record the fair value of these derivative instruments on our financial statements by recording changes in their values as interest earnings or expense.  This can result in significant period to period volatility in the Partnership's reported net income over the term of these instruments.
  
There are risks associated with debt financing programs that involve securitization of our tax-exempt bonds.
 
We have obtained debt financing through the securitization of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and may obtain this type of debt financing in the future.  The terms of these securitization programs differ, but in general require that we deposit tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds into a trust or other special purpose entity that issues a senior security to unaffiliated investors and a residual interest to the Partnership.  The trust or other entity receives all of the interest payments from its underlying tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds from which it pays interest on the senior security at a variable rate.  As the holder of the residual interest, the Partnership is entitled to any remaining tax-exempt interest received by the trust after it has paid the full amount of interest due on the senior security and all of the expenses of the trust, including various fees to the trustee, remarketing agents and liquidity providers.  Specific risks generally associated with these bond securitization programs include the following:
            
Changes in short-term interest rates can adversely affect the cost of a bond securitization financing.
 
The interest rate payable on the senior securities resets periodically based on a specified index usually tied to interest rates on short-term instruments.  In addition, because the senior securities may typically be tendered back to the trust, causing the trust to remarket the senior securities from time to time, an increase in interest rates may require an increase to the interest rate paid on the senior securities in order to successfully remarket these securities.  Any increase in interest rate payable on the senior securities will result in more of the underlying tax-exempt bond interest being used to pay interest on the senior securities leaving less tax-exempt bond interest available to the Partnership.  As a result, higher short-term interest rates will reduce, and could even eliminate, the Partnership's return on a residual interest in this type of financing.
 
Payments on the residual interests in these financing structures are subordinate to payments on the senior securities and to payment of trust expenses and no party guarantees the payment of any amounts under the residual interests.
 
The residual interests in a trust or other special purpose entity used for these types of financing are subordinate to the senior securities sold to investors.  As a result, none of the tax-exempt bond interest received by such a trust will be paid to the Partnership as the holder of a residual interest until all payments currently due on the senior securities have been

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paid in full and other trust expenses satisfied.  The holder of a residual certificate in such a trust can look only to the assets of the trust remaining after payment of these senior obligations for payment on the residual certificates.  No third party guarantees the payment of any amount on the residual certificates.
          
Termination of a bond securitization financing can occur for a number of reasons which could cause the Partnership to lose the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and other collateral it pledged for such financing.
 
In general, the trust or other special purpose entity formed for a bond securitization financing can terminate for a number of different reasons relating to problems with the bonds or problems with the trust itself.  Problems with the bonds that could cause the trust to collapse include payment or other defaults or a determination that the interest on the bonds is taxable.  Problems with a trust include a downgrade in the investment rating of the senior securities that it has issued, a ratings downgrade of the liquidity provider for the trust, increases in short term interest rates in excess of the interest paid on the underlying bonds, an inability to remarket the senior securities or an inability to obtain liquidity for the trust.  In each of these cases, the trust will be collapsed and the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and other collateral held by the trusts will be sold.  If the proceeds from the sale of the trust collateral are not sufficient to pay the principal amount of the senior securities with accrued interest and the other expenses of the trusts then the Partnership will be required, through its guarantee of the trusts, to fund any such shortfall.  As a result, the Partnership, as holder of the residual interest in the trust, may not only lose its investment in the residual certificates but could also realize additional losses in order to fully repay trust obligations to the senior securities.
 
An insolvency or receivership of the program sponsor could impair the Partnership's ability to recover the tax-exempt bonds and other collateral pledged by it in connection with a bond securitization financing.
 
In the event the sponsor of a bond securitization financing program becomes insolvent, it could be placed in receivership.  In that situation, it is possible that the Partnership would not be able to recover the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds it pledged in connection with the bond securitization financing or that it would not receive all or any of the payments due from the trust or other special purpose entity on the residual interest held by the Partnership in such trust or other entity.
  
Conditions in the credit markets may increase our cost of borrowing or may make financing difficult to obtain, each of which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and business.
 
Economic conditions in international and domestic credit markets have been, and remain, challenging.  Significantly tighter credit conditions and slower economic growth were experienced in 2010 and continued concerns about the systemic impact of high unemployment, restricted availability of credit, declining residential and commercial real estate markets, volatile energy prices, and overall business and consumer confidence have contributed to the economic downturn and it is unclear when and how quickly conditions and markets will improve.  As a result of these economic conditions, the cost and availability of credit has been, and may continue to be, adversely affected in all markets in which we operate.  Concern about the stability of the markets generally and the strength of counterparties specifically has led many lenders and institutional investors to reduce, and in some cases, cease, to provide funding to borrowers.  As a result, our access to debt and equity financing may be adversely affected.  If these market and economic conditions continue, they may limit our ability to replace or renew maturing debt financing on a timely basis and may impair our access to capital markets to meet our liquidity and growth requirements which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds are illiquid assets and their value may decrease.
 
The majority of our assets consist of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.  These mortgage revenue bonds are relatively illiquid, and there is no existing trading market for them.  As a result, there are no market makers, price quotations or other indications of a developed trading market for these mortgage revenue bonds.  In addition, no rating has been issued on any of the existing mortgage revenue bonds and we do not expect to obtain ratings on mortgage revenue bonds we may acquire in the future.  Accordingly, any buyer of these mortgage revenue bonds would need to perform its own due diligence prior to a purchase.  As a result, our ability to sell our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, and the price we may receive upon their sale, will be affected by the number of potential buyers, the number of similar securities on the market at the time and a number of other market conditions.  As a result, such a sale could result in a loss to us.
 

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The rent restrictions and occupant income limitations imposed on properties financed by our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and on our MF Properties may limit the revenues of such properties.
 
All of the apartment properties securing our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and the MF Properties in which our subsidiaries hold indirect interests are subject to certain federal, state and/or local requirements with respect to the permissible income of their tenants.  Since federal rent subsidies are not generally available on these properties, rents must be charged on a designated portion of the units at a level to permit these units to be continuously occupied by low or moderate income persons or families.  As a result, these rents may not be sufficient to cover all operating costs with respect to these units and debt service on the applicable tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond.  This may force the property owner to charge rents on the remaining units that are higher than they would be otherwise and may, therefore, exceed competitive rents. This may adversely affect the occupancy rate of a property securing an investment and the property owner's ability to service its debt.
 
The properties financed by certain of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds are not completely insured against damages from hurricanes and other major storms.
 
Five of the multifamily housing properties financed by tax-exempt bonds held by the Partnership are located in areas that are prone to damage from hurricanes and other major storms.  The current insurable value of these five properties is approximately $78.1 million.  Due to the significant losses incurred by insurance companies in recent years due to damages from hurricanes, many property and casualty insurers now require property owners to assume the risk of first loss on a larger percentage of their property's value.  In general, the current insurance policies on the five properties financed by the Partnership that are located in areas rated for hurricane and storm exposure carry a 5% deductible on the insurable value of the properties.  As a result, if any of these properties were damaged in a hurricane or other major storm, the amount of uninsured losses could be significant and the property owner may not have the resources to fully rebuild the property and this could result in a default on the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds secured by the property.  In addition, the damages to a property may result in all or a portion of the rental units not being rentable for a period of time.  Unless a property owner carries rental interruption insurance, this loss of rental income would reduce the cash flow available to pay base or contingent interest on the Partnership's tax-exempt bonds collateralized by these properties.
 
The properties securing our revenue bonds or the MF Properties may be subject to liability for environmental contamination which could increase the risk of default on such bonds or loss of our investment.
 
The owner or operator of real property may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous substances released on its property.  Various federal, state and local laws often impose such liability without regard to whether the owner or operator of real property knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances.  We cannot assure you that the properties that secure our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds or the MF Properties in which our subsidiaries hold indirect interests, will not be contaminated.  The costs associated with the remediation of any such contamination may be significant and may exceed the value of a property or result in the property owner defaulting on the revenue bond secured by the property or otherwise result in a loss of our investment in a property.
  
If we acquire ownership of apartment properties we will be subject to all of the risks normally associated with the ownership of commercial real estate.
 
We may acquire ownership of apartment complexes financed by tax-exempt bonds held by us in the event of a default on such bonds.  We may also acquire indirect ownership of MF Properties on a temporary basis in order to facilitate the eventual acquisition by us of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds on these apartment properties.  In either case, during the time we own an apartment complex, we will generate taxable income or losses from the operations of such property rather than tax exempt interest.  In addition, we will be subject to all of the risks normally associated with the operation of commercial real estate including declines in property value, occupancy and rental rates and increases in operating expenses.  We may also be subject to government regulations, natural disasters and environmental issues, any of which could have an adverse effect on the Partnership's financial results and ability to make distributions to unitholders.
 
There are a number of risks related to the construction of multifamily apartment properties that may affect the tax-exempt bonds issued to finance these properties.
 
We may invest in tax-exempt revenue bonds secured by multifamily housing properties which are still under construction.  Construction of such properties generally takes approximately twelve to eighteen months.  The principal risk associated with construction lending is that construction of the property will be substantially delayed or never completed.  This may occur for a number of reasons including (i) insufficient financing to complete the project due to underestimated construction costs or cost overruns; (ii) failure of contractors or subcontractors to perform under their agreements; (iii) inability to obtain

14

 

governmental approvals; (iv) labor disputes; and (v) adverse weather and other unpredictable contingencies beyond the control of the developer.  While we may be able to protect ourselves from some of these risks by obtaining construction completion guarantees from developers, agreements of construction lenders to purchase our bonds if construction is not completed on time, and/or payment and performance bonds from contractors, we may not be able to do so in all cases or such guarantees or bonds may not fully protect us in the event a property is not completed.  In other cases, we may decide to forego certain types of available security if we determine that the security is not necessary or is too expensive to obtain in relation to the risks covered.  If a property is not completed, or costs more to complete than anticipated, it may cause us to receive less than the full amount of interest owed to us on the tax-exempt bond financing such property or otherwise result in a default under the mortgage loan that secures our tax-exempt bond on the property.  In such case, we may be forced to foreclose on the incomplete property and sell it in order to recover the principal and accrued interest on our tax-exempt bond and we may suffer a loss of capital as a result.  Alternatively, we may decide to finance the remaining construction of the property, in which event we will need to invest additional funds into the property, either as equity or as a taxable loan.  Any return on this additional investment would not be tax-exempt.  Also, if we foreclose on a property, we will no longer receive tax-exempt interest on the bond issued to finance the property.  The overall return to the Partnership from its investment in such property is likely to be less than if the construction had been completed on time or within budget.
 
There are a number of risks related to the lease-up of newly constructed or renovated properties that may affect the tax-exempt bonds issued to finance these properties.
 
We may acquire tax-exempt revenue bonds issued to finance properties in various stages of construction or renovation.  As construction or renovation is completed, these properties will move into the lease-up phase.  The lease-up of these properties may not be completed on schedule or at anticipated rent levels, resulting in a greater risk that these investments may go into default than investments secured by mortgages on properties that are stabilized or fully leased-up.  The underlying property may not achieve expected occupancy or debt service coverage levels.  While we may require property developers to provide us with a guarantee covering operating deficits of the property during the lease-up phase, we may not be able to do so in all cases or such guarantees may not fully protect us in the event a property is not leased up to an adequate level of economic occupancy as anticipated.
 
We have assumed certain potential liability relating to recapture of tax credits on MF Properties.
 
The Partnership has acquired indirect interests in several MF Properties that generated LIHTCs for the previous partners in these partnerships.  When the Partnership acquires an interest in an MF Property, it generally must agree to reimburse the prior partners for any liabilities they incur due to a recapture of LIHTCs that result from the failure to operate the MF Property in a manner consistent with the laws and regulations relating to LIHTCs after the Partnership acquired its interest in the MF Property.  The amount of this recapture liability can be substantial.
 
Any future issuances of additional units could cause their market value to decline.
 
The Partnership may issue additional units from time to time in order to raise additional equity capital.  The issuance of additional units could cause dilution of the existing units and a decrease in the market price of the units.  In addition, if additional units are issued but we are unable to invest the additional equity capital in assets that generate tax-exempt income at levels at least equivalent to our existing assets, the amount of cash available for distribution on a per unit basis may decline.
 
 The Partnership is not registered under the Investment Company Act.
 
The Partnership is not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) because it operates under an exemption therefrom.  As a result, none of the protections of the Investment Company Act (disinterested directors, custody requirements for securities, and regulation of the relationship between a fund and its advisor) will be applicable to the Partnership.
  
 The Partnership engages in transactions with related parties.
 
Each of the executive officers of Burlington and four of the managers of Burlington hold equity positions in Burlington.  A subsidiary of Burlington acts as the General Partner and manages our investments and performs administrative services for us and earns certain fees that are either paid by the properties financed by our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds or by us.  Another subsidiary of Burlington provides on-site management for many of the multifamily apartment properties that underlie our tax-exempt bonds and each of our MF Properties and earns fees from the property owners based on the gross revenues of these properties.  The owners of the limited-purpose corporations which own four of the apartment properties financed with tax-exempt bonds and taxable loans held by the Partnership are employees of Burlington who are not involved in the operation or management

15

 

of the Partnership and who are not executive officers or managers of Burlington.  Because of these relationships, our agreements with Burlington and its subsidiaries are related-party transactions.  By their nature, related-party transactions may not be considered to have been negotiated at arm's length.  These relationships may also cause a conflict of interest in other situations where we are negotiating with Burlington.
 
Unitholders may incur tax liability if any of the interest on our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds is determined to be taxable.
 
Certain of our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds bear interest at rates which include contingent interest.  Payment of the contingent interest depends on the amount of net cash flow generated by, and net proceeds realized from a sale of, the property securing the bond.  Due to this contingent interest feature, an issue may arise as to whether the relationship between the property owner and us is that of debtor and creditor or whether we are engaged in a partnership or joint venture with the property owner.  If the IRS were to determine that tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds represented an equity investment in the underlying property, the interest paid to us could be viewed as a taxable return on such investment and would not qualify as tax-exempt interest for federal income tax purposes.  We have obtained legal opinions to the effect that the base interest paid on our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes provided the interest is not paid to a “substantial user” or “related person” as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.  However, these legal opinions are not binding on the IRS or the courts, and no assurances can be given that the conclusions reached will not be contested by the IRS or, if contested, will be sustained by a court.  In addition, the tax-exempt status of the interest paid on our tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds is subject to compliance by the underlying properties, and the owners thereof, with the bond documents and covenants required by the bond-issuing authority and the Internal Revenue Code.  Among these requirements are tenant income restrictions, regulatory agreement compliance, reporting requirements, use of proceeds restrictions and compliance with rules pertaining to interest arbitrage.  Each issuer of the revenue bonds, as well as each of the underlying property owners/borrowers, has agreed to comply with procedures and guidelines designed to ensure satisfaction with the continuing requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.  Failure to comply with these continuing requirements of the Internal Revenue Code may cause the interest on our bonds to be includable in gross income for federal income tax purposes retroactively to the date of issuance, regardless of when such noncompliance occurs.  In addition, if we have, and may in the future, obtain debt financing through bond securitization programs in which we place tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds into trusts and are entitled to a share of the tax-exempt interest received by the trust on these bonds after the payment of interests on senior securities issued by the trust, it is possible that the characterization of our residual interest in such a securitization trust could be challenged and the income that we receive through these instruments could be treated as ordinary taxable income includable in our gross income for federal tax purposes.
 
Not all of the income received by the Partnership is exempt from taxation.
 
We have made, and may make in the future, taxable mortgage loans to the owners of properties which are secured by tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that we hold.  The interest income earned by the Partnership on these mortgage loans is subject to federal and state income taxes.  In addition, if we acquire direct or indirect interests in real estate, either through foreclose of a property securing a tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond or a taxable loan or through the acquisition of an MF Property, any income we receive from the property will be taxable income from the operation of real estate.  In that case, the taxable income received by the Partnership will be allocated to our unitholders and will represent taxable income to them regardless of whether an amount of cash equal to such allocable share of this taxable income is actually distributed to unitholders.
 
 If the Partnership was determined to be an association taxable as corporation, it will have adverse economic consequences for the Partnership and its unitholders.
 
The Partnership has made an election to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.  The purpose of this election is to eliminate federal and state income tax liability for the Partnership and allow us to pass through our tax-exempt interest to our unitholders so that they are not subject to federal tax on this income.  If our treatment as a partnership for tax purposes is challenged, we would be classified as an association taxable as a corporation.  This would result in the Partnership being taxed on its taxable income, if any, and, in addition, would result in all cash distributions made by the Partnership to unitholders being treated as taxable ordinary dividend income to the extent of the Partnership's earnings and profits, which would include tax-exempt income. The payment of these dividends would not be deductible by the Partnership.  The listing of the Partnership's units for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market causes the Partnership to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code.  A publicly traded partnership is generally taxable as a corporation unless 90% or more of its gross income is “qualifying” income.  Qualifying income includes interest, dividends, real property rents, gain from the sale or other disposition of real property, gain from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of interest or dividends and certain other items.  Substantially all of the Partnership's gross income will continue to be tax-exempt interest income on mortgage bonds.  While we believe that all of this interest income is qualifying income, it is possible that some or all of our income could be determined not to be qualifying income.  In such a case, if more than 10% of our annual gross income in any year is not

16

 

qualifying income, the Partnership will be taxable as a corporation rather than a partnership for federal income tax purposes.  We have not received, and do not intend to seek, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding our status as a partnership for tax purposes.
 
To the extent the Partnership generates taxable income; unitholders will be subject to income taxes on this income, whether or not they receive cash distributions.
 
As a partnership, our unitholders will be individually liable for income tax on their proportionate share of any taxable income realized by the Partnership, whether or not we make cash distributions.
 
There are limits on the ability of our unitholders to deduct Partnership losses and expenses allocated to them.
 
The ability of unitholders to deduct their proportionate share of the losses and expenses generated by the Partnership will be limited in certain cases, and certain transactions may result in the triggering of the Alternative Minimum Tax for unitholders who are individuals.
 
Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments.
 
None
 
Item 2.  Properties.
 
Each of the Partnership's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds is collateralized by a multifamily housing property.  The Partnership does not hold title or any other interest in these properties, other than the first mortgages securing the bonds.
 
As a result of the guidance on consolidations, the Company is required to consolidate certain of the multifamily residential properties securing its bonds because the owners of those properties are treated as Consolidated VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company consolidated six multifamily housing properties owned by VIEs located in Florida, South Carolina, and Texas as of December 31, 2010.  The Partnership does not hold title to the properties owned by the VIEs.
 
In addition to the properties owned by Consolidated VIEs, the Company reports the financial results of the MF Properties on a consolidated basis due to the 99% limited partnership interests held by its subsidiary in the partnerships that own the MF Properties.  The Company consolidated eight MF Properties located in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina as of December 31, 2010. Three of these properties ("Ohio Properties") are subject to a sales agreement that does not meet the criteria for derecognition and full accrual accounting treatment under the guidance for real estate sales. As a result, the Company continues to consolidate these Ohio Properties as if they were owned.
 
The following table sets forth certain information for each of the consolidated properties as of December 31, 2010:
Consolidated VIEs
Property Name
 
Location
 
Number of Units
 
Land
 
Buildings and Improvements
 
 Carrying Value at December 31, 2010
Bent Tree Apartments
 
Columbia, SC
 
232
 
$
986,000
 
 
$
11,598,081
 
 
$
12,584,081
 
Fairmont Oaks Apartments
 
Gainsville, FL
 
178
 
850,400
 
 
8,431,601
 
 
9,282,001
 
Residences at DeCordova
 
Granbury, TX
 
76
 
527,436
 
 
4,761,552
 
 
5,288,988
 
Residences at Weatherford
 
Weatherford, TX
 
76
 
533,000
 
 
602,996
 
 
1,135,996
 
Iona Lakes Apartments
 
Ft. Myers, FL
 
350
 
1,900,000
 
 
17,508,844
 
 
19,408,844
 
Lake Forest Apartments
 
Daytona Beach, FL
 
240
 
1,396,800
 
 
11,136,019
 
 
12,532,819
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60,232,729
 
Less accumulated depreciation (depreciation expense of approximately $2.2 million in 2010)
 
(18,237,508
)
Balance at December 31, 2010
 
$
41,995,221
 

17

 

MF Properties
Property Name
 
Location
 
Number of Units
 
Land
 
Buildings and Improvements
 
 Carrying Value at December 31, 2010
Eagle Ridge
 
Erlanger, KY
 
64
 
 
$
290,763
 
 
$
2,459,077
 
 
$
2,749,840
 
Meadowview
 
Highland Heights, KY
 
118
 
 
703,936
 
 
5,010,028
 
 
5,713,964
 
Churchland
 
Chesapeake, VA
 
124
 
 
1,171,146
 
 
6,358,531
 
 
7,529,677
 
Glynn Place
 
Brunswick, GA
 
128
 
 
743,996
 
 
4,636,281
 
 
5,380,277
 
Greens of Pine Glen
 
Durham, NC
 
168
 
 
1,744,760
 
 
5,211,464
 
 
6,956,224
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28,329,982
 
Less accumulated depreciation (depreciation expense of approximately $1.3 million in 2010)
 
(3,100,512
)
Balance at December 31, 2010
 
$
25,229,470
 
MF Properties Subject to Sales Agreement
Property Name
 
Location
 
Number of Units
 
Land
 
Buildings and Improvements
 
 Carrying Value at December 31, 2010
Crescent Village
 
Cincinnati, OH
 
90
 
 
$
353,117
 
 
$
4,395,937
 
 
$
4,749,054
 
Willow Bend
 
Hilliard, OH
 
92
 
 
580,130
 
 
3,070,386
 
 
3,650,516
 
Post Woods
 
Reynoldsburg, OH
 
180
 
 
1,148,504
 
 
6,638,740
 
 
7,787,244
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16,186,814
 
Less accumulated depreciation (depreciation expense of approximately $600,000 in 2010)
 
(2,129,085
)
Balance at December 31, 2010
 
14,057,729
 
Total Net Real Estate Assets at December 31, 2010
 
 
 
$
81,282,420
 
 
Item 3.  Legal Proceedings.
 
There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Partnership is a party or to which any of the properties collateralizing the Partnership's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds are subject.
 
 
Item 4.    [Reserved]
 
 

18

 

 
PART II
 
 
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity, Related Security Holder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
 
(a)Market Information. BUCs represent assignments by the sole limited partner of its rights and obligations as a limited partner. The rights and obligations of unitholders are set forth in the Partnership's Agreement of Limited Partnership. BUCs of the Partnership trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the trading symbol "ATAX". The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices for the BUCs for each quarterly period from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.
 
2010
 
High
 
Low
1st Quarter
 
$
6.16
 
 
$
5.50
 
2nd Quarter
 
$
6.61
 
 
$
5.15
 
3rd Quarter
 
$
5.68
 
 
$
5.22
 
4th Quarter
 
$
5.53
 
 
$
5.18
 
 
 
 
 
 
2009
 
High
 
Low
1st Quarter
 
$
6.75
 
 
$
5.00
 
2nd Quarter
 
$
6.63
 
 
$
4.51
 
3rd Quarter
 
$
6.29
 
 
$
5.42
 
4th Quarter
 
$
5.98
 
 
$
5.05
 
 
(b) Unitholders. The approximate number of unitholders on December 31, 2010 was 7,600.
 
(c) Distributions. Distributions to unitholders were made on a quarterly basis during 2010, 2009, and 2008. Total distributions for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 were approximately $13,574,000, $10,864,000, and $9,140,000, respectively.
 
(d)The distributions paid or accrued per BUC during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 were as follows:
 
 
 
For the
Year Ended
 
For the
Year Ended
 
For the
Year Ended
 
 
December 31, 2010
 
December 31, 2009
 
December 31, 2008
Cash Distributions
 
$
0.5000
 
 
$
0.5100
 
 
$
0.5400
 
Special Distribution
 
$
 
 
$
0.0350
 
 
$
 
 
See Item 7, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” for information regarding the sources of funds that will be used for cash distributions and for a discussion of factors which may adversely affect the Partnership's ability to make cash distributions at the same levels in 2010 and thereafter.
 
(e)Sales of Unregistered Securities. None
 
(f)Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. None
 
 

19

 

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.
 
Set forth below is selected financial data for the Company as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006 through 2010. The information should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed in response to Item 8 of this report.  Please refer to the discussions in Item 1 and Item 7 regarding the implementation of guidance on consolidations and its effects on the presentation of financial data in this report on Form10-K:
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2009
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2008
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2007
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2006
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property revenue
$
14,692,537
 
 
$
15,667,053
 
 
$
13,773,801
 
 
$
11,208,209
 
 
$
9,266,223
 
Real estate operating expenses
(10,016,742
)
 
(10,127,657
)
 
(8,872,219
)
 
(7,299,257
)
 
(5,945,364
)
Depreciation and amortization expense
(5,062,817
)
 
(6,067,330
)
 
(4,987,417
)
 
(3,611,249
)
 
(1,895,546
)
Mortgage revenue bond investment income
6,881,314
 
 
4,253,164
 
 
4,230,205
 
 
3,227,254
 
 
1,418,289
 
Other bond investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,891
 
Other interest income
455,622
 
 
106,082
 
 
150,786
 
 
751,797
 
 
337,008
 
Gain on sale of assets held for sale
 
 
862,865
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on early extinquishment of debt
435,395
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on sale of security
 
 
 
 
(68,218
)
 
 
 
 
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford
(2,528,852
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provison for loan loss
(562,385
)
 
(1,401,731
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
(2,514,479
)
 
(4,202,126
)
 
(4,106,072
)
 
(2,595,616
)
 
(1,303,760
)
General and administrative expenses
(2,383,784
)
 
(1,997,661
)
 
(1,808,459
)
 
(1,577,551
)
 
(1,575,942
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(604,191
)
 
(2,907,341
)
 
(1,687,593
)
 
103,587
 
 
305,799
 
Income from discontinued operations, (including gain on sale of $26,514,809 and $11,667,246 in 2009 and 2006, respectively)
 
 
26,734,754
 
 
646,989
 
 
824,249
 
 
12,470,936
 
Net income (loss)
(604,191
)
 
23,827,413
 
 
(1,040,604
)
 
927,836
 
 
12,776,735
 
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
203,831
 
 
11,540
 
 
9,364
 
 
13,030
 
 
 
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L. P.
(400,360
)
 
23,838,953
 
 
(1,031,240
)
 
940,866
 
 
12,776,735
 
Less: general partners' interest in net income
28,532
 
 
804,223
 
 
64,059
 
 
99,451
 
 
1,627,305
 
Unallocated gain (loss) of Consolidated VIEs
(2,466,260
)
 
20,495,957
 
 
(3,756,894
)
 
(3,452,591
)
 
3,863,226
 
Unitholders' interest in net income
$
2,037,368
 
 
$
2,538,773
 
 
$
2,661,595
 
 
$
4,294,006
 
 
$
7,286,204
 
Unitholders' Interest in net income per unit (basic and diluted):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
0.07
 
 
$
0.15
 
 
$
0.20
 
 
$
0.34
 
 
$
0.74
 
Income from discontinued operations
$
 
 
$
 
 
$
 
 
$
 
 
$
 
Net income, basic and diluted, per unit
$
0.07
 
 
$
0.15
 
 
$
0.20
 
 
$
0.34
 
 
$
0.74
 
Distributions paid or accrued per BUC
$
0.5000
 
 
$
0.5450
 
 
$
0.5400
 
 
$
0.5400
 
 
$
0.5400
 
Investments in tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, at estimated fair value
$
27,115,164
 
 
$
69,399,763
 
 
$
44,492,526
 
 
$
66,167,116
 
 
$
27,103,398
 
Tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds held in trust, at fair value
$
73,451,479
 
 
$
 
 
$
 
 
$
 
 
$
 
Real estate assets, net
$
81,282,420
 
 
$
91,790,893
 
 
$
80,178,863
 
 
$
70,246,514
 
 
$
47,876,652
 
Total assets
$
241,607,249
 
 
$
190,770,720
 
 
$
157,863,276
 
 
$
164,879,008
 
 
$
100,200,189
 
Total debt-continuing operations
$
106,253,982
 
 
$
85,480,187
 
 
$
87,890,367
 
 
$
72,464,333
 
 
$
26,919,333
 
Total debt-discontinued operations
$
 
 
$
 
 
$
19,583,660
 
 
$
18,850,667
 
 
$
18,850,667
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
$
2,200,893
 
 
$
(339,354
)
 
$
4,445,215
 
 
$
4,227,023
 
 
$
5,637,095
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities
$
(48,549,857
)
 
$
11,822,244
 
 
$
(16,598,170
)
 
$
(48,007,185
)
 
$
6,396,786
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
$
42,345,477
 
 
$
(1,563,495
)
 
$
4,692,149
 
 
$
50,125,180
 
 
$
(6,855,558
)
Cash Available for Distribution ("CAD")(1)
$
9,513,494
 
 
$
8,708,527
 
 
$
6,248,920
 
 
$
6,062,931
 
 
$
7,876,824
 
Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, basic and diluted
27,493,449
 
 
16,661,969
 
 
13,512,928
 
 
12,491,490
 
 
9,837,928
 
 
 (1)  To calculate CAD, amortization expense related to debt financing costs and bond reissuance costs, Tier 2 income due to the general partner (as defined in the Agreement of Limited Partnership), interest rate derivative income or expense (including adjustments to fair value), provision for loan losses, impairments on assets, deferred gain and related interest, bond discount amortization net of cash received, losses related to VIEs, and depreciation and amortization expense on MF Property assets are added back to the Company's net income (loss) as computed in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses CAD as a supplemental measurement of its ability to pay distributions.  The Company believes that CAD provides relevant information about its operations and is necessary along with net income (loss) for understanding its operating results.

20

 

 
Management utilizes a calculation of CAD as a means to determine the Partnership's ability to make distributions to unitholders.  The General Partner believes that CAD provides relevant information about the Partnership's operations and is necessary along with net income for understanding its operating results.  There is no generally accepted methodology for computing CAD, and the Partnership's computation of CAD may not be comparable to CAD reported by other companies.  Although the Partnership considers CAD to be a useful measure of its operating performance, CAD should not be considered as an alternative to net income or net cash flows from operating activities which are calculated in accordance with GAAP.
 
The following sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's net income (loss) as determined in accordance with GAAP and the Partnership's CAD for the periods set forth.
 
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
 
2007
 
2006
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors L.P.
 
$
(400,360
)
 
$
23,838,953
 
 
$
(1,031,240
)
 
$
940,866
 
 
$
12,776,735
 
Net (income) loss related to VIEs and eliminations due to consolidation
 
2,466,260
 
 
(20,495,957
)
 
3,756,894
 
 
3,452,591
 
 
(3,863,226
)
Net income before impact of VIE consolidation
 
2,065,900
 
 
3,342,996
 
 
2,725,654
 
 
4,393,457
 
 
8,913,509
 
Change in fair value of derivatives and interest rate derivative amortization
 
(571,684
)
 
830,142
 
 
721,102
 
 
249,026
 
 
210
 
Depreciation and amortization expense (Partnership only)
 
2,510,630
 
 
3,514,073
 
 
2,840,500
 
 
1,478,278
 
 
25,605
 
Bond purchase discount accretion (net of cash received)
 
(403,906
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposit liability gain - Ohio sale agreement
 
1,775,527
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 2 Income distributable to the General Partner (1)
 
(464,045
)
 
(802,909
)
 
(38,336
)
 
(57,830
)
 
(1,062,500
)
Tier 2 Income distributable - contingent interest
 
(8,201
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio deferred interest
 
745,227
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford
 
2,716,330
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property loan loss
 
1,147,716
 
 
1,696,730
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on bond sale
 
 
 
127,495
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAD
 
$
9,513,494
 
 
$
8,708,527
 
 
$
6,248,920
 
 
$
6,062,931
 
 
$
7,876,824
 
Weighted average number of units outstanding,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
basic and diluted
 
27,493,449
 
 
16,661,969
 
 
13,512,928
 
 
12,491,490
 
 
9,837,928
 
Net income, basic and diluted, per unit
 
$
0.07
 
 
$
0.15
 
 
$
0.20
 
 
$
0.34
 
 
$
0.74
 
Total CAD per unit
 
$
0.35
 
 
$
0.52
 
 
$
0.46
 
 
$
0.49
 
 
$
0.80
 
Distributions per unit
 
$
0.5000
 
 
$
0.5450
 
 
$
0.5400
 
 
$
0.5400
 
 
$
0.5400
 
 
(1) As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, Net Interest Income representing contingent interest and Net Residual Proceeds representing contingent interest (Tier 2 income) will be distributed 75% to the unitholders and 25% to the General Partner. This adjustment represents the 25% of Tier 2 income due to the General Partner. For the year ended 2010, the deferred gain on the sale of the Ohio partnerships generated approximately $1.8 million and contingent interest generated approximately $33K of Tier II income. For 2009, the Tier 2 income distributable to the General Partner was generated by the early redemption of Woodbridge - Bloomington and Woodbridge - Louisville bond investments, the sale of Oak Grove, and from Fairmont Oaks and Lake Forest Apartments. For 2008, Lake Forest generated approximately $45,000, Fairmont Oaks generated approximately $54,000, and Iona Lakes generated approximately $54,000 of Tier 2 income. For 2007, Lake Forest generated approximately $231,000 of Tier 2 income.
 

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Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
General
 
In this Management's Discussion and Analysis, the “Partnership” refers to America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P. and its Consolidated Subsidiaries which consist of:
•    
ATAX TEBS I, LLC, a special purpose entity owned and controlled by the Partnership, created to facilitate the Tax Exempt Bond Securitization (“TEBS”) Financing with Freddie Mac - see Notes 2, 9 and 10,
•    
Five multifamily apartments owned by various limited partnerships in which Partnership subsidiaries hold a 99% limited partner interest and three multifamily apartment properties owned by various limited partnerships which are subject to a sales agreement (the “MF Properties”) - see Note 6.
 
The “Company” refers to the consolidated financial statements reported in this Form 10-K which include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the Partnership, its Consolidated Subsidiaries and six other consolidated entities in which the Partnership does not hold an ownership interest but which own multifamily apartment properties financed with tax-exempt bonds held by the Partnership and which are treated as variable interest entities ("VIEs") of which the Partnership has been determined to be the primary beneficiary (“Consolidated VIEs”). All significant transactions and accounts between the Partnership and the VIEs have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of judgments, assumptions, and estimates. The application of these judgments, assumptions and estimates can affect the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported by the Company. All of the Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note 2. The Company considers the following to be its critical accounting policies because they involve judgments, assumptions and estimates by management that significantly affect the financial statements. If these estimates differ significantly from actual results, the impact on our consolidated financial statements may be material.
 
Accounting for the TEBS Financing
 
The Company has evaluated the accounting guidance in regard to the TEBS Financing (see Note 9) and has determined that the securitization transaction does not meet the accounting criteria for a sale or transfer of financial assets and will, therefore, be accounted for as a secured financing transaction. In accordance with the guidance which outlines the conditions that must be met to de-recognize a transferred financial asset, in part, the transferor has surrendered control over transferred assets if and only if the transferor does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through either of the following:
 
1.    
An agreement that both entitles and obligates the transferor to repurchase or redeem them before their maturity,
2.    
The ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets, other than through a cleanup call, or
3.    
An agreement that permits the transferee to require the transferor to repurchase the transferred financial assets at a price that is so favorable to the transferee that it is probable that the transferee will require the transferor to repurchase them.
 
The TEBS Financing agreements contain certain provisions that allow the Company to (1) cause the return of certain individual bonds under defined circumstances, (2) cause the return of all of the bonds by electing an Optional Series Pool Release or (3) cause the return of any defaulted bonds. The Optional Series Pool Release is defined in the agreements as two specific dates, September 15, 2017 or September 15, 2020, on which the Company has the option to repurchase all of the securitized bonds. Given these terms, the Company has concluded that the condition in item 2 above is present in the agreements and, therefore, effective control over the transferred assets has not occurred. As effective control has not been transferred, the transaction does not meet the conditions to de-recognize the assets resulting in the TEBS Financing being presented on the Company consolidated financial statements as a secured financing.
 
In addition to evaluating the TEBS Financing as a sale or transfer of financial assets, we have evaluated the securitization trust associated with the TEBS Financing (the “TEBS Trust”) under the provisions of the consolidation guidance. As part of the TEBS Financing certain bond assets of the Partnership were securitized into the TEBS Trust with Freddie Mac. The TEBS Trust then issued Class A and B TEBS Certificates. The Partnership has determined that the TEBS Trust is a VIE and the Class B Certificates owned by the Partnership create a variable interest in the TEBS Trust.

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In determining the primary beneficiary of the TEBS Trust, the Partnership considered the activities of the VIE which most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance, who has the power to control such activities, the risks which the entity was designed to create, the variability associated with those risks and the interests which absorb such variability. The Partnership has retained the right, pursuant to the TEBS Financing agreements, to either substitute or reacquire some or all of the securitized bonds at various future dates and under various circumstances. As a result, the Partnership determined it had retained a controlling financial interest in the TEBS Trust because such actions effectively provide the Partnership with the ability to control decisions pertaining to the VIE's management of interest rate and credit risk. While in the TEBS Trust, the bond assets may only be used to settle obligations of the trust and the liabilities of the trust do not provide the Class A certificate holders with recourse to the general credit of the Partnership. The Partnership also considered the related party relationship of the entities involved in the VIE. It was determined that the Partnership met both of the primary beneficiary criteria and was the most closely associated with the VIE and, therefore, was determined to be the primary beneficiary.
 
Given these accounting determinations, the TEBS Financing and the associated TEBS Trust are presented as a secured financing on the ATAX TEBS I, LLC balance sheet and all activities associated with the TEBS Financing are presented with the results of the ATAX TEBS I, LLC operations. As noted above, ATAX TEBS I, LLC is a Consolidated Subsidiary of the Partnership.
 
Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”)
 
The Partnership invests in federally tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds which have been issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing of multifamily residential apartments. The Partnership owns 100% of these bonds and each bond is secured by a first mortgage on the property. The Partnership has also made taxable loans to the property owners in certain cases which are secured by second mortgages on these properties. Although each multifamily property financed with tax-exempt mortgage bonds held by the Partnership is owned by a separate entity in which the Partnership has no equity ownership interest, the debt financing provided by the Partnership creates a variable interest in these ownership entities that may require the Partnership to report the assets, liabilities and results of operations of these entities on a consolidated basis under GAAP.  
 
Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted new provisions of the consolidation guidance that amended the consolidation guidance applicable to VIEs and required enhanced disclosure to provide more information about the Company's involvement in a VIE. The Partnership must make an evaluation of these entities to determine if they meet the definition of a VIE. Generally, a VIE is an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack:
i.    
the ability to make decisions about an entity's activities through voting or similar rights;
ii.    
the obligation to absorb the expected loss of the entity; or
iii.    
the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity;
or (c) the equity investors have voting rights that are not proportional to their economic interests and substantially all of the entity's activities either involve, or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights.
 
The revised accounting standard introduces a more qualitative approach to evaluating VIEs for consolidation and requires the Partnership to perform an analysis to determine whether its variable interests give it controlling financial interest in a VIE. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary, the entity that must consolidate the VIE, as the entity that has (1) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In adopting this revised accounting standard, the Partnership has re-evaluated all of its investments to determine if the property owners are VIEs and, if so, whether the Partnership is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The guidance also requires an ongoing assessment of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of the VIE.
 
The Partnership has determined that, as of January 1, 2010, six of the entities financed by tax-exempt bonds owned by the Partnership were held by VIEs. These VIEs are Ashley Square, Bent Tree, Cross Creek, Fairmont Oaks, Iona Lakes and Lake Forest. Additionally, in January 2010, the Partnership issued a Notice of Default on two bond holdings, DeCordova and Weatherford, and began foreclosure procedures. The foreclosure on these bonds was completed in March 2010. Simultaneous with the foreclosure, the properties were acquired through the assumption of liabilities by new ownership and the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds owned by the Partnership became the obligations of the new owners. Prior to the foreclosure and ownership transfer the owners of these properties were not considered VIEs. Based on the foreclosures and the lack of sufficient equity investment at risk by the new owners, these entities were determined to be Consolidated VIEs in March 2010.

23

 

The Partnership does not hold an equity interest in these VIEs and, therefore, the assets of the VIEs cannot be used to settle the general commitments of the Partnership and the Partnership is not responsible for the commitments and liabilities of the VIEs. The primary risks to the Partnership associated with these VIEs relate to the entities' ability to meet debt service obligations to the Partnership and the valuation of the underlying multifamily apartment property which serves as bond collateral.
 
Under the prior consolidation standards, the Partnership consolidated Ashley Square, Bent Tree, Cross Creek, Fairmont Oaks, Iona Lakes and Lake Forest as it held the majority of the variable interests in these VIEs. Under the revised standards, the Partnership has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of four of these VIEs; Bent Tree, Fairmont Oaks, Iona Lakes and Lake Forest and has continued to consolidate these entities. As a result of adopting the new guidance on January 1, 2010, the Partnership no longer reports Ashley Square and Cross Creek on a consolidated basis.
 
Investments in Tax-Exempt Mortgage Revenue Bonds and Other Tax-Exempt Bonds
 
Valuation - As all of the Company's investments in tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds are classified as available-for-sale securities, they are carried on the balance sheet at their estimated fair values.  The Company owns 100% of each of these bonds.  There is no active trading market for the bonds and price quotes for the bonds are not available.  As a result, the Company bases its estimate of fair value of the tax-exempt bonds using discounted cash flow and yield to maturity analyses performed by management. This calculation methodology encompasses judgment in its application.  If available, management may also consider price quotes on similar bonds or other information from external sources, such as pricing services or broker quotes.  Pricing services, broker quotes and management's analyses provide indicative pricing only.
 
As of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, all of the Company's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds were valued using discounted cash flow and yield to maturity analyses performed by management.  Management's valuation encompasses judgment in its application.  The key assumption in management's yield to maturity analysis is the range of effective yields on the individual bonds.  At December 31, 2010, the range of effective yields on the individual bonds was 7.2% to 8.7%.  Additionally, the Company calculated the sensitivity of the key assumption used in calculating the fair values of these bonds.  Assuming an immediate 10 percent adverse change in the key assumption, the effective yields on the individual bonds would increase to a range of 7.9% to 9.6% and would result in additional unrealized losses on the bond portfolio of approximately $8.4 million.  This sensitivity analysis is hypothetical and is as of a specific point in time.  The results of the sensitivity analysis may not be indicative of actual changes in fair value and should be used with caution. 
 
The estimated future cash flow of each revenue bond depends on the operations of the underlying property and, therefore, is subject to a significant amount of uncertainty in the estimation of future rental receipts, future real estate operating expenses, and future capital expenditures. Such estimates are affected by economic factors such as the rental markets and labor markets in which the property operates, the current capitalization rates for properties in the rental markets, and tax and insurance expenses. Different conditions or different assumptions applied to the calculation may provide different results.  The Partnership periodically compares its estimates with historical results to evaluate the reasonableness and accuracy of its estimates and adjusts its estimates accordingly    
 
Review of securities for other-than-temporary impairment - The Company periodically reviews each of its mortgage revenue bonds for impairment.  The Company evaluates whether a decline in the fair value of a security below its amortized cost is other-than-temporary based on a number of factors including:
 
•    
The duration and severity of the decline in fair value,
•    
Our intent to hold and the likelihood of the Company being required to sell the security before its value recovers,
•    
Adverse conditions specifically related to the security, its collateral, or both,
•    
Volatility of the fair value of the security,
•    
The likelihood of the borrower being able to make required principal and interest payments,
•    
Failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments, and
•    
Recoveries or additional declines in fair value after the balance sheet date.
 
While the Company evaluates all available information, it focuses specifically on whether it has the intent to sell the securities prior to the time that their value recovers or until maturity, whether it is likely that the Company will be required to sell the securities before a recovery in value and whether the Company expects to recover the securities' entire amortized cost basis.  The ability to recover the securities' entire amortized cost basis is based on the likelihood of the issuer being able to make required principal and interest payments on the security.  The primary source of repayment of the amortized cost is the cash flows produced by the property which serves as the collateral for the bonds.  The Company utilizes a discounted cash flow model for the underlying property and compares the results of the model to the amortized cost basis of the bond.  The model reflects the cash flows expected to be generated by the underlying property over a ten year period, including an assumed property sale at the end of year ten, discounted using the effective interest rate on the bond in accordance with the accounting guidance on other than

24

 

temporary impairment of debt securities.  The inputs to these models require management to make numerous subjective assumptions, the most significant of which include:
 
•    
Revenue and expense projections for the property operations, which result in the estimated net operating income generated over the ten year holding period assumed in the model.  Base year (model year one) assumptions are based on historical financial results and operating budget information.  Base year assumptions are then adjusted for expected changes in occupancy, rental rates and expenses, and
•    
The capitalization rate utilized to estimate the sales proceeds from an assumed property sale in year ten of the model.  The capitalization rate used in the current year models was 7.0% which the Partnership believes represents a reasonable market rate for multifamily properties.
 
The revenue, expense and resulting net operating income projections which are the basis for the discounted cash flow model are based on judgment.  Operating results from a multifamily residential property depends on the rental and occupancy rates of the property and the level of operating expenses.  Occupancy rates and rents are directly affected by the supply of, and demand for, apartments in the market areas in which a property is located.  This, in turn, is affected by several factors such as local or national economic conditions, the amount of new apartment construction and interest rates on single-family mortgage loans.  In addition, factors such as government regulation, inflation, real estate and other taxes, labor problems and natural disasters can affect the economic operations of a property.
 
If the discounted cash flows from a property are less than the amortized cost of the bond, we believe that there is a strong indication that the cash flows from the property will not support the payment of the required principal and interest on the bond and, accordingly, the bonds are considered other-than-temporarily impaired.  If an other-than-temporary impairment exists, the amortized cost basis of the mortgage bond is written down to its estimated fair value.  The amount of the write-down representing a credit loss is accounted for as a realized loss on the statement of operations.  The amount of the write-down representing a non-credit loss is recorded to other comprehensive income. The recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment and the potential impairment analysis are subject to a considerable degree of judgment, the results of which when applied under different conditions or assumptions could have a material impact on the financial statements. If the credit and capital markets deteriorate further or the Company experiences deterioration in the values of its investment portfolio, the Company may incur impairments to its investment portfolio which could negatively impact the Company's financial condition, cash flows, and reported earnings.
 
Evaluation of property loans for potential losses - In addition to the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds held by the Company, loans have been made to the owners of some of the properties which secure the bonds.  These loans are collateral dependent with the repayment of the loans being dependent on the cash flows of the underlying property.  The Company periodically evaluates these loans for potential losses by utilizing the practical expedient method allowed for in the guidance for measuring impairment on a collateral dependent loan.  The Company estimates the fair value of the property and compares the fair value to the outstanding tax-exempt bonds plus any property loans.  The Company utilizes the discounted cash flow model discussed above except that in estimating a property's fair value we evaluate a number of different discounted cash flow models that contain varying assumptions.   The various models may assume multiple revenue and expense scenarios, various capitalization rates and multiple discount rates.  We may also consider other information such as independent appraisals in estimating a property's fair value.
 
If the estimated fair value of the property after deducting the amortized cost basis of the senior tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond exceeds the principal balance of the property loan then no potential loss is indicated and no allowance for loan loss is needed.  If a potential loss is indicated, an allowance for loan loss is recorded against the outstanding loan amount and a loss is realized.  The determination of the need for an allowance for loan loss is subject to considerable judgment.
   
Revenue recognition - tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds - Interest on the Partnership's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds is payable solely from the net cash flow of the underlying properties and reserve funds, if any, set aside pursuant to the bond documents. These bonds are not the obligations of the state or local housing authorities that issued them and are not backed by any taxing authority. Base interest income on fully performing tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds is recognized as it is earned. Base interest income on tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds not fully performing is recognized as it is received. Past due base interest on tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, which are or were previously not fully performing, is recognized as it is earned. The Partnership reinstates the accrual of base interest once the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond's ability to perform is adequately demonstrated. Contingent interest income, which is only received by the Partnership if the property financed by a tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond that contains a contingent interest provision generates excess available cash flow as set forth in each bond, is recognized when realized or realizable.
 
Revenue Recognition - investments in real estate - The Partnership's Consolidated VIEs and the MF Properties (see Note 6) are lessors of multifamily rental units under leases with terms of one year or less. Rental revenue is recognized, net of rental concessions, on a straight-line method over the related lease term.

25

 

 
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
 
The Partnership's investments in interest rate derivative agreements are accounted for under the guidance that establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative financial instruments, including certain derivative financial instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activity. The guidance requires the Partnership to recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in its financial statements and record these instruments at their fair values. In order to achieve hedge accounting treatment, derivative instruments must be appropriately designated, documented and proven to be effective as a hedge.  The Partnership did not designate its current derivatives as qualifying hedges.
 
The fair values of the interest rate derivatives at inception are their original cost. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate derivative agreements are recognized in earnings as interest expense. The fair value adjustment through earnings can cause a significant fluctuation in reported net income although it has no impact on the Partnership's cash flows. Although the Company utilizes current price quotes by recognized dealers as a basis for estimating the fair value of its interest rate derivative agreements, the calculation of the fair value involves a considerable degree of judgment.
 
Executive Summary
 
Overview
 
The Partnership operates for the purpose of acquiring, holding, selling and otherwise dealing with a portfolio of federally tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds which have been issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing of multifamily residential apartments. Each multifamily property financed with tax-exempt mortgage bonds held by the Partnership is owned by a separate entity.  The Partnership does not hold an ownership interest in any of these entities.  However, in some cases, these entities are treated as VIEs and, as a result, the assets, liabilities and financial results of the properties owned by these entities are consolidated with the Company.  Whether or not treated as a VIE, the owners of the properties financed by tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds held by the Partnership have an operating goal to generate increasing amounts of net rental income from these properties that will allow them to service their debt on the Partnership's bonds.  In order to achieve this goal, management of these multifamily apartment properties is focused on: (i) maintaining high economic occupancy and increasing rental rates through effective leasing, reduced turnover rates and providing quality maintenance and services to maximize resident satisfaction; (ii) managing operating expenses and achieving cost reductions through operating efficiencies and economies of scale generally inherent in the management of a portfolio of multiple properties; and (iii) emphasizing regular programs of repairs, maintenance and property improvements to enhance the competitive advantage and value of the properties in their respective market areas.
 
Tax-exempt Revenue Bonds. On December 31, 2010, the Partnership owned 21 federally tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds with an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $189.3 million.  These bonds were issued by various state and local housing authorities in order to provide construction and/or permanent financing of 21 multifamily residential apartments containing a total of 4,042 rental units located in the states of Florida, Iowa, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio, one multifamily residential apartment complex under construction in Texas that will contain a total of 76 rental units, and a 142-bed student housing facility in Nebraska.  In each case the Partnership owns, either directly or indirectly, 100% of the bonds issued for these properties. Each bond is secured by a first mortgage or deed of trust on the financed apartment property. Of the 21 bonds owned, eight are owned directly by the Partnership and 13 are owned by ATAX TEBS I, LLC, a special purpose entity owned and controlled by the Partnership. Six of the entities that own the apartment properties financed by six of the Partnership's tax exempt bonds were deemed to be Consolidated VIEs of the Partnership at December 31, 2010 and, as a result, these bonds are eliminated in consolidation on the Company's financial statements. Additionally, two bonds secured by the three Ohio Properties subject to a sales agreement (see Note 6 and below) are eliminated in consolidation on the Company's financial statements. Additionally, six of the bonds also provide for the payment of contingent interest determined by the net cash flow and net capital appreciation of the underlying real estate properties.  As a result, these mortgage revenue bonds provide the Partnership with the potential to participate in future increases in the cash flow generated by the financed properties, either through operations or from their ultimate sale.  
 
Consolidated VIEs. The six Consolidated VIE multifamily apartment properties as of December 31, 2010, contained a total of 1,152 rental units. As of December 31, 2009, six of the 17 tax-exempt mortgage bonds owned by the Partnership were secured by properties held as VIEs which contained 1,288 rental units. The properties underlying the thirteen non-consolidated tax-exempt mortgage bonds contain a total of 2,144 rental units at December 31, 2010. Two bonds secured by the three Ohio Properties containing 362 rental units are subject to a sales agreement (see Note 6) and are eliminated in consolidation on the Company's financial statements. As of December 31, 2009, the properties underlying the 11 non-consolidated tax-exempt mortgage bonds contain a total of 1,497 rental units.
 

26

 

MF Properties. To facilitate its investment strategy of acquiring additional tax exempt mortgage bonds secured by multifamily apartment properties, the Partnership may acquire ownership positions in apartment properties (“MF Properties”), in order to ultimately restructure the property ownership through a sale of the MF Properties.  The Partnership expects each of these MF Properties to eventually be sold to a not-for-profit entity or in connection with a syndication of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (“LIHTCs”) under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”).  The Partnership expects to acquire tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds issued to provide debt financing for these properties at the time the property ownership is restructured. The Partnership expects to provide the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds to the new property owners as part of the restructuring.   Such restructurings will generally be expected to be initiated within 36 months of the Partnership's investment in an MF Property and will often coincide with the expiration of the compliance period relating to LIHTCs previously issued with respect to the MF Property.  The Partnership will not acquire LIHTCs in connection with these transactions.
 
In June 2010, the Partnership completed the first planned restructuring by investing in two Ohio tax exempt bonds, collateralized by three existing Ohio MF properties, with a total of 362 rental units. The Company acquired 100% of the Series A bond with a par value of $14.7 million and the Series B bond with a par value of $3.6 million issued by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency as part of a plan of financing for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Ohio Properties. The new owners have not contributed any capital to the transaction and the Company has effectively provided 100% of the capital structure to the new owners as part of the sale transaction. As such, the transaction does not meet accounting standards for derecognition and full accrual accounting treatment under the guidance for real estate sales and the Company will continue to consolidate the Ohio Properties as if they were owned with the bonds being eliminated upon consolidation. Cash received as part of the sale transaction represents a deferred gain on the sale transaction of approximately $1.8 million (see Note 6).
 
As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership's wholly-owned subsidiaries held limited partnership interests in five entities that own MF Properties containing a total of 602 rental units together with the three Ohio Properties containing 362 rental units which are subject to a sales agreement. As of December 31, 2009, the Partnership's wholly-owned subsidiaries held limited partnership interests in nine MF Properties containing a total of 964 units. The MF Properties' operating goal is similar to that of the properties underlying the Partnership's tax-exempt bonds.
 
Properties Management. Twelve of the 21 properties which collateralize the bonds owned by the Partnership are managed by America First Properties Management Company (“Properties Management”), an affiliate of AFCA 2, which provides property management services for Ashley Square, Iona Lakes Apartments, Bent Tree Apartments, Lake Forest Apartments, Fairmont Oaks Apartments, Cross Creek, Clarkson College, Woodland Park, DeCordova, and each of the MF Properties.  Management believes that this relationship provides greater insight and understanding of the underlying property operations and their ability to meet debt service requirements to the Partnership. The properties not currently managed by Properties Management are Autumn Pines, Bella Vista Apartments, Brookstone Apartments, Runnymede Apartments, Bridle Ridge, South Park Ranch Apartments, Villages at Lost Creek and Woodlynn Village. Weatherford is currently under construction and not subject to a management agreement.
 
TEBS. As of September 1, 2010, the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiary ATAX TEBS I, LLC, entered into a number of agreements relating to a new long-term debt financing facility provided through the securitization of 13 tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds pursuant to Freddie Mac's TEBS program. The gross proceeds from TEBS Financing were approximately $95.8 million. After the payment of transaction expenses the Company received net proceeds from the TEBS Financing of approximately $90.4 million. The Company applied approximately $49.5 million of these net proceeds to repay the entire outstanding principal of, and accrued interest on, its secured term loan from Bank of America.
The TEBS Financing essentially provides the Company with a long-term variable-rate debt facility at interest rates reflecting prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates. Under the TEBS Financing, the Company securitized the bonds by transferring certain assets to Freddie Mac in exchange for tax-exempt Class A and Class B Freddie Mac Multifamily Variable Rate Certificates (collectively, the “TEBS Certificates”) issued by Freddie Mac. The TEBS Certificates represent beneficial interests in the securitized assets held by Freddie Mac. The holders of the Class A TEBS Certificates are entitled to receive regular payments of interest from Freddie Mac at a variable rate which resets periodically based on the weekly Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) floating index rate plus certain Facility Fees. As of closing, the SIFMA rate was equal to 0.25% and the total Facility Fees were 1.9%, resulting in a total initial cost of borrowing of 2.15%. As of December 31, 2010, the SIFMA rate was equal to 0.34% resulting in a total cost of borrowing of 2.24%. As the holder of the Class B TEBS Certificates, the Company is not entitled to receive interest payments on the Class B TEBS Certificates at any particular rate, but will be entitled to all payments of principal and interest on the Bonds and Senior Custody Receipts held by Freddie Mac after payment of principal and interest due on the Class A TEBS Certificates and payment of all Facility Fees and associated expenses. Accordingly, the amount of interest paid on the Class B TEBS Certificates is expected to vary over time, and could be eliminated altogether, due to fluctuations in the interest rate payable on the Class A TEBS Certificates, Facility Fees, expenses and other factors.

27

 

For financial reporting purposes, the TEBS Financing is presented by the Company as a secured financing.
Prior to the closing of the TEBS Financing, the Company had outstanding debt financing of $54.8 million consisting of two credit facilities. The first credit facility was with Bank of America and had an outstanding balance of $49.3 million (the “BOA Facility”).  As noted above, the BOA Facility was repaid with proceeds from the TEBS Financing. The second credit facility was with Omaha State Bank and had an outstanding balance of $5.5 million (the “OSB Facility”). The OSB Facility was repaid prior to the execution of the TEBS Financing.
 
The TEBS Financing offers several advantages over the Company's previous credit facilities which, over time, are expected to positively impact the generation of CAD. These advantages include:
•    
a longer term thereby addressing the previous refinancing risks,
•    
better balance sheet leverage thereby providing additional funds for investment, and
•    
a lower initial cost of borrowing.  
 
Economic Conditions. The disruptions in domestic and international financial markets, and the resulting restrictions on the availability of debt financing that had prevailed since 2008 began to subside in 2010. While economic trends show signs of a stabilization of the economy and debt availability has increased significantly from two years ago, overall availability remains limited and the cost of credit may continue to be adversely impacted. These conditions, in our view, will continue to create potential investment opportunities for the Partnership.  Many participants in the multifamily housing debt sector either reduced their participation in the market or were forced to liquidate some or all of their existing portfolio investments in order to meet their liquidity needs.  We believe this continues to create opportunities to acquire existing tax-exempt bonds from distressed holders at attractive yields.  The Partnership continues to evaluate potential investments in bonds which are available on the secondary market.  We believe many of these bonds will meet our investment criteria and that we have a unique ability to analyze and close on these opportunities while maintaining our ability and willingness to also participate in primary market transactions.
 
Current credit and real estate market conditions also create opportunities to acquire quality MF Properties from distressed owners and lenders.  Our ability to restructure existing debt together with the ability to improve the operations of the apartment properties through our affiliated property management company can position these MF Properties for an eventual financing with tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds meeting our investment criteria and that will be supported by a valuable and well-run apartment property.  We believe we can selectively acquire MF Properties, restructure debt and improve operations in order to create value to our unitholders in the form of a strong tax-exempt bond investment.
 
On the other hand, continued economic weakness in some markets may limit our ability to access additional debt financing that the Partnership uses to partially finance its investment portfolio or otherwise meet its liquidity requirements.  The inability to access debt financing may result in adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to finance additional acquisitions of tax-exempt bonds through either additional equity or debt financing.  Although the consequences of market and economic conditions and their impact on our ability to pursue our plan to grow through investments in additional tax-exempt housing bonds are not fully known, we do not anticipate that our existing assets will be adversely affected in the long-term.   In addition, the economic conditions including higher levels of unemployment, lack of job growth and low home mortgage interest rates have had a negative effect on some of the apartment properties which collateralize our tax-exempt bond investments and our MF Properties in the form of lower occupancy during the past two years.  Overall economic occupancy (which is adjusted to reflect rental concessions, delinquent rents and non-revenue units such as model units and employee units) of the apartment properties that the Partnership has financed with tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds was approximately 81% during 2010 compared to 84% during 2009.  Overall economic occupancy of the MF Properties has remained at approximately 83% during both years 2010 and 2009.  These issues may continue to negatively affect property operations and profitability in the short-term. We expect that property operations will improve in 2011 and 2012 and that rental rate and occupancy trends will be positive.
 

28

 

Discussion of the Apartment Properties securing the Partnership Bond Holdings and MF Properties as of December 31, 2010
 
The following discussion describes the operations and financial results of the individual apartment properties financed by the tax-exempt bonds held by the Partnership and the MF Properties in which it holds an ownership.  The discussion also outlines the bond holdings of the Partnership, discusses the significant terms of the bonds and identifies those ownership entities which are Consolidated VIEs of the Company.
 
 
 
Number
Percentage of Occupied
Economic Occupancy (1) for
 
 
Number
of Units
Units as of December 31,
 the period ended December 31,
Property Name
Location
of Units
Occupied
2010
2009
2010
2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Consolidated Properties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ashley Square Apartments
Des Moines, IA
144
 
140
 
97
%
86
%
89
%
92
%
Autumn Pines
Humble, TX
250
 
234
 
94
%
n/a
 
90
%
n/a
 
Bella Vista Apartments
Gainesville, TX
144
 
130
 
90
%
90
%
87
%
94
%
Bridle Ridge Apartments
Greer, SC
152
 
135
 
89
%
87
%
80
%
81
%
Brookstone Apartments (3)
Wakegan, IL
168
 
159
 
95
%
93
%
96
%
90
%
Clarkson College
Omaha, NE
142
 
84
 
59
%
73
%
70
%
73
%
Cross Creek Apartments (3)
Beaufort, SC
144
 
133
 
92
%
n/a
 
81
%
n/a
 
Runnymede Apartments
Austin, TX
252
 
218
 
87
%
95
%
93
%
96
%
South Park Ranch Apartments (3)
Austin, TX
192
 
180
 
94
%
93
%
89
%
90
%
Villages at Lost Creek (3)
San Antonio, TX
261
 
249
 
95
%
n/a
 
82
%
n/a
 
Woodland Park (4)
Topeka, KS
236
 
190
 
81
%
n/a
 
57
%
n/a
 
Woodlynn Village
Maplewood, MN
59
 
58
 
98
%
95
%
96
%
100
%
 
 
2,144
 
1,910
 
89
%
88
%
84
%
89
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated VIEs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bent Tree Apartments
Columbia, SC
232
 
211
 
91
%
97
%
81
%
79
%
Fairmont Oaks Apartments
Gainsville, FL
178
 
150
 
84
%
90
%
77
%
83
%
Residences at DeCordova (4)
Granbury, TX
76
 
65
 
86
%
n/a
 
56
%
n/a
 
Residences at Weatherford (2)
Weatherford, TX
76
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
Iona Lakes Apartments
Ft. Myers, FL
350
 
310
 
89
%
83
%
66
%
62
%
Lake Forest Apartments
Daytona Beach, FL
240
 
222
 
93
%
89
%
77
%
79
%
 
 
1,152
 
958
 
89
%
90
%
73
%
76
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MF Properties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Churchland
Chesapeake, VA
124
 
119
 
96
%
98
%
91
%
90
%
Eagle Ridge
Erlanger, KY
64
 
51
 
80
%
86
%
84
%
74
%
Glynn Place
Brunswick, GA
128
 
106
 
83
%
63
%
69
%
68
%
Greens of Pine Glen
Durham, NC
168
 
153
 
91
%
90
%
84
%
89
%
Meadowview
Highland Heights, KY
118
 
112
 
95
%
77
%
86
%
81
%
Crescent Village
Cincinnati, OH
90
 
74
 
82
%
89
%
80
%
85
%
Post Woods
Reynoldsburg, OH
180
 
159
 
88
%
89
%
84
%
87
%
Willow Bend
Columbus (Hilliard), OH
92
 
82
 
89
%
95
%
86
%
89
%
 
 
964
 
856
 
89
%
86
%
83
%
83
%
 
(1) Economic occupancy is presented for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, and is defined as the net rental income received divided by the maximum amount of rental income to be derived from each property. This statistic is reflective of rental concessions, delinquent rents and non-revenue units such as model units and employee units. Actual occupancy is a point in time measure while economic occupancy is a measurement over the period presented, therefore, economic occupancy for a period may exceed the actual occupancy at any point in time.
(2)This property is still under construction as of December 31, 2010, and therefore has no occupancy data.
(3) Previous period occupancy numbers are not available, as this is a new investment.
(4) Construction on these properties has been completed and the properties are in a lease up and stabilization period. 

29

 

Non-Consolidated Properties
 
The owners of the following properties do not meet the definition of a VIE and/or the Partnership has evaluated and determined it is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE, as a result, the Company does not report the assets, liabilities and results of operations of these properties on a consolidated basis.
 
Ashley Square - Ashley Square Apartments is located in Des Moines, Iowa and contains 144 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds owned by the Partnership are traditional “80/20” bonds issued prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986.  These bonds require that 20% of the rental units be set aside for tenants whose income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, without adjustment for household size.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $5.4 million and has a base interest rate of 6.25% per annum.  The bond also provides for contingent interest payable from excess cash flow generated by the underlying property through the potential payment of contingent interest.  The bond accrues contingent interest at a rate of 3.0% annually and such contingent interest is payable only if the underlying property generates excess operating cash flows or realizes excess cash through capital appreciation and a related sale or refinancing of the property.  To date, the property has not paid any contingent interest and the Partnership has not recognized any contingent interest income related to this bond. The property is current on the payment of principal and base interest on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010. Ashley Square's operations resulted in net operating income of $430,000 and $358,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $1.2 million and $1.2 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The improvement in net operating income from 2009 is primarily the result of a decrease in real estate taxes.
 
Autumn Pines - Autumn Pines is located in Humble, Texas and contains 250 units. The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership is a private activity housing bond issued in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $13.4 million and has a base interest rate of 5.8% per annum.  The bond does not provide for contingent interest. The bond was purchased in November 2010 for approximately $12.3 million providing an approximate effective 7.0% yield to maturity. Autumn Pines' operations resulted in Net Operating Income of $1.1 million on net revenue of approximately $2.3 million for the year ended 2010. The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Bella Vista - Bella Vista Apartments is located in Gainesville, Texas and contains 144 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership is a private activity housing bond issued in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs.   The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $6.7 million and has a base interest rate of 6.15% per annum.  The bond does not provide for contingent interest.  Bella Vista's operations resulted in net operating income of $521,000 and $517,000 before payment of debt service on net revenue of approximately $1.1 million and $1.0 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in net operating income is due to an decrease in property taxes. The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Bridle Ridge - Bridle Ridge Apartments is located in Greer, South Carolina and contains 152 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership is a private activity housing bond issued in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $7.9 million and a base interest rate of 6.0% per annum.  The bond does not provide for contingent interest. Bridle Ridge's operations resulted in net operating income of approximately $560,000 and $614,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $972,000 and $991,000 in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease in net operating income is due to a decrease in economic occupancy, and increases in renting expense, management fees, and property insurance expense. The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Brookstone - Brookstone Apartments is located in Waukegan, Illinois and contains 168 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership is a private activity housing bond issued in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $9.6 million and a base interest rate of 5.45% per annum.  The bond does not provide for contingent interest. These bonds were purchased in October 2009 for approximately $7.3 million providing an approximate effective 7.5% yield to maturity.  Brookstone's operations resulted in net operating income of $888,000 and $895,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $1.3 million and $1.3 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease in net operating income is due to an increase in utilities expenses. The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Clarkson College - Clarkson College is a 142 bed student housing facility located in Omaha, Nebraska.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership was issued under Section 145 of the Internal Revenue Code by a not-for-profit entity qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $5.8 million and has a base interest rate of 6.0% per annum.  The bond also provides for contingent interest payable from excess cash flow generated by the underlying property through the potential payment of contingent interest.  The bond accrues contingent interest at a rate of 1.25% annually and such contingent interest is payable only if the underlying property generates excess operating

30

 

cash flows or realizes excess cash through capital appreciation and a related sale or refinancing of the property.  To date the property has not paid any contingent interest and the Partnership has not recognized any contingent interest income related to this bond.  Clarkson College's operations resulted in net operating income of $361,000 and $409,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $611,000 and $625,000 in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  This decrease in net operating income is due to a decrease in economic occupancy. The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Cross Creek - Cross Creek Apartments is located in Beaufort, South Carolina and contains 144 units.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $8.7 million and has a base interest rate of 6.15% per annum. The bond does not provide for contingent interest. The Cross Creek bond was acquired in April 2009 for approximately $5.9 million providing an approximate effective 7.4% yield to maturity.  At that time the project was not completed and was vacant.  The Company acquired the taxable loan in 2009 for approximately $900,000 has subsequently made an approximate $2.3 million taxable loan to the property owner to allow for the completion of construction, lease up and stabilization of the property and the payment of bond debt service  As of December 31, 2010, Cross Creek Apartments has leased 133 of the 144 units for 92% physical occupancy.  Construction of Cross Creek was completed in November 2009.  Cross Creek's operations resulted in net operating income of $375,000 in 2010 compared to a net operating loss of $140,000 in 2009 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $1.1 million and $248,000 in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  This increase in net operating income is due to a full year of income and expenses in 2010 compared to a partial year in 2009. The property is current on the payment of principal and base interest on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Runnymede Apartments - Runnymede Apartments is located in Austin, Texas and contains 252 units. The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership is a private activity housing bond issued in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $10.8 million and has a base interest rate of 6.00%.  The bond does not provide for contingent interest. Runnymede's operations resulted in net operating income of $930,000 and $883,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $2.0 million and $2.0 million in 2010 and 2009 respectively.  The improvement from 2009 is the result of decreases in temporary employment services expenses and utility expenses.  The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
South Park Ranch Apartments - South Park Ranch Apartments is located in Austin, Texas and contains 192 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership is a private activity housing bond issued in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $14.1 million and has a base interest rate of 6.13% per annum.  The bond does not provide for contingent interest.  This bond was purchased in August 2009 for approximately $11.9 million providing an approximately 6.8% yield to maturity.  South Park's operations resulted in net operating income of $1.1 million and $1.2 million before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $1.8 million and $1.8 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The decrease in net operating income is due to a decrease in economic occupancy. The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Villages at Lost Creek - Villages at Lost Creek is located in San Antonio, Texas and contains 261 units. The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership is a private activity housing bond. The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $18.5 million and has a base interest rate of 6.25% per annum.  The bond does not provide for contingent interest. This bond was purchased in May 2010 for approximately $15.9 million providing an approximately 7.6% yield to maturity. Lost Creek's operations resulted in Net Operating Income of $1.5 million on net revenue of approximately $2.3 million in 2010. The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Woodlynn Village - Woodlynn Village is located in Maplewood, Minnesota and contains 59 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership is a private activity housing bond issued in conjunction with the syndication of LIHTCs.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $4.5 million and has a base interest rate of 6.0% per annum.  The bond does not provide for contingent interest. Woodlynn Village's operations resulted in net operating income of $382,000 and $401,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $590,000 and $578,000 in 2010 and 2009 respectively.  The decrease in 2010 as compared to 2009 is due primarily to a decrease in economic occupancy. The property is current on principal and interest payments on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010.
 
Woodland Park - The Partnership has identified circumstances which indicate that certain actions may be necessary to protect the Partnership's position as a secured bondholder of the Woodland Park tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and taxable lender.  As of December 31, 2010, Woodland Park owes the Partnership approximately $15.7 million under tax-exempt bonds and approximately $914,000 under taxable loans. The construction of Woodland Park was completed in November 2008 and lease-up continues, however, the property has not yet reached stabilization which is defined in the bond documents as the generation of a 1.15:1 debt service coverage ratio for six straight months.  Additionally, there were insufficient funds on deposit with the bond trustee to make the debt service payment of approximately $452,000 on the bonds which was due on May 3, 2010 and the property owner did not provide additional capital to fund the shortfall. As a result, a payment default on the bonds

31

 

occurred. In order to protect its investment, the Partnership issued a formal notice of default through the bond trustee and started the foreclosure process. The foreclosure process is expected to be complete in the first half of 2011. This action will allow a new property owner to re-syndicate the LIHTCs associated with this property. If the LIHTCs can be successfully re-syndicated, it will provide additional capital to the project which can be used to support debt service payments on the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds until property operations improve to the point that sufficient cash is generated to pay any past due amounts on the bonds as well as ongoing debt service. If the re-syndication is not successful the Partnership may pursue other options including making additional taxable loans to the property or completing the foreclosure process and taking direct ownership of the property. The Partnership believes that the most significant issue in the slow lease-up of the property and its failure to achieve stabilization has been the 100% set aside of the rental units for tenants that make less than 60% of the area median income. At the request of the Partnership, in April 2010, the property owner reduced the number of units set aside for affordable tenants to 75% and began leasing 59 units to market rate tenants. Additionally, the property owner has agreed that, if needed to stabilize the property, it would further reduce the units set aside for affordable tenants to 60% thereby making an additional 35 units available to market rate tenants. As of December 31, 2009, the property had 116 units leased out of total available units of 236, or 49% physical occupancy. As of December 31, 2010, the property had 190 units leased out of total available units of 236, or 81% physical occupancy.  Based on the level of leasing activity resulting from the change in the mix of affordable and market rate tenants, the Partnership continues to believe that Woodland is capable of reaching stabilization.
 
The Partnership has evaluated this bond holding, as part of the evaluation of its entire investment portfolio, for an other-than-temporary decline in value as of December 31, 2010 (see Note 2 for discussion of our impairment testing method).  Based on this evaluation, the Partnership has concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment of this bond existed at December 31, 2010.
 
Our ability to recover the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds entire amortized cost basis is dependent upon the issuer being able to meet debt service requirements.  The primary source of repayment is the cash flows produced by the property which serves as the collateral for the bonds.  The Company utilizes a discounted cash flow model for the underlying property and compares the results of the model to the amortized cost basis of the bond.  If the discounted cash flows from a property are less than the amortized cost of the bond, we believe that there is a strong indication that the cash flows from the property will not support the payment of the required principle and interest on the bond and, accordingly, the bonds are considered other-than-temporarily impaired.  These models reflect the cash flows expected to be generated by the underlying properties over a ten year period, including an assumed property sale at the end of year ten, discounted using the effective interest rate which is equal to the stated rate on the bonds as they were purchased at par in accordance with the accounting guidance on other than temporary impairment of debt securities.
 
The inputs to these models require management to make assumptions the most significant of which include:
 
•    
Revenue and expense projections for the property operations, which result in the estimated net operating income generated over the ten year holding period assumed in the model.  Base year (model year one) assumptions are based on historical financial results and operating budget information.  Base year assumptions are then adjusted for expected changes in occupancy, rental rates and expenses, and
•    
The capitalization rate utilized to estimate the sales proceeds from an assumed property sale in year ten of the model.  The capitalization rate used in the current year models was 7.0% which the Partnership believes represents a reasonable market rate for multifamily properties.
 
The revenue, expense and resulting net operating income projections which are the basis for the discounted cash flow model are based on judgment.  Operating results from a multifamily residential property depend on the rental and occupancy rates of the property and the level of operating expenses.  Occupancy rates and rents are directly affected by the supply of, and demand for, apartments in the market areas in which a property is located.  This, in turn, is affected by several factors such as local or national economic conditions, the amount of new apartment construction and interest rates on single-family mortgage loans.  In addition, factors such as government regulation, inflation, real estate and other taxes, labor problems and natural disasters can affect the economic operations of a property.
 
The various revenue and expense projections for this property's operations are summarized as follows:
 
•    
Woodland Park - Revenue and expenses for model year one (2011) are equal to the property budget.  Budgeted revenues of approximately $1.7 million are based on a budgeted average occupancy of 88%.  Budgeted expenses are approximately $800,000.  Revenues are projected to grow over the ten years in the model to approximately $2.2 million in year ten based on average annual rental increases of 2% and an average occupancy increasing over time to 93%.  Expenses are projected to grow to approximately $1.0 million in year ten based on average annual increases of 2.5%.
 

32

 

In addition to the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond held by the Company, a taxable loan has been made to the owners of this property.  The Partnership has evaluated this taxable property loan for potential impairment as of December 31, 2010 (see Note 2 for discussion of our impairment testing method).  The repayment of this loan is dependent largely on the value of the property which collateralizes the loan.  The Company periodically evaluates the loan for potential losses by estimating the fair value of the property which collateralizes the loan.  The Company utilizes the discounted cash flow model discussed above except that in estimating a property fair value we consider a number of different discounted cash flow models that contain varying assumptions.   The various models may assume multiple revenue and expense scenarios, various capitalization rates and multiple discount rates.  We may also consider other information such as independent appraisals in estimating a property fair value.  If the estimated fair value of the property after deducting the amortized cost basis of the senior tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond exceeds the principal balance of the property loan then no potential loss is indicated and no allowance for loan loss is needed.
 
In estimating the property valuation for the current year, the most significant assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow model were the same as discussed above except that the specific discount rate used to estimate the property valuation in the current year models was approximately 6.5% which the Partnership believes represents a rate at which a multifamily property could obtain current tax-exempt financing similar to the current existing outstanding bonds.  In addition to the discounted cash flow models utilized to estimate the property valuation, the Company obtained an independent appraisal for this property in February 2010.  Based on the results of the discounted cash flow model and an evaluation of the appraisal the Partnership has estimated the property value for Woodland Park which collateralizes the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond and the taxable loan to be approximately $16.8 million.
 
Based on this estimated property valuation and after subtracting the amortized cost of the tax-exempt bond, the Partnership recorded an allowance for loan loss of approximately $700,000 in 2009 and an additional allowance of approximately $200,000 in 2010 to reserve for the entire taxable loan balance due from Woodland Park. The Partnership will continue to monitor this investment for changes in circumstances that might warrant an impairment charge.
  
Consolidated VIEs - Continuing Operations
 
The owners of the following properties have been determined to meet the definition of a VIE and the Partnership has been determined to be the Primary Beneficiary. As a result, the Company reports the assets, liabilities and results of operations of these properties on a consolidated basis.
 
Bent Tree - Bent Tree Apartments is located in Columbia, South Carolina and contains 232 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds owned by the Partnership are traditional “80/20” bonds issued prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986.  These bonds require that 20% of the rental units be set aside for tenants whose income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, without adjustment for household size.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $7.7 million and has a base interest rate of 6.25% per annum.  The bond also provides for contingent interest payable from excess cash flow generated by the underlying property through the potential payment of contingent interest.  The bond accrues contingent interest at a rate of 1.9% annually and such contingent interest is payable only if the underlying property generates excess operating cash flows or realizes excess cash through capital appreciation and a related sale or refinancing of the property.  To date, the property has not paid any contingent interest and the Partnership has not recognized any contingent interest income related to this bond. However, the property is current on the payment of principal and base interest on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010. Bent Tree's operations resulted in net operating income of $557,000 and $531,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $1.5 million and $1.5 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The increase in net operating income is a net result of decreased insurance and utilities expenses.
 
Fairmont Oaks - Fairmont Oaks Apartments is located in Gainesville, Florida and contains 178 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds owned by the Partnership are traditional “80/20” bonds issued prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986.  These bonds require that 20% of the rental units be set aside for tenants whose income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, without adjustment for household size.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $7.6 million and has a base interest rate of 6.3% per annum.  The bond also provides for contingent interest payable from excess cash flow generated by the underlying property through the potential payment of contingent interest.  The bond accrues contingent interest at a rate of 2.2% annually and such contingent interest is payable only if the underlying property generates excess operating cash flows or realizes excess cash through capital appreciation and a related sale or refinancing of the property.  To date, the Partnership has realized $57,000 in contingent interest income related to this bond.  The property is current on the payment of principal and base interest on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010. Fairmont Oak's operations resulted in net operating income of $630,000 and $715,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $1.4 million and $1.5 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The decrease in net operating income is the result of lower economic occupancy.
 

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Iona Lakes - Iona Lakes Apartments is located in Fort Myers, Florida and contains 350 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds owned by the Partnership are traditional “80/20” bonds issued prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986.  These bonds require that 20% of the rental units be set aside for tenants whose income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, without adjustment for household size.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $15.9 million and has a base interest rate of 6.9% per annum.  The bond also provides for contingent interest payable from excess cash flow generated by the underlying property through the potential payment of contingent interest.  The bond accrues contingent interest at a rate of 2.6% annually and such contingent interest is payable only if the underlying property generates excess operating cash flows or realizes excess cash through capital appreciation and a related sale or refinancing of the property.  To date, the Partnership has realized $8,000 contingent interest income related to this bond.  The property is current on the payment of principal and base interest on the Partnership's bond as of December 31, 2010. Iona Lake's operations resulted in net operating income of $931,000 and $804,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $2.5 million and $2.3 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The increase in net operating income was a result of an increase in economic occupancy as well as decreased salary expenses.
   
Lake Forest - Lake Forest Apartments is located in Daytona Beach, Florida and contains 240 units.  The tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds owned by the Partnership are traditional “80/20” bonds issued prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986.  These bonds require that 20% of the rental units be set aside for tenants whose income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, without adjustment for household size.  The bond has an outstanding principal amount of $9.3 million and has a base interest rate of 6.25% per annum.  The bond also provides for contingent interest payable from excess cash flow generated by the underlying property through the potential payment of contingent interest.  The bond accrues contingent interest at a rate of 1.6% annually and such contingent interest is payable only if the underlying property generates excess operating cash flows or realizes excess cash through capital appreciation and a related sale or refinancing of the property.  To date, the Partnership has realized approximately $19,000 of contingent interest income related to this bond.  The property is current on the payment of principal and base interest on the Partnership's bonds as of December 31, 2010. Lake Forest's operations resulted in net operating income of $676,000 and $723,000 before payment of bond debt service on net revenue of approximately $1.8 million and $1.8 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The decrease in net operating income is a result of increases in utilities and repair and maintenance expense.
 
Residences at DeCordova and Residences at Weatherford are bond holdings for which these ownership entities meet the Consolidated VIE definition. Based on an accumulation of individual circumstances, the Partnership has identified that DeCordova and Weatherford's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds are in a position for which certain actions may be necessary to protect the Partnership's position as a secured bondholder and lender.  As of December 31, 2010, DeCordova owes the Partnership approximately $4.9 million under tax-exempt bonds and $648,000 under taxable loans and Weatherford owes the Partnership approximately $4.7 million under tax-exempt bonds and $1.1 million under taxable loans.   The following is a discussion of the circumstances related to each of these bonds. As both of these entities meet the Consolidated VIE definition the bonds discussed below are eliminated in consolidation.
 
Residences at DeCordova.  The construction of Residences at DeCordova was completed in April 2009 and lease-up continues, however, the property has not yet reached stabilization which is defined in the bond documents as the generation of a 1.15:1 debt service coverage ratio for six straight months.  As result of the failure to reach stabilization, the bond is in technical default.  As of December 31, 2010, the property had 65 units leased out of total available units of 76, or 86% physical occupancy.  This property is a senior (55+) affordable housing project located in Granbury, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  The Partnership believes the most significant issue in the slow lease-up of the property is the current single family housing market in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  Many potential tenants must first sell their existing home before they are able to move into a rental unit.  In September 2009, the Partnership was notified by the tax credit limited partner of the owner of Residences at DeCordova of its intent to withdraw from the limited partnership.  In January 2010, the Partnership concluded its best course of action for the removal of the current limited partner was to issue a Notice of Default through the bond trustee and to begin foreclosure procedures.  Such notice was issued in February 2010 and the foreclosure was completed in March 2010.  Through this process the Partnership removed the limited partner which will allow the property owner to “re-syndicate” the LIHTCs to a new limited partner thereby providing additional capital to the project.  The underwriting estimate of LIHTCs to be generated by this property that would be available for “re-syndication” is approximately $2.8 million.  The syndication of the LIHTCs, at an amount less than the gross credits generated, would provide additional capital for the project in the form of new limited partner equity.  The Partnership believes that, if this can be accomplished, such new equity would be sufficient to allow for the current bonds to remain in place and operations be funded through an extended lease-up period.  The property continued to experience slow lease-up and was unable to re-syndicate the LIHTCs. As a result, in December 2010, the Partnership issued a second Notice of Default through the bond trustee to begin foreclosure procedures in order to remove both the general partner and the limited partner and take ownership of the property. This second foreclosure was completed in February 2011 at which time the ownership of the property was taken by the Partnership. At this time the Partnership expects to operate the property as a market rate apartment property. Once the property is

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leased up and stabilized the Partnership will evaluate its options in order to recoup its investment in DeCordova.
 
Residences at Weatherford.  Residences at Weatherford are currently under construction and will contain 76 units upon completion. This property is a senior (55+) affordable housing project located in Weatherford, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. At this time infrastructure construction activities have been substantially completed but no construction has begun on the actual apartment buildings. In January 2010, the Partnership issued a Notice of Default through the bond trustee and began foreclosure procedures to remove the limited partner. Such notice was issued in February 2010 and the foreclosure was completed in March 2010. At that time the general partner was allowed to continue in that capacity and a new limited partner was admitted. The foreclosure was a reconsideration event under the variable interest entity guidance and as a result of the reevaluation, the bond was eliminated and the entity that owns the property was consolidated as a VIE effective in March 2010. Through this process the Partnership anticipated that the new property owner would recapitalize the property by pursuing an alternative plan of financing. Specifically, the Partnership worked with the general partner of the owner to identify available Tax Credit Assistance Program (“TCAP”) funding through application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (“TDHCA”). In March 2010, a TCAP Written Agreement with TDHCA was approved and entered into which committed TCAP funds to the project pending the completion of formal agreements. Formal agreements and funding were originally expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2010; however, the process was delayed due to the large number of transactions to be closed by TDHCA. During the delay TDHCA identified certain issues in funding and compliance with other projects in which the General Partner of Residences at Weatherford is involved. As a result of these issues, in October 2010, TDHCA issued a Notice of Termination of TCAP Funding to the General Partner. Together with the General Partner, the Company unsuccessfully appealed the termination. Based on the termination notice, the Company has determined that the property fixed assets of Residences at Weatherford and the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond which is eliminated in consolidation were impaired. As of December 31, 2010 the property fixed assets, consisting of land and land improvements, and the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership have been written down. The resulting impairment charge and provision for loan losses of approximately $3.3 million is attributable to the unitholders. As a result of the failure of the property owner to secure an alternative plan of financing, the Partnership issued a second Notice of Default through the bond trustee to begin foreclosure procedures in order to remove both the general partner and the limited partner and take ownership of the property. This second foreclosure was completed in February 2011 at which time the ownership of the property was taken by the Partnership. The Partnership has taken over the project and intends to fund the construction and stabilization of the project. Upon the completion of construction the Partnership expects to operate the property as a market rate apartment property. Once the property is leased up and stabilized the Partnership will evaluate its options in order to recoup its investment in Weatherford.
 
The Partnership evaluated the DeCordova bond, as part of the evaluation of its entire investment portfolio, for an other-than-temporary decline in value as of December 31, 2010 (see Note 2 for discussion of our impairment testing method).  Based on this evaluation, the Partnership has concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment of the DeCordova bond existed at December 31, 2010. As noted above, the Weatherford bond and related taxable loan were written down in third quarter, 2010.
 
The process and models utilized by the Company to evaluate bonds for impairment is described above. The various revenue and expense projections utilized in the valuation model for DeCordova are summarized as follows:
 
•    
Revenue and expenses for model year one (2011) are equal to the property budget.  Budgeted revenues of approximately $580,000 are based on a budgeted average occupancy of 90%.  Budgeted expenses are approximately $250,000.  Revenues are projected to grow over the ten years in the model to approximately $710,000 in year ten based on average annual rental increases of 2% and an average occupancy increasing over time to 93%.  Expenses are projected to grow to approximately $307,000 in year ten based on average annual increases of 2.5%.
 
In addition to the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond held by the Company, taxable loans have been made to the owners of DeCordova.  The Partnership has evaluated these taxable property loans for potential impairment as of December 31, 2010 as described above (see Note 2 for discussion of our impairment testing method).  Based on the results of the discounted cash flow model and an evaluation of an appraisal completed in 2010, the Partnership has estimated the property value for the DeCordova property collateralizing the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond and the taxable loans at $5.9 million.
 
Based on this estimated property valuation and after subtracting the amortized cost of the tax-exempt bonds, the Partnership has concluded there is no impairment of the taxable loans made to DeCordova. The Partnership will continue to monitor these investments for changes in circumstances that might warrant an impairment charge.
 

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MF Properties
 
The Partnership holds an indirect 99% interest in the owners of each of the following properties. These properties are encumbered by mortgage loans with an aggregate principal balance of $10.6 million at December 31, 2010. There are no tax-exempt bonds currently secured by these properties. The Company reports the assets, liabilities and results of operations of these properties on a consolidated basis.
 
Commons at Churchland - Commons at Churchland is located in Chesapeake, Virginia and contains 124 units and was acquired in August, 2008. The consolidation of Commons at Churchland's operations resulted in the recognition by the Company of approximately $571,000 and $552,000 in net operating income on revenue of $1.0 million and $1.0 million during 2010 and 2009 respectively. The increase in net operating income is primarily due to a decrease in advertising and utilities expenses.
 
Eagle Ridge - Eagle Ridge Townhomes is located in Erlanger, Kentucky and contains 64 units and was acquired in July 2007.  The consolidation of Eagle Ridge's operations resulted in recognition by the Company of net operating income of $190,000 and $121,000 on net revenue of approximately $479,000 and $427,000 in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The increase in net operating income is the result of increased economic occupancy.
 
Glynn Place - Glynn Place Apartments is located in Brunswick, Georgia and contains 128 units and was acquired in October 2008. The consolidation of Glynn Place Apartment's operations resulted in the recognition by the Company of approximately $288,000 and $231,000 of net operating income on revenue of $753,000 and $734,000 during 2010 and 2009 respectively. The increase in net operating income is due primarily to a decrease in salary, utility and repair and maintenance expenses.
 
Greens of Pine Glen - Greens of Pine Glen Apartments is located in Durham, North Carolina and contains 168 units and was acquired in February 2009. The consolidation of Greens of Pine Glen Apartment's operations resulted in the recognition by the Company of approximately $460,000 of net operating income on revenue of $1.2 million during 2010 and $289,000 of net operating income on revenue of $1.1 million during the ten months of 2009.
 
Meadowview - Meadowview Apartments is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and contains 118 units and was acquired in July 2007. The consolidation of Meadowview's operations resulted in recognition by the Company of net operating income of $368,000 and $355,000 on net revenue of approximately $864,000 and $819,000 in 2010 and 2009 respectively.  The increase in net operating income is the result of increased economic occupancy and decreased salary and repair and maintenance expenses which was offset by an increase in utilities expenses.
 
In June 2010, the Company completed a sales transaction whereby four of the MF Properties, Crescent Village, Post Woods (I and II) and Willow Bend apartments in Ohio (the “Ohio Properties”), were sold to three new ownership entities controlled by an unaffiliated not-for-profit entity. The Company acquired 100% of the $18.3 million tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds issued by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency as part of a plan of financing for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Ohio Properties. The tax-exempt mortgage bonds secured by the Ohio Properties were acquired by the Company at par and consisted of two series. The Series A bond has a par value of $14.7 million and bears interest at an annual rate of 7.0%. The Series B bond has a par value of $3.6 million and bears interest at an annual interest rate of 10.0%. Both series of bonds mature in June 2050. The Company had previously acquired a 99% interest in the Ohio Properties as part of its strategy of acquiring existing multifamily apartment properties that it expects will be partially financed with new tax-exempt mortgage bonds at the time the properties become eligible for the issuance of additional low-income housing tax credits. In addition to the new tax-exempt bonds acquired by the Company, the plan of financing for the acquisition included other subordinated debt issued by the Company. The new owners ultimately plan to sell limited partnership interests in the properties and syndicate LIHTCs as part of the overall plan of finance. The new owners have not contributed any capital to the transaction and the Company has effectively provided 100% of the capital structure to the new owners as part of the sale transaction. Pursuant to Property, Plant, and Equipment - Real Estate Sales guidance the sale and restructure does not meet the criteria for derecognition of the properties or full accrual accounting for the gain. The guidance requires sufficient equity capital as part of a sales transaction to indicate a commitment from the buyer (typically a minimum of 3 to 5% investment by the new owners). As the buyer has no equity capital in this transaction and the property operations are the current support for the debt service, the Company, in substance, remains the owner for accounting purposes. As such, the Company will continue to consolidate the Ohio Properties as if the sale was not completed. Under the sales agreement, the Ohio properties were sold for a total purchase price of $16.2 million. Cash received by the selling limited partnerships as part of the sale transaction represents a gain on the sale transaction of approximately $1.8 million. The properties will continue to be presented as MF Properties and no gain will be recognized until such time as the transaction meets the criteria for derecognition of the properties and gain recognition (See Note 5 and 6). The following is a discussion of the operating results for the three Ohio Properties.
 

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Crescent Village - Crescent Village Townhomes is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and contains 90 units and was acquired in July 2007.  The consolidation of Crescent Village's operations resulted in recognition by the Company of net operating income of $146,000 and $366,000 on net revenue of approximately $726,000 and $749,000 in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The decrease in net operating income is the result of decreased occupancy along with an increase in utility and administration expenses. Crescent Village also paid a one-time administration fee to AFCA2.
 
Post Woods -   Post Woods Townhomes is located in Reynoldsburg, Ohio and contains 180 units and was acquired in July 2007. The consolidation of Post Woods' operations resulted in the recognition by the Company of net operating income of $344,000 and $683,000 on net revenue of approximately $1.4 million and $1.4 million in 2010 and 2009 respectively.  The decrease in net operating income is a result of an increase in advertising and utilities expense. Post Woods also paid a one-time administration fee to AFCA2.
 
Willow Bend - Willow Bend Townhomes is located in Columbus (Hilliard), Ohio and contains 92 units and was acquired in July 2007. The consolidation of Willow Bend's operations resulted in recognition by the Company of net operating income of $157,000 and $343,000 on net revenue of approximately $776,000 and $795,000 in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The decrease in net operating income is the result of decreased economic occupancy and increased utility expenses. Willow Bend also paid a one-time administration fee to AFCA2.
 
Results of Operations
 
The Consolidated Company
 
The tables below compare the results of operations for the Company for 2010, 2009, and 2008:
 
 
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2009
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property revenues
 
$
14,692,537
 
 
$
15,667,053
 
 
$
13,773,801
 
Mortgage revenue bond investment income
 
6,881,314
 
 
4,253,164
 
 
4,230,205
 
Gain on sale of assets held for sale
 
 
 
862,865
 
 
 
Gain on early extinquishment of debt
 
435,395
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on sale of security
 
 
 
 
 
(68,218
)
Other interest income
 
455,622
 
 
106,082
 
 
150,786
 
     Total Revenues
 
22,464,868
 
 
20,889,164
 
 
18,086,574
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)
 
10,016,742
 
 
10,127,657
 
 
8,872,219
 
Provision for loan loss
 
562,385
 
 
1,401,731
 
 
 
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford
 
2,528,852
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
5,062,817
 
 
6,067,330
 
 
4,987,417
 
Interest
 
2,514,479
 
 
4,202,126
 
 
4,106,072
 
General and administrative
 
2,383,784
 
 
1,997,661
 
 
1,808,459
 
    Total Expenses
 
23,069,059
 
 
23,796,505
 
 
19,774,167
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
(604,191
)
 
(2,907,341
)
 
(1,687,593
)
Income from discontinued operations
 
 
 
26,734,754
 
 
646,989
 
Net income (loss)
 
(604,191
)
 
23,827,413
 
 
(1,040,604
)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
203,831
 
 
11,540
 
 
9,364
 
Net (loss) income - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L. P.
 
$
(400,360
)
 
$
23,838,953
 
 
$
(1,031,240
)
 
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
Property Revenues.  Property revenues of the Company consist of those of the MF Properties as well as the six Consolidated VIEs treated as continuing operations during the periods.  Property revenues decreased approximately $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009 mainly as a result of Ashley Square and Cross Creek Apartments no longer being reported as Consolidated VIEs in 2010. Accordingly, no revenues from the operation of these

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properties were included in property revenues reported by the Company in 2010 compared to approximately $1.5 million of property revenues from these properties that were reported in 2009. The decline in property revenue due to the deconsolidation of Ashley Square and Cross Creek was partially offset by an increase of approximately $300,000 in property revenues generated by Residences at DeCordova which became a Consolidated VIE on March 1, 2010 and general improvements in economic occupancy. Annual net rental revenues per unit related to the MF Properties increased to $7,295 per unit in 2010 from $7,119 in 2009.  The annual net rental revenues per unit related to the Consolidated VIEs increased to approximately $6,920 in 2010 from approximately $6,216 in 2009.
 
Mortgage revenue bond investment income.  Mortgage revenue bond investment income of the Company consists of the interest income earned only on the mortgage revenue bonds that were not issued to finance properties owned by Consolidated VIEs.  The deconsolidation of Ashley Square and Cross Creek Apartments increased investment income by approximately $962,000. These properties are no longer treated as Consolidated VIEs as of January 1, 2010, therefore the interest paid to the Company on the tax-exempt bonds is no longer eliminated in consolidation. In addition, the Company realized additional tax-exempt interest income of approximately $1.9 million due to the acquisition of four tax-exempt bonds, South Park Ranch Apartments, Brookstone Apartments, Villages at Lost Creek, and Autumn Pines that were not owned during 2009. These increases were offset by interest income from Residences at DeCordova and Residences at Weatherford which became Consolidated VIEs on March 1, 2010. The interest income related to these bonds is now eliminated in consolidation. The elimination of DeCordova and Weatherford interest in 2010 totaled approximately $478,000.
 
Gain on assets held for sale. In September 2009, the Partnership sold the Oak Grove Commons apartments, an asset held for sale, to an unaffiliated party for $3.75 million. After the deduction of selling expenses, commissions, and cash advances made to the property, the Partnership realized a taxable gain of approximately $863,000 from the sale. There was no similar transaction in 2010.
 
Gain on early extinguishment of debt. In June 2010, the Company had the opportunity to acquire at a discount, and thereby retire, the $12.8 million outstanding mortgage debt secured by the Ohio Properties. The early extinguishment of this debt resulted in a gain of approximately $435,000. There was no similar transaction in 2009.
 
Other interest income. Other income is comprised mainly of interest income on taxable loans held by the Company. The increase in other interest income is attributable to higher levels of taxable loans outstanding in 2010.
 
Real estate operating expenses.  When comparing 2010 to 2009, a decrease of approximately $1.3 million in real estate operating expenses is the result of the Ashley Square and Cross Creek Apartments deconsolidation. This decrease was offset by approximately $428,000 of expenses related to the consolidation of Residences at DeCordova and Residences at Weatherford, an increase of approximately $231,000 in administrative fees, and an increase of approximately $376,000 of acquisition related costs incurred by the MF Properties. The acquisition costs incurred in 2010 by the Ohio Property owners represent expenses of non-controlling interests. In addition, there were increases in MF Property related market ready, insurance, and salary expense .
 
Provision for loan loss.  The Company periodically, or as changes in circumstances or operations dictate, evaluates its investments for impairment.  The value of the underlying property assets is ultimately the most relevant measure of value to support the investment carrying values.  Investments tested for impairment include all fixed assets, bond investments and taxable loans made to various properties and other amounts due to the Company.  Such evaluation is based on cash flow and discounted cash flow models.  The Company concluded that there was no impairment of fixed assets or bond investments as of December 31, 2010, except for the Residences of Weatherford as discussed below.  This evaluation determined that a portion of the taxable property loans was potentially impaired and that an additional allowance for bad debt should be recorded.   An allowance for bad debt and an associated provision for loan loss of approximately $212,000 and $700,000 was recorded against the Woodland Park taxable loan in 2010 and 2009, respectively. In addition, during the fourth quarter of 2010, $350,000 was recorded as an allowance for bad debt and an associated provision for loan loss against the cross collateralized Ashley Square and Cross Creek taxable loans. In 2009 the Company recorded a $700,000 allowance for bad debt against the judgment receivable related to the 2008 foreclosure on the Prairiebrook Village bonds.
 
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford. Due to the inability of the property owner to secure an alternative plan of financing to complete construction of the project (see Note 5 and discussion above) the Company has determined that the property fixed assets of Residences at Weatherford and the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond which is eliminated in consolidation were impaired. As of September 30, 2010 the property fixed assets, consisting of land and land improvements, and the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership were written down. The resulting impairment charge of approximately $2.5 million is attributable to the unitholders. In February 2011, the Company foreclosed on the current ownership and will continue to develop the property.
 

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Depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization consists primarily of depreciation associated with the apartment properties of the Consolidated VIEs and the MF Properties, amortization associated with in-place lease intangible assets recorded as part of the purchase accounting for the acquisition of MF Properties, and deferred finance cost amortization written off upon retirement of the BOA Credit Facility in addition to new amortization of finance costs related to the closing of the TEBS Credit Facility. The decrease in depreciation and amortization expense from 2009 to 2010 is attributable to a decrease of approximately $96,000 in deferred financing cost amortization, a decrease of approximately $708,000 in in-place lease amortization, and an approximate $581,000 decrease due to deconsolidation of Ashley Square and Cross Creek Apartments. These were offset by a depreciation expense increase of approximately $200,000 due the consolidation of Residences at DeCordova and an increase of approximately $177,000 due to depreciation on assets added to the existing MF Properties and Consolidated VIEs during 2010 .
 
Interest expense. The decrease in interest expense of $1.7 million in 2010 as compared to 2009 was due to offsetting factors. Approximately $1.5 million of the decrease was a result of the mark to market adjustment of the Company's derivatives. These interest rate derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting and, accordingly, they are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value included in current period earnings within interest expense. The remaining change in interest expense results from changes in the average outstanding debt throughout the year combined with changes in the Company's cost of borrowing. The average outstanding debt decreased slightly while the average cost of borrowing increased slightly from approximately 3.5% per annum in 2009 to approximately 3.6% per annum in 2010.
 
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased mainly due to increased professional fees and administration fees. Professional fees increased approximately $258,000 due mainly to accounting, legal and other professional fees associated with the process the Company utilized to respond to a comment letter received by the Company from the Securities Exchange Commission in the first quarter of 2010. Additional professional fees were also incurred for accounting consultation regarding the implementation of new accounting standards in 2010. Administration fees paid to AFCA 2 increased approximately $335,000 as the Company has a higher level of invested assets and taxable loans in 2010. Offsetting these expenses was a reduction in reimbursable employee related costs paid to AFCA 2.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
Property Revenues.  Property revenues of the Company consist of those of the MF Properties as well as the six VIEs treated as continuing operations during the periods.  Property revenues increased approximately $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008.  Approximately $2.3 million is attributable to the acquisition of the Commons at Churchland and Glynn Place Apartments acquired in the second half of 2008 and Greens of Pine Glen, acquired in the first quarter of 2009. Property revenues for the VIEs reported a net decrease of approximately $317,000 due to reduced occupancy at existing VIEs offset by approximately $248,000 of increased revenues from a new VIE, Cross Creek Apartments, acquired in the second quarter 2009. The remaining decrease in Property revenues is the result of a decline in Economic Occupancy at the MF Properties.  Annual net rental revenues per unit related to the MF Properties decreased to $7,119 per unit in 2009 from $7,667 in 2008.  The annual net rental revenues per unit related to the VIEs decreased to approximately $6,216 in 2009 from approximately $7,664 in 2008.
 
Mortgage revenue bond investment income.  Mortgage revenue bond investment income of the Company consists of the interest income earned only on the mortgage revenue bonds that were not issued to finance properties owned by VIEs.  Mortgage revenue bond investment income was flat year over year due to offsetting factors.  Income from three new bond investments acquired in 2009 was approximately $500,000.  Offsetting this increase was a decrease in interest income resulting from the disposal of two bond investments plus the foreclosure of the Prairiebrook bond in 2008.
 
 Gain on sale of asset held for sale. In September 2009, the Company sold the Oak Grove Commons apartments, an asset held for sale, to an unaffiliated party for $3.75 million.  After the deduction of selling expenses, commissions and cash advances made to the property, the Company realized a taxable gain of approximately $863,000 from the sale.
 
Loss on sale of securities. The Chandler Creek and Deerfield bonds were sold in 2008 for par value plus accrued interest. The loss resulted from the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs related to the bonds.
 
Other interest income.  Other interest income represents interest earned on cash and cash equivalents. Although cash and cash equivalents average outstanding balances were greater during 2009, the decrease in interest income is attributable to significantly lower interest rates earned during 2009 as compared to 2008.
 

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Real estate operating expenses.  Real estate operating expenses increased approximately $1.2 million during 2009 as compared to 2008. Approximately $1.5 million of the increase is attributable to the acquisition of three MF Properties, the Commons at Churchland and Glynn Place Apartments acquired in the second half of 2008 and Greens of Pine Glen, acquired in the first quarter of 2009. In addition, Cross Creek Apartments, a consolidated VIE, acquired during the second quarter of 2009, contributed approximately $410,000 of additional real estate operating expenses. Offsetting these increases was a net decrease of approximately $770,000 in VIE real estate operating expenses mainly from decreased repairs, maintenance and supplies expenses.
 
Provision for loan loss.  The Company periodically, or as changes in circumstances or operations dictate, evaluates its investments for impairment.  The value of the underlying property assets is ultimately the most relevant measure of value to support the investment carrying values.  Investments tested for impairment include all fixed assets, bond investments and taxable loans made to various properties and other amounts due to the Company.  Such evaluation is based on cash flow and discounted cash flow models.  The Company concluded that there was no impairment of fixed assets or bond investments as of December 31, 2009.  This evaluation did determine that a portion of the taxable property loans were potentially impaired and that an additional allowance or bad debt should be recorded.  An allowance for bad debt and associated provision for loan loss of approximately $700,000 was recorded against the Woodland Park taxable loan.  Additionally, in May 2008, the Company filed a petition of foreclosure on the Prairiebrook Village bonds which were in default.  In 2008, the Company recorded a receivable of approximately $987,000 representing the remaining amounts due from the project owner and developer based on summary judgment obtained.  At December 31, 2009, the current receivable amount was $713,500.  Due to a number of factors the Company recorded an allowance for bad debt against the judgment receivable as of December 31, 2009.  The allowance for bad debt and associated provision for loan loss recorded was $700,000.
 
Depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense, which consists primarily of depreciation associated with the apartment properties of the Consolidated VIEs and the MF Properties, amortization associated with in-place lease intangible assets recorded as part of the purchase accounting for the acquisition of MF Properties, and deferred finance cost amortization related to a tender option bond credit facility that was in place until June 2009, increased approximately $1.1 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. Approximately $1.1 million of the increase is attributable to the acquisition of three MF Properties, the Commons at Churchland and Glynn Place Apartments acquired in the second half of 2008 and Greens of Pine Glen, acquired in the first quarter of 2009. In addition, Cross Creek Apartments, acquired during the second quarter of 2009, contributed approximately $203,000. These increases were offset by a decrease in amortization related to the deferred finance costs from the purchase of the six MF properties in June, 2007 that were fully amortized in 2009 and the tender option bond credit facility.
 
Interest expense.  Interest expense increased approximately $96,000 during 2009 compared to 2008 due to changes in outstanding debt, borrowing rates, and the fair value of our interest rate derivatives.  Total outstanding debt from continuing operations was $87.9 million at December 31, 2008 as compared to $85.5 million as of December 31, 2009 and the Company's borrowing cost decreased from 4.5% per annum in 2008 to 3.5% per annum in 2009. These two factors accounted for a decrease in interest expense of approximately $348,000.  Offsetting this decrease was an increase in interest expense resulting from the mark to market adjustments reflecting decreases in the fair value of our interest rate derivatives.
 
General and administrative expenses.  General and administrative expenses were up approximately $185,000 in 2009. This increase was realized in professional fees and salary expense.
 
Discontinued Operations
 
In February 2009, the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds secured by Ashley Pointe at Eagle Crest in Evansville, Indiana, Woodbridge Apartment of Bloomington III in Bloomington, Indiana, and Woodbridge Apartments of Louisville II in Louisville, Kentucky were redeemed.  The properties financed by these redeemed mortgage revenue bonds were required to be consolidated into the Company's financial statements as VIEs under the guidance on consolidations.  During the fourth quarter of 2008, these VIEs met the criteria for discontinued operations under the guidance on property, plant and equipment and they were classified as such in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. In order to properly reflect the transaction under the guidance on consolidations, the Company recorded the redemption of the bonds as a sale of the properties as though they were owned by the Company.  The transaction was completed for a total purchase price of $32.0 million resulting in a gain on sale for GAAP reporting to the Company of approximately $26.5 million.  The redemption of the bonds did not result in a taxable gain to the Company.  As of December 31, 2008, Ashley Pointe, Woodbridge Apartments of Bloomington III, and Woodbridge Apartments of Louisville II reported assets of approximately $8.1 million and liabilities of approximately $23.3 million which are included in assets and liabilities of discontinued operations, respectively.  For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 net income, excluding the gain on sale, from these VIEs of approximately $347,000, $647,000 and $824,000, respectively, is included in the income from discontinued operations.
 

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The Partnership
 
The following discussion of the Partnership's results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 reflects the operations of the Partnership without the consolidation of the Consolidated VIEs required by the guidance on consolidations.
 
This information reflects the information used by management to analyze the Partnership's operations and is reflective of the consolidated operations of the Tax-Exempt Bond Investments segment and the MF Properties segment as presented in Note 18 to the financial statements.
 
 
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2009
 
For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property revenues
 
$
7,205,099
 
 
$
7,045,578
 
 
$
4,793,535
 
Mortgage revenue bond investment income
 
10,223,269
 
 
11,087,923
 
 
10,102,802
 
Gain on sale of assets held for sale
 
 
 
862,865
 
 
 
Gain on early debt retirement of debt
 
435,395
 
 
 
 
 
Other interest income
 
488,427
 
 
106,082
 
 
150,786
 
Loss on sale of security
 
 
 
(127,495
)
 
(68,218
)
   Total Revenues
 
18,352,190
 
 
18,974,953
 
 
14,978,905
 
Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)
 
4,917,287
 
 
4,151,353
 
 
2,628,606
 
Provision for loan loss
 
1,147,716
 
 
1,696,730
 
 
 
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford
 
2,716,330
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
2,810,525
 
 
3,514,073
 
 
2,728,096
 
Interest
 
2,514,479
 
 
4,283,680
 
 
5,097,454
 
General and administrative
 
2,383,784
 
 
1,997,661
 
 
1,808,459
 
   Total Expenses
 
16,490,121
 
 
15,643,497
 
 
12,262,615
 
Net income
 
1,862,069
 
 
3,331,456
 
 
2,716,290
 
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
203,831
 
 
11,540
 
 
9,364
 
Net income - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.
 
$
2,065,900
 
 
$
3,342,996
 
 
$
2,725,654
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
Property Revenues.  Property revenues of the Partnership consists only of those of the MF Properties. The overall increase was the result of the increase related to Greens of Pine Glen which was owned for the entire 2010 year as compared to ten months in 2009. Annual net rental revenues per unit related to the MF Properties increased to $7,295 per unit in 2010 from $7,119 in 2009.
 
Mortgage revenue bond investment income.  Mortgage revenue bond investment income of the Partnership consists of the interest income earned on the mortgage revenue bonds actually held by the Partnership during the respective periods including the bonds secured by properties owned by Consolidated VIEs that are eliminated in consolidation in the Company's financial statements.  The decrease in mortgage revenue bond investment income during 2010 compared to 2009 is mainly the result of the redemption of the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds secured by Ashley Pointe at Eagle Crest, Woodbridge Apartment of Bloomington III and Woodbridge Apartments of Louisville II in February 2009. These bond redemptions resulted in the recognition of $2.5 million of contingent and deferred interest plus approximately $313,000 of regular bond interest in 2009. In addition, approximately $164,000 of interest income was recorded in 2009 related to the Oak Grove and Prairiebrook bonds which were not held in 2010. These decreases were partially offset by additional tax-exempt interest payments of approximately $2.2 million received by the Partnership during 2010 due mainly to the acquisition of new tax-exempt bonds on Cross Creek Apartments, South Park Ranch Apartments, Brookstone Apartments, Villages at Lost Creek, and Autumn Pines. Due to the uncertainty in collections of contingent interest, the Partnership recognizes this as income only when it is realized.
 
Gain on assets held for sale. In September 2009, the Partnership sold the Oak Grove Commons apartments, an asset held for sale, to an unaffiliated party for $3.75 million. After the deduction of selling expenses, commissions and cash advances made

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to the property, the Partnership realized a taxable gain of approximately $863,000 from the sale. There was no similar transaction in 2010.
 
Gain on early extinguishment of debt. In June 2010, the Partnership had the opportunity to acquire at a discount, and thereby retire, the $12.8 million outstanding mortgage debt secured by the Ohio Properties. The early extinguishment of this debt resulted in a gain of approximately $435,000.
 
Other interest income. Other interest income is comprised mainly of interest income on taxable loans held by the Partnership. The increase in other interest income is attributable to higher levels of taxable loans outstanding in 2010.
 
Loss on sale of securities. The bond redemptions secured by Ashley Pointe at Eagle Crest, Woodbridge Apartment of Bloomington III and Woodbridge Apartments of Louisville II in February 2009 resulted in a loss from the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs related to the bonds.
 
Real estate operating expenses.  Real estate operating expenses associated with the MF Properties are comprised principally of real estate taxes, property insurance, utilities, property management fees, repairs and maintenance, and salaries and related employee expenses of on-site employees. Real estate operating expenses increased as a result of an increase of approximately $231,000 in administrative fees, and an increase of approximately $376,000 of acquisition related costs incurred by the MF Properties. The acquisition costs incurred in 2010 by the Ohio Property owners represent expenses of non-controlling interests. In addition, there were increases in MF Property related market ready, insurance, and salary expense.
 
Provision for loan loss.  The Partnership periodically, or as changes in circumstances or operations dictate, evaluates its investments for impairment.  The value of the underlying property assets is ultimately the most relevant measure of value to support the investment carrying values.  Investments tested for impairment include all fixed assets, bond investments, and taxable loans made to various properties and other amounts due to the Partnership.  Such evaluation is based on cash flow and discounted cash flow models.  The Partnership concluded that there was no impairment of fixed assets or bond investments as of December 31, 2010, except for Residences at Weatherford discussed below.  This evaluation did determine that a portion of the taxable property loans were potentially impaired and that an additional allowance for loan loss should be recorded.  An allowance for loan loss of approximately $1.1 million and $700,000 was recorded against the the property taxable loans during 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Additionally, in 2009 a $700,000 allowance for bad debt was recorded against the judgment receivable related to the 2008 foreclosure on the Prairiebrook Village bonds.
 
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford. Due to the inability of the property owner to secure an alternative plan of financing to complete construction of the project (see Note 5 and discussion above) the Partnership has determined that the property fixed assets of Weatherford and the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond which is eliminated in consolidation were impaired. As of September 30, 2010 the property fixed assets, consisting of land and land improvements, and the associated tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond owned by the Partnership were written down. The resulting impairment charge of approximately $2.7 million is attributable to the unitholders. In February 2011, the Partnership foreclosed on the current ownership and will continue to develop the property.
 
Depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization consists primarily of depreciation associated with the MF Properties, amortization associated with in-place lease intangible assets recorded as part of the purchase accounting for the acquisition of MF Properties and deferred finance cost amortization written off upon retirement of the BOA Credit Facility in addition to new amortization of finance costs related to the closing of the TEBS Credit Facility. The decrease in depreciation and amortization expense from 2009 to 2010 is attributable to a decrease of approximately $96,000 in deferred financing cost amortization and a decrease of approximately $708,000 of in-place lease amortization which are fully amortized. The remaining difference is directly related to an increase in depreciation expense on the existing MF Properties due to newly capitalized assets.
 
Interest expense. The decrease in interest expense of $1.7 million in 2010 as compared to 2009 was due to offsetting factors. Approximately $1.5 million of the decrease was a result of the mark to market adjustment of the Partnership 's derivatives. These interest rate derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting and, accordingly, they are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value included in current period earnings within interest expense. The remaining change in interest expense results from changes in the average outstanding debt throughout the year combined with changes in the Partnership 's cost of borrowing. The average outstanding debt decreased slightly while the average cost of borrowing increased slightly from approximately 3.5% per annum in 2009 to approximately 3.6% per annum in 2010.
 
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased mainly due to increased professional fees and administration fees. Professional fees increased approximately $258,000 due mainly to accounting, legal and other professional fees associated with the process the Partnership utilized to respond to a comment letter received by the Partnership

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from the Securities Exchange Commission in the first quarter of 2010. Additional professional fees were also incurred for accounting consultation regarding the implementation of new accounting standards in 2010. Administration fees paid to AFCA 2 increased approximately $335,000 as the Company has a higher level of invested assets and taxable loans in 2010. Offsetting these expenses was a reduction in reimbursable employee expenses paid to AFCA 2.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
Property Revenues.  Property revenues of the Partnership consists only of those of the MF Properties.  Property revenues increased approximately $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same period of 2008. This increase was attributable to the acquisition of the Commons at Churchland and Glynn Place Apartments during the second half of 2008 and Greens of Pine Glen, during the first quarter of 2009. Annual net rental revenues per unit related to the MF Properties decreased to $7,119 per unit in 2009 from $7,667 in 2008.
 
 Mortgage revenue bond investment income.  Mortgage revenue bond investment income of the Partnership consists of the interest income earned on the mortgage revenue bonds actually held by the Partnership during the respective periods including the bonds secured by properties owned by VIEs that are eliminated in consolidation in the Company's financial statements.  Mortgage revenue bond investment income increased approximately $985,000 in 2009 compared to 2008.  The increase is the net effect of approximately $907,000 increase in base bond interest resulting from bonds acquired in 2008 and 2009 plus a $2.2 million increase in realized contingent interest income offset by a decrease in base interest of approximately $2.1 million resulting from the sale of two bond investments in 2008, the foreclosure of a bond investment in 2008, and the early redemption of three bonds in February 2009. Due to the uncertainty in collections of contingent interest, the Partnership recognizes this as income only when it is realized.
 
Gain on sale of asset held for sale. In September 2009, the Partnership sold the Oak Grove Commons apartments, an asset held for sale, to an unaffiliated party for $3.75 million.  After the deduction of selling expenses, commissions, and cash advances made to the property, the Partnership realized a taxable gain of approximately $863,000 from the sale.
 
Loss on sale of securities. The Chandler Creek and Deerfield bonds were sold in 2008 for par value plus accrued interest. In 2009, the loss is related to the three bonds redeemed during the first quarter of 2009. The losses result from the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs related to the bonds.
 
Other interest income. Other interest income represents interest earned on cash and cash equivalents. Although cash and cash equivalents average outstanding balances were greater during 2009, the decrease in interest income is attributable to significantly lower interest rates earned during 2009 as compared to 2008.
 
Real estate operating expenses.  Real estate operating expenses increased approximately $1.5 million during 2009 as compared to 2008.  This increase is attributable to the acquisition of three MF Properties, the Commons at Churchland and Glynn Place Apartments acquired in the second half of 2008 and Greens of Pine Glen, acquired in the first quarter of 2009.
 
Provision for loan loss.  The Partnership periodically, or as changes in circumstances or operations dictate, evaluates its investments for impairment.  The value of the underlying property assets is ultimately the most relevant measure of value to support the investment carrying values.  Investments tested for impairment include all fixed assets, bond investments, and taxable loans made to various properties and other amounts due to the Partnership .  Such evaluation is based on cash flow and discounted cash flow models.  The Partnership concluded that there was no impairment of fixed assets or bond investments as of December 31, 2009.  This evaluation did determine that a portion of the taxable property loans were potentially impaired and that an additional allowance for bad debt should be recorded.  An allowance for bad debt and an associated provision for loan loss of approximately $1.0 million was recorded against the the property taxable loans during 2009.  Additionally, in May 2008, the Partnership filed a petition of foreclosure on the Prairiebrook Village bonds which were in default.  In 2008, the Partnership recorded a receivable of approximately $987,000 representing the remaining amounts due from the project owner and developer based on summary judgment obtained.  At December 31, 2009, the current receivable amount was $713,500.  Due to a number of factors the Partnership recorded an allowance for bad debt against the judgment receivable as of December 31, 2009.  The allowance for bad debt and associated provision for loan loss recorded was $700,000.
 
Depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense, which consists primarily of depreciation associated with the consolidated MF Properties, amortization associated with in-place lease intangible assets recorded as part of the purchase accounting for the acquisition of MF Properties and deferred finance cost amortization related to a tender option bond credit facility that was in place until June 2009, increased approximately $761,000 in 2009 as compared to 2008. Approximately $1.1 million of the increase is attributable to the acquisition of three MF Properties, the Commons at Churchland and Glynn Place Apartments acquired in the second half of 2008 and Greens of Pine Glen, acquired in the first quarter of 2009. These increases were offset by

43

 

a decrease in amortization related to the deferred finance costs from the purchase of the six MF properties in June, 2007 that were fully amortized in 2009.
 
Interest expense.  Interest expense decreased approximately $814,000 during 2009 compared to 2008 due to changes in borrowing rates, outstanding debt amounts, and fair value adjustments on our interest rate derivatives. Total outstanding debt was $85.5 million at December 31, 2009 as compared to $107.5 million as of December 31, 2008 and the Partnership's borrowing cost decreased from 4.6% per annum in 2008 to 3.4% per annum in 2009 resulting in a $1.2 million decrease. The mark to market adjustments related to derivatives offset this decrease.
 
General and administrative expenses.  General and administrative expenses were up approximately $185,000 in 2009. This increase was realized in professional fees and salary expense.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Tax-exempt interest on mortgage revenue bonds. Tax-exempt interest earned on the mortgage revenue bonds, including those financing properties held by Consolidated VIEs, represents the Partnership's principal source of cash flow.  The Partnership may also receive cash distributions from equity interests held in MF Properties.  Tax-exempt interest is primarily comprised of base interest payments received on the Partnership's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds.  Certain of the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds may also generate payments of contingent interest to the Partnership from time to time when the underlying apartment properties generate excess cash flow.  Because base interest on each of the Partnership's mortgage revenue bonds is fixed, the Partnership's cash receipts tend to be fairly constant period to period unless the Partnership acquires or disposes of its investments in tax-exempt bonds.  Changes in the economic performance of the properties financed by tax-exempt bonds with a contingent interest provision will affect the amount of contingent interest, if any, paid to the Partnership.  Similarly, the economic performance of MF Properties will affect the amount of cash distributions, if any, received by the Partnership from its ownership of these properties.  The economic performance of a multifamily apartment property depends on the rental and occupancy rates of the property and on the level of operating expenses.  Occupancy rates and rents are directly affected by the supply of, and demand for, apartments in the market area in which a property is located.  This, in turn, is affected by several factors such as local or national economic conditions, the amount of new apartment construction and the affordability of single-family homes.  In addition, factors such as government regulation (such as zoning laws), inflation, real estate and other taxes, labor problems, and natural disasters can affect the economic operations of an apartment property.  The primary uses of cash by apartment properties are the payment of operating expenses and debt service.  
 
TEBS Financing. Other sources of cash available to the Partnership include debt financing and the sale of additional BUCs. As of September 1, 2010, the Partnership and its Consolidated Subsidiary ATAX TEBS I, LLC, entered into a number of agreements relating to a new long-term debt financing facility provided through the securitization of 13 tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds pursuant to Freddie Mac's TEBS program. The gross proceeds from TEBS Financing were approximately $95.8 million. After the payment of transaction expenses the Company received net proceeds from the TEBS Financing of approximately $90.4 million. The Company applied approximately $49.5 million of these net proceeds to repay the entire outstanding principal of, and accrued interest on, its secured term loan from Bank of America.
The TEBS Financing essentially provides the Company with a long-term variable-rate debt facility at interest rates reflecting prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates. Under the TEBS Financing, the Company transferred the 13 bonds, with a total outstanding principal amount of approximately $125.6 million, to ATAX TEBS I, LLC, a special purpose entity controlled by the Company (the “Sponsor”). In order to meet Freddie Mac's underwriting requirements with respect to the multifamily apartment properties financed by certain of the Bonds, the Sponsor was required to first place eight of the Bonds, with a total outstanding principal of approximately $70.5 million, into a separate custodial trust with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Custodial Trust”) that issued senior and subordinated custody receipts (“Custody Receipts”) representing beneficial interests in the Bonds held in the Custodial Trust to the Sponsor. The subordinated Custody Receipts with a total principal amount of approximately $9.5 million were retained by the Sponsor. The senior Custody Receipts, with a total principal amount of approximately $61.0 million, along with the remaining five Bonds that were not placed into the Custodial Trust, with a total principal amount of approximately $55.1 million, were then securitized by transferring these assets to Freddie Mac in exchange for tax-exempt Class A and Class B Freddie Mac Multifamily Variable Rate Certificates (collectively, the “TEBS Certificates”) issued by Freddie Mac. The TEBS Certificates represent beneficial interests in the securitized assets held by Freddie Mac.
The Class A TEBS Certificates were issued in an initial principal amount of $95.8 million and were sold through a placement agent to unaffiliated investors. The Class B TEBS Certificates were issued in an initial principal amount of $20.3 million and were retained be the Sponsor. The holders of the Class A TEBS Certificates are entitled to receive regular payments of interest from Freddie Mac at a variable rate which resets periodically based on the weekly Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) floating index rate plus certain Facility Fees. As of closing, the SIFMA rate was equal to 0.25% and the

44

 

total Facility Fees were 1.9%, resulting in a total initial cost of borrowing of 2.15%. As of December 31, 2010, the SIFMA rate was equal to 0.34% resulting in a total cost of borrowing of 2.24%.
Payment of interest on the Class A TEBS Certificates will be made from the interest payments received by Freddie Mac from the Bonds and Senior Custody Receipts held by Freddie Mac on designated interest payment dates prior to any payments of interest on the Class B TEBS Certificates held by the Sponsor. As the holder of the Class B TEBS Certificates, the Sponsor is not entitled to receive interest payments on the Class B TEBS Certificates at any particular rate, but will be entitled to all payments of principal and interest on the Bonds and Senior Custody Receipts held by Freddie Mac after payment of principal and interest due on the Class A TEBS Certificates and payment of all Facility Fees and associated expenses. Accordingly, the amount of interest paid to the Sponsor on the Class B TEBS Certificates is expected to vary over time, and could be eliminated altogether, due to fluctuations in the interest rate payable on the Class A TEBS Certificates, Facility Fees, expenses and other factors.
Freddie Mac has guaranteed payment of scheduled principal and interest payments on the Class A TEBS Certificates and also guarantees payment of the purchase price of any Class A TEBS Certificates that are tendered to Freddie Mac in accordance with their terms but which cannot be remarketed to new holders within five business days. The Sponsor has pledged the Class B TEBS Certificates to Freddie Mac to secure certain reimbursement obligations of the Sponsor to Freddie Mac. The Company also entered into various subordination and intercreditor agreements with Freddie Mac under which the Company has subordinated its rights and remedies with respect to the taxable mortgage loans made by it to the owners of properties securing certain of the Bonds to the rights of Freddie Mac as the holder of the Bonds.
For financial reporting purposes, the TEBS Financing is presented by the Company as a secured financing.
Prior to the closing of the TEBS Financing, the Company had outstanding debt financing of $54.8 million consisting of two credit facilities. The first credit facility was with Bank of America and had an outstanding balance of $49.3 million (the “BOA Facility”).  As noted above, the BOA Facility was repaid with proceeds from the TEBS Financing. The second credit facility was with Omaha State Bank and had an outstanding balance of $5.5 million (the “OSB Facility”). The OSB Facility was repaid prior to the execution of the TEBS Financing.
 
The TEBS Financing offers several advantages over the Company's previous credit facilities which, over time, are expected to positively impact the generation of CAD. These advantages include:
•    
a longer term thereby addressing the previous refinancing risks,
•    
better balance sheet leverage thereby providing additional funds for investment, and
•    
a lower initial cost of borrowing.  
 
Equity Capital. The Partnership is authorized to issue additional BUCs to raise additional equity capital to fund investment opportunities. In April 2010, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 was declared effective by the SEC under which the Partnership may offer up to $200.0 million of additional BUCs from time to time. In April 2010, the Partnership issued an additional 8,280,000 BUCs through an underwritten public offering at a public offering price of $5.37 per BUC pursuant to this new Registration Statement. Net proceeds realized by the Partnership from this issuance of these BUCs were approximately $41.7 million after payment of an underwriter's discount and other offering costs of approximately $2.8 million.
 
Cash distributions made by the Partnership to unitholders may increase or decrease at the determination of the General Partner based on its assessment of the amount of cash available to the Partnership for this purpose. Beginning with the distribution for the second quarter of 2009, the Partnership's annual distribution was reduced from $0.54 per unit to $0.50 per unit due to the General Partner's determination that higher borrowing costs and other factors would reduce the cash available to the Partnership to make distributions.
 
Leverage. The Partnership's operating policy is to use securitizations or other forms of leverage to maintain a level of debt financing between 40% and 60% of the total par value of the Partnership's tax-exempt mortgage bond portfolio.  At December 31, 2010, the Partnership has outstanding debt financing of $95.6 million secured by 13 tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds with a total par value of $125.6 million plus approximately $15.2 million in restricted cash.  As of December 31, 2010, the debt outstanding related to the total par value of the Partnerships' total bond portfolio of approximately $189.3 million plus restricted cash results in a leverage ratio of 47%.  The outstanding debt financing is the TEBS financing agreement with Freddie Mac, discussed above (see Note 9).  Additionally, the MF Properties are encumbered by mortgage loans with an aggregate principal balance of approximately $10.6 million.  These mortgage loans mature at various times from November 2011 through November 2013 (see Note 10). The total debt financing plus mortgage loans of $106.2 million results in a leverage ratio to Total Assets of 44%.
 
The Partnership's principal uses of cash are the payment of distributions to unitholders, interest and principal on debt financing and general and administrative expenses. The Partnership also uses cash to acquire additional investments. Distributions to

45

 

unitholders may increase or decrease at the determination of the General Partner. Distributions to unitholders depend primarily upon the amount of base and contingent interest received on the Company's tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and cash received from other investments, the amount of borrowings and the effective interest rate of these borrowings, and the amount of the Partnership's undistributed cash. The General Partner believes that cash provided by its tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds and other investments will be adequate to meet its projected long-term liquidity requirements, including the payment of expenses, interest, and distributions to unitholders.  Recently, income from investments has not been sufficient to fund such expenditures without utilizing cash reserves to supplement the deficit.  See discussion below regarding “Cash Available for Distribution.” As a result, beginning with the second quarter 2009 distribution, the General Partner lowered the Company's regular annual distribution from $0.54 to $0.50 per BUC, or $0.125 per quarter per BUC. The General Partner believes that distributions at this level are sustainable, however, if actual results vary from current projections and the actual CAD generated is less than the new regular distribution, such distribution amount may need to be reduced.
 
The Consolidated VIEs' and MF Properties' primary source of cash is net rental revenues generated by their real estate investments. Net rental revenues from a multifamily apartment property depend on the rental and occupancy rates of the property and on the level of operating expenses. Occupancy rates and rents are directly affected by the supply of, and demand for, apartments in the market area in which a property is located. This, in turn, is affected by several factors such as local or national economic conditions, the amount of new apartment construction and the affordability of single-family homes. In addition, factors such as government regulation (such as zoning laws), inflation, real estate and other taxes, labor problems and natural disasters can affect the economic operations of an apartment property.
 
The Consolidated VIEs' and MF Properties' primary uses of cash are: (i) the payment of operating expenses; and (ii) the payment of debt service.
 
On a consolidated basis, cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2010, increased approximately $2.5 million compared to the same period a year earlier mainly due to changes in working capital components. Cash from investing activities decreased approximately $60.4 million in 2010 as compared to 2009. The largest change in investing activities relates to $32.0 million in cash proceeds realized in the first quarter of 2009 from the early redemption of the bonds on Ashley Pointe, Woodbridge - Louisville and Woodbridge - Bloomington. No proceeds from the sale or redemption of investments were realized in 2010. Restricted cash increased approximately $18.1 million in 2010 due to the TEBS facility requirements as compared to a decrease in restricted cash in 2009 of approximately $7.9 million resulting in an increase in cash utilized of approximately $26.0 million. Net cash utilized for the acquisition of new investments in bonds, property partnerships, and other assets totaled approximately $31.0 million in 2010 compared to approximately $31.8 million in 2009 resulting in a decrease in cash utilized for investments of approximately $800,000. An investment sold in 2009 resulted in a $3.5 million increase in 2009 cash which was not repeated in 2010. Principal payments received resulted in an approximate $300,000 increase year over year. Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010, increased approximately $43.9 million compared to the same period a year earlier. Cash provided by debt financings increased approximately $40.3 million in 2010 as compared to 2009. Net cash provided by the sale of additional BUCs increased $2.7 million in 2010 over 2009. Principal payments on debt declined approximately $9.4 million in 2010 as compared to 2009. Cash used for interest rate derivatives and financing costs increased approximately $5.4 million and cash used for distributions increased approximately $3.1 million, accounting for the remaining change in cash from financing activities. The main transactions driving the changes in financing cash flows were the TEBS Financing closing in September and the sale of additional BUCs closing in April.
 
Cash Available for Distribution
 
Management utilizes a calculation of CAD as a means to determine the Partnership's ability to make distributions to unitholders.  The General Partner believes that CAD provides relevant information about its operations and is necessary along with net income for understanding its operating results.  To calculate CAD, amortization expense related to debt financing costs and bond reissuance costs, certain income due to the General Partner (defined as Tier 2 income in the Agreement of Limited Partnership), interest rate derivative expense or income (including adjustments to fair value), provision for loan losses, impairments on bonds, losses related to Consolidated VIEs including the cumulative effect of accounting change, and depreciation and amortization expense are added back to the Company's net income (loss) as computed in accordance with GAAP.  There is no generally accepted methodology for computing CAD, and the Partnership's computation of CAD may not be comparable to CAD reported by other companies.  Although the Partnership considers CAD to be a useful measure of its operating performance, CAD should not be considered as an alternative to net income or net cash flows from operating activities which are calculated in accordance with GAAP.
 

46

 

During June 2010, the Company completed a sales transaction whereby four of the MF Properties, the Ohio Properties, were sold to three new ownership entities controlled by an unaffiliated not-for-profit entity (see Note 5). As part of the transaction, the Company acquired 100% of the $18.3 million tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds issued by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency as part of a plan of financing for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Ohio Properties. The new owners did not contribute any capital to the transaction and the Company has effectively provided 100% of the capital structure to the new owners as part of the sale transaction. Pursuant to guidance related to property, plant, and equipment for real estate sales the sale and restructure does not meet the criteria for decrecognition of the properties and full accrual accounting treatment for the resulting gain. As such, the Company will continue to consolidate the Ohio Properties as if the sale was not completed. Under the sales agreement, the Ohio properties were sold for a total purchase price of $16.2 million. Cash received by the selling limited partnerships as part of the sale transaction represents a deferred gain on the sale transaction of approximately $1.8 million. The properties will continue to be presented as MF Properties and no gain will be recognized until such time as the transaction can be accounted for as a sale. As the deferred gain on the transaction represents cash paid to the Company and no on-going legal obligations related to the Ohio Properties or potential obligation to repay any amounts exists, the deferred gain is CAD and is shown as an adjustment in the CAD Calculation below. This gain meets the definition of Net Residual Proceeds representing contingent interest (Tier 2 income) and was therefore distributed 75% to the unitholders and 25% to the General Partner.
 
Beginning with the distribution for the second quarter of 2009, the Partnership's annual distribution was reduced from $0.54 per unit to $0.50 per unit due to AFCA 2's determination that higher borrowing costs and other factors would reduce the cash available to the Partnership to make distributions.  At times recently CAD has not been sufficient to fully fund such distributions without utilizing cash reserves to supplement the deficit.  While the Partnership currently expects to maintain the annual distribution amount of $0.50 per BUC, if it is unable to generate CAD at levels in excess of the annual distribution, such distribution amount may need to be reduced.
 
The following tables show the calculation of CAD for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
Net income (loss)
$
(400,360
)
 
$
23,838,953
 
 
$
(1,031,240
)
Net (income) loss related to VIEs and eliminations due to consolidation
2,466,260
 
 
(20,495,957
)
 
3,756,894
 
Net income before impact of VIE consolidation
2,065,900
 
 
3,342,996
 
 
2,725,654
 
Change in fair value of derivatives and interest rate derivative amortization
(571,684
)
 
830,142
 
 
721,102
 
Depreciation and amortization expense (Partnership only)
2,510,630
 
 
3,514,073
 
 
2,840,500
 
Bond purchase discount accretion (net of cash received)
(403,906
)
 
 
 
 
Deposit liability gain - Ohio sale agreement
1,775,527
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 2 Income distributable to the General Partner (1)
(464,045
)
 
(802,909
)
 
(38,336
)
Tier 2 Income distributable - contingent interest
(8,201
)
 
 
 
 
Ohio deferred interest
745,227
 
 
 
 
 
Asset impairment charge - Weatherford
2,716,330
 
 
 
 
 
Property loan losses
1,147,716
 
 
1,696,730
 
 
 
Loss on bond sale
 
 
127,495
 
 
 
CAD
$
9,513,494
 
 
$
8,708,527
 
 
$
6,248,920
 
Weighted average number of units outstanding,
 
 
 
 
 
basic and diluted
27,493,449
 
 
16,661,969
 
 
13,512,928
 
Net income, basic and diluted, per unit
$
0.07
 
 
$
0.15
 
 
$
0.20
 
Total CAD per unit
$
0.35
 
 
$
0.52
 
 
$
0.46
 
Distributions per unit
$
0.5000
 
 
$
0.5450
 
 
$
0.5400
 
 
 (1) As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, Net Interest Income representing contingent interest and Net Residual Proceeds representing contingent interest (Tier 2 income) will be distributed 75% to the unitholders and 25% to the General Partner. This adjustment represents the 25% of Tier 2 income due to the General Partner. For the year ended 2010, the deferred gain on the sale of the Ohio partnerships generated approximately $1.8 million and contingent interest generated approximately $33K of Tier II income. For 2009, the Tier 2 income distributable to the General Partner was generated by the early redemption of Woodbridge - Bloomington and Woodbridge - Louisville bond investments, the sale of Oak Grove and from Fairmont Oaks and Lake Forest Apartments.
 

47

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership held tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds which are collateralized by multifamily housing projects.  The multifamily housing projects are owned by entities that are not controlled by the Partnership.  The Partnership has no equity interest in these entities and does not guarantee any obligations of these entities.  Some of the ownership entities are deemed to be Consolidated VIEs and are consolidated with the Partnership for financial reporting purposes.  The VIEs that are consolidated with the Partnership do not have off-balance sheet arrangements.
 
The Partnership does not engage in trading activities involving non-exchange traded contracts. As such, the Partnership is not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market, or credit risk that could arise if it had engaged in such relationships.
 
The Partnership does not have any relationships or transactions with persons or entities that derive benefits from their non-independent relationships with the Partnership or its related parties other than what is disclosed in Note 12 to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
 
Contractual Obligations
 
The Partnership has the following contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010:
 
 
 
Less than 1 year
 
1-2 years
 
More than 2 years
 
Total
 
 
 
Debt financing
$
95,608,000
 
 
$
675,000
 
 
$
1,954,000
 
 
$
92,979,000
 
Mortgages payable
$
10,645,982
 
 
$
4,485,770
 
 
$
6,160,212
 
 
$
 
Effective interest rate(s) (1)
 
 
 
2.30
%
 
2.26
%
 
2.21
%
Interest (2)
$
9,009,193
 
 
$
4,747,374
 
 
$
2,235,512
 
 
$
2,026,307