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Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures

9 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2019

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments held by the Company at August 31, 2019 and November 30, 2018, using available market information and what the Company believes to be appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies might have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. The table excludes cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, net and accounts payable, all of which had fair values approximating their carrying amounts due to the short maturities and liquidity of these instruments.



		August 31, 2019			November 30, 2018
(In thousands)	Fair Value Hierarchy	Carrying Amount		Fair Value	Carrying Amount	Fair Value
ASSETS
Financial Services:
Loans held-for-investment, net	Level 3	$	73,366	69,830	70,216	63,794
Investments held-to-maturity	Level 3	$	166,672	200,743	136,982	149,767
Investments held-to-maturity	Level 2	$	26,596	27,824	52,490	52,220
Lennar Other:
Investments held-to-maturity	Level 3	$	60,803	65,888	59,974	72,986
LIABILITIES
Homebuilding senior notes and other debts payable	Level 2	$	9,075,016	9,461,643	8,543,868	8,336,166
Financial Services notes and other debts payable	Level 2	$	1,156,078	1,157,463	1,558,702	1,559,718
Multifamily notes payable	Level 2	$	36,140	36,140	—	—
Lennar Other notes and other debts payable	Level 2	$	15,131	15,131	14,488	14,488

The following methods and assumptions are used by the Company in estimating fair values:

Financial Services—The fair values above are based on quoted market prices, if available. The fair values for instruments that do not have quoted market prices are estimated by the Company on the basis of discounted cash flows or other financial information. For notes and other debts payable, the fair values approximate their carrying value due to variable interest pricing terms and the short-term nature of the majority of the borrowings.

Lennar Other—The fair value for investments held-to-maturity is based on discounted cash flows. For notes and other debts payable, the fair values approximate their carrying value due to their short-term maturities.

Homebuilding—For senior notes and other debts payable, the fair value of fixed-rate borrowings is primarily based on quoted market prices and the fair value of variable-rate borrowings is based on expected future cash flows calculated using current market forward rates.

Multifamily—For notes payable, the fair values approximate their carrying value due to variable interest pricing terms and the short-term nature of the borrowings.

Fair Value Measurements:

GAAP provides a framework for measuring fair value, expands disclosures about fair value measurements and establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value summarized as follows:

Level 1: Fair value determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.

Level 2: Fair value determined using significant other observable inputs.

Level 3: Fair value determined using significant unobservable inputs.

The Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:



(In thousands)	Fair Value Hierarchy	Fair Value at August 31, 2019			Fair Value at November 30, 2018
Financial Services Assets (Liabilities):
RMF loans held-for-sale (1)	Level 3	$	178,704		61,691
Financial Services residential loans held-for-sale (2)	Level 2	$	1,049,888		1,152,198
Investments available-for-sale	Level 1	$	3,597		4,161
Mortgage loan commitments	Level 2	$	25,871		16,373
Forward contracts	Level 2	$	(9,626	)	(10,360	)
Mortgage servicing rights	Level 3	$	23,072		37,206


(1)	The aggregate fair value of RMF loans held-for-sale of $178.7 million at August 31, 2019 exceeded their aggregate principal balance of $171.5 million by $7.2 million. The aggregate fair value of RMF loans held-for-sale of $61.7 million at November 30, 2018 exceeded their aggregate principal balance of $61.0 million by $0.7 million.


(2)	The aggregate fair value of Financial Services residential loans held-for-sale of $1.0 billion at August 31, 2019 exceeded their aggregate principal balance of $1.0 billion by $37.7 million. The aggregate fair value of Financial Services residential loans held-for-sale of $1.2 billion at November 30, 2018 exceeded their aggregate principal balance of $1.1 billion by $37.3 million.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments have been determined by using available market information and what the Company believes to be appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies might have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. The following methods and assumptions are used by the Company in estimating fair values:

RMF loans held-for-sale - The fair value of loans held-for-sale is calculated from model-based techniques that use discounted cash flow assumptions and the Company’s own estimates of CMBS spreads, market interest rate movements and the underlying loan credit quality. Loan values are calculated by allocating the change in value of an assumed CMBS capital structure to each loan. The value of an assumed CMBS capital structure is calculated, generally, by discounting the cash flows associated with each CMBS class at market interest rates and at the Company’s own estimate of CMBS spreads. The Company estimates CMBS spreads by observing the pricing of recent CMBS offerings, secondary CMBS markets, changes in the CMBX index, and general capital and commercial real estate market conditions. Considerations in estimating CMBS spreads include comparing the Company’s current loan portfolio with comparable CMBS offerings containing loans with similar duration, credit quality and collateral composition. These methods use unobservable inputs in estimating a discount rate that is used to assign a value to each loan. While the cash payments on the loans are contractual, the discount rate used and assumptions regarding the relative size of each class in the CMBS capital structure can significantly impact the valuation. Therefore, the estimates used could differ materially from the fair value determined when the loans are sold to a securitization trust.

Financial Services residential loans held-for-sale - Fair value is based on independent quoted market prices, where available, or the prices for other mortgage whole loans with similar characteristics. Management believes carrying loans held-for-sale at fair value improves financial reporting by mitigating volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring the fair value of the loans and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. In addition, the Company recognizes the fair value of its rights to service a mortgage loan as revenue upon entering into an interest rate lock loan commitment with a borrower. The fair value of these servicing rights was included in Financial Services’ loans held-for-sale as of August 31, 2019 and November 30, 2018. Fair value of servicing rights is determined based on actual sales of servicing rights on loans with similar characteristics.

Financial Services investments available-for-sale - The fair value of these investments is based on the quoted market prices for similar financial instruments.

Financial Services mortgage loan commitments - Fair value of commitments to originate loans is based upon the difference between the current value of similar loans and the price at which the Financial Services segment has committed to originate the loans. The fair value of commitments to sell loan contracts is the estimated amount that the Financial Services segment would receive or pay to terminate the commitments at the reporting date based on market prices for similar financial instruments. In addition, the Company recognizes the fair value of its rights to service a mortgage loan as revenue upon entering into an interest rate lock loan commitment with a borrower. The fair value of servicing rights is determined based on actual sales of servicing rights on loans with similar characteristics. The fair value of the mortgage loan commitments and related servicing rights is included in Financial Services’ other assets.

Financial Services forward contracts - Fair value is based on quoted market prices for similar financial instruments. The fair value of forward contracts was included in the Financial Services segment's other liabilities as of August 31, 2019 and November 30, 2018.

The Financial Services segment uses mandatory mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") forward commitments, option contracts and investor commitments to hedge its mortgage-related interest rate exposure. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk associated with MBS forward commitments, option contracts and loan sales transactions is managed by limiting the Company’s counterparties to investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and other investors meeting the Company’s credit standards. The segment’s risk, in the event of default by the purchaser, is the difference between the contract price and fair value of the MBS forward commitments and option contracts. At August 31, 2019, the segment had open commitments amounting to $1.6 billion to sell MBS with varying settlement dates through November 2019.

Financial Services mortgage servicing rights - Financial Services records mortgage servicing rights when it sells loans on a servicing-retained basis or through the acquisition or assumption of the right to service a financial asset. The fair value of the mortgage servicing rights is calculated using third-party valuations. The key assumptions, which are generally unobservable inputs, used in the valuation of the mortgage servicing rights include mortgage prepayment rates, discount rates and delinquency rates. As of August 31, 2019, the key assumptions used in determining the fair value include a 20.1% mortgage prepayment rate, a 12.4% discount rate and an 8.4% delinquency rate. The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is included in the Financial Services segment's other assets.

The changes in fair values for Level 1 and Level 2 financial instruments measured on a recurring basis are shown below by financial instrument and financial statement line item:



	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	August 31,					August 31,
(In thousands)	2019			2018		2019	2018
Changes in fair value included in Financial Services revenues:
Loans held-for-sale	$	(2,490	)	(692	)	397	(403	)
Mortgage loan commitments	646			(5,810	)	9,498	9,409
Forward contracts	1,646			3,550		734	(4,326	)
Investments available-for-sale	—			166		176	292
Changes in fair value included in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Financial Services investments available-for-sale	180			(110	)	949	(1,357	)

Interest on Financial Services loans held-for-sale and RMF loans held-for-sale measured at fair value is calculated based on the interest rate of the loans and recorded as revenues in the Financial Services’ statement of operations.

The following table represents the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance for the Level 3 recurring fair value measurements:



	Three Months Ended August 31,
	2019					2018
	Financial Services
(In thousands)	Mortgage servicing rights			RMF loans held-for-sale		Mortgage servicing rights		RMF loans held-for-sale
Beginning balance	$	29,419		259,599		34,592		325,373
Purchases/loan originations	449			263,888		1,734		333,680
Sales/loan originations sold, including those not settled	—			(347,713	)	—		(516,958	)
Disposals/settlements	(1,544		)	—		(1,290	)	—
Changes in fair value (1)	(5,252		)	3,502		38		(1,400	)
Interest and principal paydowns	—			(572	)	—		23
Ending balance	$	23,072		178,704		35,074		140,718



	Nine Months Ended August 31,
	2019					2018
	Financial Services
(In thousands)	Mortgage servicing rights			RMF loans held-for-sale		Mortgage servicing rights		RMF loans held-for-sale
Beginning balance	$	37,206		61,691		31,163		234,403
Purchases/loan originations	2,707			969,200		5,880		997,515
Sales/loan originations sold, including those not settled	—			(848,262	)	—		(1,073,211	)
Disposals/settlements	(3,830		)	(9,920	)	(5,830	)	(19,600	)
Changes in fair value (1)	(13,011		)	6,825		3,861		1,970
Interest and principal paydowns	—			(830	)	—		(359	)
Ending balance	$	23,072		178,704		35,074		140,718


(1)	Changes in fair value for RMF loans held-for-sale and Financial Services mortgage servicing rights are included in Financial Services' revenues.

The Company’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are those assets for which the Company has recorded valuation adjustments and write-offs. The fair values included in the table below represent only those assets whose carrying values were adjusted to fair value during the respective periods disclosed. The assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are summarized below:



		Three Months Ended August 31,
		2019					2018
(In thousands)	Fair Value Hierarchy	Carrying Value		Fair Value	Total Losses, Net (1)		Carrying Value	Fair Value	Total Losses, Net (1)
Non-financial assets
Homebuilding:
Finished homes and construction in progress (1)	Level 3	$	4,922	4,142	(780	)	—	—	—
Land and land under development (1)	Level 3	$	1,300	85	(1,215	)	25,173	13,373	(11,800	)



		Nine Months Ended August 31,
		2019					2018
(In thousands)	Fair Value Hierarchy	Carrying Value		Fair Value	Total Losses, Net (1)		Carrying Value	Fair Value	Total Losses, Net (1)
Non-financial assets
Homebuilding:
Finished homes and construction in progress (1)	Level 3	$	4,922	4,142	(780	)	—	—	—
Land and land under development (1)	Level 3	$	8,253	3,085	(5,168	)	91,960	60,059	(31,901	)


(1)	Valuation adjustments were included in Homebuilding costs and expenses in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Finished homes and construction in progress are included within inventories. Inventories are stated at cost unless the inventory within a community is determined to be impaired, in which case the impaired inventory is written down to fair value. The Company disclosed its accounting policy related to inventories and its review for indicators of impairment in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in its Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2018.

The Company estimates the fair value of inventory evaluated for impairment based on market conditions and assumptions made by management at the time the inventory is evaluated, which may differ materially from actual results if market conditions or assumptions change. For example, changes in market conditions and other specific developments or changes in assumptions may cause the Company to re-evaluate its strategy regarding previously impaired inventory, as well as inventory not currently impaired but for which indicators of impairment may arise if market deterioration occurs, and certain other assets that could result in further valuation adjustments and/or additional write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs due to abandonment of those options contracts.

On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews its active communities for indicators of potential impairments. As of August 31, 2019 and 2018, there were 1,295 and 1,307 active communities, excluding unconsolidated entities, respectively. As of August 31, 2019, the Company identified 47 communities with 2,554 homesites and a corresponding carrying value of $331.2 million as having potential indicators of impairment. For the nine months ended August 31, 2019, the Company recorded a valuation adjustment of $2.0 million on 110 homesites in one community with a carrying value of $6.2 million.

As of August 31, 2018, the Company identified 15 communities with 843 homesites and a corresponding carrying value of $219.3 million as having potential indicators of impairment. For the nine months ended August 31, 2018, the Company recorded valuation adjustments of $29.4 million on 688 homesites in five communities with a carrying value of $56.5 million.

The table below summarizes the most significant unobservable inputs used in the Company's discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value of its communities for which the Company recorded valuation adjustments during the nine months ended August 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018:



	Nine Months Ended
	August 31, 2019	August 31, 2018
Unobservable inputs		Range
Average selling price	$167,000	$233,000	-	$843,000
Absorption rate per quarter (homes)	12	4	-	16
Discount rate	20%	20%

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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