Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Changes in Loan Origination Liability

Our mortgage operations may be responsible for losses associated with mortgage loans originated and sold to investors in the event of errors or omissions relating to representations and warranties made by us that the loans met certain requirements, including representations as to underwriting standards, the existence of primary mortgage insurance, and the validity of certain borrower representations in connection with the loan. In addition, certain trustees and investors continue to attempt to collect damages based on losses from loans that originated prior to 2009. Some of our mortgage subsidiaries are currently defendants in litigation related to such claims.

Our recorded liabilities for all such claims totaled $34.4 million and $34.6 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Determining the liabilities for anticipated losses requires a significant level of management judgment. Given the nature of these claims and the uncertainty regarding their ultimate resolution, actual costs could differ from our current estimates.

Summary of Changes in Warranty Liability

Changes to warranty liabilities were as follows ($000’s omitted):

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Warranty liabilities, beginning of period	$	72,169		$	73,353		$	72,709		$	66,134
Reserves provided	18,376			12,286			46,022			35,374
Payments	(15,993		)	(14,679		)	(47,403		)	(43,594		)
Other adjustments (a)	638			265			3,862			13,311
Warranty liabilities, end of period	$	75,190		$	71,225		$	75,190		$	71,225

(a) During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recognized a charge of $12.3 million related to estimated costs to complete repairs in a closed-out community in Florida.

Summary of Changes in Self-Insurance Liability

Changes in these liabilities were as follows ($000's omitted):

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Balance, beginning of period	$	725,482		$	814,756		$	758,812		$	831,058
Reserves provided, net	24,106			24,361			67,001			62,970
Adjustments to previously recorded reserves (a)	(5,065		)	(511		)	(40,133		)	(22,304		)
Payments, net (b)	(18,026		)	(13,981		)	(59,183		)	(47,099		)
Balance, end of period	$	726,497		$	824,625		$	726,497		$	824,625

(a) Includes general liability reserve reversals of $37.9 million and $19.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

(b)

Includes net changes in amounts expected to be recovered from our insurance carriers, which are recorded in other assets (see below).