Variable Interest Entities	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Variable Interest Entities	9. Variable Interest Entities ASC 810 requires a VIE to be consolidated in financial statements of a company if it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Accordingly, the primary beneficiary has the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb its losses or the right to receive its benefits. All VIEs with which we were involved at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were evaluated to determine the primary beneficiary. *Joint Ventures* We routinely enter into joint ventures for homebuilding activities. Investments in these joint ventures may create a variable interest in a VIE, depending on contractual terms of the arrangement. We analyze our joint ventures in accordance with ASC 810 to determine whether they are VIEs and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, these joint ventures were not consolidated into our consolidated financial statements since they were not VIEs, or in the event that they were VIEs, we were not the primary beneficiary. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had a variable interest in a joint venture in which we do not hold a direct, or indirect, investment, and the joint venture was determined to be a VIE. The joint venture, Shea/Baker Ranch Associates, LLC (“Baker Ranch”), is owned 50% by an affiliate and 50% by a third-party. We provided an unconditional loan-to-value maintenance guarantee on Baker Ranch’s outstanding bank notes payable which, at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, was $25.4 million. We have not recorded a liability for this obligation as the fair value of the secured real estate assets exceeded the outstanding notes payable (see Note 16). In accordance with ASC 810, we determined we were not the primary beneficiary of Baker Ranch because we did not have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Baker Ranch, such as determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the entity, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the entity, and arranging financing for the entity. *Land Option Contracts* We enter into land option contracts to procure land for home construction. Use of land option and similar contracts allows us to reduce market risks associated with direct land ownership and development, reduces capital and financial commitments, including interest and other carrying costs, and minimizes land inventory. Under these contracts, we pay a specified deposit for the right to purchase land, usually at a predetermined price. Under the requirements of ASC 810, certain contracts may create a variable interest with the land seller. In compliance with ASC 810, we analyzed our land option and similar contracts to determine if respective land sellers are VIEs and, if so, if we are the primary beneficiary. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, ASC 810 requires us to consolidate a VIE if we are the primary beneficiary. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we determined we were not the primary beneficiary of such VIEs because we did not have the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, such as selling, transferring or developing land owned by the VIE. At June 30, 2012, we had $6.0 million of refundable and non-refundable cash deposits associated with land option contracts with unconsolidated VIEs, having an $83.5 million remaining purchase price and subject to a specific performance clause. We also had $18.5 million of refundable and non-refundable cash deposits associated with land option contracts that were not with VIEs, having a $173.9 million remaining purchase price. Our loss exposure on land option contracts consisted of non-refundable deposits, which were $24.0 million and $14.2 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and were included in inventory in the consolidated balance sheets.

9. Variable Interest Entities

ASC 810 requires a VIE to be consolidated in financial statements of a company if it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Accordingly, the primary beneficiary has the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb its losses or the right to receive its benefits. All VIEs with which we were involved at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were evaluated to determine the primary beneficiary.

Joint Ventures

We routinely enter into joint ventures for homebuilding activities. Investments in these joint ventures may create a variable interest in a VIE, depending on contractual terms of the arrangement. We analyze our joint ventures in accordance with ASC 810 to determine whether they are VIEs and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, these joint ventures were not consolidated into our consolidated financial statements since they were not VIEs, or in the event that they were VIEs, we were not the primary beneficiary.

At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had a variable interest in a joint venture in which we do not hold a direct, or indirect, investment, and the joint venture was determined to be a VIE. The joint venture, Shea/Baker Ranch Associates, LLC (“Baker Ranch”), is owned 50% by an affiliate and 50% by a third-party. We provided an unconditional loan-to-value maintenance guarantee on Baker Ranch’s outstanding bank notes payable which, at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, was $25.4 million. We have not recorded a liability for this obligation as the fair value of the secured real estate assets exceeded the outstanding notes payable (see Note 16).

In accordance with ASC 810, we determined we were not the primary beneficiary of Baker Ranch because we did not have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Baker Ranch, such as determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the entity, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the entity, and arranging financing for the entity.

Land Option Contracts

We enter into land option contracts to procure land for home construction. Use of land option and similar contracts allows us to reduce market risks associated with direct land ownership and development, reduces capital and financial commitments, including interest and other carrying costs, and minimizes land inventory. Under these contracts, we pay a specified deposit for the right to purchase land, usually at a predetermined price. Under the requirements of ASC 810, certain contracts may create a variable interest with the land seller.

In compliance with ASC 810, we analyzed our land option and similar contracts to determine if respective land sellers are VIEs and, if so, if we are the primary beneficiary. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, ASC 810 requires us to consolidate a VIE if we are the primary beneficiary. At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we determined we were not the primary beneficiary of such VIEs because we did not have the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, such as selling, transferring or developing land owned by the VIE.

At June 30, 2012, we had $6.0 million of refundable and non-refundable cash deposits associated with land option contracts with unconsolidated VIEs, having an $83.5 million remaining purchase price and subject to a specific performance clause. We also had $18.5 million of refundable and non-refundable cash deposits associated with land option contracts that were not with VIEs, having a $173.9 million remaining purchase price.

Our loss exposure on land option contracts consisted of non-refundable deposits, which were $24.0 million and $14.2 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and were included in inventory in the consolidated balance sheets.