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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Operations

Operations. KB Home is a builder of single-family residential homes, townhomes and condominiums. The Company had ongoing operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia as of November 30, 2011. The Company offers title and insurance services to its homebuyers through its financial services subsidiary, KB Home Mortgage Company (“KBHMC”). From 2005 until June 30, 2011, the Company also offered mortgage banking services to its homebuyers indirectly through KBA Mortgage, a former unconsolidated joint venture of a subsidiary of the Company and a subsidiary of Bank of America, N.A. KBA Mortgage ceased offering mortgage banking services after June 30, 2011. KBA Mortgage was accounted for as an unconsolidated joint venture within the Company’s financial services reporting segment.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all significant subsidiaries and joint ventures in which a controlling interest is held, as well as certain VIEs required to be consolidated pursuant to ASC 810. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company has less than a controlling interest are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP and, therefore, include amounts based on informed estimates and judgments of management. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. The Company considers all highly liquid short-term investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents totaled $212.8 million at November 30, 2011 and $797.2 million at November 30, 2010. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were invested in money market accounts and United States government securities.

Restricted cash of $64.5 million at November 30, 2011 consisted of cash deposited with various financial institutions that was required as collateral for the LOC Facilities. Restricted cash of $115.5 million at November 30, 2010 consisted of $88.7 million of cash collateral for the LOC Facilities and $26.8 million of cash in an escrow account required as collateral for a surety bond.

Property and Equipment, Operating Properties and Depreciation

Property and Equipment, Operating Properties and Depreciation. Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, which generally range from two to 10 years, using the straight-line method. Operating properties are recorded at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives of 39 years, using the straight-line method. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to earnings as incurred. Property and equipment and operating properties are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Property and equipment totaled $7.8 million, net of accumulated depreciation of $18.0 million, at November 30, 2011, and $9.6 million, net of accumulated depreciation of $27.1 million, at November 30, 2010. Depreciation expense totaled $2.0 million in 2011, $3.3 million in 2010 and $5.2 million in 2009.

Homebuilding Operations

Homebuilding Operations. Revenues from housing and other real estate sales are recognized in accordance with ASC 360 when sales are closed and title passes to the buyer. Sales are closed when all of the following conditions are met: a sale is consummated, a sufficient down payment is received, the earnings process is complete and the collection of any remaining receivables is reasonably assured.

Construction and land costs are comprised of direct and allocated costs, including estimated future costs for warranties and amenities. Land, land improvements and other common costs are generally allocated on a relative fair value basis to homes within a land parcel or community. Land and land development costs include related interest and real estate taxes.

Housing and land inventories are stated at cost, unless the carrying amount is determined not to be recoverable, in which case the inventories are written down to fair value in accordance with ASC 360. ASC 360 requires that real estate assets be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. These evaluations for impairment are significantly impacted by estimates of the amounts and timing of revenues, costs and expenses, and other factors. If real estate assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements. ASC 820 provides a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities under GAAP and establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

Fair value measurements are used for inventories on a nonrecurring basis when events and circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted for inherent risks associated with real estate assets, or other valuation techniques.

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, mortgages and notes receivable, senior notes, and mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans. Fair value measurements of financial instruments are determined by various market data and other valuation techniques as appropriate. When available, the Company uses quoted market prices in active markets to determine fair value.

Financial Services Operations

Financial Services Operations. Revenues from the Company’s financial services segment are generated primarily from interest income, title services, insurance commissions and, in 2011, marketing services fees. Interest income is accrued as earned. Title services revenues are recognized as closing services are rendered and title insurance policies are issued, both of which generally occur simultaneously at the time each home is closed. Insurance commissions are recognized when policies are issued, while marketing services fees are recognized when earned.

Warranty Costs

Warranty Costs. The Company provides a limited warranty on all of its homes. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under each limited warranty and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time the revenue associated with the sale of each home is recognized. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of homes delivered, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and cost per claim. The Company’s primary assumption in estimating the amounts it accrues for warranty costs is that historical claims experience is a strong indicator of future claims experience. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary based on its assessment.

Insurance

Insurance. The Company self-insures a portion of its overall risk through the use of a captive insurance subsidiary. The Company records expenses and liabilities based on the estimated costs required to cover its self-insured retention and deductible amounts under its insurance policies, and on the estimated costs of potential claims and claim adjustment expenses that are above its coverage limits or that are not covered by its policies. These estimated costs are based on an analysis of the Company’s historical claims and include an estimate of construction defect claims incurred but not yet reported.

The Company engages a third-party actuary that uses the Company’s historical claim and expense data, as well as industry data, to estimate its unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred but not reported claims liabilities for the risks that the Company is assuming under the self-insured portion of its general liability insurance. Projection of losses related to these liabilities requires actuarial assumptions that are subject to variability due to uncertainties regarding construction defect claims relative to the Company’s markets and the types of product it builds, claim settlement patterns, insurance industry practices and legal or regulatory interpretations, among other factors. Because of the degree of judgment required and the potential for variability in the underlying assumptions used in determining these estimated liability amounts, actual future costs could differ from the Company’s estimated amounts.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs. The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. The Company incurred advertising costs of $32.4 million in 2011, $25.9 million in 2010 and $16.5 million in 2009.

Legal Fees

Legal Fees. Legal fees associated with litigation and similar proceedings that are not expected to provide a benefit in future periods are generally expensed as incurred. Legal fees associated with asset acquisition and development and other activities that are expected to provide a benefit in future periods are capitalized as incurred in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company expensed legal fees of $16.9 million in 2011, $33.7 million in 2010 and $25.7 million in 2009.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation. With the approval of the management development and compensation committee, consisting entirely of independent members of the Company’s board of directors, the Company has provided compensation benefits to certain of its employees in the form of stock options, restricted stock, phantom shares and SARs.

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense associated with its grant of equity-based awards in accordance with ASC 718, which requires that companies measure and recognize compensation expense at an amount equal to the fair value of share-based payments granted under compensation arrangements over the vesting period. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options and SARs granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with assumptions based primarily on historical data. ASC 718 also requires the tax benefit resulting from tax deductions in excess of the compensation expense recognized for those options to be reported in the statement of cash flows as an operating cash outflow and a financing cash inflow.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. Income taxes are accounted for in accordance with ASC 740. The provision for, or benefit from, income taxes is calculated using the asset and liability method, under which 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 for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are evaluated on a quarterly basis to determine if adjustments to the valuation allowance are required. In accordance with ASC 740, the Company assesses whether a valuation allowance should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard with respect to whether deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends primarily on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the differences become deductible. Judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s 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 Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. The accumulated balances of other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets as of November 30, 2011 and 2010 were comprised solely of adjustments recorded directly to accumulated other comprehensive loss in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 715, “Compensation — Retirement Benefits” (“ASC 715”). ASC 715 requires an employer to recognize the funded status of defined postretirement benefit plans as an asset or liability on the balance sheet and requires any unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains/losses to be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Loss Per Share

Loss Per Share. Basic and diluted loss per share were calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

All outstanding stock options were excluded from the diluted loss per share calculations for the years ended November 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009 because the effect of their inclusion would be antidilutive, or would decrease the reported loss per share.

Recent accounting pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, which provides amendments to Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic No. 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures — Overall.” ASU 2010-06 requires additional disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures for recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The revised guidance was effective for the Company in the second quarter of 2010, except for the Level 3 activity disclosures, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance concerns disclosure only and will not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Reclassifications

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, which changes the wording used to describe the requirements in GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in order to improve consistency in the application and description of fair value between GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-04 clarifies how the concepts of highest and best use and valuation premise in a fair value measurement are relevant only when measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets and are not relevant when measuring the fair value of financial assets or liabilities. In addition, the guidance expanded the disclosures for the unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements, requiring quantitative information to be disclosed related to (1) the valuation processes used, (2) the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in unobservable inputs and the interrelationships between those unobservable inputs, and (3) use of a nonfinancial asset in a way that differs from the asset’s highest and best use. The revised guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and early application by public entities is prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, which allows an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both instances, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The amendments in ASU 2011-05 do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. However, in December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, which deferred the guidance on whether to require entities to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component in both the statement where net income is presented and the statement where other comprehensive income is presented for both interim and annual financial statements. ASU 2011-12 reinstated the requirements for the presentation of reclassifications that were in place prior to the issuance of ASU 2011-05 and did not change the effective date for ASU 2011-05. For public entities, the amendments in ASU 2011-05 and ASU 2011-12 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance concerns disclosure only and will not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Reclassifications.

Accounting Standards Codification Topic No.280, Segment Reporting

As of November 30, 2011, the Company had identified five reporting segments, comprised of four homebuilding reporting segments and one financial services reporting segment, within its consolidated operations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 280, “Segment Reporting.” As of November 30, 2011, the Company’s homebuilding reporting segments conducted ongoing operations in the following states:

    West Coast: California

    Southwest: Arizona and Nevada

    Central: Colorado and Texas

    Southeast: Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia

The Company’s homebuilding reporting segments are engaged in the acquisition and development of land primarily for residential purposes and offer a wide variety of homes that are designed to appeal to first-time, move-up and active adult homebuyers.

The Company’s homebuilding reporting segments were identified based primarily on similarities in economic and geographic characteristics, product types, regulatory environments, methods used to sell and construct homes and land acquisition characteristics. The Company evaluates segment performance primarily based on segment pretax results.

The Company’s financial services reporting segment provides title and insurance services to the Company’s homebuyers. Until late June 2011, this segment also provided mortgage banking services to a significant proportion of the Company’s homebuyers indirectly through KBA Mortgage, a former unconsolidated joint venture of a subsidiary of the Company and a subsidiary of Bank of America, N.A., with each partner having had a 50% ownership interest in the venture. The Bank of America, N.A. subsidiary partner operated KBA Mortgage. The Company accounted for KBA Mortgage as an unconsolidated joint venture in the financial services reporting segment of its consolidated financial statements. The Company’s financial services reporting segment conducts operations in the same markets as the Company’s homebuilding reporting segments.

During the first quarter of 2011, the Bank of America, N.A. subsidiary partner in KBA Mortgage approached the Company about exiting the unconsolidated joint venture due to the desire of Bank of America, N.A. to cease participating in joint venture structures in its business. As a result, KBA Mortgage ceased offering mortgage banking services after June 30, 2011, and the unconsolidated joint venture’s business operations were subsequently unwound. After June 30, 2011, Bank of America, N.A. processed and closed only the residential consumer mortgage loans that KBA Mortgage had originated for the Company’s homebuyers on or before June 26, 2011.

The Company entered into a marketing services agreement with MetLife Home Loans, a division of MetLife Bank, N.A., effective June 27, 2011. Under the agreement, MetLife Home Loans’ personnel, located on site at several of the Company’s new home communities, can offer (i) financing options and mortgage loan products to the Company’s homebuyers, (ii) to prequalify homebuyers for residential consumer mortgage loans, and (iii) to commence the loan origination process for homebuyers who elect to use MetLife Home Loans. The Company makes marketing materials and other information regarding MetLife Home Loans’ financing options and mortgage loan products available to its homebuyers and is compensated solely for the fair market value of these services. MetLife Home Loans and its parent company, MetLife Bank, N.A., are not affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Company’s homebuyers are under no obligation to use MetLife Home Loans and may select any provider of their choice to obtain mortgage financing for the purchase of a home. The Company does not have any ownership, joint venture or other interests in or with MetLife Home Loans or MetLife Bank, N.A. or with respect to the revenues or income that may be generated from MetLife Home Loans providing mortgage banking services to, or originating residential consumer mortgage loans for, the Company’s homebuyers.

MetLife Bank, N.A. recently announced that it will cease offering forward mortgage banking services as part of its business. While the Company is evaluating various options, its strategic intention is to reestablish a mortgage banking joint venture or marketing relationship with a financial institution or other mortgage banking services provider, but the Company can provide no assurance that it will be able to do so.

The Company’s reporting segments follow the same accounting policies used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements as described in Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Operational results of each segment are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the segment been an independent, stand-alone entity during the periods presented, nor are they indicative of the results to be expected in future periods.