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Inventory
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Real Estate [Abstract]  
Inventory
Inventory
(In thousands)
June 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
Homes under construction
$
384,795

 
$
262,476

Development projects in progress
690,557

 
578,453

Land held for future development
309,516

 
341,986

Land held for sale
74,365

 
31,331

Capitalized interest
84,083

 
52,562

Model homes
44,638

 
37,886

Total owned inventory
$
1,587,954

 
$
1,304,694



Homes under construction includes homes substantially finished and ready for delivery and homes in various stages of construction. We had 137 ($30.0 million) and 113 ($30.7 million) substantially completed homes that were not subject to a sales contract (spec homes) at June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively. Development projects in progress consist principally of land and land improvement costs. Certain of the fully developed lots in this category are reserved by a deposit or sales contract. Land held for future development consists of communities for which construction and development activities are expected to occur in the future or have been idled and are stated at cost unless facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. All applicable interest and real estate taxes on land held for future development are expensed as incurred. During the nine months ended June 30, 2014, we began development on a large project in California that was previously included in land held for future development. The increase in land held for sale relates to recent purchases of large land positions, a portion of which we have committed to sell. A majority of this land held for sale is currently under contract. Land held for sale in Unallocated and Other as of June 30, 2014 includes land held for sale in the markets we have decided to exit including Charlotte, North Carolina, Denver, Colorado and Detroit, Michigan. Total owned inventory, by reportable segment, is set forth in the table below:
(In thousands)
Projects in
Progress
 
Held for Future
Development
 
Land Held
for Sale
 
Total Owned
Inventory
June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Segment
$
442,694

 
$
262,481

 
$
19,192

 
$
724,367

East Segment
382,234

 
28,787

 
34,608

 
445,629

Southeast Segment
259,530

 
18,248

 
13,205

 
290,983

Unallocated and Other
119,615

 

 
7,360

 
126,975

Total
$
1,204,073

 
$
309,516

 
$
74,365

 
$
1,587,954

September 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Segment
$
339,319

 
$
292,875

 
$
16,572

 
$
648,766

East Segment
331,894

 
25,491

 
3,833

 
361,218

Southeast Segment
178,624

 
23,620

 
8,208

 
210,452

Unallocated and Other
81,540

 

 
2,718

 
84,258

Total
$
931,377

 
$
341,986

 
$
31,331

 
$
1,304,694



Inventory Impairments. When conducting our community level review for the recoverability of our homebuilding inventories held for development, we establish a quarterly “watch list” of communities with more than 10 homes remaining to sell that carry profit margins in backlog and in our forecast that are below a minimum threshold of profitability. Assets on the quarterly watch list are subject to substantial additional financial and operational analyses and review that consider the competitive environment and other factors contributing to profit margins below our threshold. For communities where the current competitive and market dynamics indicate that these factors may be other than temporary, which may call into question the recoverability of our investment, a formal impairment analysis is performed. The formal impairment analysis consists of both qualitative competitive market analyses and a quantitative analysis reflecting market and asset specific information.

As of June 30, 2014, four communities were on our quarterly watch list. After additional financial and operational review, we determined that the factors contributing to profit margins below our threshold for certain of these communities were temporary in nature and therefore those communities were not subjected to further analysis. As of June 30, 2013, there were no communities on our quarterly watch list and therefore we did not perform any impairment analyses for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. The following tables represent the results, by reportable segment, of our community level review of the recoverability of our inventory assets held for development as of June 30, 2014. The aggregate undiscounted cash flow fair value as a percentage of book value for the communities represented below is consistent with our expectations given our “watch list” methodology.
($ in thousands)
 
 
Undiscounted Cash Flow Analyses Prepared
Segment
# of
Communities
on Watch List
 
# of
Communities
 
Pre-analysis
Book Value
(BV)
 
Aggregate
Undiscounted
Cash Flow as a
% of BV
Quarter Ended June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West
3

 
2

 
$
12,215

 
103.7
%
East

 

 

 
n/a

Southeast
1

 

 

 
n/a

Unallocated

 

 

 
n/a

Total
4

 
2

 
$
12,215

 
103.7
%


There were no impairments recorded during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2014 or 2013 related to our analyses. The impairments on development projects and homes in process below for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 related to homes sold and in backlog with net contribution margins below a minimum threshold of profitability in communities that were not otherwise impaired through our discounted cash flow analysis.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our assumptions about future home sales prices and absorption rates require significant judgment because the residential home building industry is cyclical and is highly sensitive to changes in economic conditions. Market deterioration that exceeds our estimates may lead us to incur impairment charges on previously impaired homebuilding assets in addition to homebuilding assets not currently impaired but for which indicators of impairment may arise if markets deteriorate.

The impairments on land held for sale generally represent further write downs of these properties to net realizable value, less estimated costs to sell and are based on current market conditions and our review of recent comparable transactions at the applicable period end. For the nine months ended June 30, 2013, the land held for sale impairment in the Southeast Segment related to our
decision to reposition one community in South Carolina to address consumer demand, including the decision to sell a portion of
the lots in this community. Our assumptions about land sales prices require significant judgment because the current market is highly sensitive to changes in economic conditions. We calculated the estimated fair values of land held for sale based on current market conditions and assumptions made by management, which may differ materially from actual results and may result in additional impairments if market conditions deteriorate.

Also, we have determined the proper course of action with respect to a number of communities within each homebuilding segment was to not exercise certain options and to write-off the deposits securing the option takedowns and pre-acquisition costs, as applicable. In determining whether to abandon lots or lot option contracts, our evaluation is primarily based upon the expected cash flows from the property. If we intend to abandon or walk-away from the property, we record a charge to earnings in the period such decision is made for the deposit amount and any related capitalized costs. Abandonment charges generally relate to our decision to abandon lots or not exercise certain option contracts that are not projected to produce adequate results or no longer fit in our long-term strategic plan. Included in the abandonments below for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2014 is a $1.7 million abandonment of certain lots related to wetlands permitting issues in the Southeast segment.
The following table sets forth, by reportable homebuilding segment, the inventory impairments and lot option abandonment charges recorded for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, as applicable:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Nine Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)
 
 
 
 
 
 
West
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
46

East

 

 

 
13

Southeast

 

 

 

Unallocated

 

 

 

Subtotal
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
59

Land Held for Sale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

East
201

 

 
232

 

Southeast

 

 
28

 
1,778

Subtotal
$
201

 
$

 
$
260

 
$
1,778

Lot Option Abandonments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
104

East
156

 

 
156

 
20

Southeast
1,653

 

 
2,505

 
268

Unallocated

 

 

 

Subtotal
$
1,809

 
$

 
$
2,661

 
$
392

Continuing Operations
$
2,010

 
$

 
$
2,921

 
$
2,229

Discontinued Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Held for Development
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Land Held for Sale

 

 

 
17

Lot Option Abandonments

 

 

 

Subtotal
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
17

Total Company
$
2,010

 
$

 
$
2,921

 
$
2,246



Lot Option Agreements and Variable Interest Entities (VIEs). As previously discussed, we also have access to land inventory through lot option contracts, which generally enable us to defer acquiring portions of properties owned by third parties and unconsolidated entities until we have determined whether to exercise our lot option. A majority of our lot option contracts require a non-refundable cash deposit or irrevocable letter of credit based on a percentage of the purchase price of the land for the right to acquire lots during a specified period of time at a certain price. Under lot option contracts, purchase of the properties is contingent upon satisfaction of certain requirements by us and the sellers. Our liability under option contracts is generally limited to forfeiture of the non-refundable deposits, letters of credit and other non-refundable amounts incurred. We expect to exercise, subject to market conditions and seller satisfaction of contract terms, most of our remaining option contracts. Various factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as market conditions, weather conditions and the timing of the completion of development activities, will have a significant impact on the timing of option exercises or whether lot options will be exercised.
For the VIEs in which we are the primary beneficiary, we have consolidated the VIE and reflected such assets and liabilities as land not owned under option agreements in our balance sheets. For VIEs we were required to consolidate, we recorded the remaining contractual purchase price under the applicable lot option agreement to land not owned under option agreements with an offsetting increase to obligations related to land not owned under option agreements. Also, to reflect the purchase price of this inventory consolidated, we present the related option deposits as land not owned under option agreement in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Consolidation of these VIEs has no impact on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows.
The following provides a summary of our interests in lot option agreements as of June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013:
(In thousands)
Deposits &
Non-refundable
Preacquisition
Costs Incurred
 
Remaining
Obligation
 
Land Not Owned
Under Option
Agreements
As of June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated VIEs
$
4,572

 
$
3,016

 
$
7,588

Unconsolidated lot option agreements
38,055

 
414,217

 

Total lot option agreements
$
42,627

 
$
417,233

 
$
7,588

As of September 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated VIEs
$
4,491

 
$
4,633

 
$
9,124

Unconsolidated lot option agreements
32,822

 
284,005

 

Total lot option agreements
$
37,313

 
$
288,638

 
$
9,124