PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies) |
6 Months Ended | ||||||||||||
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Jun. 30, 2025 | |||||||||||||
| PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | |||||||||||||
| Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2024, which have previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been omitted from this report on Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The results for the interim periods shown in this report are not necessarily indicative of future financial results. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.
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| Principles of Consolidation | Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sterling, Sterling Properties, LLLP, and wholly-owned limited liability companies. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. As of June 30, 2025 the Trust owned approximately 41.13% of the partnership interests (“OP Units”) of the Operating Partnership. The remaining OP Units, consisting exclusively of limited partner interests, are held by persons who contributed their interests in properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units. Under the LLLP Agreement and the individual’s respective redemption plan, these persons have the right to request the Operating Partnership redeem their OP Units following a specified restricted period. All redemptions are at the sole discretion of the Trust, acting for itself or in its capacity as General Partner of the Operating Partnership, and further subject to the conditions and limitations of the LLLP Agreement and redemption plans, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time. If the Trust accepts a redemption request, the redemption of OP Units shall be made in cash in an amount equal to the fair value of an equivalent number of common shares of the Trust. In lieu of delivering cash, however, the Trust, as the Operating Partnership’s general partner, may, at its option and in its sole and absolute discretion, choose to acquire any OP Units so tendered by issuing common shares in exchange for the tendered OP Units. If the Trust so chooses, its common shares will be exchanged for OP Units on a one-for-one basis. This one-for-one exchange ratio is subject to adjustment to prevent dilution. With each such exchange or redemption, the Trust’s percentage ownership in the Operating Partnership will increase. In addition, whenever the Trust issues common or other classes of its shares, it contributes the net proceeds it receives from the issuance to the Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnership issues to the Trust an equal number of OP Units or other partnership interests having preferences and rights that mirror the preferences and rights of the shares issued. This structure is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership REIT or “UPREIT.” Additionally, we evaluate the need to consolidate affiliates based on standards set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”). In determining whether we have a requirement to consolidate the accounts of an entity, management considers factors such as our ownership interest, our authority to make decisions and contractual and substantive participating rights of the limited partners and shareholders, as well as whether the entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) for which we have both: a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and b) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be potentially significant to the VIE. The Trust will consolidate the operations of a joint venture if the Trust determines that it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (VIE) and has substantial influence and control of the entity. In instances where the Trust determines that it is not the primary beneficiary of a VIE and the Trust does not control the joint venture but can exercise influence over the entity with respect to its operations and major decisions, the Trust will use the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the operations of a joint venture will not be consolidated with the Trust’s operations but instead its share of operations will be reflected as equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates on its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Additionally, the Trust’s net investment in the joint venture will be reflected as investment in unconsolidated entity on the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 5 for additional details regarding variable interest entities where the Trust uses the equity method of accounting. The Operating Partnership meets the criteria as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The Trust’s sole significant asset is its investment in the Operating Partnership. As a result, substantially all of the Trust’s assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership. All of the Trust’s debt is an obligation of the Operating Partnership, and the Trust guarantees the unsecured debt obligations of the Operating Partnership. |
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| Concentration of Credit Risk | Concentration of Credit Risk Our cash balances are maintained in various bank deposit accounts. The bank deposit amounts in these accounts may exceed federally insured limits at various times throughout the year. |
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| Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
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| Real Estate Investments | Real Estate Investments Real estate investments are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. The Trust allocates the purchase price of each acquired investment property accounted for as an asset acquisition based upon the relative fair value at acquisition date of the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which generally include (i) land, (ii) building and other improvements, (iii) in-place lease intangibles, (iv) acquired above and below market lease intangibles, and (v) assumed financing that is determined to be above or below market, if any. Transaction costs related to acquisitions accounted for as asset acquisitions are capitalized as a cost of the property. For tangible assets acquired, including land, building and other improvements, the Trust considers available comparable market and industry information in estimating acquisition date fair value. Key factors considered in the calculation of fair value of both real property and intangible assets include the current market rent values, “dark” periods (building in vacant status), direct costs estimated with obtaining a new tenant, discount rates, escalation factors, standard lease terms, and tenant improvement costs. Furniture and fixtures are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for renewals and improvements that significantly add to the productive capacity or extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized. Expenditures for routine maintenance and repairs, which do not add to the value or extend useful lives, are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is provided for over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:
The Trust’s investment properties are reviewed for potential impairment at the end of each reporting period or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. At the end of each reporting period, the Trust separately determines whether impairment indicators exist for each property. Based on our evaluation, there were no impairment losses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024. |
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| Equity | Equity The Amended and Restated Share Redemption Plan, effective June 20, 2024, permits us to repurchase common shares held by our shareholders and limited partnership units held by partners of our Operating Partnership, up to an aggregate amount of $75,000 worth of shares and units, upon request by the holders after they have held them for at least one year and subject to other conditions and limitations described in the plan. The amount remaining to be redeemed as of June 30, 2025, was $11,998. The redemption price for such shares and units redeemed under the plan was fixed at $22.80 per share or unit, which became effective January 1, 2025. The redemption plan will terminate in the event the shares become listed on any national securities exchange, the subject of bona fide quotes on any inter-dealer quotation system or electronic communications network or are the subject of bona fide quotes in the pink sheets. Additionally, the Board, in its sole discretion, may terminate, amend or suspend the redemption plan at any time if it determines to do so is in our best interest. Any and all units redeemed by the Limited Partnership shall be canceled, and will have the status of authorized but unissued Units. Units acquired by the Limited Partnership through the Redemption Plan will not be reissued unless they are first registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and other appropriate state securities laws or otherwise issued pursuant to exemptions from applicable registration requirements of such laws.
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| Federal Income Taxes | Federal Income Taxes We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. A REIT calculates taxable income similar to other domestic corporations, with the major difference being a REIT is entitled to a deduction for dividends paid. A REIT is generally required to distribute each year at least 90% of its taxable income. If it chooses to retain the remaining 10% of taxable income, it may do so, but it will be subject to a corporate tax on such income. REIT shareholders are generally taxed on REIT distributions of ordinary income in the same manner as they are taxed on other corporate distributions.
We intend to continue to qualify as a REIT and, provided we maintain such status, will not be taxed on the portion of the income that is distributed to shareholders. In addition, we intend to distribute all of our taxable income; therefore, no provisions or liabilities for income taxes have been recorded in the financial statements. We follow FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, to recognize, measure, present and disclose in our consolidated financial statements uncertain tax positions that we have taken or expect to take on a tax return. As of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 we did not have any liabilities for uncertain tax positions that we believe should be recognized in our consolidated financial statements. We are no longer subject to Federal and State tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2021. |
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| Revenue Recognition | Revenue Recognition The Trust is the lessor for its residential and commercial leases. Leases are analyzed on an individual basis to determine lease classification. As of June 30, 2025 all leases analyzed under the Trust’s lease classification process were determined to be operating leases. |
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| Earnings per Common Share | Earnings per Common Share Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders (the “numerator”) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (the “denominator”) during the period. Sterling had no dilutive potential common shares during the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 and, therefore, basic earnings per common share was equal to diluted earnings per common share for all periods presented. For the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, Sterling’s denominators for the basic and diluted earnings per common share were approximately 12,939,000 and 11,348,000, respectively.
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| Recent Accounting Pronouncements | Recent Accounting Pronouncements In August 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-05, “Business Combinations - Joint Venture Formations” (“ASU 2023-05”), which addresses the accounting for contributions made to a joint venture. ASU 2023-05 requires joint ventures to measure all assets and liabilities upon formation at fair value. This guidance is to be applied prospectively for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025. During the current reporting period, we adopted ASU 2023-05. Adoption of ASU 2023-05 did not have an impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Segment Reporting. In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements so that investors can better understand an entity’s overall performance and assess potential future cash flows. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 include, but are not limited to: (i) disclosure of, on an annual basis, significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss; (ii) disclosure of, on an annual and interim basis, an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition (the other segment items category is the difference between segment revenue less the significant expenses disclosed and each reported measure of segment profit or loss); (iii) disclosure of, on an interim basis, all currently required annual disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit (loss) and assets; (iv) clarification that if the CODM uses more than one measure of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, an entity may report one or more of those additional measures of segment profit; and (v) disclosure of the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the amendments in ASU 2023-07 were adopted retrospectively and did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement- Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires new tabular disclosures in the notes to consolidated financial statements, disaggregating certain cost and expense categories within relevant captions on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The prescribed cost and expense categories requiring disaggregated disclosures include purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation and intangible asset amortization, along with certain other expense disclosures already required by U.S. GAAP that would need to be integrated within the new tabular disaggregated expense disclosures. Additionally, the amendments also require the disclosure of total selling expenses and an entity's definition of those expenses. The amendments in ASU 2024-03 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, which for the Company would be applicable to fiscal year 2027, and for subsequent interim periods. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted. The Trust is currently evaluating the impact the new accounting standard will have on its expense disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. |