Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of warranty reserves

Changes in warranty reserves are as follows for the periods presented:

	Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
in thousands	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of period	$	13,388	$	15,331	$	18,091
Accruals for warranties issued (a)	10,910		11,847		13,755
Changes in liability related to warranties existing in prior periods	(1,352)		(1,686)		(2,401)
Payments made	(9,894)		(12,104)		(14,114)
Balance at end of period	$	13,052	$	13,388	$	15,331

(a) Accruals for warranties issued are a function of the number of home closings in the period, the selling prices of the homes closed and the rates of accrual per home estimated as a percentage of the selling price of the home.