Inventory

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

INVENTORY

INVENTORIES

At the end of each quarter, the Company reviews the performance and outlook for all of its communities and land inventories for indicators of potential impairment and performs detailed impairment evaluations and analyses when necessary. At March 31, 2020, the Company performed detailed impairment evaluations of communities and land inventories with a combined carrying value of $47.6 million and recorded impairment charges of $1.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 to reduce the carrying value of impaired land to fair value. During the six months ended March 31, 2020, impairment charges totaled $1.7 million. There were $7.7 million and $11.9 million of impairment charges recorded in the three and six months ended March 31, 2019, respectively. Inventory impairments and the land option charges discussed below are included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations.

As the Company manages its inventory investments across its operating markets to optimize returns and cash flows, it may modify its pricing and incentives, construction and development plans or land sale strategies in individual active communities and land held for development, which could result in the affected communities being evaluated for potential impairment. During the latter part of March and into April, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related widespread reductions in economic activity began to adversely affect the Company’s business operations and the demand for its homes. There is significant uncertainty regarding the extent to which and how long COVID-19 and related government directives, actions and economic relief efforts will disrupt the U.S. economy and level of employment, capital markets, secondary mortgage markets, consumer confidence, demand for the Company’s homes and availability of mortgage loans to homebuyers. The extent to which this impacts the Company’s operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of COVID-19 and the impact on its customers, trade partners and employees, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If the housing market or economic conditions are adversely affected for a prolonged period due to COVID-19 or otherwise, the Company may be required to evaluate additional communities for potential impairment. These evaluations could result in additional impairment charges which could be significant.

During the three and six months ended March 31, 2020, earnest money and pre-acquisition cost write-offs related to land purchase contracts that the Company has terminated or expects to terminate were $7.2 million and $11.1 million, respectively, compared to $6.1 million and $9.9 million in the same periods of fiscal 2019.