Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Operations

William Lyon Homes, a Delaware corporation (“Parent” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”), are primarily engaged in designing, constructing and selling single family detached and attached homes in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado (under the Village Homes brand), Washington and Oregon (together, under the Polygon Northwest Homes brand).

Basis of Presentation

The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and revenues and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant accounting policies using estimates include real estate inventories and cost of sales, impairment of real estate inventories, warranty reserves, loss contingencies, sales and profit recognition, accounting for variable interest entities, valuation of deferred tax assets, and the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with acquisition accounting. The current economic environment increases the uncertainty inherent in these estimates and assumptions.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries and joint ventures, and certain joint ventures and other entities which have been determined to be variable interest entities in which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary (see Note 4). The accounting policies of the joint ventures are substantially the same as those of the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Real Estate Inventories

Real estate inventories are carried at cost net of impairment losses, if any. Real estate inventories consist primarily of land deposits, land and land under development, homes completed and under construction, and model homes. All direct and indirect land costs, offsite and onsite improvements and applicable interest and other carrying charges are capitalized to real estate projects during periods when the project is under development. Land, offsite costs and all other common costs are allocated to land parcels benefited based upon relative fair values before construction. Onsite construction costs and related carrying charges (principally interest and property taxes) are allocated to the individual homes within a phase based upon the relative sales value of the homes. The Company relieves its accumulated real estate inventories through cost of sales for the estimated cost of homes sold. Selling expenses and other marketing costs are expensed in the period incurred.

The Company accounts for its real estate inventories under FASB ASC 360 Property, Plant, & Equipment (“ASC 360”). ASC 360 requires impairment losses to be recorded on real estate inventories when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by real estate inventories are less than the carrying amount of such assets. Indicators of impairment include a decrease in demand for housing due to softening market conditions, competitive pricing pressures, which reduce the average sales price of homes including an increase in sales incentives offered to buyers, slowing sales absorption rates, decreases in home values in the markets in which the Company operates, significant decreases in gross margins and a decrease in project cash flows for a particular project.

For land, construction in progress, completed inventory, including model homes, and inventories not owned, the Company estimates expected cash flows at the project level by maintaining current budgets using recent historical information and current market assumptions. The Company updates project budgets and cash flows of each real estate project on an as needed basis to determine whether the estimated remaining undiscounted future cash flows of the project are more or less than the carrying amount (net book value) of the asset. If the undiscounted cash flows are more than the net book value of the project, then there is no impairment. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the net book value of the asset, then the asset is deemed to be impaired and is written-down to its fair value.

Fair value represents the amount at which an asset could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties (i.e., other than a forced or liquidation sale). Management determines the estimated fair value of each project by determining the present value of estimated future cash flows at discount rates that are commensurate with the risk of each project and each domain, market or sub-market or may use recent appraisals if they more accurately reflect fair value. The estimation process involved in determining if assets have been impaired and in the determination of fair value is inherently uncertain because it requires estimates of future revenues and costs, as well as future events and conditions. Estimates of revenues and costs are supported by the Company’s budgeting process, and are based on recent sales in backlog, pricing required to get the desired pace of sales, pricing of competitive projects, incentives offered by competitors and current estimates of costs of development and construction or current appraisals.

The assumptions and judgments used by the Company in the estimation process to determine the future undiscounted cash flows of a project and its fair value are inherently uncertain and require a substantial degree of judgment. The realization of the Company’s real estate inventories is dependent upon future uncertain events and market conditions. Due to the subjective nature of the estimates and assumptions used in determining the future cash flows of a project, actual results could differ materially from current estimates.

Management assesses land deposits for impairment when estimated land values are deemed to be less than the agreed upon contract price. The Company considers changes in market conditions, the timing of land purchases, the ability to renegotiate with land sellers, the terms of the land option contracts in question, the availability and best use of capital, and other factors. The Company records abandoned land deposits and related pre-acquisition costs in cost of sales-lots, land and other in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that it is abandoned.

A provision for warranty costs relating to the Company’s limited warranty plans is included in cost of sales and accrued expenses at the time the sale of a home is recorded. The Company generally reserves approximately one percent of the sales price of its homes, or a set amount per home closed depending on operating segment, against the possibility of future charges relating to its warranty programs and similar potential claims. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of homes under warranty, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and cost per claim. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liability and adjusts the amounts as necessary. Changes in the Company’s warranty liability for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):



	Year Ended December 31, 2015			Year Ended December 31, 2014			Year Ended December 31, 2013
	Year Ended December 31, 2015			Year Ended December 31, 2014			Year Ended December 31, 2013
Warranty liability, beginning of period	$	18,155		$	14,935		$	14,317
Warranty provision during period	7,423			9,601			5,641
Warranty payments during period	(8,555		)	(7,409		)	(5,676		)
Warranty charges related to construction services projects	1,094			1,028			653
Warranty liability, end of period	$	18,117		$	18,155		$	14,935

Interest incurred under the Company’s debt obligations, as more fully discussed in Note 10, is capitalized to qualifying real estate projects under development. Any additional interest charges related to real estate projects not under development are expensed in the period incurred. Interest activity for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):



	Year Ended December 31, 2015			Year Ended December 31, 2014			Year Ended December 31, 2013
	Year Ended December 31, 2015			Year Ended December 31, 2014			Year Ended December 31, 2013
Interest incurred	$	76,221		$	65,560		$	31,875
Less: Interest capitalized	(76,221		)	(65,560		)	(29,273		)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	$	—		$	—		$	2,602
Cash paid for interest	$	72,254		$	46,779		$	29,769

Construction Services

The Company accounts for construction management agreements using the Percentage of Completion Method in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 605 Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). Under ASC 605, the Company records revenues and expenses as a contracted project progresses, and based on the percentage of costs incurred to date compared to the total estimated costs of the contract.

The Company entered into construction management agreements to build, sell and market homes in certain communities. For such services, the Company will receive fees (generally 3 to 5 percent of the sales price, as defined) and may, under certain circumstances, receive additional compensation if certain financial thresholds are achieved. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded additional compensation of $1.9 million, $3.9 million and $4.2 million, respectively.

Financial Instruments

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are primarily cash investments, receivables, escrow proceeds receivable, our indebtedness, and deposits. The Company typically places its cash investments in investment grade short-term instruments. Deposits, included in other assets, are due from municipalities or utility companies and are generally collected from such entities through fees assessed to other developers. The Company is an issuer of, or subject to, financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business which exposes it to credit risks. These financial instruments include letters of credit and obligations in connection with assessment district bonds. These off-balance sheet financial instruments are described in more detail in Note 17.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Short-term investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance exceeds federally insurable limits as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company monitors the cash balances in its operating accounts; however, these cash balances could be negatively impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail or are subject to other adverse conditions in the financial markets. To date, the Company has experienced no loss or lack of access to cash in its operating accounts.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of deposits made by the Company to a bank account as collateral for the use of letters of credit to guarantee the Company’s financial obligations under certain other contractual arrangements in the normal course of business.

Goodwill

In accordance with the provisions of ASC 350, Intangibles, Goodwill and Other, goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. The impairment test is performed at the reporting unit level, and an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the fair value. The Company has determined that we have six reporting segments, as discussed in Note 6, and will perform an annual goodwill impairment analysis during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year.

Intangible Assets

Recorded intangible assets primarily relate to brand names of acquired entities, construction management contracts, homes in backlog, and joint venture management fee contracts recorded in conjunction with FASB ASC Topic 852, Reorganizations ("ASC 852"), or FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations ("ASC 805"). All intangible assets with the exception of those relating to brand names were valued based on expected cash flows related to home closings, and the asset is amortized on a per unit basis, as homes under the contracts close. Our brand name intangible assets are deemed to have an indefinite useful life.

Income (loss) per common share

The Company computes income (loss) per common share in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260, Earnings per Share, which requires income (loss) per common share for each class of stock to be calculated using the two-class method. The two-class method is an allocation of income (loss) between the holders of common stock and a company’s participating security holders.

Basic income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing income or loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. For purposes of determining diluted income (loss) per common share, basic income (loss) per common share is further adjusted to include the effect of potential dilutive common shares outstanding.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board ASC 740, Income Taxes, using an asset and liability approach. Deferred income taxes reflect the net effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards measured by applying currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance would be provided to reduce net deferred tax assets if it were determined that it is more likely than not to be realized. ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement criterion for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be considered “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. In addition, the Company has elected to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the income tax provision.

Comprehensive Income or Loss

The Company had no other transactions or activity, other than net income or loss, that would be considered as part of comprehensive income or loss.

Impact of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which clarifies existing accounting literature relating to how and when revenue is recognized by an entity. ASU 2014-09 affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, an entity will need to exercise a greater degree of judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price, and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 also supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition-Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts. ASU 2014-09 is effective for public companies for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and is to be applied either retrospectively or using the cumulative effect transition method, with early adoption not permitted. The Company has not yet selected a transition method, and is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which improves targeted areas of the consolidation guidance and reduces the number of consolidation models. The amendments in the ASU are effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not anticipate that adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, "Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." The amendment requires that all costs incurred to issue debt be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount. The standard also indicates that debt issuance costs do not meet the definition of an asset because they provide no future economic benefit. The amendments in the ASU are effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and is to be applied on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted.

The Company has elected to early adopt this standard, and has applied its provisions retrospectively. As a result, as of December 31, 2015, approximately $1.7 million, $6.0 million, and $5.6 million of unamortized deferred loan costs are presented as a direct reduction of the 5 ³/₄% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019, the 8 ¹/₂% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020, and the 7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022, respectively, and approximately $1.4 million of unamortized deferred loan costs related to the Company's revolving line of credit is included in other assets, net, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Further, as of December 31, 2014, approximately $2.2 million, $7.3 million, and $5.2 million of unamortized deferred loan costs are presented as a direct reduction of the 5 ³/₄% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019, the 8 ¹/₂% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020, and the 7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022, respectively, and approximately $1.3 million of unamortized deferred loan costs related to the Company's revolving line of credit is included in other assets, net. See Note 10.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, “Business Combinations: Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments." The amendment requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require that the acquirer record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. ASU 2015-16 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company has elected to early adopt this standard. See Note 2 for a description of the measurement period adjustment recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015.

Reclassifications

Certain balances on the financial statements and certain amounts presented in the notes have been reclassified in order to conform to current year presentation.