Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation.  The Consolidated Financial Statements of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (“MDC,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” which refers to M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries) include the accounts of MDC and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Presentation

Presentation.  Our balance sheet presentation is unclassified due to the fact that certain assets and liabilities have both short and long-term characteristics.

Use of Accounting Estimates

Use of Accounting Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk.  There are a limited number of third-party purchasers of mortgage loans and, at any given point in time, our business may be impacted adversely if one of them were no longer able or willing to purchase mortgage loans originated by HomeAmerican. On August 31, 2011, Bank of America, one of our former primary third-party purchasers, announced its intention to sell its third-party mortgage operation and exit its correspondent mortgage lending business. Subsequently, Bank of America amended its prior announcement and indicated that no sale of the third-party mortgage operation was forthcoming, but that it would proceed with its original plan to exit its correspondent mortgage lending business, with the last date that they would purchase a mortgage being December 15, 2011. The following table sets forth the percent of mortgage loans sold by HomeAmerican to its primary third party purchasers during 2012, 2011 and 2010.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
Wells Fargo Funding, Inc.		58%		52%		44%
Bank of America, N.A.		0%		17%		38%
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.		36%		29%		16%

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  The Company periodically invests funds in highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less, such as commercial paper, money market funds and time deposits, which are included in cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows.

Marketable Securities

Marketable Securities.  Our marketable securities consist of fixed rate and floating rate interest earning securities, primarily: (1) debt securities, which may include, among others, United States government and government agency debt and corporate debt; (2) holdings in mutual fund equity securities and (3) deposit securities, which may include, among others, certificates of deposit and time deposits. As of December 31, 2012, all of our marketable securities are treated as available-for-sale investments and, as such, we have recorded all of our marketable securities at fair value with changes in fair value being recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2012.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash.  We receive cash earnest money deposits from our customers who enter into home sale contracts. In certain states we are restricted from using such deposits for general purposes, unless we take measures to release state imposed restrictions on such deposits received from homebuyers, which may include posting blanket security bonds. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had $2.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, outstanding in blanket security bonds used to release restrictions on certain homebuyer deposits. We had $1.9 million and $0.7 million in restricted cash related to homebuyer deposits at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Home Sales Receivables

Home Sales Receivables.  Home sales receivables primarily consist of cash to be received from title companies or outside brokers associated with closed homes. Generally, we will receive cash from title companies and outside brokers within a few days of the home being closed.

Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale, Net

Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale, net.  Mortgage loans held-for-sale are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and estimated market prices received from an outside third-party. Using fair value allows an offset of the changes in fair values of the mortgage loans and the derivative instruments used to hedge them without the burden of complying with the requirements for hedge accounting.

Inventories

Inventories.  Our inventories consist of housing completed or under construction and land and land under development in the consolidated balance sheets. Our inventories are primarily associated with subdivisions where we intend to construct and sell homes on the land, including model and unsold started homes. Components of housing completed or under construction primarily include: (1) land costs transferred from land and land under development; (2) direct construction costs associated with a house; (3) real property taxes, engineering fees, permits and other fees; (4) capitalized interest; and (5) indirect construction costs, which include field construction management salaries and benefits, utilities and other construction related costs. Land costs are transferred from land and land under development to housing completed or under construction at the point in time that construction of a home on an owned lot begins. Costs capitalized to land and land under development primarily include: (1) land costs; (2) land development costs; (3) entitlement costs; (4) capitalized interest; (5) engineering fees; and (6) title insurance, real property taxes and closing costs directly related to the purchase of the land parcel.

Homebuilding inventories are carried at cost unless events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the underlying subdivision may not be recoverable. We determine impairments on a subdivision level basis as each such subdivision represents the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. In making this determination, we review, among other things, the following for each subdivision:

• actual and trending “Operating Margin” (which is defined as home sale revenues less home cost of sales and all direct incremental costs associated with the home closing) for homes closed;

• estimated future undiscounted cash flows and Operating Margin;

• forecasted Operating Margin for homes in backlog;

• actual and trending net and gross home orders;

• base sales price and home sales incentive information for homes closed and homes in backlog;

• market information for each sub-market, including competition levels, home foreclosure levels, the size and style of homes currently being offered for sale and lot size; and

• known or probable events indicating that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

If events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of our inventory may not be recoverable, assets are reviewed for impairment by comparing the undiscounted estimated future cash flows from an individual subdivision to its carrying value. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the subdivision’s carrying value, the carrying value of the subdivision is written down to its then estimated fair value. We generally determine the estimated fair value of each subdivision by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at discount rates that are commensurate with the risk of the subdivision under evaluation. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we used discount rates generally ranging from 13% to 18% for the subdivisions that were impaired.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and Equipment, net.  Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from 2 to 29 years. Depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment was $4.4 million, $6.1 million and $5.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The following table sets forth the cost and carrying value of our property and equipment by major asset category.

	Cost		Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization		Carrying Value
December 31, 2012:	(Dollars in thousands)
Airplane	$	28,997	$	6,055	$	22,942
Computer software and equipment		17,905		9,513		8,392
Leasehold improvements		7,623		6,066		1,557
Other		1,991		1,757		234
Total		56,516	$	23,391	$	33,125
December 31, 2011:
Airplane	$	28,997	$	5,506	$	23,491
Computer software and equipment		17,470		6,339		11,131
Leasehold improvements		6,881		5,471		1,410
Other		1,891		1,646		245
Total	$	55,239	$	18,962	$	36,277

Deferred Tax Asset, Net

Deferred Tax Asset, net.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using current enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets should be reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, based upon current facts and circumstances, we had recorded a valuation allowance of $248.3 million and $281.2 million, respectively, against our deferred tax assets (net of deferred tax liabilities).

Deferred Marketing Costs

Deferred Marketing Costs.  Certain marketing costs related to model homes and sales offices are capitalized as they are: (1) reasonably expected to be recovered from the sale of the project; and (2) incurred for (A) tangible assets that are used directly throughout the selling period to aid in the sale of the project or (B) services that have been performed to obtain regulatory approval of sales. Capitalized marketing costs are included in prepaid and other assets in the Homebuilding section of the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the associated amortization expense is included in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) in the Homebulding section of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as the homes in the related subdivision are delivered. We allocate all capitalized marketing costs equally to each house within a subdivision and record expense as homes close over the life of a subdivision. All other marketing costs are expensed as incurred.

Variable Interest Entities

Variable Interest Entities.  In accordance with ASC 810 “Consolidation”, we analyze our land option contracts and other contractual arrangements to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, ASC 810 requires a company to consolidate a VIE if the company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary, we consider, among other things, whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact VIE’s economic performance, including, but not limited to, determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the VIE, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the VIE, or arranging financing for the VIE. We also consider whether we have the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. We have concluded that, as of December 31, 2012, we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which we are purchasing land under land option contracts.

Related Party Assets

Related Party Assets.  Our related party assets are debt security bonds acquired from a quasi-municipal corporation in the state of Colorado. (See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Goodwill

Goodwill.  We evaluate goodwill for possible impairment at least annually in the fourth quarter, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. We use a three step process to assess the realizability of goodwill based on recently adopted accounting guidance. The first step is a qualitative assessment that analyzes current economic indicators associated with a particular reporting unit. For example, we analyze changes in economic, market and industry conditions, business strategy, cost factors, and financial performance, among others, to determine if there would be a significant decline to the fair value of a particular reporting unit. If the qualitative assessment indicates a stable or improved fair value, no further testing is required.

If a qualitative assessment indicates that a significant decline to fair value of a reporting unit is more likely than not, or if a reporting unit’s fair value has historically been closer to its carrying value, we will proceed to the second step where we calculate the fair value of a reporting unit based on discounted future probability-weighted cash flows. If this step indicates that the carrying value of a reporting unit is in excess of its fair value, we will proceed to the third step where the fair value of the reporting unit will be allocated to assets and liabilities as they would in a business combination. Impairment occurs when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its estimated fair value calculated in the third step.

Based on our analysis, we have concluded as of December 31, 2012, our goodwill was not impaired.

Liability for Unrecognized Tax Benefits

Liability for Unrecognized Tax Benefits.  Accounting literature regarding liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits provides guidance for the recognition and measurement in financial statements of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.

The evaluation of a tax position is a two-step process, the first step being recognition. We determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based on the technical merits of the position. The technical merits of a tax position derive from both statutory and judicial authority (legislation and statutes, legislative intent, regulations, rulings, and case law) and their applicability to the facts and circumstances of the tax position. If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in the financial statements.

The second step is measurement. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate resolution with a taxing authority. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, our liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $0.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively, which is included in accrued liabilities in the Homebuilding section of our consolidated balance sheets.

Warranty Reserves

Warranty Reserves.  Our homes are sold with limited third-party warranties. We record expenses and warranty reserves for general and structural warranty claims, as well as reserves for known, unusual warranty-related expenditures. Warranty reserves are established based upon historical payment experience in an amount estimated to be adequate to cover expected costs of materials and outside labor during warranty periods. The establishment of warranty reserves for closed homes and the evaluation of our warranty reserve balance is based on an internally developed analysis that includes known facts and interpretations of circumstances, including, among other things, our trends in historical warranty payment levels and warranty payments for claims not considered to be normal and recurring.

Warranty payments are recorded against the warranty reserve. Additional reserves may be established for known, unusual warranty-related expenditures not covered through the independent warranty reserve analysis performed by us. Warranty payments incurred for an individual house may differ from the related reserve established for the home at the time it was closed. The actual disbursements for warranty claims are evaluated in the aggregate to determine if an adjustment to the historical warranty reserve should be recorded.

Generally, warranty reserves are reviewed quarterly, using historical payment data and other relevant information, to determine the reasonableness and adequacy of both the reserve and the per-unit reserve amount originally included in home cost of sales, as well as the timing of the reversal of any excess reserve. Warranty reserves are included in accrued liabilities in the Homebuilding section of our consolidated balance sheets and adjustments to our warranty reserves are recorded as an increase or reduction to home cost of sales in the Homebuilding section of our consolidated statements of operations.

Insurance Reserves

Insurance Reserves.  We record expenses and liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses for claims associated with: (1) insurance policies issued by Allegiant and re-insurance agreements issued by StarAmerican; (2) self-insurance, including workers compensation; and (3) deductible amounts under our insurance policies. The establishment of the provisions for outstanding losses and loss adjustment expenses is based on actuarial or internally developed studies that include known facts and interpretations of circumstances, including our experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payment patterns, pending levels of unpaid claims, product mix or concentration, claim severity, frequency patterns such as those caused by natural disasters, fires, or accidents, depending on the business conducted, and changing regulatory and legal environments.

Mortgage Loan Loss Reserves

Mortgage Loan Loss Reserves.  In the normal course of business, we establish reserves for potential losses associated with HomeAmerican’s sale of mortgage loans to third-parties. These reserves are created to address repurchase and indemnity claims by third-party purchasers of the mortgage loans, which claims arise primarily out of allegations of homebuyer fraud at the time of origination of the loan. These reserves are based upon, among other things: (1) pending claims received from third-party purchasers associated with previously sold mortgage loans; and (2) a current assessment of the potential exposure associated with future claims of fraud in mortgage loans originated in prior periods. Our mortgage loan reserves are reflected as a component of accrued liabilities in the Financial Services section of the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and the associated expenses are included in Expenses in the Financial Services section of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Litigation Reserves

Litigation Reserves.  We and certain of our subsidiaries have been named as defendants in various cases. We reserve for estimated exposure with respect to these cases based upon currently available information on each case.

Revenue Recognition for Homebuilding Segments

Revenue Recognition for Homebuilding Segments.  Revenue from home closings and land sales is recognized when the closing has occurred, title has passed, adequate initial and continuing investment by the buyer is received, possession and other attributes of ownership have been transferred to the buyer and we are not obligated to perform significant additional activities after closing and delivery. If the buyer has provided sufficient initial and continuing investment, and all other revenue recognition criteria have been met, revenue is recognized on the date of closing. Revenue from a home closing includes the base sales price and any purchased options and upgrades and is reduced for any sales price incentives.

We defer Operating Margin related to the sale of a home if all of the following criteria are present: (1) HomeAmerican originates the mortgage loan; (2) HomeAmerican has not sold the mortgage loan, or loans, as of the end of the pertinent reporting period; and (3) the homebuyer’s down payment does not meet the initial or continuing investment criteria. The deferral is subsequently recognized at the time HomeAmerican sells the homebuyer’s mortgage loan, or loans, to a third-party purchaser. In the event the Operating Margin is a loss, we recognize such loss at the time the home is closed. We did not have any homes that closed during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 or 2010 that failed to meet the continuing investment criteria.

Revenue Recognition for HomeAmerican

Revenue Recognition for HomeAmerican.  Revenues recorded by HomeAmerican primarily include origination fees and the corresponding sale of a loan and its servicing rights. Origination fees are recognized when a loan is originated. When an interest rate lock commitment is made to a customer, we record the expected gain on sale of the mortgage including servicing rights, adjusted for a pull-through percentage (which is defined as the likelihood that an interest rate lock commitment will be originated), as revenue. As the interest rate lock commitment gets closer to being originated, the expected gain on the sale of that loan plus servicing rights is updated to reflect current market value and the increase or decrease in the fair value of that interest rate lock commitment is recorded through revenues. At the same time, as the likelihood of the interest rate lock commitment being originated increases resulting in an improvement to the expected pull-through percentage, additional revenues are recognized. After origination, our mortgage loans generally are transferred to third-party purchasers in accordance with sale agreements entered into by us with a third party purchaser of the loans. We make representations and warranties with respect to the status of loans transferred in the sale agreements. The sale agreements generally include statements acknowledging the transfer of the loans is intended by both parties to constitute a sale. Sale of a mortgage loan has occurred when the following criteria, among others, have been met: (1) fair consideration has been paid for transfer of the loan by a third party in an arms-length transaction, (2) all the usual risks and rewards of ownership that are in substance a sale have been transferred by us to the third party purchaser; and (3) we do not have a substantial continuing involvement with the mortgage loan. The related servicing rights are generally transferred by us to the third party purchaser for additional consideration. Revenue from the sale of mortgage loan servicing is recognized upon the exchange of consideration for the mortgage loans and related servicing rights between us and the third-party purchaser.

We measure mortgage loans held-for-sale at fair value with the changes in fair value being reported in earnings at each reporting date. The impact of recording changes in fair value to earnings did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 or 2010. Gains on sales of mortgage loans, net, were $21.7 million, $10.0 million and $16.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and are included as a component of revenues in the Financial Services section of the consolidated statements of operations.

Home Cost of Sales

Home Cost of Sales.  Home cost of sales includes the specific construction costs of each home and all applicable land acquisition, land development and related costs, both incurred and estimated to be incurred, warranty costs and finance and closing costs, including closing cost incentives. We use the specific identification method for the purpose of accumulating home construction costs and allocate costs to each lot within a subdivision associated with land acquisition and land development based upon relative fair value of the lots prior to home construction. Lots within a subdivision typically have comparable fair values, and, as such, we generally allocate costs equally to each lot within a subdivision. We record all home cost of sales when a home is closed on a house-by-house basis.

When a home is closed, we generally have not yet paid and recorded all costs necessary to complete the construction of the home and certain land development costs. At the time of a home closing, we compare the home construction budgets to actual recorded costs to determine the additional costs remaining to be paid on each closed home. For amounts not incurred or paid as of the time of closing a home, we record an estimated accrual associated with certain home construction and land development costs. Generally, these accruals are established based upon contracted work which has yet to be paid, open work orders not paid at the time of home closing, as well as land completion costs more likely than not to be incurred, and represent estimates believed to be adequate to cover the expected remaining home construction and land development costs. We monitor the adequacy of these accruals on a house-by-house basis and in the aggregate on both a market-by-market and consolidated basis. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had $9.5 million and $10.6 million, respectively, of land development and home construction accruals for closed homes. Actual results could differ from such estimates.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Stock-Based Compensation Expense.  Stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards is based on the grant date fair value. The grant date fair value for stock option awards is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the grant date fair value for restricted stock awards is based upon the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. We recognize these compensation costs net of estimated forfeitures. For stock option awards with service conditions only, we recognize stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is currently the vesting term of up to seven years. For our stock option awards with performance conditions, we recognize stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis for each performance criteria tranche (if applicable) over the period between the date that it is determined the performance conditions related to each tranche (if applicable) are probable to be met and the date the option vests.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments.  We utilize certain derivative instruments in the normal course of business, which primarily include interest rate lock commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities, both of which typically are short-term in nature. Forward sales of securities and private investor sales commitments are utilized to hedge changes in fair value of mortgage loan inventory and interest rate lock commitments. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had an aggregate principal balance of approximately $50.8 and $24.4 million, respectively, and were under interest rate lock commitments at an average interest rate of 3.26% and 3.93%, respectively.

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share.  For purposes of calculating earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”), a company that has participating security holders (for example, unvested restricted stock that has nonforfeitable dividend rights) is required to utilize the two-class method for calculating earnings per share. The two-class method is an allocation of earnings/(loss) between the holders of common stock and a company’s participating security holders. Under the two-class method, earnings/(loss) for the reporting period are allocated between common shareholders and other security holders, based on their respective rights to receive distributed earnings (i.e., dividends) and undistributed earnings (i.e., net income (loss) less dividends). Currently, we have one class of security and we have participating security holders consisting of shareholders of unvested restricted stock. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing income or loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding.

For purposes of calculating diluted EPS, basic EPS is further adjusted to include the effect of potential dilutive shares outstanding, including stock options and unvested restricted stock using the treasury stock method.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards.  In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs, (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 amends Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), providing a consistent definition and measurement of fair value, as well as similar disclosure requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles, clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement and expands the ASC 820 disclosure requirements, particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 was effective for our interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income, (“ASU 2011-05”), which improves the comparability, consistency, and transparency of financial reporting and increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) by eliminating the option to present components of OCI as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The amendments in this standard require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments in this standard do not change the items that must be reported in OCI, when an item of OCI must be reclassified to net income, or change the option for an entity to present components of OCI gross or net of the effect of income taxes. The amendments in ASU 2011-05 were effective for our interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2012 and were applied retrospectively. The adoption of the provisions of ASU 2011-05 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”), which simplifies how entities test goodwill for impairment. Previous guidance under ASC 350 required an entity to test goodwill for impairment using a two-step process on at least an annual basis. First, the fair value of a reporting unit was calculated and compared to its carrying amount, including goodwill. Second, if the fair value of a reporting unit was less than its carrying amount, the amount of impairment loss, if any, was required to be measured. Under the amendments in this update, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads the entity to determine that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. If the entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to test goodwill for impairment under the two-step process as described under ASC 350. The amendments were effective for us for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2012. We adopted this standard in the 2012 first quarter. The adoption of the amended provisions of ASC 350 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.