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Nature of Business
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations [Text Block]
1. Nature of Business
 
United Mortgage Trust (the “Company”) is a Maryland real estate investment trust that qualifies as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under federal income tax laws. The Company’s principal investment objectives are to invest proceeds from our dividend reinvestment plan, financing proceeds, proceeds from the repayment of our loans, capital transaction proceeds and retained earnings in the following types of investments: (i) lines of credit and secured loans for the acquisition and development of single-family home lots, referred to as “Land Development Loans;” (ii) lines of credit and loans secured by developed single-family lots, referred to as “Finished Lot Loans;” (iii) lines of credit and loans secured by completed model homes, referred to as “Model Home Loans;” (iv) loans provided to entities that have recently filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code, secured by a priority lien over pre-bankruptcy secured creditors, referred to as “Debtor in Possession Loans;” (v) lines of credit and loans, with terms of 18 months or less, secured by single family lots and homes constructed thereon, referred to as “Construction Loans;” (vi) to provide credit enhancements to real estate developers, homebuilders, land bankers and other real estate investors who acquire real property, subdivide real property into single-family residential lots, acquire finished lots and/or build homes on such lots referred to as “Credit Enhancements;” (vii) discounted cash flows secured by assessments levied on real property; and (viii) senior or subordinate securities backed by finished lot loans and/or development loans referred to as “Securitizations.” We collectively refer to the above listed loans as “Mortgage Investments.” Additionally, our portfolio includes obligations of affiliates of our Advisor, which we refer to as “recourse loans” and “deficiency notes.”
 
The Company has no employees. The Company pays a monthly trust administration fee to UMTH General Services, L.P. (“UMTHGS” or “Advisor”), a subsidiary of UMT Holdings, L.P. (“UMTH”), a Delaware real estate finance company and affiliate, for the services relating to its daily operations. The Company’s offices are located in Grapevine, Texas.