Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. These consolidated financial statements include all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to reflect a fair statement of the results and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

On December 19, 2013, ESS and BRE Properties, Inc. (“BRE”) entered into a definitive agreement to combine the two companies. Under the terms of the agreement, each BRE common share will be converted into 0.2971 newly issued shares of ESS common stock plus $12.33 in cash. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of approval of ESS shareholders and BRE shareholders. Additional information about the merger can be found in the Form S-4 filed with the SEC on January 29, 2014 and in other relevant documents that the Company files with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the Company’s website at www.essexpropertytrust.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Certain statements below discuss the Company’s estimates of its 2014 regional Same-Property revenues; these estimates are for Essex on a standalone basis, excluding the impact of the proposed merger with BRE.

OVERVIEW

ESS is a self-administered and self-managed REIT that acquires, develops, redevelops and manages apartment communities in selected residential areas located primarily in the West Coast of the United States. ESS owns all of its interests in its real estate investments, directly or indirectly, through the Operating Partnership. ESS is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of December 31, 2013, had an approximately 94.6% general partner interest in the Operating Partnership.

The Company’s investment strategy has two components: constant monitoring of existing markets, and evaluation of new markets to identify areas with the characteristics that underlie rental growth. The Company’s strong financial condition supports its investment strategy by enhancing its ability to quickly shift acquisition, development, and disposition activities to markets that will optimize the performance of the portfolio.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had ownership interests in 164 communities, comprising 34,079 apartment units, and the apartment communities are located in the following major West Coast regions:

Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ventura counties)

Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area)

Seattle Metro (Seattle metropolitan area)

As of December 31, 2013, the Company also had ownership interests in four commercial buildings (with approximately 315,900 square feet).

As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s development pipeline was comprised of two consolidated projects under development, nine unconsolidated joint venture projects under development and one consolidated predevelopment project aggregating 2,701 units, with total incurred costs of $696.7 million, and estimated remaining project costs of approximately $407.0 million for total estimated project costs of $1.1 billion. By region, the Company's operating results for 2013 and 2012 and projections for 2014 new housing supply, job growth, and rental income are as follows:

Southern California Region: As of December 31, 2013, this region represented 46% of the Company’s consolidated apartment units. During the year ended December 31, 2013, revenues for “2013/2012 Same-Properties” (as defined below), or “Same-Property revenues,” increased 4.4% in 2013 as compared to 2012. In 2014, the Company expects new residential supply of 15,400 multifamily and 10,500 single family homes, which represents a total new multifamily supply of 0.7% and 0.5% of total housing stock, respectively. The Company assumes an increase of 132,400 jobs or 1.9%, and an increase in same-property revenues between 3.8% to 5.0% in 2014.

Northern California Region: As of December 31, 2013, this region represented 32% of the Company’s consolidated apartment units. Same-Property revenues increased 8.2% in 2013 as compared to 2012. In 2014, the Company expects new residential supply of 10,800 multifamily and 5,225 single family homes, which represents a total new multifamily supply of 1.3% and 0.7%, respectively, of total housing stock. The Company assumes an increase of 73,000 jobs or 2.5%, and an increase in same-property revenues between 6.3% to 7.8% in 2014.

Seattle Metro Region: As of December 31, 2013, this region represented 22% of the Company’s consolidated apartment units. Same-Property revenues increased 7.7% in 2013 as compared to 2012. In 2014, the Company expects new residential supply of 8,500 multifamily and 6,500 single family homes, which represents a total new multifamily supply of 1.9% and 1.3%, respectively, of total housing stock. The Company assumes an increase of 39,000 jobs or 2.6%, and an increase in same-property revenues between 5.5% to 7.0% in 2014.

The Company expects 2014 Same-Property revenues to increase compared to 2013 results, as renewal and new leases are signed at higher rents in 2014 than 2013. Same-Property operating expenses are expected to increase in 2014, and forecasted increases in property taxes account for approximately 56% of the forecasted increase in property expenses in 2014 compared to 2013.

The Company’s consolidated communities are as follows:

		As of December 31, 2013								As of December 31, 2012
		Apartment Units				%				Apartment Units				%
Southern California			13,855				46	%			13,656				47	%
Northern California			9,431				32	%			8,987				31	%
Seattle Metro			6,703				22	%			6,598				22	%
Total			29,989				100	%			29,241				100	%

Co-investments including Fund II, Wesco I and Wesco III communities, and preferred equity co-investment communities are not included in the table presented above for both years.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2013 to the Year Ended December 31, 2012

The Company’s average financial occupancies for the Company’s stabilized apartment communities or “2013/2012 Same-Properties” (stabilized properties consolidated by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012) decreased 10 basis points to 96.2% in 2013 from 96.3% in 2012. Financial occupancy is defined as the percentage resulting from dividing actual rental revenue by total possible rental revenue. Actual rental revenue represents contractual rental revenue pursuant to leases without considering delinquency and concessions. Total possible rental revenue represents the value of all apartment units, with occupied units valued at contractual rental rates pursuant to leases and vacant units valued at estimated market rents. We believe that financial occupancy is a meaningful measure of occupancy because it considers the value of each vacant unit at its estimated market rate.

Market rates are determined using the recently signed effective rates on new leases at the property and are used as the starting point in the determination of the market rates of vacant units. The Company may increase or decrease these rates based on the supply and demand in the apartment community’s market. The Company will check the reasonableness of these rents based on its position within the market and compare the rents against the asking rents by comparable properties in the market. Financial occupancy may not completely reflect short-term trends in physical occupancy and financial occupancy rates, as disclosed by other REITs, may not be comparable to the Company’s calculation of financial occupancy.

The Company does not take into account delinquency and concessions to calculate actual rent for occupied units and market rents for vacant units. The calculation of financial occupancy compares contractual rates for occupied units to estimated market rents for unoccupied units, thus the calculation compares the gross value of all apartment units excluding delinquency and concessions. For apartment communities that are development properties in lease-up without stabilized occupancy figures, the Company believes the physical occupancy rate is the appropriate performance metric. While an apartment community is in the lease-up phase, the Company’s primary motivation is to stabilize the property which may entail the use of rent concessions and other incentives, and thus financial occupancy which is based on contractual revenue is not considered the best metric to quantify occupancy.

The regional breakdown of the Company’s 2013/2012 Same-Property portfolio for financial occupancy for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:

		Years ended
		December 31,
		2013				2012
Southern California			96.1	%			96.1	%
Northern California			96.3	%			96.7	%
Seattle Metro			96.1	%			96.1	%

The following table provides a breakdown of revenue amounts, including the revenues attributable to 2013/2012 Same-Properties.

						Years Ended
		Number of				December 31,								Dollar				Percentage
		Properties				2013				2012				Change				Change
Property Revenues ($ in thousands)
2013/2012 Same-Properties:
Southern California			58			$	235,306			$	225,435			$	9,871				4.4	%
Northern California			35				184,508				170,578				13,930				8.2
Seattle Metro			29				93,139				86,483				6,656				7.7
Total 2013/2012 Same-Property revenues			122				512,953				482,496				30,457				6.3
2013/2012 Non-Same Property Revenues (1)							89,050				44,200				44,850				101.5
Total property revenues						$	602,003			$	526,696			$	75,307				14.3	%

(1) Includes fifteen communities acquired after January 1, 2012, two redevelopment communities, and three commercial buildings.

2013/2012 Same-Property Revenues increased by $30.5 million or 6.3% to $513.0 million for 2013 compared to $482.5 million in 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in scheduled rents of $29.6 million as reflected in an increase of 6.3% in average rental rates from $1,502 per unit for 2012 to $1,597 per unit for 2013. Scheduled rents increased in all regions by 4.1%, 8.4%, and 7.7% in Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle Metro, respectively. Income from utility billings and other income increased by $1.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively in 2013 compared to 2012. Occupancy decreased 10 basis points in 2013 to 96.2% compared to 96.3% in 2012.

2013/2012 Non-Same Property Revenues increased by $44.9 million or 102% to $89.1 million in 2013 compared to $44.2 million to 2012. The increase was primarily due to revenue generated from fifteen communities acquired or consolidated since January 1, 2012 (Annaliese, Ascent, Bennett Lofts, Domain, Domaine, Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place, Fox Plaza, Montebello, Park Catalina, Park West, Reed Square, Slater 116, The Huntington, Vox and Willow Lake).

Management and other fees from affiliates increased $0.2 million or 1.8% to $11.7 million in 2013 compared to $11.5 million in 2012. The increase is primarily due to the asset and property management fees earned from Wesco I and II co-investments formed during 2011, and development fees earned from the joint ventures formed during 2012, and development fees earned from the development joint venture formed in 2013 and 2012 to develop Epic, Expo, Connolly Station, Park 20 (fka Elkhorn), Mosso I and II, The Huxley, The Dylan, The Village and One South Market. The increase in management fees was offset by a reduction of $2.3 million in asset and property management fees from the sale of eight Fund II communities since the fourth quarter of 2012. An additional four communities owned by Fund II were sold in 2013, and the remaining two communities are expected to be sold in 2014.

Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes increased $14.9 million or 12.1% in 2013 compared to 2012, primarily due to the acquisition of fifteen communities. 2013/2012 Same-Property operating expenses excluding real estate taxes, increased by $3.6 million or 3.2% in 2013 compared to 2012, due mainly to a $1.4 million increase in repairs and maintenance, a $1.2 million increase in utilities expense, and a $0.9 million increase in administration costs.

Real estate taxes increased $8.9 million or 18.5% in 2013 compared to 2012, due primarily to the acquisition of fifteen communities. 2013/2012 Same-Property real estate taxes increased by $2.6 million or 6.0% for the 2013 compared to 2012 due to $1.3 million or 17.5% increase in property taxes for Seattle Metro due to higher assessed values for 2013, and an increase of 3.7% in property taxes for the majority of the properties located in California.

Depreciation expense increased by $23.2 million or 13.7% in 2013 compared to 2012, due to the acquisition of fifteen communities. The increase is due to the capitalization of approximately $104.2 million in additions to rental properties through 2013, including $42.0 million spent on redevelopment, $21.2 million on improvements to recent acquisitions, $8.6 million on lessor required capital expenditures, and $5.3 million spent on revenue generating capital expenditures. Approximately $92.0 million in additions to rental properties was capitalized for 2012, including $39.0 million spent on redevelopment, $13.7 million spent on improvements to recent acquisitions, and $7.7 million spent on revenue generating capital expenditures.

General and administrative expense increased $2.3 million or 9.8% in 2013 compared to 2012 primarily due to annual compensation increases for merit, investments in technology, and the addition of staff.

Merger expenses include, but are not limited to, advisor fees, legal fees, and accounting fees related to the pending merger with BRE Properties, Inc. (“BRE”). The Company entered into a definitive agreement to combine with BRE in December 2013. Merger expenses were $4.3 million for 2013 and zero for 2012.

Interest expense before amortization increased $4.4 million or 4.3% in 2013, primarily due to an increase in average outstanding debt for the funding of 2012 and 2013 acquisitions and development pipeline.

Interest and other income decreased by $2.2 million in 2013 primarily due to $2.3 million of promote income earned from achieving certain performance hurdles related to the Essex Skyline co-investment in 2012.

Equity income in co-investments increased by $14.2 million to $55.9 million in 2013 compared to $41.7 million in 2012. The increase was primarily due to the Company’s share of the gain on the sale of five Fund II communities of $38.8 million, net of internal disposition costs, and $1.4 million income earned from the early prepayment of a preferred equity investment in 2013. Additionally, equity income increased with income earned from four communities acquired by the Wesco joint ventures in the second half of 2012 and two communities in the second quarter of 2013. The increase in equity income in 2013 by the Wesco joint venture was offset by a decrease in income related to the sale of eight Fund II communities since the fourth quarter of 2012 including four communities sold in the third quarter of 2013.

Loss on early retirement of debt, net was $0.3 million for 2013 compared to $5.0 million in 2012. The $0.3 million loss in 2013 reflects a gain of $1.5 million earned from the redemption of bonds in the second quarter of 2013 offset by losses incurred from the write-off of deferred financing costs and prepayment penalties related to the prepayment of secured debt loans in 2013. The 2012 loss was due to the write-off of deferred financing costs and prepayment penalties related to the early termination of secured debt related to six communities. The loss for 2012 also included the Company’s pro-rata share of the write-off of deferred financing costs and prepayment penalties incurred for the prepayment of the secured debt for the Essex Skyline joint venture and seven Fund II communities sold in 2012.

Income from discontinued operations for 2013 was $31.2 million and included gains of $29.2 million from the sales of Linden Square, Brentwood and Cambridge. For 2012, income from discontinued operations was $11.9 million and included a gain of $9.8 million from the sale of Tierra del Sol/Norte and Alpine Country, net of internal disposition costs. Discontinued operations for 2013 and 2012 reflect the operating results of the three communities sold in 2013 and the two communities sold in 2012.

Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2012 to the Year Ended December 31, 2011

The Company’s average financial occupancies for the Company’s stabilized apartment communities for “2012/2011 Same-Properties” (stabilized properties consolidated by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011) remained consistent at 96.3% for 2012 and 2011. The regional breakdown of the Company’s stabilized 2012/2011 Same-Property portfolio for financial occupancy for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:

		Years ended
		December 31,
		2012				2011
Southern California			96.1	%			96.3	%
Northern California			96.7	%			96.6	%
Seattle Metro			96.1	%			96.4	%

The following table provides a breakdown of revenue amounts, including the revenues attributable to 2012/2011 Same-Properties.

						Years Ended
		Number of				December 31,								Dollar				Percentage
		Properties				2012				2011				Change				Change
Property Revenues ($ in thousands)
2012/2011 Same-Properties:
Southern California			56			$	224,779			$	215,738			$	9,041				4.2	%
Northern California			33				159,993				146,008				13,985				9.6
Seattle Metro			27				83,153				76,650				6,503				8.5
Total 2012/2011 Same-Property revenues			116				467,925				438,396				29,529				6.7
2012/2011 Non-Same Property Revenues (1)							58,771				22,264				36,507				164.0
Total property revenues						$	526,696			$	460,660			$	66,036				14.3	%

(1) Includes thirteen communities acquired after January 1, 2011, one redevelopment community, five development communities, and three commercial buildings.

2012/2011 Same-Property Revenues increased by $29.5 million or 6.7% to $467.9 million in 2012 compared to $438.4 million in 2011. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in scheduled rents of $27.7 million as reflected in an increase of 6.5% in average rental rates from $1,393 per unit for 2011 to $1,483 per unit for 2012. Scheduled rents increased in all regions by 3.8%, 9.5%, and 8.3% in Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle Metro, respectively. Income from utility billings and other income increased by $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively in 2012 compared to 2011. Occupancy was consistent between years at 96.3%.

2012/2011 Non-Same Property Revenues increased $36.5 million or 164% to $58.8 million in 2012 compared to $22.3 million in 2011. The increase was primarily due to revenue generated from five development communities (Via, Allegro, Bellerive, Muse, and Santee Village), thirteen communities acquired or consolidated since January 1, 2011 (Bernard, 1000 Kiely, Delano/Bon Terra, Reed Square, Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place, Park Catalina, The Huntington, Montebello, Park West, Domaine, Ascent, Willow Lake, and Bennett Lofts).

Management and other fees from affiliates increased $4.7 million or 69.5% to $11.5 million in 2012 compared to $6.8 million in 2011. The increase is primarily due to the asset and property management fees earned from Wesco I and II co-investments formed during 2011, and development fees earned from the joint ventures formed in 2011 and 2012 to develop Epic, Expo, Connolly Station, Park 20 (fka Elkhorn), Mosso I and Mosso II (fka Folsom and Fifth), The Huxley and The Dylan development projects.

Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes increased $10.1 million or 8.9% in 2012 compared to 2011, primarily due to the acquisition of thirteen communities and the lease-up of five development properties. 2012/2011 Same-Property operating expenses excluding real estate taxes increased by $1.9 million or 1.7% for 2012 compared to 2011, due mainly to a $1.5 million increase in salaries, marketing, and administration costs and a $0.3 million increase in utilities due to increases in rates for water and sewer.

Real estate taxes increased $4.6 million or 10.5% in 2012 compared to 2011, due primarily to the acquisition of thirteen communities and expensing property taxes instead of capitalizing the cost for communities that were previously under development. 2012/2011 Same-Property real estate taxes increased by $0.9 million or 2.3% for 2012 compared to 2011 due to an increase of 5.3% in property taxes for the Seattle Metro and 2.0% in property taxes for the majority of properties located in California regulated by Proposition 13 offset by temporary reductions in assessed property valuations for selected communities located in California.

Depreciation expense increased by $19.2 million or 12.8% in 2012 compared to 2011, due to the acquisition of thirteen communities and the lease-up of five development properties. The increase is due to the capitalization of approximately $92.0 million in additions to rental properties in 2012, including $39.0 million spent on redevelopment, $13.7 million spent on improvement to recent acquisitions, and $7.7 million spent on revenue generating capital expenditures. Approximately $95.3 million in additions to rental properties was capitalized for 2011, including $45.1 million spent on redevelopment, $16.4 million spent on improvements to recent acquisitions, and $7.6 million spent on revenue generating capital expenditures.

General and administrative expense increased $2.6 million or 12.6% in 2012 compared to 2011 primarily due to an increase of acquisitions cost of $1.3 million compared to 2011 related to the increase in acquisitions in 2012 compared to 2011, annual compensation adjustments for merit, and the cost of hiring additional staff to manage the new acquisitions.

Cost of management and other fees increased $1.9 million or 41.3% in 2012 compared to 2011 primarily due to an increase in administrative costs due to hiring of additional staff to assist with the management of the Company’s co-investments including Wesco I and II and the development joint ventures formed in 2011 and 2012.

Interest expense before amortization increased $8.6 million or 9.3% in 2012 compared to 2011, primarily due to the payoff of the $250 million secured line of credit in the fourth quarter of 2011 which had an average interest rate of 1.3%. The Company replaced the secured line with an unsecured term loan at an average interest rate of 2.7%. Also, on March 31, 2011, the Company issued $150 million of private placement notes with an average interest rate of 4.5%, on August 15, 2012 the Company issued $300 million of new unsecured bonds with an interest rate of 3.625%, and the Company drew an additional $150 million on a bank term loan in the fourth quarter of 2012. Thus, interest expense increased due to an increase in average outstanding debt for the funding of 2012 acquisitions and the development pipeline and a higher average interest rate for 2012 compared to 2011.

Interest and other income decreased by $3.3 million in 2012 primarily due to $2.3 million of promote income earned from achieving certain performance hurdles related to the Essex Skyline co-investment and the sale of marketable securities for a gain of $0.8 million in 2012, compared to a gain of $5.0 million from the sale of marketable securities, $0.2 million gain from the sale of a land parcel, and a $1.7 million income tax benefit from a taxable REIT subsidiary that met the “more likely than not” threshold in the fourth quarter of 2011. This tax benefit relates to the write-off of an investment in a joint venture development project recognized during 2009.

Equity income (loss) in co-investments was income of $41.7 million in 2012 compared to a loss of $0.5 million in 2011. The increase was primarily due to the Company’s pro-rata share of the gain of $29.1 million from the sale of seven properties owned by Fund II, and income of $13.5 million in 2012 compared to $3.5 million for 2011, related to the Company’s preferred equity investments made in 2011. In the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company made a preferred equity investment in Wesco II which earned $9.0 million in 2012 compared to $0.5 million in 2011.

Gain on remeasurement of co-investment of $21.9 million in 2012 was due to the Company’s acquisition of the joint venture partner’s membership interest in Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place which the Company subsequently consolidated. Upon consolidation, a gain was recorded equal to the amount by which the fair value of the Company’s previously noncontrolling interest exceeded its carrying value.

Loss on early retirement of debt was $5.0 million for 2012 and was due to the write-off of deferred financing costs and prepayment penalties related to the early termination of secured debt related to six communities. The loss for 2012 also included the Company’s pro-rata share of the write-off of deferred financing costs and prepayment penalties incurred for the prepayment of the secured debt for the Essex Skyline joint venture and seven Fund II communities sold in 2012. During 2011, the loss on early retirement of debt was due to the write-off of deferred financing costs related to the termination of the Company’s $250 million secured line of credit with Freddie Mac and mortgages paid-off before maturity in 2011.

Income from discontinued operations for 2012 was $11.9 million and included a gain of $9.8 million from the sale of Tierra del Sol/Norte and Alpine Country, net of internal disposition costs. For 2011, income from discontinued operations was $10.6 million and included a gain of $7.5 million from the sale of Woodlawn Colonial and Clarendon, net of internal disposition costs. Discontinued operations for 2012 and 2011 reflect the operating results of the two communities sold in both 2012 and 2011.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table sets forth the Company’s cash flows for 2013 and 2012 ($ in thousands):

		For the year
		ended				For the quarter ended
		12/31/13				12/31/2013				9/30/2013				6/30/2013				3/31/2013
Cash flow provided by (used in):
Operating activities		$	304,982			$	79,900				74,496				64,894				85,692
Investing activities			(453,696	)			(144,709	)			(27,306	)			(175,944	)			(105,737	)
Financing activities			148,599				73,791				(57,898	)			100,423				32,283
		For the year
		ended				For the quarter ended
		12/31/12				12/31/2012				9/30/2012				6/30/2012				3/31/2012
Cash flow provided by (used in):
Operating activities		$	267,499			$	48,164			$	89,943			$	57,232			$	72,160
Investing activities			(812,138	)			(294,072	)			(201,888	)			(272,127	)			(44,051	)
Financing activities			550,356				262,571				109,756				205,283				(27,254	)

ESS’s business is operated primarily through the Operating Partnership. ESS issues public equity from time to time, but does not otherwise generate any capital itself or conduct any business itself, other than incurring certain expenses in operating as a public company which are fully reimbursed by the Operating Partnership. ESS itself does not hold any indebtedness, and its only material asset is its ownership of partnership interests of the Operating Partnership. ESS’s principal funding requirement is the payment of dividends on its common stock and preferred stock. ESS’s principal source of funding for its dividend payments is distributions it receives from the Operating Partnership.

As of December 31, 2013, ESS owned an a 94.6% general partner interest and the limited partners owned the remaining 5.4% interest in the Operating Partnership.

The liquidity of ESS is dependent on the Operating Partnership’s ability to make sufficient distributions to ESS. The primary cash requirement of ESS is its payment of dividends to its stockholders. ESS also guarantees some of the Operating Partnership’s debt, as discussed further in Notes 7 and 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein. If the Operating Partnership fails to fulfill certain of its debt requirements, which trigger the ESS’s guarantee obligations, then ESS will be required to fulfill its cash payment commitments under such guarantees. However, ESS’s only significant asset is its investment in the Operating Partnership.

For ESS to maintain its qualification as a REIT, it must pay dividends to its stockholders aggregating annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains. While historically ESS has satisfied this distribution requirement by making cash distributions to its stockholders, it may choose to satisfy this requirement by making distributions of cash or other property, including, in limited circumstances, ESS’s own stock. As a result of this distribution requirement, the Operating Partnership cannot rely on retained earnings to fund its ongoing operations to the same extent that other companies whose parent companies are not REITs can. ESS may need to continue to raise capital in the equity markets to fund the Operating Partnership’s working capital needs, acquisitions and developments.

Fitch Ratings ("Fitch"), Moody’s Investor Service, and Standard and Poor's (“S&P”) credit agencies rate Essex Property Trust, Inc. and Essex Portfolio, L.P. BBB+/Stable, Baa2/Stable, and BBB/Stable, respectively.

At December 31, 2013, the Company had $18.5 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $90.1 million in marketable securities, of which $31.4 million were held available for sale. The Company believes that cash flows generated by its operations, existing cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities balances, availability under existing lines of credit and the $1.0 billion bridge loan, access to capital markets and the ability to generate cash from the disposition of real estate are sufficient to meet all of the Company’s reasonably anticipated cash needs during 2014. The timing, source and amounts of cash flows provided by financing activities and used in investing activities are sensitive to changes in interest rates and other fluctuations in the capital markets environment, which can affect the Company’s plans for acquisitions, dispositions, development and redevelopment activities.

The Company has two lines of credit aggregating $625.0 million as of December 31, 2013 including a $600.0 million unsecured line of credit. As of December 31, 2013, there was a $199.0 million balance on this unsecured line of credit with and underlying interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.075%. In January 2014, the Company increased the capacity of this unsecured line of credit facility from $600.0 million to $1.0 billion and included an accordion feature pursuant to which the Company could expand to $1.5 billion. The new facility carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.95%, based on the Company’s current credit ratings, and matures in December 2017 with one 18-month extension option. The Company also has a $25.0 million working capital unsecured line of credit agreement. As of December 31, 2013, there was a $20.4 million balance on this unsecured line with an underlying interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.075%. This facility matured in January 2014 and the Company extended the $25.0 million working capital unsecured line of credit for two additional years. The pricing was reduced to an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.95%, based on the Company’s current credit ratings.

During April 2013, the Company issued $300 million of senior unsecured bonds due May 1, 2023 with a coupon rate of 3.25% per annum. The interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013 until the maturity date of May 1, 2023. The Company used the net proceeds of this offering to repay indebtedness under the Company’s $600 million unsecured line of credit facility and for other general corporate and working capital purposes.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had a $350 million unsecured term loan outstanding at an average interest rate of 2.5%. The term loan has a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.2%. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company increased the size of the term loan from $200 million to $350 million. The Company entered into interest rate swap contracts for a term of five years with a notional amount totaling $300 million, which effectively converted the interest rate on $300 million of the term loan to a fixed rate. In January 2014, the term loan was amended and the underlying interest rate on the term loan, which is based on a tiered rate structure tied to the Company’s corporate ratings, was reduced from LIBOR plus 1.20% to LIBOR plus 1.05%.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s mortgage notes payable totaled $1.4 billion which consisted of $1.2 billion in fixed rate debt with interest rates varying from 4.3% to 6.4% and maturity dates ranging from 2015 to 2021 and $167.6 million of tax-exempt variable rate demand notes with a weighted average interest rate of 1.6%. The tax-exempt variable rate demand notes have maturity dates ranging from 2025 to 2039, and $156.9 million are subject to interest rate caps.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had $465 million of unsecured bonds outstanding at an average interest rate of 4.5% with maturity dates ranging from March 2016 through August 2021.

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company issued $300 million of senior unsecured bonds due August 2022 with a coupon rate of 3.625% per annum and payable on February 15th and August 15th of each year, beginning February 15, 2013.

The Company’s unsecured line of credit and unsecured debt agreements contain debt covenants related to limitations on indebtedness and liabilities and maintenance of minimum levels of consolidated earnings before depreciation, interest and amortization. The Company was in compliance with the debt covenants as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

The Company pays quarterly dividends from cash available for distribution. Until it is distributed, cash available for distribution is invested by the Company primarily in investment grade securities held available for sale or is used by the Company to reduce balances outstanding under its line of credit.

The Company has benefited from borrowing from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and there are no assurances that these entities will lend to the Company in the future. To the extent that the Company’s access to capital and credit is at a higher cost than the Company has experienced in recent years (reflected in higher interest rates for debt financing or a lower stock price for equity financing) the Company’s ability to make acquisitions, develop communities, obtain new financing, and refinance existing borrowing at competitive rates could be adversely impacted. For the past two years the Company has primarily issued unsecured debt and repaid secured debt when it has matured to place less reliance on mortgage debt financing, and to unencumber more of the Company's communities.

Derivative Activity

The Company uses interest rate swaps and interest rate cap contracts to manage certain interest rate risks. The valuation of these instruments is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves. The fair values of interest rate swaps are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts (or payments) and the discounted expected variable cash payments (or receipts). The variable cash payments (or receipts) are based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements.

The Company has entered into interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $300 million that effectively fixed the interest rate on $300 million of the $350 million unsecured term loan at 2.29%. These derivatives qualify for hedge accounting.

As of December 31, 2013 the Company also had nine interest rate cap contracts totaling a notional amount of $156.9 million that qualify for hedge accounting as they effectively limit the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk by providing a ceiling on the underlying variable interest rate for $156.9 million of the $167.6 million of the Company’s tax exempt variable rate debt.

During the third quarter 2012, the Company terminated a swap transaction with respect to the $38.0 million of tax-exempt bonds for the 101 San Fernando apartment community with Citibank because the bonds were repurchased by the Company at par.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the aggregate carrying value of the interest rate swap contracts was a liability of $2.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively. The aggregate carrying value of the interest rate cap contracts was zero on the balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

During the first quarter of 2011, the Company settled its remaining $20.0 million forward starting swap contract for $2.3 million which was applied to the $32.0 million mortgage obtained in February 2011, increasing the effective borrowing rate from 5.4% to 6.2%.

No hedge ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges was incurred during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Issuance of Common Stock

During March 2013, the Company filed a new shelf registration statement with the SEC, allowing the Company to sell an undetermined number or amount of certain equity (only ESS) and debt securities as defined in the prospectus.

ESS has entered into equity distribution agreements with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Liquidnet, Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Pursuant to its equity distribution program, in 2013, ESS issued 913,344 shares of common stock for $138.4 million, net of fees and commissions, and in 2012, ESS issued 2,404,096 shares of common stock for proceeds of $357.7 million, net of fees and commissions. During the first quarter of 2014 through February 24, 2014, ESS has issued 462,555 shares of common stock at an average price of $162.97 for proceeds of $74.9 million, net of fees and commissions. Under this program, ESS may from time to time sell shares of common stock into the existing trading market at current market prices, and the Company anticipates using the net proceeds, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership, to pay down debt, acquire apartment communities and fund the development pipeline. As of February 24, 2014, ESS may sell an additional 4,441,546 shares under the current equity distribution program.

Capital Expenditures

Non-revenue generating capital expenditures are improvements and upgrades that extend the useful life of the property. For the year ended December 31, 2013, non-revenue generating capital expenditures totaled approximately $1,051 per unit. The Company expects to incur approximately $1,200 per unit in non-revenue generating capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2014. These expenditures do not include the improvements required in connection with the origination of mortgage loans, expenditures for deferred maintenance on acquisition properties, and expenditures for property renovations and improvements which are expected to generate additional revenue. The Company expects that cash from operations and/or its lines of credit will fund such expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that the actual expenditures incurred during 2014 and/or the funding thereof will not be significantly different than the Company’s current expectations.

Development and Predevelopment Pipeline

The Company defines development activities as new communities that are in various stages of active development, or the community is in lease-up and phases of the project are not completed. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had two consolidated development projects comprised of 311 units with an estimated cost of $99.2 million of which $62.6 million remains to be expended, and nine unconsolidated joint venture active development projects comprised of 2,190 units with an estimated cost of $990.7 million, of which $344.4 million remains to be expended.

The Company defines the predevelopment pipeline as proposed communities in negotiation or in the entitlement process with a high likelihood of becoming entitled development projects. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had one consolidated joint venture predevelopment project aggregating 200 units. The Company may also acquire land for future development purposes or sale.

The Company expects to fund the development and predevelopment pipeline by using a combination of some or all of the following sources: its working capital, amounts available on its lines of credit, construction loans, net proceeds from public and private equity and debt issuances, and proceeds from the disposition of properties, if any.

Redevelopment Pipeline

The Company defines redevelopment communities as existing properties owned or recently acquired, which have been targeted for additional investment by the Company with the expectation of increased financial returns through property improvement. During redevelopment, apartment units may not be available for rent and, as a result, may have less than stabilized operations. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had ownership interests in five major redevelopment communities aggregating 1,312 apartment units with estimated redevelopment costs of $124.7 million, of which approximately $86.1 million remains to be expended.

Alternative Capital Sources

Wesco, I LLC (“Wesco I”) is a 50/50 programmatic joint venture with an institutional partner for a total equity commitment of $300.0 million. Each partner’s equity commitment is $150.0 million. Wesco I will utilize debt targeted at approximately 50% of the cost to acquire and improve real estate. The Company has contributed $150.0 million to Wesco I, and as of December 31, 2013, Wesco I owned nine apartment communities with 2,713 units with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $670 million.

During 2012, the Company entered into a 50/50 programmatic joint venture, Wesco III LLC (“Wesco III”), with an institutional partner for a total equity commitment from the parties of $120.0 million. Each partner’s equity commitment is $60.0 million, and Wesco III will utilize debt targeted at approximately 50% of the cost to acquire and improve real estate. The Company has contributed $39.7 million to Wesco III and, as of December 31, 2013, Wesco III owned three apartment communities with 657 units for an aggregate carrying value of approximately $164 million.

Investments with Wesco I or Wesco III must meet certain criteria to qualify for inclusion in the joint ventures and both partners must approve any new acquisitions and material dispositions. The joint ventures have an investment period of up to two years. The Company records revenue for its asset management, property management, development, and redevelopment services when earned, and promote income when realized, if Wesco I or Wesco III exceeds certain financial return benchmarks.

During 2012, the Company provided a $26.0 million short term bridge loan to Wesco III at a rate of LIBOR + 2.50% to assist with the purchase of Haver Hill. In March 2013, Wesco III repaid the Company for the $26.0 million short-term bridge loan. During the second quarter of 2013, the Company provided two short-term bridge loans to Wesco III totaling $56.8 million to assist with the purchase of the Regency at Mountain View and Gas Company Lofts and both loans were at a rate of LIBOR + 2.50%. In January 2014, Wesco III repaid the Company $35.5 million for the Gas Company Lofts short-term bridge loan. The Company expects the remaining bridge loan related to the Regency at Mountain View to be paid in the first quarter of 2014.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The following table summarizes the maturity or due dates of the Company’s contractual obligations and other commitments at December 31, 2013, and the effect such obligations could have on the Company’s liquidity and cash flow in future periods ($ in thousands):

						2015 and				2017 and
		2014				2016				2018				Thereafter				Total
Mortgage notes payable		$	-			$	79,851			$	453,887			$	870,342			$	1,404,080
Unsecured debt			-				350,000				190,000				870,023				1,410,023
Lines of credit			-				20,421				199,000				-				219,421
Interest on indebtedness (1)			121,500				233,737				184,031				188,418				727,686
Development commitments (including co-investments)			170,900				78,300				-				-				249,200
		$	292,400			$	762,309			$	1,026,918			$	1,928,783			$	4,010,410

(1)	Interest on indebtedness for variable debt was calculated using interest rates as of December 31, 2013.

Variable Interest Entities

In accordance with accounting standards for consolidation of variable interest entities, the Company consolidates 19 DownREIT limited partnerships (comprising eleven communities). The Company consolidates these entities because it is deemed the primary beneficiary. The consolidated total assets and liabilities related to these VIEs, net of intercompany eliminations, were approximately $194.9 million and $178.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2013, and $201.1 million and $178.6 million respectively, as of December 31, 2012. Interest holders in VIEs consolidated by the Company are allocated net income equal to the cash payments made to those interest holders for services rendered or distributions from cash flow. The remaining results of operations are generally allocated to the Company. As of December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any VIE’s of which it was not deemed to be the primary beneficiary.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company defines critical accounting policies as those accounting policies that require the Company's management to exercise their most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. The Company’s critical accounting policies relate principally to the following key areas: (i) consolidation under applicable accounting standards of various entities; (ii) assessing the carrying values of the Company's real estate and investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates; and (iii) internal cost capitalization. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current market conditions, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates made by management.

The Company assesses each entity in which it has an investment or contractual relationship to determine if it may be deemed to be a VIE. If such an entity is a VIE, then the Company performs an analysis to determine who is the primary beneficiary. If the Company is the primary beneficiary, then the entity is consolidated. The analysis required to identify VIEs and primary beneficiaries is complex and judgmental, and the analysis must be applied to various types of entities and legal structures.

The Company assesses the carrying value of its real estate investments by monitoring investment market conditions and performance compared to budget for operating properties and joint ventures, and by monitoring estimated costs for properties under development. Local market knowledge and data is used to assess carrying values of properties and the market value of acquisition opportunities. Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a property held for investment may not be fully recoverable, the carrying amount is evaluated. If the sum of the property’s expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the property, then the Company will recognize an impairment loss equal to the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the property. Adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of real estate investments could result in impairment charges. When the Company determines that a property is held for sale, it discontinues the periodic depreciation of that property. The criteria for determining when a property is held for sale requires judgment and has potential financial statement impact as depreciation would cease and an impairment loss could occur upon determination of held for sale status. Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell. With respect to investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates, the Company looks to the underlying properties to assess performance and the recoverability of carrying amounts for those investments in a manner similar to direct investments in real estate properties.

Further, the Company evaluates whether its co-investments have other than temporary impairment and, if so, records a write down.

The Company capitalizes all direct and certain indirect costs, including interest and real estate taxes, incurred during development and redevelopment activities. Interest is capitalized on real estate assets that require a period of time to get them ready for their intended use. The amount of interest capitalized is based upon the average amount of accumulated development expenditures during the reporting period. Included in capitalized costs are management’s accounting estimates of the direct and incremental personnel costs and indirect project costs associated with the Company's development and redevelopment activities. Indirect project costs consist primarily of personnel costs associated with construction administration and development, including accounting, legal fees, and various office costs that clearly relate to projects under development.

The Company bases its accounting estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may vary from those estimates and those estimates could be different under different assumptions or conditions.

Net Operating Income (“NOI”)

Same-Property net operating income (“NOI”) is considered by management to be an important supplemental performance measure to earnings from operations included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The presentation of Same-Property NOI assists with the presentation of the Company’s operations prior to the allocation of depreciation and any corporate-level or financing-related costs. NOI reflects the operating performance of a community and allows for an easy comparison of the operating performance of individual communities or groups of communities. Prospective buyers of real estate have different financing and overhead structures, with varying marginal impacts to overhead by acquiring real estate, and NOI is considered by many in the real estate industry to be a useful measure for determining the value of a real estate asset or group of assets. The Company defines Same-Property NOI as Same-Property revenue less Same-Property operating expenses, including property taxes.

The reconciliation of earnings from operations to Same-Property NOI for the periods presented:

		2013				2012				2011
Earnings from operations		$	188,705			$	167,025			$	134,617
Adjustments:
General and administrative			25,601				23,307				20,694
Management and other fees from affiliates			(11,700	)			(11,489	)			(6,780	)
Cost of management and other fees			6,681				6,513				4,610
Depreciation			192,420				169,173				150,009
Merger expenses			4,284				-				-
Net operating income			405,991				354,529				303,150
Less: Non Same-Property NOI			(55,424	)			(28,235	)			(13,457	)
Same-Property NOI		$	350,567			$	326,294			$	289,693

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K which are not historical facts may be considered forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, intentions, beliefs and strategies regarding the future. Forward looking statements include statements regarding the Company's expectations as to the timing of completion of current development and redevelopment projects and the stabilization dates of such projects, statements regarding a potential increase of the quarterly dividend paid by ESS ,expectation as to the total projected costs of development and redevelopment projects, beliefs as to the adequacy of future cash flows to meet operating requirements and anticipated cash needs and to provide for dividend payments in accordance with REIT requirements, expectations as to the amount of non-revenue generating capital expenditures, future acquisitions, the Company's development and redevelopment pipeline and the sources of funding for it, the anticipated performance of existing properties, the effect of property sales on future results, anticipated property and growth trends in various geographic regions, statements regarding the Company’s expected 2014 Same-Property revenue, and 2014 Same-Property operating expenses , statements regarding the Company's financing activities, and the use of proceeds from such activities.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including, but not limited to, that the Company will fail to achieve its business objectives, that the actual completion of development and redevelopment projects will be subject to delays, that the stabilization dates of such projects will be delayed, that the total projected costs of current development and redevelopment projects will exceed expectations, that such development and redevelopment projects will not be completed, that development and redevelopment projects and acquisitions will fail to meet expectations, that estimates of future income from an acquired property may prove to be inaccurate, that future cash flows will be inadequate to meet operating requirements and/or will be insufficient to provide for dividend payments in accordance with REIT requirements, that the actual non-revenue generating capital expenditures will exceed the Company's current expectations, that there may be a downturn in the markets in which the Company's communities are located, that the terms of any refinancing may not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness, as well as those risks, special considerations, and other factors discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Form 10-K, and those risk factors and special considerations set forth in the Company’s other filings with the SEC which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of today, and the Company assumes no obligation to update this information.