Variable Interest Entities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Variable Interest Entities

Note R - Variable Interest Entities

GAAP requires a variable interest entity ("VIE") to be consolidated with a company which is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the entity that has both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Entities determined to be VIEs, for which we are not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method.

AV Homes' variable interest in VIEs may be in the form of (1) equity ownership, (2) contracts to purchase assets and/or (3) loans provided by AV Homes to a VIE. We examine specific criteria and use judgment when determining if AV Homes is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. Factors considered in determining whether we are the primary beneficiary include risk and reward sharing, experience and financial condition of other partner(s), voting rights, involvement in day-to-day capital and operating decisions, level of economic disproportionality between AV Homes and the other partner(s) and contracts to purchase assets from VIEs.

We participate in entities with equity interests ranging from 20% to 50% for the purpose of acquiring and/or developing land in which we may or may not have a controlling interest. These entities are VIEs and our investments in these entities, along with other arrangements represent variable interests, depending on the contractual terms of the arrangement. We analyze these entities when they are entered into or upon a reconsideration event.

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

During 2009, we entered into two separate agreements with unrelated third parties providing for the formation of two LLCs. We subsequently sold developed, partially-developed and undeveloped land to each of the newly formed companies for a combination of cash and purchase money notes. We acquired a minority ownership interest in each of the LLCs and participate in the management of each of the LLCs. We also entered into land option contracts with these newly formed LLCs. Under such land option contracts, we paid a specified option deposit in consideration for the right, but not the obligation, to purchase developed lots in the future at predetermined prices.

We determined that these entities qualify as VIEs which require consolidation by the entity determined to be the primary beneficiary.  As a result of our analyses, we hold a variable interest in the VIEs through the purchase money notes, the land option contracts and an economic interest in these LLCs.  As of March 31, 2012, our consolidated balance sheets include $1,774in land and other inventories and $1,036 in property and equipment from these LLCs. As of December 31, 2011, our consolidated balance sheets include $3,470 in land and other inventories and $1,049 in property and equipment from these LLC's.

In January 2012, all of the real property owned by one of our consolidated joint ventures was sold to an unrelated third party. The net gain on this sale of approximately $2,731 is fully recognized and included as a component of net loss on our consolidated statement of operations. We present the joint venture partner's 60% share of this gain, $1,639, on our consolidated statement of operations as a component of net gain (loss)  attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities.

AV Homes and its equity partners make initial or ongoing capital contributions to these consolidated entities on a pro rata basis. The obligation to make capital contributions is governed by each consolidated entity's respective operating agreement.

As of March 31, 2012, these consolidated entities were financed by partner equity and do not have third-party debt. In addition, we have not provided any guarantees to these entities or our equity partners.

Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities

We participate in entities with equity interests ranging from 20% to 50% for the purpose of acquiring and/or developing land in which we do not have a controlling interest.  We analyze these entities when they are entered into or upon a reconsideration event.  All of such entities in which we had an equity interest at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are accounted for under the equity method.

AV Homes shares in the profits and losses of these unconsolidated entities generally in accordance with its ownership interests. AV Homes and its equity partners make initial or ongoing capital contributions to these unconsolidated entities on a pro rata basis. The obligation to make capital contributions is governed by each unconsolidated entity's respective operating agreement.

Prior to 2010, we entered into various transactions with unaffiliated third parties providing for the formation of LLCs; and we subsequently sold developed and partially-developed land to each of these LLCs.  We acquired a minority ownership interest in each of the LLCs and share in the management of each. AV Homes made contributions totaling $30and $41 to its unconsolidated entities during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

As of March 31, 2012, these unconsolidated entities were financed by partner equity and do not have third-party debt. In addition, we have not provided any guarantees to these entities or our equity partners.

The following are the consolidated condensed balance sheets of our unconsolidated entities as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

	March 31,		December 31,
	2012		2011
Assets:
Cash	$	112	$	197
Land and other inventory		6,928		6,928
Other assets		7		11
Total assets	$	7,047	$	7,136
Liabilities and Partners' Capital:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,874	$	1,900
Partners' Capital of:
AV Homes		825		845
Equity partners		4,348		4,391
Total liabilities and partners' capital	$	7,047	$	7,136

The following are the consolidated condensed statements of operations of our unconsolidated entities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

	2012		2011
Revenues	$	-	$	-
Costs and expenses		91		341
Net loss from unconsolidated entities	$	(91)	$	(341	)
AV Homes' share of loss from unconsolidated entities	$	(36)	$	(128	)