INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES Our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 6.4% and 15.9%, respectively, compared to 30.7% and 31.0% for the same periods in 2017, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate primarily due to state income taxes, special deductions and credits relating to homebuilding activities, uncertain tax positions and discrete tax adjustments related to certain deferred tax assets and liabilities. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was favorably impacted by the reduction in the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”), the relevant provisions of which became effective on January 1, 2018. In response to the Tax Act, we filed three requests for a change in tax accounting methods related to the timing of income and expense recognition for tax purposes. One of our requests was for a tax accounting method afforded automatic consent while the other two required advanced consent from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). We received affirmative consent from the IRS and signed an agreement for one of the requests during the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The impact of the approved tax accounting method changes was reflected in our consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2018 as a reduction in income tax expense of $8.1 million. Subsequent to the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we received affirmative consent from the IRS and signed an agreement for the second request for change in method of tax accounting, the effects of which will be recognized in our annual consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2018. Refer to Note 17. Subsequent Events for additional information. In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), the Company recorded provisional tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017 related to the write-down of our existing deferred tax assets and the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings related to the sale of our Canadian business in 2015. In the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a $0.5 million reduction to the provisional tax expense for the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings. The adjustment to the provisional tax expense during the quarter resulted from completing our calculations of the transition tax and finalizing our U.S. federal income tax returns. Our accounting for the transition tax is complete. We expect our final accounting related to the remeasurement of our existing deferred tax assets under SAB 118 to be complete when we file our U.S. federal tax returns during the fourth quarter of 2018. Our cumulative gross unrecognized tax benefits were $3.6 million and $12.9 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The reduction to our cumulative gross unrecognized tax benefits during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was the result of the completion of a state audit related to the utilization of the Company’s state net operating losses. If the unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2018 were to be recognized, approximately $2.9 million would affect the effective tax rate. We had $0.7 million and $1.0 million of gross interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions accrued as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The reduction to our gross accrued interest and penalties during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was the result of the conclusion of a state audit.

INCOME TAXES

Our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 6.4% and 15.9%, respectively, compared to 30.7% and 31.0% for the same periods in 2017, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate primarily due to state income taxes, special deductions and credits relating to homebuilding activities, uncertain tax positions and discrete tax adjustments related to certain deferred tax assets and liabilities.

The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was favorably impacted by the reduction in the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”), the relevant provisions of which became effective on January 1, 2018. In response to the Tax Act, we filed three requests for a change in tax accounting methods related to the timing of income and expense recognition for tax purposes. One of our requests was for a tax accounting method afforded automatic consent while the other two required advanced consent from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). We received affirmative consent from the IRS and signed an agreement for one of the requests during the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The impact of the approved tax accounting method changes was reflected in our consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2018 as a reduction in income tax expense of $8.1 million. Subsequent to the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we received affirmative consent from the IRS and signed an agreement for the second request for change in method of tax accounting, the effects of which will be recognized in our annual consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2018. Refer to Note 17. Subsequent Events for additional information.

In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), the Company recorded provisional tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017 related to the write-down of our existing deferred tax assets and the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings related to the sale of our Canadian business in 2015. In the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a $0.5 million reduction to the provisional tax expense for the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings. The adjustment to the provisional tax expense during the quarter resulted from completing our calculations of the transition tax and finalizing our U.S. federal income tax returns. Our accounting for the transition tax is complete. We expect our final accounting related to the remeasurement of our existing deferred tax assets under SAB 118 to be complete when we file our U.S. federal tax returns during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Our cumulative gross unrecognized tax benefits were $3.6 million and $12.9 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The reduction to our cumulative gross unrecognized tax benefits during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was the result of the completion of a state audit related to the utilization of the Company’s state net operating losses.

If the unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2018 were to be recognized, approximately $2.9 million would affect the effective tax rate. We had $0.7 million and $1.0 million of gross interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions accrued as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The reduction to our gross accrued interest and penalties during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was the result of the conclusion of a state audit.