Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

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. We account for our investment in other entities in which we have significant influence over operations and financial policies using the equity method. We eliminate all material intercompany accounts and transactions. Noncontrolling interests in consolidated pass-through entities are recognized before income taxes.

We prepare our unaudited interim financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and Securities and Exchange Commission requirements for interim financial statements. As a result, they do not include all the information and disclosures required for complete financial statements. However, in our opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items unless otherwise noted. We make estimates and assumptions about future events. Actual results can, and probably will, differ from those we currently estimate including those principally related to allocating costs to real estate, measuring long-lived assets for impairment, oil and gas revenue accruals, capital expenditure and lease operating expense accruals associated with our oil and gas production activities, oil and gas reserves and depletion of our oil and gas properties. These interim operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. For further information, please read the financial statements included in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

New and Pending Accounting Pronouncements

Pending Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. Early adoption is not permitted. The updated standard becomes effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. On April 1, the FASB voted to propose a deferral of the effective date of the new standard by one year. This proposed deferral would result in the new standard being effective after December 15, 2017. We have not yet selected a transition method and we are currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on our earnings, financial position and disclosures.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, requiring entities to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. All legal entities are subject to reevaluation under the revised consolidation model. The revised consolidation model: (1) modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities, (2) eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (3) affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, and (4) provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in certain legal entities. The updated standard is effective for financial statements issued for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The updated standard may be applied retrospectively or using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on our earnings, financial position and disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. To simplify presentation of debt issuance costs, the amendments in this Update require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The updated standard is effective for financial statements issued for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. We are currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on our financial position and disclosures.