Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: Variable Interest Entities (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Policies
Variable Interest Entities	Variable Interest Entities The Partnership consolidates any variable interest entities in which the Partnership holds a variable interest and is the primary beneficiary. Generally, a variable interest entity, or 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 losses 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 primary beneficiary of a VIE is generally the entity that has (a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Partnership considers qualitative and quantitative factors, including, but not limited to: which activities most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and which party controls such activities; the amount and characteristics of the Partnership’s investment; the obligation or likelihood for the Partnership or other investors to provide financial support; and the similarity with and significance to the business activities of the Partnership and the other investors. Significant judgments related to these determinations include estimates about the current and future fair values and performance of real estate held by these VIEs and general market conditions. On December 10, 2012, the Partnership became the operating general partner of Bethel Towers, as a result of the assignment of the local operating general partner interest in Bethel Towers to the Partnership. Therefore, effective December 10, 2012, the Partnership began consolidating this Local Partnership and it is no longer considered a VIE (see Note 2). At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Partnership held variable interests in zero and four VIEs, respectively, for which the Partnership was not the primary beneficiary. The Partnership has concluded, based on its qualitative consideration of the partnership agreement, the partnership structure and the role of the general partner in each of the Local Partnerships, that the general partner of each of the Local Partnerships is the primary beneficiary of the respective Local Partnership. In making this determination, the Partnership considered the following factors: · the general partners conduct and manage the business of the Local Partnerships; · the general partners have the responsibility for and sole discretion over selecting a property management agent for the Local Partnerships’ underlying real estate properties; · the general partners are responsible for approving operating and capital budgets for the properties owned by the Local Partnerships; · the general partners are obligated to fund any recourse obligations of the Local Partnerships; · the general partners are authorized to borrow funds on behalf of the Local Partnerships; and · the Partnership, as a limited partner in each of the Local Partnerships, does not have the ability to direct or otherwise significantly influence the activities of the Local Partnerships that most significantly impact such entities’ economic performance.

Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: Variable Interest Entities (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

The Partnership consolidates any variable interest entities in which the Partnership holds a variable interest and is the primary beneficiary. Generally, a variable interest entity, or 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 losses 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 primary beneficiary of a VIE is generally the entity that has (a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Partnership considers qualitative and quantitative factors, including, but not limited to: which activities most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and which party controls such activities; the amount and characteristics of the Partnership’s investment; the obligation or likelihood for the Partnership or other investors to provide financial support; and the similarity with and significance to the business activities of the Partnership and the other investors. Significant judgments related to these determinations include estimates about the current and future fair values and performance of real estate held by these VIEs and general market conditions.

On December 10, 2012, the Partnership became the operating general partner of Bethel Towers, as a result of the assignment of the local operating general partner interest in Bethel Towers to the Partnership. Therefore, effective December 10, 2012, the Partnership began consolidating this Local Partnership and it is no longer considered a VIE (see Note 2).

At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Partnership held variable interests in zero and four VIEs, respectively, for which the Partnership was not the primary beneficiary. The Partnership has concluded, based on its qualitative consideration of the partnership agreement, the partnership structure and the role of the general partner in each of the Local Partnerships, that the general partner of each of the Local Partnerships is the primary beneficiary of the respective Local Partnership. In making this determination, the Partnership considered the following factors:

· the general partners conduct and manage the business of the Local Partnerships;

· the general partners have the responsibility for and sole discretion over selecting a property management agent for the Local Partnerships’ underlying real estate properties;

· the general partners are responsible for approving operating and capital budgets for the properties owned by the Local Partnerships;

· the general partners are obligated to fund any recourse obligations of the Local Partnerships;

· the general partners are authorized to borrow funds on behalf of the Local Partnerships; and

· the Partnership, as a limited partner in each of the Local Partnerships, does not have the ability to direct or otherwise significantly influence the activities of the Local Partnerships that most significantly impact such entities’ economic performance.

REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LTD/CA 10-Q