Variable Interest Entities

12 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures. We participate in joint ventures from time to time that conduct land acquisition, land development and/or other homebuilding activities in various markets where our homebuilding operations are located. Our investments in these joint ventures may create a variable interest in a VIE, depending on the contractual terms of the arrangement. We analyze our joint ventures under the variable interest model to determine whether they are VIEs and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. Based on our analyses, we determined that one of our joint ventures at November 30, 2020 and 2019 was a VIE, but we were not the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Therefore, all of our joint ventures at November 30, 2020 and 2019 were unconsolidated and accounted for under the equity method because we did not have a controlling financial interest.

Land Option Contracts and Other Similar Contracts. In the ordinary course of our business, we enter into land option contracts and other similar contracts with third parties and unconsolidated entities to acquire rights to land for the construction of homes. The use of these contracts generally allows us to reduce the market risks associated with direct land ownership and development, and reduce our capital and financial commitments, including interest and other carrying costs. Under these contracts, we typically make a specified option payment or earnest money deposit in consideration for the right to purchase land in the future, usually at a predetermined price.

We analyze each of our land option contracts and other similar contracts under the variable interest model to determine whether the land seller is a VIE and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. Although we do not have legal title to the underlying land, we are required to consolidate a VIE if we are 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 the VIE’s economic performance. Such activities would include, among other things, 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. As a result of our analyses, we determined that as of November 30, 2020 and 2019, we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which we have acquired rights to land under land option contracts and other similar contracts. We perform ongoing reassessments of whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE.

The following table presents a summary of our interests in land option contracts and other similar contracts (in thousands):


	November 30, 2020				November 30, 2019
	Cash Deposits		Aggregate Purchase Price		Cash Deposits		Aggregate Purchase Price
Unconsolidated VIEs	$	20,962	$	910,495	$	34,595	$	823,427
Other land option contracts and other similar contracts	33,672		507,934		40,591		600,092
Total	$	54,634	$	1,418,429	$	75,186	$	1,423,519

In addition to the cash deposits presented in the table above, our exposure to loss related to our land option contracts and other similar contracts with third parties and unconsolidated entities consisted of pre-acquisition costs of $31.1 million at November 30, 2020 and $32.8 million at November 30, 2019. These pre-acquisition costs and cash deposits were included in inventories in our consolidated balance sheets.

For land option contracts and other similar contracts where the land seller entity is not required to be consolidated under the variable interest model, we consider whether such contracts should be accounted for as financing arrangements. Land option contracts and other similar contracts that may be considered financing arrangements include those we enter into with third-party land financiers or developers in conjunction with such third parties acquiring a specific land parcel(s) on our behalf, at our direction, and those with other landowners where we or our designee make improvements to the optioned land parcel(s) during the applicable option period. For these land option contracts and other similar contracts, we record the remaining purchase price of the associated land parcel(s) in inventories in our consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding financing obligation if we determine that we are effectively compelled to exercise the option to purchase the land parcel(s). In making this determination with respect to a land option contract, we consider the non-refundable deposit(s) we have made and any non-reimbursable expenditures we have incurred for land improvement activities or other items up to the assessment date; additional costs associated with abandoning the contract; and our commitments, if any, to incur non-reimbursable costs associated with the contract. As a result of our evaluations of land option contracts and other similar contracts for financing arrangements, we recorded inventories in our consolidated balance sheets, with a corresponding increase to accrued expenses and other liabilities, of $19.4 million at November 30, 2020 and $12.2 million at November 30, 2019.