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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NVR, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“NVR”, the “Company”, "we", "us", or "our") and certain other entities in which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary (see Notes 3 and 4 herein for additional information). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management continually evaluates the estimates used to prepare the consolidated financial statements and updates those estimates as necessary. In general, our estimates are based on historical experience, on information from third party professionals, and other various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the facts and circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates made by management.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Restricted Cash

Homebuilding restricted cash was attributable to customer deposits for certain home sales. Mortgage banking restricted cash includes amounts collected from customers for loans in process and closed mortgage loans held for sale.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, $281 and $320, respectively, of cash related to a consolidated variable interest entity is included in homebuilding “Other assets” on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Homebuilding Inventory

The carrying value of inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost of lots and completed and uncompleted housing units represent the accumulated actual cost of the units. Field construction supervisors’ salaries and related direct overhead expenses are included in inventory costs. Interest costs are not capitalized into inventory, with the exception of land under development and joint venture investments, as applicable (see below). Upon settlement, the cost of the unit is expensed on a specific identification basis. Cost of building materials is determined on a first-in, first-out basis.

Sold inventory is evaluated for impairment based on the contractual sales price compared to the total estimated cost to construct. Unsold inventory is evaluated for impairment by analyzing recent comparable sales prices within the applicable community compared to the costs incurred to date plus the expected costs to complete. Any calculated impairments are recorded immediately.

Contract Land Deposits

We purchase finished lots under fixed price lot purchase agreements (“Lot Purchase Agreements”) that require deposits that may be forfeited if we fail to perform under the contract. The deposits are in the form of cash or letters of credit in varying amounts and represent a percentage of the aggregate purchase price of the finished lots.

We maintain an allowance for losses on contract land deposits that reflects our judgment of the present loss exposure in the existing contract land deposit portfolio at the end of the reporting period. To analyze contract land deposit impairments, we conduct a loss contingency analysis each quarter. In addition to considering market and economic conditions, we assess contract land deposit impairments on a community-by-community basis pursuant to the purchase contract terms, analyzing, as applicable, current sales absorption levels, recent sales’ direct profit, the dollar differential between the contractual purchase price and the current market price for lots, a developer’s performance, a developer’s financial ability or willingness to reduce lot prices to current market prices, if necessary, and the contract’s default status by either us or the developer along with an analysis of the expected outcome of any such default.

Our analysis is focused on whether we can sell houses at an acceptable margin and sales pace in a particular community in the current market with which we are faced. Because we do not own the finished lots on which we have placed a contract land deposit, if the above analysis leads to a determination that we cannot sell homes at an acceptable margin and sales pace at the current contractual lot price, we then determine whether we will elect to default under the contract, forfeit the deposit and terminate the contract, or whether we will attempt to restructure the Lot Purchase Agreement, which may require us to forfeit the deposit to obtain contract concessions from a developer. We also assess whether impairment is present due to collectibility issues resulting from a developer’s non-performance because of financial or other conditions.

For the year ended December 31, 2019 we recognized a net pre-tax recovery of $680 of contract land deposits previously determined to be unrecoverable. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we incurred net pre-tax charges of $5,115 and $1,238, respectively, related to impairment of contract land deposits. The contract land deposit assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are shown net of the allowance for losses of $27,572 and $29,216 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Land Under Development

On a limited basis, we directly acquire raw parcels of land already zoned for its intended use to develop into finished lots. Land under development includes the land acquisition costs, direct improvement costs, capitalized interest, where applicable, and real estate taxes.

Land under development, including the land under development held by our unconsolidated joint ventures and the related joint venture investments, is reviewed for potential write-downs when impairment indicators are present. In addition to considering market and economic conditions, we assess land under development impairments on a community-by-community basis, analyzing, as applicable, current sales absorption levels, recent sales’ direct profit, and the dollar differential between the projected fully-developed cost of the lots and the current market price for lots. If indicators of impairment are present for a community, we perform an analysis to determine if the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their carrying amounts, and if so, impairment charges are required to be recorded in an amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of such assets. Our determination of fair value is primarily based on discounting the estimated future cash flows at a rate commensurate with the inherent risks associated with the assets and related estimated cash flow streams. See Notes 4 and 5 for further discussion of joint venture investments and land under development, respectively.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is based on the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. Model home furniture and fixtures are generally depreciated over a 2-year period, office facilities and other equipment are depreciated over a period of 3 to 10 years and production facilities are depreciated over periods of 5 to 40 years.

Intangible Assets

On December 31, 2012, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Heartland Homes, Inc., which resulted in us recording finite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. We completed our annual assessment for impairment of goodwill and management determined that there was no impairment. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, finite-lived intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, totaled $466 and $621, respectively. The remaining finite-lived intangible assets will be amortized on a straight-line basis over 3 years. As of both December 31, 2019 and 2018, the goodwill value was $441. Finite-lived intangible assets and goodwill are included in homebuilding "Other assets" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Warranty/Product Liability Reserves

We establish warranty and product liability reserves ("Warranty Reserve") to provide for estimated future expenses as a result of construction and product defects, product recalls and litigation incidental to our homebuilding business. Liability estimates are determined based on management’s judgment considering such factors as historical experience, the likely current cost of corrective action, manufacturers’ and subcontractors’ participation in sharing the cost of corrective action, consultations with third party experts such as engineers, and discussions with our general counsel and outside counsel retained to handle specific product liability cases.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Mortgage Repurchase Reserve, Mortgage Loans Held for Sale and Derivatives and Hedging Activities

We originate several different loan products to our customers to finance the purchase of a home through our wholly-owned mortgage subsidiary, NVR Mortgage Finance, Inc. (“NVRM”). NVRM sells all of the loans it originates into the secondary market on a servicing released basis, typically within 30 days from closing. All of the loans that NVRM originates are underwritten to the standards and specifications of the ultimate investor. Those underwriting standards are typically equal to or more stringent than the underwriting standards required by Fannie Mae (“FNMA”), Ginnie Mae (“GNMA”), Freddie Mac ("FHLMC"), the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) and the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”). Insofar as NVRM underwrites its originated loans to those standards, NVRM bears no increased concentration of credit risk from the issuance of loans, except in certain limited instances where repurchases or early payment default occur. NVRM employs a quality control department to ensure that its underwriting controls are effectively operating, and further assesses the underwriting function as part of its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting. NVRM maintains a reserve for losses on mortgage loans originated that reflects our judgment of the present loss exposure in the loans that NVRM has originated and sold. The reserve is calculated based on an analysis of historical experience and exposure (see Note 16 herein for further information).

Mortgage loans held for sale are recorded at fair value when closed, and thereafter are carried at the lower of cost or fair value, net of deferred origination costs, until sold.

In the normal course of business, NVRM enters into contractual commitments to extend credit to buyers of single-family homes with fixed expiration dates. The commitments become effective when the borrowers “lock-in” a specified interest rate within time frames established by NVRM. All borrowers are evaluated for credit worthiness prior to the extension of the commitment. Market risk arises if interest rates move adversely between the time of the “lock-in” of rates by the borrower and the sale date of the loan to a broker/dealer. To mitigate the effect of the interest rate risk inherent in providing rate lock commitments to borrowers, NVRM enters into optional or mandatory delivery forward sale contracts to sell whole loans and mortgage-backed securities to broker/dealers. The forward sale contracts lock-in an interest rate and price for the sale of loans similar to the specific rate lock commitments. NVRM does not engage in speculative or trading derivative activities. Both the rate lock commitments to borrowers and the forward sale contracts to broker/dealers are undesignated derivatives, and, accordingly, are marked to fair value through earnings. At December 31, 2019, there were contractual commitments to extend credit to borrowers aggregating $581,065, and open forward delivery sale contracts aggregating $986,041, which hedge both the rate lock loan commitments and closed loans held for sale (see Note 15 herein for a description of the Company’s fair value accounting).

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per Share

The following weighted average shares and share equivalents were used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2019	2018	2017
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used to calculate basic EPS	3,641	3,631	3,733
Dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted share units	332	461	507
Weighted average number of shares and share equivalents outstanding used to calculate diluted EPS	3,973	4,092	4,240

The assumed proceeds used in the treasury method for calculating our diluted earnings per share includes the amount the employee must pay upon exercise and the amount of compensation cost attributed to future services not yet recognized.

The following stock options issued under equity incentive plans were outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.



	Year Ended December 31,
	2019	2018	2017
Anti-dilutive securities	319	370	15

Revenues-Homebuilding Operations

Revenues – Homebuilding Operations

We build single-family detached homes, townhomes and condominium buildings, which generally are constructed on a pre-sold basis. Revenue is recognized on the settlement date at the contract sales price, when control is transferred to our customers.

Mortgage Banking Fees

Mortgage banking fees include income earned by NVRM for originating mortgage loans, servicing mortgage loans held on an interim basis, title fees, gains and losses on the sale of mortgage loans and mortgage servicing and other activities incidental to mortgage banking. Mortgage banking fees are generally recognized after the loan has been sold to an unaffiliated, third party investor.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on the deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. See Note 11 herein for discussion of the impact on the Company's deferred tax asset resulting from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017.

ASC 740-10, Income Taxes, provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more-likely-than-not (defined as a likelihood of more than 50%) that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, despite our belief that its filing position is supportable, the benefit of that tax position is not recognized in the statements of income. We recognize interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. Based on our historical experience in dealing with various taxing authorities, we have found that it is the administrative practice of the taxing authorities to not seek penalties from us for the tax positions we have taken on our returns related to our unrecognized tax benefits. Therefore, we do not accrue penalties for the positions in which we have an unrecognized tax benefit. We recognize unrecognized tax benefits in the period that the uncertainty is eliminated by either affirmative agreement of the uncertain tax position by the applicable taxing authority, by expiration of the applicable statute of limitation, or by determination in accordance with certain states’ administrative practices that the uncertain tax position has been effectively settled (see Note 11 herein for further information).

Financial Instruments

Except as otherwise noted herein, we believe that the carrying value approximates the fair value of our financial instruments (see Note 15 herein for further information).

Equity-Based Compensation

We recognize equity-based compensation expense within its income statement for all share-based payment arrangements, which includes non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of NVR common stock ("Options") and restricted share units ("RSUs"). Compensation expense is based on the grant-date fair value of the Options and RSUs granted, and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award (from the date of grant through the period of the last separately vesting portion of the grant). Options and RSUs which are subject to a performance condition are treated as a separate award from the “service-only” Options and RSUs, and compensation expense is recognized when it becomes probable that the stated performance target will be achieved. We calculate the fair value of our Options, which are non-publicly traded, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The grant date fair value of the RSUs is the closing price of our common stock on the day immediately preceding the date of grant. The reversal of compensation expense previously recognized for grants forfeited is recorded in the period in which the forfeiture occurs. Our equity-based compensation plans are accounted for as equity-classified awards (see Note 12 herein for further discussion of equity-based compensation plans).

Comprehensive Income

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, comprehensive income equaled net income; therefore, a separate statement of comprehensive income is not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Leases

On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires the recognition of our leases on the balance sheet as right-of-use ("ROU") assets and lease liabilities. We elected to adopt Topic 842 using the effective date transition method, which permits us to apply the new standard prospectively and present comparative years under legacy GAAP.

In adoption of the standard, we also elected the following:


•	to apply the package of practical expedients during transition, under which we were not required to reassess as of the date of adoption (i) whether any of our contracts are or contain leases, (ii) the classifications of our leases, and (iii) any initial direct costs related to those leases.


•	to exclude leases with an initial lease term of 12 months or less from the recognition requirements under Topic 842.


•	to utilize the portfolio approach for certain office equipment leases, grouping leases by asset type which have similar lease terms and payment schedules.

Upon adoption, on January 1, 2019 we recorded a lease liability of $85,516 and a ROU asset of $79,345, which was recorded net of previously recognized straight-line operating lease adjustments on existing leases. The adoption of Topic 842 did not have an impact on our recognition of lease expense. See additional lease disclosures in Note 13.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), which significantly changes the way impairment of financial assets is recognized. The standard will require immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of many financial assets, which will generally result in earlier recognition of allowances for credit losses on loans and other financial instruments. The standard’s provisions will be applied as a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings as of the effective date. The standard is effective for us as of January 1, 2020. We do not believe that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The standard’s objective is to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating the second step from the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendments in the standard, an entity would perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge would then be recognized, not to exceed the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The standard is effective for us on January 1, 2020. We do not believe that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.