-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UFYCf7vGSkCnHR+Cs6U6t4WMOlmUhQglo38c8YFQO4W6F940vZr17qISAt6Art6G
 3J0T9oARdGf++trLFXYiGw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206774-09-001355.txt : 20090714
<SEC-HEADER>0001206774-09-001355.hdr.sgml : 20090714
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090714195444
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206774-09-001355
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090626
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090714
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090714

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARMORE GREGORY T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207183

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13533
		FILM NUMBER:		09944684

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NOVASTAR FINANCIAL INC
		STREET 2:		8140 WARD PARKWAY, STE 300
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64114

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVASTAR FINANCIAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001025953
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				742830661
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8140 WARD PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 300
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8162377000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8140 WARD PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 300
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>novastar_form4ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001025953</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVASTAR FINANCIAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NOVS.PK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207183</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARMORE GREGORY T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NOVASTAR FINANCIAL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2114 CENTRAL, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KANSAS CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Novastar Financial, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12673</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-06-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Novastar Financial, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rodney E. Schwatken, Attorney-in-fact for Gregory T. Barmore</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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