Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forestar Group Inc., all subsidiaries, ventures, and other entities in which we have a controlling interest and variable interest entities of which we are the primary beneficiary. We eliminate all material intercompany accounts and transactions. Noncontrolling interests in consolidated pass-through entities are recognized before income taxes. We account for our investment in other entities in which we have significant influence over operations and financial policies using the equity method (we recognize our share of the entities’ income or loss and any preferential returns and treat distributions as a reduction of our investment). We account for our investment in other entities in which we do not have significant influence over operations and financial policies using the cost method (we recognize as income only distribution of accumulated earnings).

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, which require us to make estimates and assumptions about future events. Actual results can, and probably will, differ from those we currently estimate. Examples of significant estimates include those related to allocating costs to real estate and measuring assets for impairment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and other short-term instruments with original maturities of three months or less. Restricted cash included in cash and cash equivalents was $1,255,000 at year-end 2011 and $773,000 at year-end 2010.

Cash Flows

Expenditures for the acquisition and development of real estate are classified as operating activities. Expenditures for the acquisition of income producing properties, investment in oil and natural gas properties and equipment, and business acquisitions are classified as investing activities.

Capitalized Software

We capitalize purchased software costs as well as the direct internal and external costs associated with software we develop for our own use. We amortize these capitalized costs using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from three to seven years. The carrying value of capitalized software was $2,176,000 at year-end 2011 and $2,823,000 at year-end 2010 and is included in other assets. The amortization of these capitalized costs was $1,493,000 in 2011, $1,206,000 in 2010 and $1,012,000 in 2009 and is included in general and administrative and operating expenses.

Derivative Instruments

We periodically enter into interest rate agreements in the normal course of business to mitigate the risk inherent in interest rate fluctuations. We do not enter into derivative instruments for trading purposes. We defer and include in other comprehensive income changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges. We recognize the ineffective portion of these hedges in income or loss. The effectiveness of the hedge relationship is periodically assessed by comparing the present value of the cumulative change in the expected future cash flows on the variable leg of the swap with the present value of the cumulative change in the expected future hedged cash flows.

Environmental and Asset Retirement Obligations

We recognize environmental remediation liabilities on an undiscounted basis when environmental assessments or remediation are probable and we can reasonably estimate the cost. We adjust these liabilities as further information is obtained or circumstances change. We currently do not have any asset retirement obligations.

Fair Value Measurements

Financial instruments for which we did not elect the fair value option include cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivables, other current assets, long-term debt, accounts payable and other current liabilities. With the exception of long-term notes receivable and debt, the carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature or variable interest rates.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

We record goodwill when the purchase price of a business acquisition exceeds the estimated fair value of net identified tangible and intangible assets acquired. We do not amortize goodwill or other indefinite lived intangible assets. Instead, we measure these assets for impairment based on the estimated fair values at least annually or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. We perform the annual impairment measurement as of the beginning of the fourth quarter of each year. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We review long-lived assets held for use, principally real estate, for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment exists if the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable from the undiscounted cash flows expected from its use and eventual disposition. We determine the amount of the impairment loss by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived asset to its estimated fair value. In the absence of quoted market prices, we determine estimated fair value generally based on the present value of future probability weighted cash flows expected from the sale of the long-lived asset. Non-cash impairment charges related to our owned and consolidated real estate assets are included in cost of real estate sales.

Income Taxes

We provide deferred income taxes using current tax rates for temporary differences between the financial accounting carrying value of assets and liabilities and their tax accounting carrying values. We recognize and value income tax exposures for the various taxing jurisdictions where we operate based on laws, elections, commonly accepted tax positions, and management estimates. We include tax penalties and interest in income tax expense. We provide a valuation allowance for any deferred tax asset that is not likely to be recoverable in future periods.

When we believe a tax position is supportable but the outcome uncertain, we include the item in our tax return but do not recognize the related benefit in our provision for taxes. Instead, we record a reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, which represents our expectation of the most likely outcome considering the technical merits and specific facts of the position. Changes to liabilities are only made when an event occurs that changes the most likely outcome, such as settlement with the relevant tax authority, expiration of statutes of limitations, changes in tax law, or recent court rulings.

Mineral Interests

We acquire real estate that may include the subsurface rights associated with the property, including minerals. We capitalize the costs of acquiring these mineral interests. We amortize the cost assigned to unproved interests, principally acquisition costs, using the straight-line method over appropriate periods based on our experience, generally no longer than 10 years. Costs assigned to individual unproven interests are minimal and amortized on an aggregate basis. When we lease these interests to third-party oil and natural gas exploration and production entities, any related unamortized costs are accounted for using the cost recovery method from the cash proceeds received from lease bonus payments.

When we lease our mineral interests to third-party exploration and production entities, we retain a royalty interest and may take an additional participation in production, including a non-operating working interest. Non-operating working interests refer to well interests in which we pay a share of the costs to drill, complete and operate a well and receive a proportionate share of the production revenues. We use the successful efforts method to account for our mineral interest participations. Mineral interests and non-operating working interests, net of amortization, are included in oil and natural gas properties and equipment on our balance sheet. We amortize our capitalized non-operating working interests as well as acquisition of proven properties based on the units of production depletion method.

Operating Leases

We occupy office space in various locations under operating leases. The lease agreements may contain rent escalation clauses, construction allowances and/or contingent rent provisions. We expense operating leases ratably over the shorter of the useful life or the lease term. For scheduled rent escalation clauses, we recognize the base rent expense on a straight-line basis and record the difference between the recognized rent expense and the amounts payable under the lease as deferred lease credits included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Deferred lease credits are amortized over the lease term. For construction allowances, we record leasehold improvement assets included in property and equipment in the consolidated balance sheets amortized over the shorter of their economic lives or the lease term. The related deferred lease credits are amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the lease term.

Property and Equipment

We carry property and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation. We capitalize the cost of significant additions and improvements, and we expense the cost of repairs and maintenance. We capitalize interest costs incurred on major construction projects. We depreciate these assets using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

	Estimated		Carrying Value Year-End
	Useful Lives		2011			2010
			(In thousands)
Buildings and building improvements		10 to 40 years	$	4,916		$	4,417
Property and equipment		2 to 10 years		5,426			5,431
				10,342			9,848
Less: accumulated depreciation				(5,164	)		(4,271	)
			$	5,178		$	5,577

Depreciation expense of property and equipment was $893,000 in 2011, $890,000 in 2010 and $1,022,000 in 2009.

Real Estate

We carry real estate at the lower of cost or fair value less cost to sell. We capitalize interest costs once development begins, and we continue to capitalize throughout the development period. We also capitalize infrastructure, improvements, amenities, and other development costs incurred during the development period. We determine the cost of real estate sold using the relative sales value method. When we sell real estate from projects that are not finished, we include in the cost of real estate sold estimates of future development costs through completion, allocated based on relative sales values. These estimates of future development costs are reevaluated at least annually, with any adjustments being allocated prospectively to the remaining units available for sale.

Income producing properties are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.

We have agreements with utility or improvement districts, principally in Texas, whereby we agree to convey to the districts water, sewer and other infrastructure-related assets we have constructed in connection with projects within their jurisdiction. The reimbursement for these assets ranges from 70 to 100 percent of allowable cost as defined by the district. The transfer is consummated and we receive payment when the districts have a sufficient tax base to support funding of their bonds. The cost we incur in constructing these assets is included in capitalized development costs, and upon collection, we remove the assets from capitalized development costs. We provide an allowance to reflect our past experiences related to claimed allowable development costs.

Reclassifications

In 2011, we reclassified $1,612,000 in assets held for sale to real estate and timber upon completing our 2009 strategic initiatives related to the sale of higher and better use timberland.

Revenue

Real Estate

We recognize revenue from sales of real estate when a sale is consummated, the buyer’s initial investment is adequate, any receivables are probable of collection, the usual risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, and we do not have significant continuing involvement with the real estate sold. If we determine that the earnings process is not complete, we defer recognition of any gain until earned. We recognize revenue from hotel room sales and other guest services when rooms are occupied and other guest services have been rendered. We recognize revenue from our multifamily properties when payments are due from residents, generally on a monthly basis.

We exclude from revenue amounts we collect from utility or improvement districts related to the conveyance of water, sewer and other infrastructure related assets. We also exclude from revenue amounts we collect for timber sold on land being developed. These proceeds reduce capitalized development costs. We exclude from revenue amounts we collect from customers that represent sales tax or other taxes that are based on the sale. These amounts are included in other accrued expenses until paid.

Mineral Resources

We recognize revenue from mineral bonus payments when we have received an executed agreement with the exploration company transferring the rights to any oil or natural gas it may find and requiring drilling be done within a specified period, the payment has been collected, and we have no obligation to refund the payment. We recognize revenue from delay rentals if drilling has not started within the specified period and when the payment has been collected. We recognize revenue from mineral royalties and non-operating working interests when the minerals have been delivered to the buyer, the value is determinable, and we are reasonably sure of collection.

Fiber Resources

We recognize revenue from timber sales upon passage of title, which occurs at delivery; when the price is fixed and determinable; and we are reasonably sure of collection. We recognize revenue from recreational leases on the straight-line basis over the lease term if we are reasonably sure of collection.

Share-Based Compensation

We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model for stock options, Monte Carlo simulation pricing model for market-leveraged stock units, grant date fair value for equity-settled awards and period-end fair value for cash-settled awards. We expense share-based awards ratably over the vesting period or earlier based on retirement eligibility.

Timber

We carry timber at cost less the cost of timber cut. We expense the cost of timber cut based on the relationship of the timber carrying value to the estimated volume of recoverable timber multiplied by the amount of timber cut. We include the cost of timber cut in cost of fiber resources in the income statement. We determine the estimated volume of recoverable timber using statistical information and other data related to growth rates and yields gathered from physical observations, models and other information gathering techniques. Changes in yields are generally due to adjustments in growth rates and similar matters and are accounted for prospectively as changes in estimates. We capitalize reforestation costs incurred in developing viable seedling plantations (up to two years from planting), such as site preparation, seedlings, planting, fertilization, insect and wildlife control, and herbicide application. We expense all other costs, such as property taxes and costs of forest management personnel, as incurred. Once the seedling plantation is viable, we expense all costs to maintain the viable plantations, such as fertilization, herbicide application, insect and wildlife control, and thinning, as incurred.