-----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,
 NrLIbz5aPAwFcA4DpBUGdzHp36dDhSgDhy8tUw34Ovjxrb5Lbh2Qa7RE6WJC64Cp
 l8SEiLQrc9SFUXTvqwC9MA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001045867-04-000003.txt : 20040120
<SEC-HEADER>0001045867-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040120135718
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001045867-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040120

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000357294
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATIVE BUILDERS [1531]
		IRS NUMBER:				221851059
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 HWY 35
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 500
		CITY:			RED BANK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7327477800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 HWY 35 PO BOX 500
		STREET 2:		10 HWY 35 PO BOX 500
		CITY:			RED BANK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DECESARIS GEATON A JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001045867

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08551
		FILM NUMBER:		04532060

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1802 BRIGHTSEAT
		CITY:			LANDOVER
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20785
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3017728900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1802 BRIGHTSEAT
		CITY:			LANDOVER
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20785
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000357294</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HOV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001045867</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DECESARIS GEATON A JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 HIGHWAY 35</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RED BANK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>23234</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F4"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></u
nderlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>23234</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>56330</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1-for-1</footnote><footnote id="F2">Grant of stock bonus payable on January 15, 2004, but deferred pursuant to Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Payout to be made at retirement or upon the occurrence of certain other events set forth under the terms of Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Not applicable.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Nancy A. Marrazzo</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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