Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair value measurements of assets and liabilities on a recurring basis

The following tables summarize the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, and the changes in the fair value of the Level 3 assets during the six months ended March 31, 2015.

		Fair Value at March 31, 2015
	Balance Sheet Location	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
		(In millions)
Homebuilding:
Debt securities collateralized by residential real estate (a)	Other assets	$	—	$	—		$	20.8	$	20.8
Financial Services:
Mortgage loans held for sale (b)	Mortgage loans held for sale	—		504.2			13.4		517.6
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (c):
Interest rate lock commitments	Other assets	—		4.6			—		4.6
Forward sales of MBS	Other liabilities	—		(4.7		)	—		(4.7		)
Best-efforts and mandatory commitments	Other liabilities	—		(0.5		)	—		(0.5		)

		Fair Value at September 30, 2014
	Balance Sheet Location	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
		(In millions)
Homebuilding:
Debt securities collateralized by residential real estate (a)	Other assets	$	—	$	—		$	20.8	$	20.8
Financial Services:
Mortgage loans held for sale (b)	Mortgage loans held for sale	—		464.9			12.0		476.9
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (c):
Interest rate lock commitments	Other assets	—		2.4			—		2.4
Forward sales of MBS	Other liabilities	—		(1.9		)	—		(1.9		)
Best-efforts and mandatory commitments	Other liabilities	—		(0.1		)	—		(0.1		)

	Level 3 Assets at Fair Value for the
	Six Months Ended March 31, 2015
	Balance at September 30, 2014		Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)		Purchases		Sales and Settlements			Principal Reductions		Net transfers in (out) of Level 3		Balance at March 31, 2015
	(In millions)
Debt securities collateralized by residential real estate (a)	$	20.8	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	20.8
Mortgage loans held for sale (b)	12.0		0.4		—		(0.7		)	—		1.7		13.4

(a) In October 2012, the Company purchased defaulted debt securities which are secured by residential real estate. These securities, which are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, are classified as available for sale and are reflected at fair value. The fair value of these securities was determined by estimating the future cash flows of the securities and the residential real estate utilizing discount rates of 6% and 18%, respectively. Unrealized gains or losses on these securities, net of tax, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company has entered into an agreement to purchase this residential real estate parcel and all additional defaulted debt securities associated with the parcel, in order to develop the property and build and sell homes. In April 2015, the Company completed this purchase transaction for $19.6 million in cash. The purchase price will be allocated to the land and the debt securities acquired in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

(b) Mortgage loans held for sale are reflected at fair value. Interest income earned on mortgage loans held for sale is based on contractual interest rates and included in financial services interest and other income. Mortgage loans held for sale at March 31, 2015 includes $13.4 million of originated loans for which the Company elected the fair value option upon origination and which the Company has not sold into the secondary market, but plans to sell as market conditions permit. The fair value of these mortgage loans held for sale is generally calculated considering the secondary market and adjusted for the value of the underlying collateral, including interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk.

(c) Fair value measurements of these derivatives represent changes in fair value, as calculated by reference to quoted prices for similar assets, and are reflected in the balance sheet. Changes in these fair values during the periods presented are included in financial services revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.

Fair value measurements of assets on a non-recurring basis

The following table summarizes the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014:

		Fair Value at March 31, 2015		Fair Value at September 30, 2014
	Balance Sheet Location	Level 3		Level 3
		(In millions)
Homebuilding:
Inventory held and used (a) (b)	Inventories	$	21.6	$	19.2
Inventory available for sale (a) (c)	Inventories	1.4		8.2
Financial Services:
Other mortgage loans (a) (d)	Other assets	14.6		16.0
Real estate owned (a) (d)	Other assets	0.2		0.5

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(a) The fair values included in the table above represent only those assets whose carrying values were adjusted to fair value in the respective quarter.

(b) In performing its impairment analysis of communities, discount rates ranging from 12% to 18% were used in the periods presented.

(c) The fair value of inventory available for sale was determined based on recent offers received from outside third parties, comparable sales or actual contracts.

(d) The fair values of other mortgage loans and real estate owned are determined based on the value of the underlying collateral.

Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]

For the financial assets and liabilities that the Company does not reflect at fair value, the following tables present both their respective carrying value and fair value at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014:

	Carrying Value		Fair Value at March 31, 2015
			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In millions)
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents (a)	$	665.8	$	665.8	$	—	$	—	$	665.8
Restricted cash (a)	10.4		10.4		—		—		10.4
Revolving credit facility (a)	175.0		—		—		175.0		175.0
Senior notes (b)	3,342.6		—		3,432.9		—		3,432.9
Other secured notes (a)	30.4		—		—		30.4		30.4
Financial Services:
Cash and cash equivalents (a)	31.9		31.9		—		—		31.9
Mortgage repurchase facility (a)	397.5		—		—		397.5		397.5

	Carrying Value		Fair Value at September 30, 2014
			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In millions)
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents (a)	$	632.5	$	632.5	$	—	$	—	$	632.5
Restricted cash (a)	10.0		10.0		—		—		10.0
Revolving credit facility (a)	300.0		—		—		300.0		300.0
Senior notes (b)	3,000.2		—		3,033.8		—		3,033.8
Other secured notes (a)	23.4		—		—		23.4		23.4
Financial Services:
Cash and cash equivalents (a)	29.3		29.3		—		—		29.3
Mortgage repurchase facility (a)	359.2		—		—		359.2		359.2

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(a) The fair value approximates carrying value due to its short-term nature, short maturity or floating interest rate terms, as applicable.

(b) The fair value is determined based on quoted market prices of recent transactions of the notes, which is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.