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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Inventory

Inventory is stated at cost, unless the carrying amount is determined not to be recoverable, in which case inventory is written down to fair value. Quarterly, we review our real estate assets at each community for indicators of impairment. Real estate assets include projects actively selling and projects under development or held for future development. Indicators of impairment include, but not limited to, significant decreases in local housing market values and selling prices of comparable homes, significant decreases in gross margins and sales absorption rates, costs in excess of budget, and actual or projected cash flow losses.

Semi-annually, or if there are indications of impairment, we analyze the budgets and cash flows of our real estate assets and compare the estimated remaining undiscounted future cash flows of the community to the asset’s carrying value. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the asset’s carrying value, no impairment adjustment is required. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying value, the asset is deemed impaired and is written down to fair value. These impairment evaluations require use of estimates and assumptions regarding future conditions, including timing and amounts of development costs and sales prices of real estate assets, to determine if estimated future undiscounted cash flows will be sufficient to recover the asset’s carrying value.

When estimating undiscounted cash flows of a community, various assumptions are made, including: (i) expected sales prices and sales incentives to be offered, including the number of homes available, pricing and incentives being offered by us or other builders in other communities, and future sales price adjustments based on market and economic trends; (ii) expected sales pace and cancellation rates based on local housing market conditions, competition and historical trends; (iii) costs expended to date and expected to be incurred, including, but not limited to, land and land development costs, home construction costs, interest costs, indirect construction and overhead costs, and selling and marketing costs; (iv) alternative product offerings that may be offered that could have an impact on sales pace, sales price and/or building costs; and (v) alternative uses for the property.

Many assumptions are interdependent and a change in one may require a corresponding change to other assumptions. For example, increasing or decreasing sales absorption rates has a direct impact on the estimated per unit sales price of a home, the level of time sensitive costs (such as indirect construction, overhead and carrying costs), and selling and marketing costs (such as model maintenance costs and advertising costs). Depending on the underlying objective of the community, assumptions could have a significant impact on the projected cash flow analysis. For example, if our objective is to preserve operating margins, our cash flow analysis will be different than if the objective is to increase sales. These objectives may vary significantly by community over time.

If assets are considered impaired, impairment is determined by the amount the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted for inherent risks associated with real estate assets or other valuation techniques. These discounted cash flows are impacted by expected risk based on estimated land development, construction and delivery timelines; market risk of price erosion; uncertainty of development or construction cost increases; and other risks specific to the asset or market conditions where the asset is located when assessment is made. These factors are specific to each community and may vary among communities. The discount rate used in determining each asset’s fair value depends on the community’s projected life and development stage, subject to perceived risks associated with the community’s cash flow streams relative to its inventory.

Completed Operations Claim Costs

We maintain, and require our subcontractors to maintain, general liability insurance which includes coverage for completed operations losses and damages. Most subcontractors carry this insurance through our “rolling wrap-up” insurance program, where our risks and risks of participating subcontractors working on our projects are insured through master policies.

Completed operations claims reserves primarily represent claims for property damage to completed homes and projects outside of our one-to-two year warranty period. Specific terms and conditions of completed operations warranties vary depending on the market in which homes are closed and can range to 12 years.

We record expenses and liabilities for estimated costs of potential completed operations claims based upon aggregated loss experience, which includes an estimate of completed operations claims incurred but not reported and is actuarially estimated using individual case-basis valuations and statistical analysis. These estimates make up our entire reserve and are subject to a high degree of variability due to uncertainties such as trends in completed operations claims related to our markets and products built, changes in claims reporting and settlement patterns, third party recoveries, insurance industry practices, insurance regulations and legal precedent. Because state regulations vary, completed operations claims are reported and resolved over an extended period, sometimes exceeding 12 years. As a result, actual costs may differ significantly from estimates.

 

The actuarial analyses that determine these incurred but not reported claims consider various factors, including frequency and severity of losses, which are based on our historical claims experience supplemented by industry data. The actuarial analyses of these claims and reserves also consider historical third party recovery rates and claims management expenses. Due to inherent uncertainties related to each of these factors, periodic changes to such factors based on updated relevant information could result in actual costs to differ significantly from estimated costs.

In accordance with our underlying completed operations insurance policies, these completed operations claims costs are recoverable from our subcontractors or insurance carriers. Completed operations claims through July 31, 2009 are insured with third-party insurance carriers and completed operations claims commencing August 1, 2009 are insured with affiliate insurance carriers.

Revenues

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360, revenues from housing and other real estate sales are recognized when the respective units are closed. Housing and other real estate sales are closed when all conditions of escrow are met, including delivery of the home or other real estate asset, title passage, appropriate consideration is received and collection of associated receivables, if any, is reasonably assured. Sales incentives are a reduction of revenues when the respective unit is closed.

Income Taxes

SHLP is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes. As a limited partnership, SHLP is subject to certain minimal state taxes and fees; however, taxes on income or losses realized by SHLP are generally the obligation of the Partners and their owners.

SHI and PIC are C corporations. Federal and state income taxes are provided for these entities in accordance with ASC 740. The provision for, or benefit from, income taxes is calculated using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect the year in which differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are evaluated to determine whether a valuation allowance should be established based on its determination of whether it is more likely than not some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends primarily on generation of future taxable income during periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Judgment is required to determine future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements and/or tax returns. Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs, (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 amends ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), providing a consistent definition and measurement of fair value, as well as similar disclosure requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles, clarifies application of existing fair value measurement and expands the ASC 820 disclosure requirements, particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company adopted ASU 2011-04 effective January 1, 2012, which did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.