Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Business. M/I Homes, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “we”) is engaged primarily in the construction and sale of single-family residential homes in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; Tampa, Orlando and Sarasota, Florida; Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. The Company designs, sells and builds single-family homes on developed lots, which it develops or purchases ready for home construction. The Company also purchases undeveloped land to develop into developed lots for future construction of single-family homes and, on a limited basis, for sale to others. Our homebuilding operations operate across three geographic regions in the United States. Within these regions, our operations have similar economic characteristics; therefore, they have been aggregated into three reportable homebuilding segments: Midwest homebuilding, Southern homebuilding and Mid-Atlantic homebuilding.

The Company conducts mortgage financing activities through its 100%-owned subsidiary, M/I Financial, LLC (“M/I Financial”), which originates mortgage loans primarily for purchasers of the Company’s homes. The loans and the servicing rights are generally sold to outside mortgage lenders. The Company and M/I Financial also operate 100% and majority-owned subsidiaries that provide title services to purchasers of the Company’s homes. Our mortgage banking and title service activities have similar economic characteristics; therefore, they have been aggregated into one reportable segment, the financial services segment.

Basis of Presentation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of M/I Homes, Inc. and those of our consolidated subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, and of variable interest entities in which we are deemed the primary beneficiary. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. Cash and cash equivalents are liquid investments with an initial maturity of three months or less. Amounts in transit from title companies for homes delivered are included in this balance at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Restricted cash consists of amounts held in restricted accounts as collateral for letters of credit as well as cash held in escrow. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash includes restricted cash balances of $0.7 million and $1.0 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Loans and Leases Receivable, Mortgage Banking Activities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale. Mortgage loans held for sale consists primarily of single-family residential loans collateralized by the underlying property. Generally, all of the mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold to third-party investors shortly after origination. Refer to the Revenue Recognition policy described below for additional discussion.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventory. Inventory includes the costs of land acquisition, land development and home construction, capitalized interest, real estate taxes, direct overhead costs incurred during development and home construction, and common costs that benefit the entire community, less impairments, if any. Land acquisition, land development and common costs (both incurred and estimated to be incurred) are typically allocated to individual lots based on the total number of lots expected to be closed in each community or phase, or based on the relative fair value, the relative sales value or the front footage method of each lot. Any changes to the estimated total development costs of a community or phase are allocated proportionately to homes remaining in the community or phase and homes previously closed. The cost of individual lots is transferred to homes under construction when home construction begins. Home construction costs are accumulated on a specific identification basis. Costs of home deliveries include the specific construction cost of the home and the allocated lot costs. Such costs are charged to cost of sales simultaneously with revenue recognition, as discussed above. When a home is closed, we typically have not yet paid all incurred costs necessary to complete the home. As homes close, we compare the home construction budget to actual recorded costs to date to estimate the additional costs to be incurred from our subcontractors related to the home. We record a liability and a corresponding charge to cost of sales for the amount we estimate will ultimately be paid related to that home. We monitor the accuracy of such estimates by comparing actual costs incurred in subsequent months to the estimate, although actual costs to complete a home in the future could differ from our estimates.

Inventory is recorded at cost, unless events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the land is impaired, at which point the inventory is written down to fair value as required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”). The Company assesses inventory for recoverability on a quarterly basis to determine if events or changes in local or national economic conditions indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In conducting our quarterly review for indicators of impairment on a community level, we evaluate, among other things, margins on sales contracts in backlog, the margins on homes that have been delivered, expected changes in margins with regard to future home sales over the life of the community, expected changes in margins with regard to future land sales, the value of the land itself as well as any results from third party appraisals. We pay particular attention to communities in which inventory is moving at a slower than anticipated absorption pace, and communities whose average sales price and/or margins are trending downward and are anticipated to continue to trend downward. We also evaluate communities where management intends to lower the sales price or offer incentives in order to improve absorptions even if the community’s historical results do not indicate a potential for impairment. From the review of all of these factors, we identify communities whose carrying values may exceed their estimated undiscounted future cash flows and run a test for recoverability. For those communities whose carrying values exceed the estimated undiscounted future cash flows and which are deemed to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the communities exceeds the estimated fair value. Due to the fact that the Company’s cash flow models and estimates of fair values are based upon management estimates and assumptions, unexpected changes in market conditions and/or changes in management’s intentions with respect to the inventory may lead the Company to incur additional impairment charges in the future.

Our determination of fair value is based on projections and estimates, which are Level 3 measurement inputs. Because each inventory asset is unique, there are numerous inputs and assumptions used in our valuation techniques, including estimated average selling price, construction and development costs, absorption pace (reflecting any product mix change strategies implemented or to be implemented), selling strategies, alternative land uses (including disposition of all or a portion of the land owned), or discount rates, which could materially impact future cash flow and fair value estimates.

As of December 31, 2018, our projections generally assume a gradual improvement in market conditions over time. If communities are not recoverable based on estimated future undiscounted cash flows, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. The fair value of a community is estimated by discounting management’s cash flow projections using an appropriate risk-adjusted interest rate. As of both December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we utilized discount rates ranging from 13% to 16% in our valuations. The discount rate used in determining each asset’s estimated fair value reflects the inherent risks associated with the related estimated cash flow stream, as well as current risk-free rates available in the market and estimated market risk premiums. For example, construction in progress inventory, which is closer to completion, will generally require a lower discount rate than land under development in communities consisting of multiple phases spanning several years of development.

Our quarterly assessments reflect management’s best estimates. Due to the inherent uncertainties in management’s estimates and uncertainties related to our operations and our industry as a whole, we are unable to determine at this time if and to what extent continuing future impairments will occur. Additionally, due to the volume of possible outcomes that can be generated from changes in the various model inputs for each community, we do not believe it is possible to create a sensitivity analysis that can provide meaningful information for the users of our consolidated financial statements. Further details relating to our assessment of inventory for recoverability are included in Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest Capitalization, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Capitalized Interest. The Company capitalizes interest during land development and home construction. Capitalized interest is charged to cost of sales as the related inventory is delivered to a third party. The summary of capitalized interest for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017			2016
Capitalized interest, beginning of period	$	17,169		$	16,012		$	16,740
Interest capitalized to inventory	29,053			21,484			17,685
Capitalized interest charged to cost of sales	(25,457		)	(20,327		)	(18,413		)
Capitalized interest, end of year	$	20,765		$	17,169		$	16,012

Interest incurred	$	49,537		$	40,358		$	35,283

Equity Method Investments [Policy Text Block]

Investment in Joint Venture Arrangements. In order to minimize our investment and risk of land exposure in a single location, we have periodically partnered with other land developers or homebuilders to share in the land investment and development of a property through joint ownership and development agreements, joint ventures, and other similar arrangements. During 2018, we increased our total investment in such joint venture arrangements by $15.4 million from $20.5 million at December 31, 2017 to $35.9 million at December 31, 2018, which was driven primarily by our cash contributions to our joint venture arrangements during 2018 of $31.9 million, offset, in part, by our lot distributions from our joint venture arrangements during 2018 of $16.2 million.

We believe that the Company’s maximum exposure related to its investment in these joint venture arrangements as of December 31, 2018 is the amount invested of $35.9 million, which is reported as Investment in Joint Venture Arrangements on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, although we expect to invest further amounts in these joint venture arrangements as development of the properties progresses. Further details relating to our joint venture arrangements are included in Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

We use the equity method of accounting for investments in joint venture arrangements over which we exercise significant influence but do not have a controlling interest. Under the equity method, our share of the joint venture arrangements’ earnings or loss, if any, is included in our Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company assesses its investments in joint venture arrangements for recoverability on a quarterly basis in accordance with ASC 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”) as described below.

If the fair value of the investment is less than the investment’s carrying value, and the Company has determined that the decline in value is other than temporary, the Company would write down the value of the investment to its estimated fair value. The determination of whether an investment’s fair value is less than the carrying value requires management to make certain assumptions regarding the amount and timing of future contributions to the joint venture arrangements, the timing of distribution of lots to the Company from the joint venture arrangements, the projected fair value of the lots at the time of distribution to the Company, and the estimated proceeds from, and timing of, the sale of land or lots to third parties. In determining the fair value of investments in joint venture arrangements, the Company evaluates the projected cash flows associated with each joint venture arrangement.

As of both December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company used a discount rate of 16% in determining the fair value of investments in joint venture arrangements. In addition to the assumptions management must make to determine if the investment’s fair value is less than the carrying value, management must also use judgment in determining whether the impairment is other than temporary. The factors management considers are: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than cost; (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the joint venture arrangement; and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the joint venture arrangements for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value. Due to uncertainties in the estimation process and the significant volatility in demand for new housing, actual results could differ significantly from such estimates.

For joint venture arrangements where a special purpose entity is established to own the property, we generally enter into limited liability company or similar arrangements (“LLCs”) with the other partners. The Company’s ownership in these LLCs as of both December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 ranged from 25% to 97%. These entities typically engage in land development activities for the purpose of distributing or selling developed lots to the Company and its partners in the LLC.

Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Variable Interest Entities. With respect to our investments in LLCs, we are required, under ASC 810-10, Consolidation (“ASC 810”), to evaluate whether or not such entities should be consolidated into our consolidated financial statements. We initially perform these evaluations when each new entity is created and upon any events that require reconsideration of the entity. In order to determine if we should consolidate an LLC, we determine (1) if the LLC is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and (2) if we are the primary beneficiary of the entity. To determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of an entity, we consider whether we have the ability to control the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance. This analysis considers, among other things, whether we have: the ability to determine the budget and scope of land development work, if any; the ability to control financing decisions for the VIE; the ability to acquire additional land into the VIE or dispose of land in the VIE not under contract with M/I Homes; and the ability to change or amend the existing option contract with the VIE. If we determine that we are not able to control such activities, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE. As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we have determined that no LLC in which we have an interest met the requirements of a VIE.

Off-Balance Sheet Obligations [Policy Text Block]

Land Option Agreements. In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into land option or purchase agreements for which we generally pay non-refundable deposits. Pursuant to these land option agreements, the Company provides a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase land at different times in the future, usually at predetermined prices. In accordance with ASC 810, we analyze our land option or purchase agreements to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are VIEs and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary, using an analysis similar to that described above. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, ASC 810 requires a company to consolidate a VIE if the company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. In cases where we are the primary beneficiary, even though we do not have title to such land, we are required to consolidate these purchase/option agreements and reflect such assets and liabilities as Consolidated Inventory not Owned in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At both December 31, 2018 and 2017, we have concluded that we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which we are purchasing land under option or purchase agreements.

In addition, we evaluate our land option or purchase agreements to determine for each contract if (1) a portion or all of the purchase price is a specific performance requirement, or (2) the amount of deposits and prepaid acquisition and development costs exceed certain thresholds relative to the remaining purchase price of the lots. If either is the case, then the remaining purchase price of the lots (or the specific performance amount, if applicable) is recorded as an asset and liability in Consolidated Inventory Not Owned (as further described below) on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Other than as described below in “Consolidated Inventory Not Owned,” the Company currently believes that its maximum exposure as of December 31, 2018 related to our land option agreements is equal to the amount of the Company’s outstanding deposits and prepaid acquisition costs, which totaled $55.0 million, including cash deposits of $33.7 million, prepaid acquisition costs of $7.9 million, letters of credit of $9.9 million and $3.5 million of other non-cash deposits.

Consolidated Inventory Not Owned [Policy Text Block]

Consolidated Inventory Not Owned and Related Obligation. At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Consolidated Inventory Not Owned was $19.3 million and $21.5 million, respectively. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the corresponding liability of $19.3 million and $21.5 million, respectively, has been classified as Obligation for Consolidated Inventory Not Owned on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The decrease in this balance from December 31, 2017 is related primarily to a decrease in the number of land purchase agreements that had deposits and prepaid acquisition and development costs that exceeded certain thresholds resulting in the remaining purchase price of the lots to be recorded in inventory not owned, partially offset by an increase in the aggregate purchase amount of land contracts with specific performance requirements.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment-net. The Company records property and equipment at cost and subsequently depreciates the assets using both straight-line and accelerated methods. Following are the major classes of depreciable assets and their estimated useful lives:



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2018				2017
Land, building and improvements	$	11,824		(a)	$	11,823
Office furnishings, leasehold improvements, computer equipment and computer software	29,920				30,409
Transportation and construction equipment	10,064				10,067
Property and equipment	51,808				52,299
Accumulated depreciation	(22,413		)		(25,483		)
Property and equipment, net	$	29,395			$	26,816

(a)

Includes the Company’s home office building in Columbus, Ohio that met the sale classification criteria for the period ended September 30, 2018 as it was being actively marketed. The carrying value of the building as of December 31, 2018 was $5.6 million. The Company measures assets held for sale at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and records impairment charges when the assets are deemed to be impaired. Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value. Costs to sell are accrued separately. The Company estimated the fair value of the building using the market values for similar properties, and the building was considered a Level 2 asset as defined in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements.” During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company did not record any impairment charges on its asset held for sale.



	Estimated Useful Lives
Building and improvements	35 years
Office furnishings, leasehold improvements, computer equipment and computer software	3-7 years
Transportation and construction equipment	5-25 years

Depreciation expense was $5.6 million, $4.1 million and $3.6 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Other Assets [Policy Text Block]

Other Assets. Other assets at December 31, 2018 and 2017 consisted of the following:.



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017
Development reimbursement receivable from local municipalities	$	13,632	$	14,981
Mortgage servicing rights	6,477		7,821
Prepaid expenses	8,605		9,022
Prepaid acquisition costs	7,873		5,634
Other	24,207		23,677
Total other assets	$	60,794	$	61,135

Extended Product Warranty, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Warranty Reserves. We use subcontractors for nearly all aspects of home construction. Although our subcontractors are generally required to repair and replace any product or labor defects, we are, during applicable warranty periods, ultimately responsible to the homeowner for making such repairs. As such, we record warranty reserves to cover our exposure to the costs for materials and labor not expected to be covered by our subcontractors to the extent they relate to warranty-type claims. Warranty reserves are established by charging cost of sales and crediting a warranty reserve for each home delivered. The amounts charged are estimated by management to be adequate to cover expected warranty-related costs (as described further in Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements) under the Company’s warranty programs. Warranty reserves are recorded for warranties under our Home Builder’s Limited Warranty (“HBLW”) and our 30-year (offered on all homes sold after April 25, 1998 and on or before December 1, 2015 in all of our markets except our Texas markets), 15-year (offered on all homes sold after December 1, 2015 in all of our markets except our Texas markets) and 10-year (offered on all homes sold in our Texas markets) transferable structural warranty.

The warranty reserves for the HBLW are established as a percentage of average sales price and adjusted based on historical payment patterns determined, generally, by geographic area and recent trends. Factors that are given consideration in determining the HBLW reserves include: (1) the historical range of amounts paid per average sales price on a home; (2) type and mix of amenity packages added to the home; (3) any warranty expenditures not considered to be normal and recurring; (4) timing of payments; (5) improvements in quality of construction expected to impact future warranty expenditures; and (6) conditions that may affect certain projects and require a different percentage of average sales price for those specific projects. Changes in estimates for warranties occur due to changes in the historical payment experience and differences between the actual payment pattern experienced during the period and the historical payment pattern used in our evaluation of the warranty reserve balance at the end of each quarter. Actual future warranty costs could differ from our current estimated amount.

Our warranty reserves for our transferable structural warranty programs are established on a per-unit basis. While the structural warranty reserve is recorded as each home is delivered, the sufficiency of the structural warranty per unit charge and total reserve is re-evaluated on an annual basis, with the assistance of an actuary, using our own historical data and trends, industry-wide historical data and trends, and other project specific factors. The reserves are also evaluated quarterly and adjusted if we encounter activity that is inconsistent with the historical experience used in the annual analysis. These reserves are subject to variability due to uncertainties regarding structural defect claims for products we build, the markets in which we build, claim settlement history, insurance and legal interpretations, among other factors.

Our warranty reserve amounts are based upon historical experience and geographic location. While we believe that our warranty reserves are sufficient to cover our projected costs, there can be no assurances that historical data and trends will accurately predict our actual warranty costs. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, warranty reserves of $26.5 million and $26.1 million, respectively, are included in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Please see Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to our warranty reserves, including reserves related to stucco-related repairs in certain of our Florida communities.

InsuranceDeductibleReservesPolicyPolicyTextBlock

Self-insurance Reserves. Self-insurance reserves are made for estimated liabilities associated with employee health care, workers’ compensation, and general liability insurance. For 2018, our self-insurance limit for employee health care was $250,000 per covered person per contract period, with stop loss insurance covering amounts in excess of $250,000. In 2019, our stop loss insurance will now cover amounts in excess of $275,000. Our workers’ compensation claims are insured by a third party and carry a deductible of $250,000 per claim, except for workers compensation claims made in the State of Ohio where the Company is self-insured. Our self-insurance limit for Ohio workers’ compensation is $500,000 per claim, with stop loss insurance covering all amounts in excess of this limit. The reserves related to employee health care and workers’ compensation are based on historical experience and open case reserves. Our general liability claims are insured by a third party, subject to a deductible. Effective for home closings occurring on or after July 1, 2017, the Company renewed its general liability insurance coverage which, among other things, changed the structure of our completed operations/construction defect deductible to $10.0 million for the Company (for closings prior to July 1, 2017, our completed operations/construction defect deductible was $7.5 million for each of our regions) and decreased our third party bodily injury and property damage claims deductible to $250,000 (a decrease from $500,000 for closings prior to July 1, 2017). The Company records a reserve for general liability claims falling below the Company’s deductible. The reserve estimate is based on an actuarial evaluation of our past history of general liability claims, other industry specific factors and specific event analysis. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, self-insurance reserves of $2.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively, are included in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recorded expenses totaling $9.2 million, $8.9 million and $6.5 million for all self-insured and general liability claims during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Guarantees, Indemnifications and Warranties Policies [Policy Text Block]

Guarantees and Indemnities. Guarantee and indemnity liabilities are established by charging the applicable income statement or balance sheet line, depending on the nature of the guarantee or indemnity, and crediting a liability. M/I Financial provides a limited-life guarantee on loans sold to certain third parties and estimates its actual liability related to the guarantee and any indemnities subsequently provided to the purchaser of the loans in lieu of loan repurchase based on historical loss experience. Actual future costs associated with loans guaranteed or indemnified could differ materially from our current estimated amounts. The Company has also provided certain other guarantees and indemnities in connection with the purchase and development of land, including environmental indemnities, and guarantees of the completion of land development. The Company estimates these liabilities based on the estimated cost of insurance coverage or estimated cost of acquiring a bond in the amount of the exposure. Actual future costs associated with these guarantees and indemnities could differ materially from our current estimated amounts. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, guarantees and indemnities of $0.7 million and $1.0 million, respectively, are included in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Other Liabilities [Policy Text Block]

Other Liabilities. Other liabilities at December 31, 2018 and 2017 consisted of the following:



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017
Accruals related to land development	$	46,073	$	37,180
Warranty	26,459		26,133
Payroll and other benefits	31,428		28,128
Other	46,091		40,093
Total other liabilities	$	150,051	$	131,534

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segment Reporting. The application of segment reporting requires significant judgment in determining our operating segments. Operating segments are defined as a component of an enterprise for which discrete financial information is available and is reviewed regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision makers to evaluate performance, make operating decisions and determine how to allocate resources. The Company’s chief operating decision makers evaluate the Company’s performance in various ways, including: (1) the results of our 16 individual homebuilding operating segments and the results of our financial services operations; (2) the results of our three homebuilding regions; and (3) our consolidated financial results.

In accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting (“ASC 280”), we have identified each homebuilding division as an operating segment because each homebuilding division engages in business activities from which it earns revenue, primarily from the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached homes, acquisition and development of land, and the occasional sale of lots to third parties. Our financial services operations generate revenue primarily from the origination, sale and servicing of mortgage loans and title services primarily for purchasers of the Company’s homes and are included in our financial services reportable segment. Corporate is a non-operating segment that develops and implements strategic initiatives and supports our operating segments by centralizing key administrative functions such as accounting, finance, treasury, information technology, insurance and risk management, litigation, marketing and human resources.

In accordance with the aggregation criteria defined in ASC 280, we have determined our reportable segments as follows: Midwest homebuilding, Southern homebuilding, Mid-Atlantic homebuilding and financial services operations. The homebuilding operating segments included in each reportable segment have been aggregated because they share similar aggregation characteristics as prescribed in ASC 280 in the following regards: (1) long-term economic characteristics; (2) historical and expected future long-term gross margin percentages; (3) housing products, production processes and methods of distribution; and (4) geographical proximity. We may, however, be required to reclassify our reportable segments if markets that currently are being aggregated do not continue to share these aggregation characteristics.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts from Customers (“ASC 606”), using the modified retrospective transition method, which includes a cumulative catch-up in retained earnings on the initial date of adoption for existing contracts (those contracts under which obligations have not been completed) as of, and new contracts after, January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). We did not have any material adjustments to our 2018 results under ASC 606.

Revenue from the sale of a home and revenue from the sale of land to third parties are recognized in the financial statements on the date of closing (point in time) if delivery has occurred, title has passed, all performance obligations have been met (see definition of performance obligations below), and control of the home or land is transferred to the buyer in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for the home or land.

We recognize the majority of the revenue associated with our mortgage loan operations when the mortgage loans are sold and/or related servicing rights are sold to third party investors or retained and managed under a third party subservice arrangement. The revenue recognized is reduced by the fair value of the related guarantee provided to the investor. The fair value of the guarantee is recognized in revenue when the Company is released from its obligation under the guarantee (note that guarantees are excluded from the scope of ASC 606). As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, we retained mortgage servicing rights of 2,282 and 3,094 loans, respectively, for a total value of $6.5 million and $7.8 million, respectively. We recognize financial services revenue associated with our title operations as homes are delivered, closing services are rendered, and title policies are issued, all of which generally occur simultaneously as each home is delivered. All of the underwriting risk associated with title insurance policies is transferred to third-party insurers.

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. All of our contracts to sell homes have a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the home is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contract and, therefore, not distinct. Our third party land contracts may include multiple performance obligations; however, revenue expected to be recognized in any future year related to remaining performance obligations, excluding revenue pertaining to contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less, is not material.

We generally expense sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within general, selling and administrative expenses as part of our sales and marketing expenses. We do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less.

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by geography:



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017^(a)		2016^(a)
Midwest homebuilding	$	933,119	$	742,577	$	637,894
Southern homebuilding	925,404		730,482		602,273
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding	375,563		439,219		409,149
Financial services ^(b)	52,196		49,693		42,011
Total revenue	$	2,286,282	$	1,961,971	$	1,691,327


(a)	As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the cumulative catch-up transition method.


(b)	Revenues include $3.6 million and $0.7 million of hedging gains and $3.0 million related to hedging losses for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Hedging gains (losses) do not represent revenues recognized from contracts with customers.

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by revenue source:



	Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2018		2017^(a)		2016^(a)
Housing	$	2,217,197	$	1,878,572	$	1,610,496
Land sales	16,889		33,706		38,820
Financial services ^(b)	52,196		49,693		42,011
Total revenue	$	2,286,282	$	1,961,971	$	1,691,327


(a)	As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the cumulative catch-up transition method.


(b)	Revenues include $3.6 million and $0.7 million of hedging gains and $3.0 million related to hedging losses for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Hedging gains (losses) do not represent revenues recognized from contracts with customers.

Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Land and Housing Cost of Sales. All associated homebuilding costs are charged to cost of sales in the period when the revenues from home deliveries are recognized. Homebuilding costs include: land and land development costs; home construction costs (including an estimate of the costs to complete construction); previously capitalized interest; real estate taxes; indirect costs; and estimated warranty costs. All other costs are expensed as incurred. Sales incentives, including pricing discounts and financing costs paid by the Company, are recorded as a reduction of revenue in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. Sales incentives in the form of options or upgrades are recorded in homebuilding costs.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes. The Company records income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on future tax consequences attributable to (1) temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and (2) operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, if any. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the change is enacted. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Act”) was enacted which, among other things, reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. Please see Note 14 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

In accordance with ASC 740-10, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), we evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets, including the benefit from net operating losses (“NOLs”) and tax credit carryforwards, if any, to determine if a valuation allowance is required based on whether it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that all or any portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. In determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns, judgment is required. This assessment gives appropriate consideration to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets and considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the length of statutory carryforward periods, our experience with operating losses and our experience of utilizing tax credit carryforwards and tax planning alternatives. Please see Note 14 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding our deferred tax assets.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings Per Share. The Company computes earnings per share in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings per Share, (“ASC 260”). Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each year. Diluted earnings per share gives effect to the potential dilution that could occur if securities or contracts to issue our common shares that are dilutive were exercised or converted into common shares or resulted in the issuance of common shares that then shared our earnings. In periods of net losses, no dilution is computed. Please see Note 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding our earnings per share calculation.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation. We measure and recognize compensation expense associated with our grant of equity-based awards in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), which generally requires that companies measure and recognize stock-based compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair value of share-based awards granted under compensation arrangements over the related vesting period. We have granted share-based awards to certain of our employees and directors in the form of stock options, director stock units and performance share units (“PSU’s”). Each PSU represents a contingent right to receive one common share of the Company if vesting is satisfied at the end of the performance period based on the related performance conditions and markets conditions.

Determining the fair value of share-based awards requires judgment to identify the appropriate valuation model and develop the assumptions. The grant date fair value for stock option awards and PSU’s with a market condition (as defined in ASC 718) is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the Monte Carlo simulation methodology, respectively. The grant date fair value for the director stock units and PSU’s with a performance condition (as defined in ASC 718) is based upon the closing price of our common shares on the date of grant. We recognize stock-based compensation expense for our stock option awards and PSU’s with a market condition over the requisite service period of the award while stock-based compensation expense for our director stock units, which vest immediately, is fully recognized in the period of the award. For the portion of the PSU’s awarded subject to the satisfaction of a performance condition, we recognize stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the performance period based on the probable outcome of the related performance condition. If satisfaction of the performance condition is not probable, stock-based compensation expense recognition is deferred until probability is attained and a cumulative compensation expense adjustment is recorded and recognized ratably over the remaining service period. The Company reevaluates the probability of the satisfaction of the performance condition on a quarterly basis, and stock-based compensation expense is adjusted based on the portion of the requisite service period that has passed. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense could be higher and have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Please see Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding our stock-based compensation.

Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposure, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Letters of Credit and Completion Bonds. The Company provides standby letters of credit and completion bonds for development work in progress, deposits on land and lot purchase agreements and miscellaneous deposits. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had outstanding $215.0 million of completion bonds and standby letters of credit, some of which were issued to various local governmental entities, that expire at various times through September 2026. Included in this total are: (1) $155.4 million of performance and maintenance bonds and $42.4 million of performance letters of credit that serve as completion bonds for land development work in progress; (2) $10.3 million of financial letters of credit; and (3) $6.9 million of financial bonds. The development agreements under which we are required to provide completion bonds or letters of credit are generally not subject to a required completion date and only require that the improvements are in place in phases as houses are built and sold. In locations where development has progressed, the amount of development work remaining to be completed is typically less than the remaining amount of bonds or letters of credit due to timing delays in obtaining release of the bonds or letters of credit.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which provides guidance for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605 and most industry-specific guidance as well as some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, “Revenue Recognition-Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts.” ASU 2014-09’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under today’s guidance, including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date, which delayed the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09, as amended, is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.

Subsequent to the issuance of ASU 2014-09, the FASB has issued several ASUs, such as ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, and ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. These ASUs do not change the core principle of the guidance stated in ASU 2014-09. Instead, these amendments are intended to clarify and improve the operability of certain topics addressed by ASU 2014-09. These additional ASUs have the same effective date and transition requirements as ASU 2014-09, as amended.

We adopted the standard, and the subsequently issued standards mentioned above, on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method, which includes a cumulative catch-up in retained earnings on the initial date of adoption for existing contracts (those that are not completed) as of, and new contracts after, January 1, 2018. The adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. The amount and timing of our housing and land revenue remained substantially unchanged, and we did not have significant changes to our business processes, systems, or internal controls as a result of adopting the standard. The Company has developed the additional expanded disclosures required (please see our Significant Accounting Policies section above); however, the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05, Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets (“ASU 2017-05”). ASU 2017-05 is intended to clarify the scope of the original guidance within Subtopic 610-20 that was issued in connection with ASU 2014-09, which provides guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with noncustomers. ASU 2017-05 additionally added guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. ASU 2017-05 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We were required to adopt ASU 2017-05 concurrent with the adoption of ASU 2014-09. The adoption of ASU 2017-05 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on how certain cash receipts and cash payments are to be presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. For public entities, ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not modify the Company's current disclosures within the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows and did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (“ASU 2017-01”), which provides a more robust framework for determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or dispositions) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-01 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures as the Company’s acquisition during the first quarter of 2018 met all requirements to be accounted for as a business acquisition.

In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-05, which amends Income Taxes (Topic 740) by incorporating Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (“SAB 118”) issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on December 22, 2017. SAB 118 provides guidance on accounting for the effects of the 2017 Tax Act. We recognized the income tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act in our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 in accordance with SAB 118.

Impact of New Accounting Standards. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lessees to recognize leases on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements (please see additional detail regarding these updates to Topic 842 below). The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement.

The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We adopted the new standard on its effective date. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 and used the effective date as our date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019.

The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. We expect to elect the ‘package of practical expedients’, which permits us not to reassess under the new standard our prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. We do not expect to elect the use-of-hindsight with respect to determining the lease term (i.e., considering the actual outcome and updated expectations of lease renewals, termination option and purchase options). We also do not expect to elect the use of the practical expedient pertaining to land easements as our land easements, undertaken for the purpose of construction and development of inventory, are excluded by 842-10-15-1(d).

We expect that this standard will have a material effect on our financial statements. While we continue to assess all of the effects of adoption, we currently believe the most significant effects relate to (1) the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet for our office and model sale-leaseback operating leases; and (2) providing significant new disclosures about our leasing activities. We do not expect a significant change in our leasing activities between now and adoption.

On adoption, we currently expect to recognize additional operating liabilities ranging from $18.0 million to $23.0 million, with corresponding ROU assets of the same amount based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments under current leasing standards for existing operating leases.

The new standard also provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting. We currently expect to elect the short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases that qualify. This means, for those leases that qualify, we will not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities, and this includes not recognizing ROU assets or lease liabilities for existing short-term leases of those assets in transition. We also currently expect to elect the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of our leases.

In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842 (“ASU 2018-01”), which provides an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate under Topic 842 existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under the current lease guidance in Topic 840. An entity that elects this practical expedient should evaluate new or modified land easements under Topic 842 beginning at the date the entity adopts Topic 842; otherwise, an entity should evaluate all existing or expired land easements in connection with the adoption of the new lease requirements in Topic 842 to assess whether they meet the definition of a lease. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in ASU 2016-02. This ASU is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company's expected impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 (discussed above) or its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-09, Codification Improvements (“ASU 2018-09”). ASU 2018-09 amends a variety of topics in the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification. The transition and effective date of the guidance are based on the facts and circumstances of each amendment. Some of the amendments in ASU 2018-09 do not require transition guidance and were effective upon issuance of ASU 2018-09. However, many of the amendments include transition guidance with effective dates for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2018-09 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases (“ASU 2018-10”). ASU 2018-10 includes certain clarifications to address potential narrow-scope implementation issues which we are incorporating into our assessment and adoption of ASU 2016-02. The amendments in this ASU are effective in the same time-frame as ASU 2016-02 as discussed above.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”). ASU 2018-11 allows entities to not recast comparative periods in transition to ASC 842 and instead report the comparative periods presented in the period of adoption under ASC 840. ASU 2018-11 also includes a practical expedient for lessors to not separate the lease and non-lease components of a contract. The amendments in ASU 2018-11 are effective in the same time-frame as ASU 2016-02 as discussed above. We are incorporating this ASU into our assessment and adoption of ASU 2016-02.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements and removes the requirement to disclose (1) the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, (2) the policy for timing of transfers between levels, and (3) the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 requires disclosure of changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income (loss) for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. For all entities, ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the effect that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (“ASU 2018-15”). ASU 2018-15 requires entities that are customers in cloud computing arrangements to defer implementation costs if they would be capitalized by the entity in software licensing arrangements under the internal-use software guidance. The guidance may be applied retrospectively or prospectively to implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. For public entities, ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the effect that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-16, Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes (“ASU 2018-16”), which amends ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The amendments in ASU 2018-16 permit use of the Overnight Index Swap Rate (OIS) rate based on Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815 in addition to the UST, the LIBOR swap rate, the OIS rate based on the Fed Funds Effective Rate, and the SIFMA Municipal Swap Rate. For entities that have not already adopted ASU 2017-12, the amendments in ASU 2018-16 are required to be adopted concurrently with the amendments in ASU 2017-12. The Company intends to adopt ASU 2017-12 and ASU 2018-16 on January 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the effect that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.