Fair Value Disclosures

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

Fair Value Disclosures

Fair Value Disclosures

The Company uses ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”), to measure the fair value of certain assets and liabilities. ASC 820 provides a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP, establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements.

The fair value hierarchy is summarized below:

Level 1:	Fair value determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:	Fair value determined using significant observable inputs, generally either quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities or quoted prices in markets that are not active.
Level 3:	Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs, such as pricing models, discounted cash flows, or similar techniques.

Financial Instruments

The table below provides, as of the date indicated, a summary of assets (liabilities) related to the Company’s financial instruments, measured at fair value on a recurring basis (amounts in thousands):

		Fair value
Financial Instrument	Fair value hierarchy	April 30, 2013			October 31, 2012
Corporate Securities	Level 2	$	177,503		$	260,772
Certificates of Deposit	Level 2	$	25,077		$	148,112
Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund	Level 1	$	30,319		$	30,184
Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	Level 2	$	66,538		$	86,386
Forward Loan Commitments—Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale	Level 2	$	(755	)	$	(102	)
Interest Rate Lock Commitments (“IRLCs”)	Level 2	$	606		$	(202	)
Forward Loan Commitments—IRLCs	Level 2	$	(606	)	$	202

At April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash approximated fair value.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

The table below provides, as of the date indicated, the aggregate unpaid principal and fair value of mortgage loans held for sale (amounts in thousands):

	Aggregate unpaid principal balance		Fair value		Excess
At April 30, 2013	$	64,777	$	66,538	$	1,761
At October 31, 2012	$	84,986	$	86,386	$	1,400

At the end of the reporting period, the Company determines the fair value of its mortgage loans held for sale and the forward loan commitments it has entered into as a hedge against the interest rate risk of its mortgage loans using the market approach to determine fair value. The evaluation is based on the current market pricing of mortgage loans with similar terms and values as of the reporting date and by applying such pricing to the mortgage loan portfolio. The Company recognizes the difference between the fair value and the unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans held for sale as a gain or loss. In addition, the Company recognizes the fair value of its forward loan commitments as a gain or loss. These gains and losses are included in other income - net. Interest income on mortgage loans held for sale is calculated based upon the stated interest rate of each loan and is included in other income - net.

IRLCs represent individual borrower agreements that commit the Company to lend at a specified price for a specified period as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the commitment contract. These commitments have varying degrees of interest rate risk. The Company utilizes best-efforts forward loan commitments (“Forward Commitments”) to hedge the interest rate risk of the IRLCs and residential mortgage loans held for sale. Forward Commitments represent contracts with third-party investors for the future delivery of loans whereby the Company agrees to make delivery at a specified future date at a specified price. The IRLCs and Forward Commitments are considered derivative financial instruments under ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” which requires derivative financial instruments to be recorded at fair value. The Company estimates the fair value of such commitments based on the estimated fair value of the underlying mortgage loan and, in the case of IRLCs, the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the IRLC. To manage the risk of non-performance of investors regarding the Forward Commitments, the Company assesses the credit worthiness of the investors on a periodic basis.

Marketable Securities

The table below provides, as of the date indicated, the amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses and fair value of marketable securities (amounts in thousands):

	April 30, 2013			October 31, 2012
Amortized cost	$	232,674		$	438,755
Gross unrealized holding gains	357			451
Gross unrealized holding losses	(132		)	(138		)
Fair value	$	232,899		$	439,068

The estimated fair values of corporate securities and certificates of deposit are based on quoted prices provided by brokers. The remaining contractual maturities of marketable securities as of April 30, 2013 ranged from 1 day to 31 months.

Inventory

The Company recognizes inventory impairment charges based on the difference in the carrying value of the inventory and its fair value at the time of the evaluation. The fair value of the aforementioned inventory was determined using Level 3 criteria. Estimated fair value is primarily determined by discounting the estimated future cash flow of each community. See Note 1, “Significant Accounting Policies, Inventory” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding the Company’s methodology on determining fair value. As further discussed in Note 1 in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, determining the fair value of a community's inventory involves a number of variables, many of which are interrelated. If the Company used a different input for any of the various unobservable inputs used in its impairment analysis, the results of the analysis may have been different, absent any other changes. The table below summarizes, for the periods indicated, the ranges of certain quantitative unobservable inputs utilized in determining the fair value of impaired communities:

	Selling price per unit (in thousands)	Sales pace per year (in units)	Discount rate
Three months ended April 30, 2013	—	—	—
Three months ended January 31, 2013	$303 - $307	15	15.3%
Three months ended October 31, 2012	$501 - $536	11	18.3%
Three months ended July 31, 2012	$175 - $571	4 - 12	14.0% - 17.5%
Three months ended April 30, 2012	$413 - $472	6 - 17	17.5%
Three months ended January 31, 2012	$344 - $2,287	1 - 25	13.0% - 18.8%

The table below provides, for the periods indicated, the fair value of operating communities whose carrying value was adjusted and the amount of impairment charges recognized ($ amounts in thousands):

		Impaired operating communities
Three months ended:	Number of communities tested	Number of communities	Fair value of communities, net of impairment charges		Impairment charges
Fiscal 2013:
January 31	60	2	$	5,377	$	700
April 30	79	1	$	749	340
					$	1,040
Fiscal 2012:
January 31	113	8	$	49,758	$	6,425
April 30	115	2	$	22,962	2,560
July 31	115	4	$	6,609	2,685
October 31	108	3	$	9,319	1,400
					$	13,070

Investments in Distressed Loans and REO

Gibraltar’s distressed loans were recorded at estimated fair value at inception based on the acquisition price as determined by Level 3 inputs and was based on the estimated future cash flows to be generated by the loans discounted at the rates used to value the loans at the acquisition dates. The table below provides, as of the date indicated, the carrying amount and estimated fair value of distressed loans (amounts in thousands):

	April 30, 2013		October 31, 2012
Carrying amount	$	48,707	$	37,169
Estimated fair value	$	49,110	$	38,109

Gibraltar's REO was recorded at estimated fair value at the time it was acquired through foreclosure or deed in lieu actions using Level 3 inputs. The valuation techniques used to estimate fair value are third-party appraisals, broker opinions of value, or internal valuation methodologies (which may include discounted cash flows, capitalization rate analysis or comparable transactional analysis). Unobservable inputs used in estimating the fair value of REO assets are based upon the best information available under the circumstances and take into consideration the financial condition and operating results of the asset, local market conditions, the availability of capital, interest and inflation rates and other factors deemed appropriate by management.

Debt

The table below provides, as of the date indicated, the book value and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt (amounts in thousands):

		April 30, 2013				October 31, 2012
	Fair value hierarchy	Book value		Estimated fair value		Book value		Estimated fair value
Loans payable (a)	Level 2	$	96,572	$	96,144	$	99,817	$	99,093
Senior notes (b)	Level 1	2,330,121		2,603,002		2,089,189		2,340,189
Mortgage company warehouse loan (c)	Level 2	58,526		58,526		72,664		72,664
		$	2,485,219	$	2,757,672	$	2,261,670	$	2,511,946

(a) The estimated fair value of loans payable was based upon their indicated market prices or the interest rates that the Company believed were available to it for loans with similar terms and remaining maturities as of the applicable valuation date.

(b) The estimated fair value of the Company’s senior notes is based upon their indicated market prices.

(c) The Company believes that the carrying value of its mortgage company warehouse loan borrowings approximates their fair value.