f10q013111clean030411.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


(Mark One)
[ X ]           Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

  For quarterly period ended JANUARY 31, 2011
OR

[    ]           Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission file number 1-8551

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

22-1851059 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

110 West Front Street, P.O. Box 500, Red Bank, NJ  07701 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

732-747-7800 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A  (Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [ X ]    No [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes [    ]  No [    ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer [   ]  Accelerated Filer  [ X ]
Non-Accelerated Filer  [   ]  (Do not check if smaller reporting company)   Smaller Reporting Company [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes [    ]  No [ X ]

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.  77,962,543 shares of Class A Common Stock and 14,562,064 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding as of March 1, 2011.


 
 

 


HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
 
   
FORM 10-Q
 

INDEX
PAGE NUMBER
   
PART I.  Financial Information
 
Item l.  Financial Statements:
 
   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31,
 
2011 (unaudited) and October 31, 2010
3
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for
5
the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010
 
   
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity
 
(unaudited) for the three months ended January 31, 2011
6
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
 
for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010
7
   
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
 
Statements (unaudited)
9
   
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis
 
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
30
   
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
57
   
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
58
   
PART II.  Other Information
 
Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
58
   
Item 1A.  Risk Factors
58
   
Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and
 
Use of Proceeds
59
   
Item 6.  Exhibits
60
   
Signatures
62


 
 

 


 
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)

 
January 31,
2011
 
October 31,
2010
ASSETS
(Unaudited)
 
(1)
       
Homebuilding:
     
  Cash and cash equivalents
$311,032
 
$359,124
       
  Restricted cash
105,579
 
108,983
       
  Inventories:
     
    Sold and unsold homes and lots under development
652,742
 
591,729
       
    Land and land options held for future
     
      development or sale
275,686
 
348,474
       
    Consolidated inventory not owned:
     
       Specific performance options
15,626
 
21,065
       Variable interest entities
-
 
32,710
       Other options
4,120
 
7,962
       
       Total consolidated inventory not owned
19,746
 
61,737
       
       Total inventories
948,174
 
1,001,940
       
  Investments in and advances to unconsolidated
     
    joint ventures
57,818
 
38,000
       
  Receivables, deposits, and notes
51,224
 
61,023
       
  Property, plant, and equipment – net
60,938
 
62,767
       
  Prepaid expenses and other assets
85,333
 
83,928
       
       Total homebuilding
1,620,098
 
1,715,765
       
Financial services:
     
  Cash and cash equivalents
5,344
 
8,056
  Restricted cash
4,023
 
4,022
  Mortgage loans held for sale
37,643
 
86,326
  Other assets
2,975
 
3,391
       
       Total financial services
49,985
 
101,795
       
Total assets
$1,670,083
 
$1,817,560

(1)  Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2010.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).


 
 

 


 
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)

 
January 31,
2011
 
October 31,
2010
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
(Unaudited)
 
(1)
       
Homebuilding:
     
  Nonrecourse land mortgages
$20,946 
 
$4,313 
  Accounts payable and other liabilities
269,377 
 
319,749 
  Customers’ deposits
14,201 
 
9,520 
  Nonrecourse mortgages secured by operating properties
20,435 
 
20,657 
  Liabilities from inventory not owned
18,239 
 
53,249 
       
      Total homebuilding
343,198 
 
407,488 
       
Financial services:
     
  Accounts payable and other liabilities
14,314 
 
16,142 
  Mortgage warehouse line of credit
24,072 
 
73,643 
       
      Total financial services
38,386 
 
89,785 
       
Notes payable:
     
  Senior secured notes
784,978 
 
784,592 
  Senior notes
711,662 
 
711,585 
  Senior subordinated notes
120,170 
 
120,170 
  Accrued interest
32,953 
 
23,968 
       
      Total notes payable
1,649,763 
 
1,640,315 
       
  Income taxes payable
40,035 
 
17,910 
       
Total liabilities
2,071,382 
 
2,155,498 
       
Equity:
     
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity deficit:
     
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value - authorized 100,000
     
    shares; issued 5,600 shares with a liquidation
     
    preference of $140,000 at January 31, 2011
     
    and at October 31, 2010 
135,299 
 
135,299 
  Common stock, Class A, $.01 par value – authorized
     
    200,000,000 shares; issued 75,189,506 shares at
     
    January 31, 2011 and 74,809,683 shares at
     
    October 31, 2010 (including 11,694,720
     
    shares at January 31, 2011 and
     
    October 31, 2010 held in Treasury)
752 
 
748 
  Common stock, Class B, $.01 par value (convertible
     
    to Class A at time of sale) – authorized
     
    30,000,000 shares; issued 15,255,969 shares at
     
    January 31, 2011 and 15,256,543 shares at
     
    October 31, 2010 (including 691,748 shares at
     
    January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010 held in Treasury)
153 
 
153 
  Paid in capital - common stock
464,579 
 
463,908 
  Accumulated deficit
(887,561)
 
(823,419)
  Treasury stock - at cost
(115,257)
 
(115,257)
       
      Total Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders’ equity deficit
(402,035)
 
(338,568)
       
  Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures
736
 
630 
       
      Total equity deficit
(401,299)
 
(337,938)
       
Total liabilities and equity
$1,670,083 
 
$1,817,560 

(1) Derived from the audited balance sheet as of October 31, 2010.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).


 
 

 


HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Thousands Except Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
2011
 
2010
Revenues:
     
  Homebuilding:
     
    Sale of homes
$235,885 
 
$309,353 
    Land sales and other revenues
9,588 
 
2,686 
       
      Total homebuilding
245,473 
 
312,039 
  Financial services
7,094 
 
7,606 
       
      Total revenues
252,567 
 
319,645 
       
Expenses:
     
  Homebuilding:
     
    Cost of sales, excluding interest
201,430 
 
259,816 
    Cost of sales interest
15,626 
 
19,848 
    Inventory impairment loss and land option
     
       write-offs
13,525 
 
4,966 
       
      Total cost of sales
230,581 
 
284,630 
       
    Selling, general and administrative
40,207 
 
43,072 
       
      Total homebuilding expenses
270,788 
 
327,702 
       
  Financial services
5,470 
 
5,395 
       
  Corporate general and administrative
15,008 
 
16,213 
       
  Other interest
23,985 
 
25,607 
       
  Other operations
887 
 
1,897 
       
      Total expenses
316,138 
 
376,814 
       
Gain on extinguishment of debt
-
 
2,574 
       
Loss from unconsolidated joint ventures
(992)
 
(373)
       
Loss before income taxes
(64,563)
 
(54,968)
       
State and federal income tax (benefit) provision:
     
  State
665 
 
171 
  Federal
(1,086)
 
(291,328)
       
    Total income taxes
(421)
 
(291,157)
       
Net (loss) income
$(64,142)
 
$236,189 
       
Per share data:
     
Basic:
     
  (Loss) income per common share
$(0.82)
 
$3.01 
  Weighted-average number of common
     
    shares outstanding
78,598 
 
78,553 
       
Assuming dilution:
     
  (Loss) income per common share
$(0.82)
 
$2.97 
  Weighted-average number of common
     
    shares outstanding
78,598 
 
79,536 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).


 
 

 


HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY
(In Thousands Except Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)

 
A Common Stock
 
B Common Stock
 
Preferred Stock
                   
 
Shares Issued and Outstanding
 
Amount
 
Shares Issued and Outstanding
 
Amount
 
Shares Issued and Outstanding
 
Amount
 
Paid-In
Capital
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Treasury Stock
 
Noncontrolling Interest
 
Total
                                           
Balance, November 1, 2010
63,114,963
 
$748
 
14,564,795 
 
$153
 
5,600
 
$135,299
 
$463,908
 
$(823,419)
 
$(115,257)
 
$630
 
$(337,938)
                                           
Stock options, amortization
  and issuances
379,249
 
4
                 
1,311 
             
1,315 
                                           
Restricted stock 
  amortization, issuances and 
  forfeitures
                       
(640)
             
(640)
                                           
Conversion of Class B to
  Class A Common Stock
574
     
(574)
                               
                                           
Changes in noncontrolling
  interest in consolidated
  joint ventures
                                   
106
 
106
                                           
Net loss
                           
(64,142)
         
(64,142)
                                           
Balance, January 31, 2011
63,494,786
 
$752
 
14,564,221
 
$153
 
5,600
 
$135,299
 
$464,579
 
$(887,561)
 
$(115,257)
 
$736
 
$(401,299)
                                           

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).



 
 

 


HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
January 31,
 
2011
 
2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
     
Net (loss) income
$(64,142)
 
$236,189 
  Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash
     
    provided by (used in) operating activities:
     
      Depreciation
2,319 
 
3,386 
      Compensation from stock options and awards
1,940 
 
2,364 
      Amortization of bond discounts and deferred financing costs
1,309 
 
1,227 
      Gain on sale and retirement of property
     
        and assets
(293)
 
(119)
      Loss from unconsolidated joint ventures
992 
 
373 
      Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures
525 
 
1,697 
      Gain on extinguishment of debt
 
(2,574)
      Inventory impairment and land option write-offs
13,525 
 
4,966 
      Decrease in assets:
     
        Mortgage loans held for sale
48,683 
 
22,976 
        Restricted cash, receivables, prepaids, deposits and
     
          other assets
11,077 
 
10,881 
        Inventories
30,095 
 
26,076 
     (Decrease) increase in liabilities:
     
        State and Federal income tax liabilities
22,125 
 
(291,334)
        Customers’ deposits
4,681 
 
(3,955)
        Accounts payable, accrued interest and other accrued liabilities
(70,359)
 
(63,523)
          Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
2,477 
 
(51,370)
Cash flows from investing activities:
     
  Proceeds from sale of property and assets
360 
 
150 
  Purchase of property, equipment, and other fixed assets and acquisitions
(267)
 
(371)
  Investments in and advances to unconsolidated
     
    joint ventures
(2,379)
 
(989)
  Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures
698 
 
816 
          Net cash used in investing activities
(1,588)
 
(394)
Cash flows from financing activities:
     
  (Payments) proceeds from mortgages and notes
(2,122)
 
3,450 
  Net payments related to mortgage
     
    warehouse lines of credit
(49,571)
 
(22,593)
  Deferred financing cost from note issuances
 
(448)
  Principal payments and debt repurchases
 
(22,273)
          Net cash used in financing activities
(51,693)
 
(41,864)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(50,804)
 
(93,628)
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning
     
  of period
367,180 
 
426,692 
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of period
$316,376 
 
$333,064


 
 

 


HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands - Unaudited)
(Continued)

 
Three Months Ended
 
January 31,
 
2011
 
2010
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow:
     
  Cash  (received) paid during the period for:
     
     Income taxes
$(22,520)
 
$177 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities:

In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us.  The consolidation resulted in increases in inventory and non-recourse land mortgages of $9.5 million and $18.5 million, respectively, and a decrease in other liabilities of $9.0 million.

See notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).


 
 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) has reportable segments consisting of six Homebuilding segments (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West) and the Financial Services segment (see Note 15).

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and those of all wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all significant intercompany balances and transactions.  Certain immaterial prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

1.  The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended October 31, 2010.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments for interim periods presented have been made, which include normal recurring accruals and deferrals necessary for a fair presentation of our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.  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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates, and these differences could have a significant impact on the financial statements.  Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results which might be expected for a full year.  The balance sheet at October 31, 2010 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

2.  For the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company’s total stock-based compensation expense was $1.9 million and $2.4 million, respectively.  Included in this total stock-based compensation expense was the vesting of stock options of $1.3 million for both the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010.

3.  Interest costs incurred, expensed and capitalized were:

 
Three Months Ended
January 31,
(In thousands)
2011
 
2010
       
Interest capitalized at
     
  beginning of period
$136,288 
 
$164,340 
Plus interest incurred(1)
37,827 
 
40,141 
Less cost of sales interest expensed
(15,626)
 
(19,848)
Less other interest expensed(2)(3)(4)
(23,985)
 
(25,607)
Interest capitalized at end of period(5)
$134,504 
 
$159,026 

(1)           Data does not include interest incurred by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries.
(2)
Our assets that qualify for interest capitalization (inventory under development) do not exceed
 
our debt, and therefore, the portion of interest not covered by qualifying assets is expensed.
(3)
Interest on completed homes and land in planning, which does not qualify for capitalization
 
is expensed.

 
 

 

(4)
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest, is the sum of other interest expensed, as defined above, and interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries adjusted for the change in accrued interest, which is calculated as follows:

 
Three Months Ended January 31,
(In thousands)
2011
2010
Other interest expensed
$23,985 
$25,607 
Interest paid by our mortgage and finance subsidiaries
582 
323 
Increase in accrued interest
(8,985)
(6,757)
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest
$15,582 
$19,173 

(5)
We have incurred significant inventory impairments in recent years, which are determined based on total inventory including capitalized interest. However, the capitalized interest amounts above are shown gross before allocating any portion of the impairments to capitalized interest.

4.  Accumulated depreciation at January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010 amounted to $74.7 million and $73.0 million, respectively, for our homebuilding property, plant and equipment.

5.  We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts.  If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value.  We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community.  For the three months ended January 31, 2011, our discount rates used for the impairments recorded ranged from 18.0% to 19.8%.  Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may need to recognize additional impairments.  We recorded impairment losses, which are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations line entitled "Homebuilding – inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs", and deducted from inventory, of $6.8 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The following table represents inventory impairments by homebuilding segment for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
(Dollars in millions)
January 31, 2011
 
January 31, 2010

 
Number of
Communities
Dollar
Amount of
Impairment
Pre-
Impairment
Value(1)
 
Number of
Communities
Dollar
Amount of
Impairment
Pre-
Impairment
Value(1)
Northeast
2
$5.4
$17.9
 
1
$2.6
$4.7
Mid-Atlantic
1
0.3
1.4
 
1
0.3
0.6
Midwest
-
-
-
 
-
-
-
Southeast
-
-
-
 
5
0.4
1.0
Southwest
-
-
-
 
-
-
-
West
1
1.1
5.5
 
-
-
-
Total
4
$6.8
$24.8
 
7
$3.3
$6.3

(1)  Represents carrying value, net of prior period impairments, if any, at the time of recording the applicable period’s
      impairments.

We also record losses for the write-offs of options, and approval, engineering and capitalized interest costs when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs or we do not exercise options because the communities' pro forma profitability is not projected to produce adequate returns on investment commensurate with the risk.  Total aggregate write-offs were $6.7 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Occasionally, these write-offs are offset by recovered deposits (sometimes through legal action) that had been written off in a prior period as walk-away costs.  These recoveries have not been significant in comparison to the total cost written off.

The following table represents write-offs of such costs (after giving effect to any recovered deposits in the applicable period) and the number of lots walked away from by homebuilding segment for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010:

 
Three Months Ended
 
January 31,
 
2011
 
2010
(Dollars in millions)
Number of Walk-Away Lots
 
Dollar Amount of Write-Offs
 
Number of Walk-Away Lots
 
Dollar Amount of Write-Offs
               
Northeast
989
 
$3.1
 
259
 
$1.6 
Mid-Atlantic
252
 
0.4
 
11
 
Midwest
132
 
-
 
-
 
(0.1)
Southeast
983
 
0.2
 
-
 
0.1 
Southwest
68
 
-
 
-
 
0.1 
West
143
 
3.0
 
-
 
Total
2,567
 
$6.7
 
270
 
$1.7 

We have decided to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities where we have determined the current market conditions do not justify further investment at this time.  When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified from “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” to “Land and land options held for future development or sale”.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we did not mothball any communities but re-activated three previously mothballed communities and sold two previously mothballed communities.  As of January 31, 2011, the net book value associated with our 53 total mothballed communities was $167.1 million, net of impairment charges of $542.8 million.

6.  We establish a warranty accrual for repair costs under $5,000 per occurrence to homes, community amenities, and land development infrastructure.  We accrue for warranty costs as part of cost of sales at the time each home is closed and title and possession have been transferred to the homebuyer.  In addition, we accrue for warranty costs over $5,000 per occurrence as part of our general liability insurance deductible, which is expensed as selling, general, and administrative costs.  For homes delivered in fiscal 2011 and 2010, our deductible under our general liability insurance is $20 million per occurrence for construction defect and warranty claims.  For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in 2011 and 2010 is $0.1 million up to a $5 million limit.  Our aggregate retention in 2011 is $21 million for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims.  Our aggregate retention in 2010 was $21 million for construction defect and warranty claims, and $20 million for bodily injury claims.  Additions and charges in the warranty reserve and general liability reserve for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
January 31,
(In thousands)
2011
 
2010
       
Balance, beginning of period
$125,268 
 
$127,869 
Additions
7,488 
 
9,902 
Charges incurred
(9,567)
 
(7,227)
Balance, end of period
$123,189 
 
$130,544 

Warranty accruals are based upon historical experience.  We engage a third-party actuary that uses our historical warranty data and other industry data to assist us to estimate our reserves for unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred but not reported claims reserves for the risks that we are assuming under the general liability and workers compensation programs.  The estimates include provisions for inflation, claims handling, and legal fees.

Insurance claims paid by our insurance carriers were $11.4 million and $5.3 million for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for prior year deliveries.

7.  We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations, and we are subject to extensive and complex regulations that affect the development and home building, sales and customer financing processes, including zoning, density, building standards and mortgage financing.  These regulations often provide broad discretion to the administering governmental authorities.  This can delay or increase the cost of development or homebuilding.
 
We also are subject to a variety of local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations concerning protection of health and the environment.  The particular environmental laws that apply to any given community vary greatly according to the community site, the site’s environmental conditions and the present and former uses of the site.  These environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation and/or other costs, and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity.
 
We have been notified by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation that it is seeking a civil penalty from us in connection with notices of violation for allegedly failing to comply with a storm water permit at an incomplete project in the state of New York; and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has contacted us regarding violations it asserts occurred when one of our contractors demolished a structure in New Jersey prior to obtaining a storm water permit.  Although we do not know the final outcomes, we believe any penalties and any other impacts of these two matters will not have a material adverse effect on us.

We anticipate that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on developers and homebuilders in the future. Although we cannot predict the effect of these requirements, they could result in time-consuming and expensive compliance programs and in substantial expenditures, which could cause delays and increase our cost of operations. In addition, the continued effectiveness of permits already granted or approvals already obtained is dependent upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as changes in policies, rules, and regulations and their interpretations and application.

The Company is also involved in the following litigation:

A subsidiary of the Company has been named as a defendant in a purported class action suit filed on May 30, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Randolph Sewell, et al., v. D’Allesandro & Woodyard, et al., alleging violations of the federal securities acts, among other allegations, in connection with the sale of some of the subsidiary’s homes in Fort Myers, Florida.  Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on October 19, 2007.  Plaintiffs sought to represent a class of certain home purchasers in southwestern Florida and sought damages, rescission of certain purchase agreements, restitution of out-of-pocket expenses, and attorneys’ fees and costs.  The Company’s subsidiary filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on December 14, 2007.  Following oral argument on the motion in September 2008, the court dismissed the amended complaint with leave for plaintiffs to amend. Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint on October 31, 2008. The Company’s subsidiary filed a motion to dismiss this second amended complaint.  The Court dismissed portions of the second amended complaint.  The Court dismissed additional portions of the second amended complaint on April 28, 2010.  We have had negotiations with the plaintiffs recently to settle this case.  Based on these negotiations we have accrued an immaterial amount for the potential settlement based on our assessment of the outcome.  However, our assessment of the potential outcome may differ from the ultimate resolution of this matter.

8.  Cash and cash equivalents include cash deposited in checking accounts, overnight repurchase agreements, certificates of deposit, Treasury Bills and government money market funds with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased.  Our cash balances are held at a few financial institutions and may, at times, exceed insurable amounts.  We believe we help to mitigate this risk by depositing our cash in major financial institutions.  At January 31, 2011, $287.7 million of the total cash and cash equivalents was in cash equivalents, the book value of which approximates fair value.

9.  In connection with the issuance of our senior secured first lien notes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, we terminated our revolving credit facility and refinanced the borrowing capacity thereunder.  Also in connection with the refinancing, we entered into certain stand alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there were a total of $86.3 million and $89.5 million of letters of credit outstanding as of January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. As of January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $88.3 million and $92.3 million, respectively, which is reflected in “Restricted cash” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement”) is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50 million through April 5, 2011. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors.  Interest is payable upon the sale of each mortgage loan to a permanent investor at LIBOR plus 4.00%.  We believe that we will be able to extend the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement beyond its expiration date, but there can be no assurance of such extension.  As of January 31, 2011, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings under the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement was $18.8 million.

In addition to the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement discussed above, K. Hovnanian Mortgage has a secured Master Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase Master Repurchase Agreement”) which is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $25 million through July 18, 2011. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors.  Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at LIBOR floor of 2.00% plus applicable margin ranging from 2.50% to 3.00% based on the takeout investor and type of loan.  We believe that we will be able to extend the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement beyond its expiration date, but there can be no assurance of such extension.  As of January 31, 2011, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings under the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement was $5.3 million.

Both the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement and the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement require K. Hovnanian Mortgage to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis of the size of the facilities, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the two agreements, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of January 31, 2011, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement and the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement. 

10.  At January 31, 2011, we had $797.2 million ($785.0 million net of discount) of outstanding senior secured notes, comprised of $0.5 million 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013, $785.0 million 10 5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 and $11.7 million 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017.  At January 31, 2011, we also had $713.2 million of outstanding senior notes ($711.7 million net of discount), comprised of $35.5 million 8% Senior Notes due 2012, $54.4 million 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, $29.2 million 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, $52.7 million 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, $173.2 million 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016, $172.3 million 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016 and $195.9 million 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017.  In addition, we had $120.2 million of outstanding senior subordinated notes, comprised of $66.7 million 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, and $53.5 million 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.  During February 2011, we issued new senior notes and tangible equity units as well as repurchased certain senior and senior subordinated notes in tender offers for such notes.  We also called for redemption all of such notes not tendered in the tender offers.  See Note 21 for more detail on these transactions.

We and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes, except for K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“K. Hovnanian”), the issuer of the notes, our home mortgage subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries and our foreign subsidiary (see Note 20).  The indentures governing the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes, to incur additional indebtedness (other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and non-recourse indebtedness), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase senior and senior subordinated notes (with respect to the senior secured first-lien notes indenture), make other restricted payments, make investments, sell certain assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates.  The indentures also contain events of default which would permit the holders of the senior secured, senior, and senior subordinated notes to declare those notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the notes or other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy, and insolvency and, with respect to the indentures governing the senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the senior secured notes to be in full force and effect and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of January 31, 2011, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the indentures governing our outstanding notes.

Under the terms of the indentures, we have the right to make certain redemptions and, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We also continue to evaluate our capital structure and may also continue to make debt purchases and/or exchanges from time to time through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise or seek to raise additional debt or equity capital, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the indentures governing our senior secured, senior, and senior subordinated notes, is less than 2.0 to 1.0, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness, and non-recourse indebtedness. As a result of this restriction, we are currently restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. If current market trends continue or worsen, we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends for the foreseeable future.  Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under our bond indentures or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in the bond indentures.

The 10 5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 are secured by a first-priority lien, the 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 are secured by a second-priority lien and the 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 are secured by a third-priority lien, in each case, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, on substantially all the assets owned by us, K. Hovnanian (the issuer of the senior secured notes) and the guarantors, in the case of the 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and the 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017, to the extent such assets secure obligations under the 10 5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016.  At January 31, 2011, the aggregate book value of the real property collateral securing these notes was approximately $757.5 million, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the appraised value. In addition, cash collateral securing these notes was $273.3 million as of January 31, 2011, which includes $88.3 million of restricted cash also collateralizing certain letters of credit.  Subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments.

11.  Each share of Class A Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote per share and each share of Class B Common Stock entitles its holder to ten votes per share.  The amount of any regular cash dividend payable on a share of Class A Common Stock will be an amount equal to 110% of the corresponding regular cash dividend payable on a share of Class B Common Stock.  If a shareholder desires to sell shares of Class B Common Stock, such stock must be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock.

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income or (loss) (the “numerator”) by the weighted-average number of common shares, adjusted for non-vested shares of restricted stock (the “denominator”) for the period.  Computing diluted earnings per share is similar to computing basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of options and non-vested shares of restricted stock. Any options that have an exercise price greater than the average market price are considered to be anti-dilutive and are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.  For the three months ended January 31, 2011, 0.6 million incremental shares attributed to non-vested stock and outstanding options to purchase common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because we had a net loss for the period, and any incremental shares would not be dilutive. In addition, shares related to out-of-the money stock options that could potentially dilute basic EPS in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS were 4.6 million for the three months ended January 31, 2011, because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the period presented.  For the three months ended January 31, 2010, diluted earnings per common share was computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding adjusted for the 0.6 million incremental shares attributed to non-vested stock and outstanding options to purchase common stock, but excluded 3.5 million shares related to out-of-the money stock options that could potentially dilute basic EPS in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS.

On July 3, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to purchase up to 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock.  There have been no purchases during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  As of January 31, 2011, 3.4 million shares of Class A Common Stock have been purchased under this program.

During February 2011, we issued an aggregate of 13,512,500 shares of Class A Common Stock.  See Note 21 for more detail on this transaction.

12.  On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000.  Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are not cumulative and are payable at an annual rate of 7.625%.  The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares beginning on the fifth anniversary of their issuance.  The Series A Preferred Stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.  The depositary shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “HOVNP”.  During the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, we did not make any dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock as a result of covenant restrictions in the indentures governing our senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes discussed above.  We anticipate we will be restricted from paying dividends for the foreseeable future.

13.  On August 4, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) designed to preserve shareholder value and the value of certain income tax assets primarily associated with net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”) and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our ability to use NOLs and built-in losses would be limited if there was an “ownership change” under Section 382. This would occur if shareholders owning (or deemed under Section 382 to own) 5% or more of our stock increase their collective ownership of the aggregate amount of our outstanding shares by more than 50 percentage points over a defined period of time. The Rights Plan was adopted to reduce the likelihood of an “ownership change” occurring as defined by Section 382. Under the Rights Plan, one right was distributed for each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on August 15, 2008. Effective August 15, 2008, if any person or group acquires 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock without the approval of the Board of Directors, there would be a triggering event causing significant dilution in the voting power of such person or group. However, existing stockholders who owned, at the time of the Rights Plan’s adoption, 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will trigger a dilutive event only if they acquire additional shares. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan may be terminated by the Board at any time, prior to the Rights being triggered. The Rights Plan will continue in effect until August 15, 2018, unless it expires earlier in accordance with its terms. The approval of the Board of Directors’ decision to adopt the Rights Plan was submitted to a stockholder vote and approved at a Special Meeting of stockholders held on December 5, 2008. Also at the Special Meeting on December 5, 2008, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of our stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to pre-existing 5% stockholders and Class B stockholders, the transfer restrictions in the amended Certificate of Incorporation generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to: (i) increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any person (or public group) from less than 5% to 5% or more of our stock; (ii) increase the percentage of our stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of our common stock; or (iii) create a new "public group" (as defined in the applicable Treasury Regulations).

14.  On November 6, 2009, President Obama signed the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, under which the Company was able to carryback its 2009 net operating loss to previously profitable years that were not available for carryback prior to the new tax legislation.  We recorded the impact of the carryback of $291.3 million in the three months ended January 31, 2010.  We received $274.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2010 and the remaining $17.2 million in the three months ended January 31, 2011.

Deferred federal and state income tax assets primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. If the combination of future years’ income (or loss) and the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried forward to future years to recover the deferred tax assets. In accordance with ASC 740, we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required.  ASC 740 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard.  Given the continued downturn in the homebuilding industry during 2009, 2010 and the first quarter of 2011, resulting in additional inventory and intangible impairments, we are in a three-year cumulative loss position as of January 31, 2011.  According to ASC 740, a three-year cumulative loss is significant negative evidence in considering whether deferred tax assets are realizable.  Our valuation allowance for current and deferred taxes amounted to $833.0 million and $811.0 million at January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively.  The valuation allowance increased during the three months ended January 31, 2011 primarily due to additional reserves recorded for the federal tax benefits related to the losses incurred during the period.

15.  Our operating segments are components of our business for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision-maker, our Chief Executive Officer, to evaluate performance and make operating decisions.  Based on this criteria, each of our communities qualifies as an operating segment, and therefore, it is impractical to provide segment disclosures for this many segments.  As such, we have aggregated the homebuilding operating segments into six reportable segments.

Our homebuilding operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments based primarily upon geographic proximity, similar regulatory environments, land acquisition characteristics and similar methods used to construct and sell homes.  The Company’s reportable segments consist of the following six homebuilding segments and a financial services segment:

Homebuilding:
 (1) Northeast (New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania)
 (2) Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.)
 (3) Midwest (Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio)
 (4) Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina)
 (5) Southwest (Arizona and Texas)
 (6) West (California)

Financial Services

Operations of the Company’s Homebuilding segments primarily include the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached homes, attached townhomes and condominiums, mid-rise condominiums, urban infill and active adult homes in planned residential developments.  In addition, from time to time, operations of the homebuilding segments include sales of land.  Operations of the Company’s Financial Services segment include mortgage banking and title services provided to the homebuilding operations’ customers.  We do not retain or service mortgages that we originate but rather sell the mortgages and related servicing rights to investors.

Corporate and unallocated primarily represents operations at our headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey.  This includes our executive offices, information services, human resources, corporate accounting, training, treasury, process redesign, internal audit, construction services, and administration of insurance, quality, and safety.  It also includes interest income and interest expense resulting from interest incurred that cannot be capitalized in inventory in the Homebuilding segments, as well as the gains or losses on extinguishment of debt from debt repurchases or exchanges.
 
Evaluation of segment performance is based primarily on operating earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes (“(Loss) income before income taxes”).  (Loss) income before income taxes for the Homebuilding segments consists of revenues generated from the sales of homes and land, (loss) income from unconsolidated entities, management fees and other income, less the cost of homes and land sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, interest expense and non-controlling interest expense.  Income before income taxes for the Financial Services segment consists of revenues generated from mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services, less the cost of such services and certain selling, general and administrative expenses and interest expenses incurred by the Financial Services segment.

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.

 
 

 

Financial information relating to the Company’s segment operations was as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
January 31,
(In thousands)
2011
 
2010
       
Revenues:
     
  Northeast
$45,341 
 
$69,461 
  Mid-Atlantic
46,422 
 
67,023 
  Midwest
14,090 
 
23,432 
  Southeast
15,521 
 
24,785 
  Southwest
91,393 
 
82,548 
  West
32,749 
 
44,479 
     Total homebuilding
245,516 
 
311,728 
  Financial services
7,094 
 
7,606 
  Corporate and unallocated
(43)
 
311 
     Total revenues
$252,567 
 
$319,645 
       
(Loss) income before income taxes:
     
  Northeast
$(14,638)
 
$(10,221)
  Mid-Atlantic
(3,159)
 
599 
  Midwest
(1,926)
 
(2,240)
  Southeast
(3,020)
 
(2,188)
  Southwest
5,403 
 
3,891 
  West
(8,614)
 
(5,873)
     Homebuilding loss
        before income taxes
(25,954)
 
(16,032)
  Financial services
1,624 
 
2,211 
  Corporate and unallocated
(40,233)
 
(41,147)
     Loss before income taxes
$(64,563)
 
$(54,968)

 
January 31,
 
October 31,
(In thousands)
2011
 
2010
       
Assets:
     
  Northeast
$435,562 
 
$456,544 
  Mid-Atlantic
198,242 
 
177,503 
  Midwest
48,183 
 
47,818 
  Southeast
67,232 
 
58,765 
  Southwest
185,949 
 
206,001 
  West
158,116 
 
195,808 
     Total homebuilding
1,093,284 
 
1,142,439 
  Financial services
49,985 
 
101,795 
  Corporate and unallocated
526,814 
 
573,326 
     Total assets
$1,670,083 
 
$1,817,560 


 
16.  The Company enters into land and lot option purchase contracts to procure land or lots for the construction of homes. Under these contracts, the Company will fund a stated deposit in consideration for the right, but not the obligation, to purchase land or lots at a future point in time with predetermined terms. Under the terms of the option purchase contracts, many of the option deposits are not refundable at the Company's discretion.
 
Certain option purchase contracts result in the creation of a variable interest in the entity that owns the land parcel under option. In June 2009, the FASB revised its guidance regarding the determination of a primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity.  The revisions were effective for the Company as of November 1, 2010 and amend the existing quantitative guidance used in determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity by requiring entities to qualitatively assess whether an enterprise is a primary beneficiary, based on whether the entity has (i) power to direct the significant activities of the entity and (ii) an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to the entity.   The revised guidance also increased the required disclosures about a reporting entity's involvement with variable interest entities. The Company has determined it did not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact such entities' economic performance, therefore, all of the variable interest entities that were previously reported as consolidated inventory not owned on the Company's balance sheets were deconsolidated which reduced, as of November 1, 2010, Consolidated inventory not owned and Liabilities from inventory not owned by $32.7 million.

 
We will continue to secure land and lots using options, some of which are with variable interest entities. Including deposits on our unconsolidated variable interest entities, at January 31, 2011, we had total cash and letters of credit deposits amounting to approximately $28.4 million to purchase land and lots with a total purchase price of $717.4 million.  The maximum exposure to loss with respect to our land and lot options is limited to the deposits, although some deposits are refundable at our request or refundable if certain conditions are not met.
 

17.  We enter into homebuilding and land development joint ventures from time to time as a means of accessing lot positions, expanding our market opportunities, establishing strategic alliances, managing our risk profile, leveraging our capital base and enhancing returns on capital.  Our homebuilding joint ventures are generally entered into with third-party investors to develop land and construct homes that are sold directly to third-party homebuyers.  Our land development joint ventures include those entered into with developers and other homebuilders as well as financial investors to develop finished lots for sale to the joint venture’s members or other third parties.
 
During the three months ended January 31, 2011, we entered into a joint venture agreement to acquire a portfolio of homebuilding projects, including land we previously owned in the consolidated group. We sold the land we owned to the joint venture for net proceeds of $36.1 million, which was equal to our basis in the land at that time, and recorded an investment in unconsolidated joint ventures of $19.7 million for our interest in the venture.  Separately, during the three months ended January 31, 2011, our partner in a land development joint venture transferred its interest in the venture to us.  The consolidation resulted in increases in inventory and non-recourse land mortgages of $9.5 million and $18.5 million, respectively, and a decrease in other liabilities of $9.0 million.
 

 
 

 

The tables set forth below summarize the combined financial information related to our unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures that are accounted for under the equity method.

(Dollars in thousands)
   
January 31, 2011
   
 
Homebuilding
 
Land Development
 
Total
Assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
$21,646
 
$324
 
$21,970
Inventories
306,308
 
15,790
 
322,098
Other assets
20,317
 
643
 
20,960
Total assets
$348,271
 
$16,757
 
$365,028
           
Liabilities and equity:
         
Accounts payable and accrued
  liabilities
$14,190
 
$12,455
 
$26,645
Notes payable
200,107
 
21
 
200,128
  Total liabilities
214,297
 
12,476
 
226,773
Equity of:
         
  Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
48,950
 
2,147
 
51,097
  Others
85,024
 
2,134
 
87,158
Total equity
133,974
 
4,281
 
138,255
Total liabilities and equity
$348,271
 
$16,757
 
$365,028
Debt to capitalization ratio
60%
 
0%
 
59%

(Dollars in thousands)
   
October 31, 2010
   
 
Homebuilding
 
Land Development
 
Total
Assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
$17,538
 
$161
 
$17,699
Inventories
247,790
 
73,864
 
321,654
Other assets
20,321
     
20,321
Total assets
$285,649
 
$74,025
 
$359,674
           
Liabilities and equity:
         
Accounts payable and accrued
  liabilities
$19,076
 
$17,266
 
$36,342
Notes payable
159,715
 
36,791
 
196,506
  Total liabilities
178,791
 
54,057
 
232,848
Equity of:
         
  Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
29,208
 
2,510
 
31,718
  Others
77,650
 
17,458
 
95,108
Total equity
106,858
 
19,968
 
126,826
Total liabilities and equity
$285,649
 
$74,025
 
$359,674
Debt to capitalization ratio
60%
 
65%
 
61%

As of January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, we had advances outstanding of approximately $13.9 million and $13.5 million, respectively, to these unconsolidated joint ventures, which were included in the “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” balances in the table above.  On our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets our “Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures” amounted to $57.8 million and $38.0 million at January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively.  In some cases, our net investment in these joint ventures is less than our proportionate share of the equity reflected in the table above because of the differences between asset impairments recorded against our joint venture investments and any impairments recorded in the applicable joint venture.  During the first three months of fiscal 2011, we did not write down any joint venture investments based on our determination that none of the investments in our joint ventures sustained an other than temporary impairment during that period.

 
 
For the Three Months Ended January 31, 2011
(In thousands)
Homebuilding
 
Land Development
 
Total
           
Revenues
$23,031 
 
$4,894 
 
$27,925 
Cost of sales and expenses
(24,905)
 
(4,739)
 
(29,644)
Joint venture net (loss) income
$(1,874)
 
$155 
 
$(1,719)
Our share of net (loss) income
$(1,002)
 
$143 
 
$(859)

 
For the Three Months Ended January 31, 2010
In thousands)
Homebuilding
 
Land Development
 
Total
           
Revenues
$21,711 
 
$6,271 
 
$27,982 
Cost of sales and expenses
(21,294)
 
(3,124)
 
(24,418)
Joint venture net income
$417 
 
$3,147 
 
$3,564 
Our share of net income (loss)
$9 
 
$(441)
 
$(432)

Loss from unconsolidated joint ventures is reflected as a separate line in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and reflects our proportionate share of the loss of these unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures.  The difference between our share of the loss from these unconsolidated joint ventures disclosed in the tables above for the three months ended January 31, 2011 and January 31, 2010 compared to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is due primarily to one joint venture that had net income for which we do not get any share of the profit because of the cumulative equity position of the joint venture, the reclassification of the intercompany portion of management fee income from certain joint ventures and the deferral of income for lots purchased by us from certain joint ventures.  Our ownership interests in the joint ventures vary but are generally 50% or less.  In determining whether or not we must consolidate joint ventures where we are the manager of the joint venture, we assess whether the other partners have specific rights to overcome the presumption of control by us as the manager of the joint venture.  In most cases, the presumption is overcome because the joint venture agreements require that both partners agree on establishing the operating and capital decisions of the partnership, including budgets in the ordinary course of business.

Typically, our unconsolidated joint ventures obtain separate project specific mortgage financing, however, most of our more recently established joint ventures have not obtained any financing, therefore the capital is all equity for these joint ventures.  Generally, the amount of such financing is targeted to be no more than 50% of the joint venture’s total assets.  However, because of impairments realized in the joint ventures the average debt to capitalization ratio of all our joint ventures is currently 59%.  Financing is on a nonrecourse basis, with guarantees from us limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental indemnification, standard warranty and representation against fraud, misrepresentation and other similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy filing.  In some instances, the joint venture entity is considered a variable interest entity under ASC 810-10 "Consolidation – Overall" due to the returns being capped to the equity holders; however, in these instances, we are not the primary beneficiary, and therefore we do not consolidate these entities.

18.  Recent Accounting Pronouncements - In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements,” which requires additional disclosures about transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy and disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance was effective for the Company in our second quarter of fiscal 2010, except for the Level 3 activity disclosures, which are effective for us in fiscal 2012. The adoption of this guidance, which is related to disclosure only, did not (with respect to Levels 1 and 2) and will not (with respect to Level 3 activity) have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

19.  ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”), 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.

Our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

(In thousands)
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
 
Fair Value at
January 31, 2011
 
Fair Value at
October 31, 2010
             
Mortgage loans held for sale (1)
 
Level 2
 
$36,378 
 
$85,358 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
Level 2
 
11 
 
79 
Forward contracts
 
Level 2
 
(212)
 
(254)
       
$36,177
 
$85,183 

(1)  The aggregate unpaid principal balance was $36.1 million and $84.1 million at January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively.

We elected the fair value option for our loans held for sale for mortgage loans originated subsequent to October 31, 2008 in accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments” (“ASC 825”), which permits us to measure financial instruments at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis.  Management believes that the election of the fair value option for loans held for sale 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 fair value of servicing rights is included in the Company’s loans held for sale as of January 31, 2011.  Fair value of the servicing rights is determined based on values in the Company’s servicing sales contracts.  Fair value of loans held for sale is based on independent quoted market prices, where available, or the prices for other mortgage whole loans with similar characteristics.

For the financial instruments measured at fair value, gains and losses from initial measurement and subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in the Financial Services segment’s earnings (loss).  The changes in fair values that are included in earnings (loss) are shown, by financial instrument and financial statement line item, below:

   
Three Months Ended January 31, 2011
(In thousands)
 
Loans Held
For Sale
 
Interest Rate Lock Commitments
 
Forward Contracts
             
Changes in fair value included in net
   earnings (loss), all reflected in
   financial services revenues
 
$(967)
 
$(69)
 
$41 

   
Three Months Ended January 31, 2010
(In thousands)
 
Loans Held
For Sale
 
Interest Rate Lock Commitments
 
Forward Contracts
             
Changes in fair value included in net
   earnings (loss), all reflected in
   financial services revenues
 
$(473)
 
$6 
 
$116 

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 during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  The assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are all within the Company’s Homebuilding operations and are summarized below:

Non-financial Assets

       
Three Months Ended
       
January 31, 2011
                 
(In thousands)
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
 
Pre-Impairment Amount
 
Total Losses
 
Fair Value
                 
Sold and unsold homes
  and lots under development
 
Level 3
 
$12,132
 
$(2,204)
 
$9,928
Land and land options
  held for future development
  or sale
 
Level 3
 
$12,714
 
$(4,575)
 
$8,139
       
$24,846
 
$(6,779)
 
$18,067

       
Three Months Ended
       
January 31, 2010
                 
(In thousands)
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
 
Pre-Impairment Amount
 
Total Losses
 
Fair Value
                 
Sold and unsold homes
  and lots under development
 
Level 3
 
$1,642
 
$(629)
 
$1,013
Land and land options
  held for future development
  or sale
 
Level 3
 
$4,629
 
$(2,620)
 
$2,009
       
$6,271
 
$(3,249)
 
$3,022

We record impairment losses on inventories related to communities under development and held for future development when events and circumstances indicate that they may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their related carrying amounts.  If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is written down to its fair value.  We estimate the fair value of each impaired community by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community.  For the three months ended January 31, 2011, our discount rates used for the impairments recorded ranged from 18.0% to 19.8%.  Should the estimates or expectations used in determining cash flows or fair value decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may need to recognize additional impairments.

The Financial Services segment had a pipeline of loan applications in process of $204.1 million at January 31, 2011.  Loans in process for which interest rates were committed to the borrowers totaled approximately $32.1 million as of January 31, 2011.  Substantially all of these commitments were for periods of 60 days or less.  Since a portion of these commitments is expected to expire without being exercised by the borrowers, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

The Financial Services segment uses investor commitments and forward sales of mandatory mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge its mortgage-related interest rate exposure.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk.  Credit risk is managed by entering into MBS forward commitments, option contracts with investment banks, federally regulated bank affiliates and loan sales transactions with permanent investors meeting the segment’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 January 31, 2011, the segment had open commitments amounting to $20.5 million to sell MBS with varying settlement dates through March 21, 2011.

Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, deposits and notes, accounts payable and other liabilities, customer deposits, mortgage loans held for sale, nonrecourse land and operating properties mortgages, letter of credit agreements and facilities, mortgage warehouse line of credit, accrued interest, and the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes payable.  The fair value of financial instruments is determined by reference to various market data and other valuation techniques, as appropriate.  The fair value of each of the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes is estimated based on recent trades for the same or similar issues or the quoted market prices on the current rates offered to us for debt of the same remaining maturities.  The fair value of the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes is estimated at $872.6 million, $567.0 million and $116.7 million, respectively, as of January 31, 2011 and $830.7 million, $515.6 million and $113.6 million, respectively, as of October 31, 2010.  The fair value of our other financial instruments approximates their recorded values.

20.  One of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.'s, the parent company (the "Parent"), wholly owned subsidiaries, K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (the “Subsidiary Issuer”), acts as a finance entity that as of January 31, 2011, had issued and outstanding approximately $797.2 million of senior secured notes ($785.0 million, net of discount), $713.2 million of senior notes ($711.7 million, net of discount), and $120.2 million of senior subordinated notes.  The senior secured notes, senior notes and senior subordinated notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Parent.

In addition to the Parent, each of the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Parent other than the Subsidiary Issuer (collectively, the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”), with the exception of certain of its home mortgage subsidiaries,  joint ventures, subsidiaries holding interests in its joint ventures, certain of its title insurance subsidiaries and its foreign subsidiary (collectively, the “Nonguarantor Subsidiaries”), have guaranteed fully and unconditionally, on a joint and several basis, the obligations of the Subsidiary Issuer to pay principal, interest and premiums, if any, under the senior secured notes, senior notes, and senior subordinated notes.

In lieu of providing separate financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries, we have included the accompanying condensed consolidating financial statements.  Management does not believe that separate financial statements of the Guarantor Subsidiaries are material to users of our consolidated financial statements.  Therefore, separate financial statements and other disclosures concerning the Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented.

The following condensed consolidating financial statements present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of (i) the Parent, (ii) the Subsidiary Issuer, (iii) the Guarantor Subsidiaries, (iv) the Nonguarantor Subsidiaries and (v) the eliminations to arrive at the information for Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. on a consolidated basis.

 
 

 


HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
JANUARY 31, 2011
(In Thousands)
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary Issuer
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
NonGuarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
ASSETS:
                     
Homebuilding
$14,486 
 
$295,752 
 
$1,102,754 
 
$207,106 
 
$            
 
$1,620,098 
Financial services
       
4,454 
 
45,531 
     
49,985 
Investments in and amounts
  due to and from
  consolidated subsidiaries
(378,727)
 
2,099,413 
 
(2,247,111)
 
135,131 
 
391,294 
 
Total assets
$(364,241)
 
$2,395,165 
 
$(1,139,903)
 
$387,768 
 
$391,294 
 
$1,670,083
                       
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
                     
Homebuilding
$1,120 
 
$5 
 
$338,108 
 
$3,965 
 
$             
 
$343,198 
Financial services
       
4,143 
 
34,243 
     
38,386 
Notes payable
   
1,649,737 
 
26 
         
1,649,763 
Income taxes payable
36,674 
 
 
3,361 
         
40,035 
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity
(402,035)
 
745,423 
 
(1,485,541)
 
348,824 
 
391,294 
 
(402,035)
Non-controlling interest in
  consolidated joint ventures
           
736 
     
736 
Total liabilities and equity
$(364,241)
 
$2,395,165 
 
$(1,139,903)
 
$387,768 
 
$391,294 
 
$1,670,083 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
OCTOBER 31, 2010
(In Thousands)
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary Issuer
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
NonGuarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
ASSETS:
                     
Homebuilding
$14,498 
 
$334,551 
 
$1,165,877 
 
$200,839 
 
$          
 
$1,715,765 
Financial services
       
4,435 
 
97,360 
     
101,795
Investments in and amounts
  due to and from
  consolidated subsidiaries
(330,310)
 
2,061,186 
 
(2,202,568)
 
148,845 
 
322,847 
 
Total assets
$(315,812)
 
$2,395,737 
 
$(1,032,256)
 
$447,044 
 
$322,847 
 
$1,817,560 
                       
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
                     
Homebuilding
$1,458 
 
$             
 
$401,567 
 
$4,463 
 
$         
 
$407,488 
Financial services
       
4,271 
 
85,514 
     
89,785 
Notes payable
   
1,640,144 
 
171 
         
1,640,315 
Income tax payable
21,298 
     
(3,388)
         
17,910 
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity
(338,568)
 
755,593 
 
(1,434,877)
 
356,437 
 
322,847 
 
(338,568)
Non-controlling interest in
  consolidated joint ventures
           
630 
     
630 
Total liabilities and equity
$(315,812)
 
$2,395,737 
 
$(1,032,256)
 
$447,044 
 
$322,847 
 
$1,817,560 


 
 

 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2011
(In Thousands)
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary Issuer
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
NonGuarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
                     
Homebuilding
$4 
 
$(95)
 
$245,908 
 
$895 
 
$(1,239)
 
$245,473 
Financial services
       
1,332 
 
5,762 
     
7,094 
Intercompany charges
   
28,316 
 
(35,458)
 
(147)
 
7,289 
 
Total revenues
 
28,221 
 
211,782 
 
6,510 
 
6,050 
 
252,567 
                       
Expenses:
                     
Homebuilding
1,544 
 
38,390 
 
268,974 
 
450 
 
1,310 
 
310,668 
Financial services
88 
     
1,242 
 
4,140 
     
5,470 
Total expenses
1,632 
 
38,390 
 
270,216 
 
4,590 
 
1,310 
 
316,138 
Gain on extinguishment
                     
  of debt
                      -  
Loss from
                     
  unconsolidated joint
       
(250)
 
(742)
     
(992)
  ventures
                     
(Loss) income before
  income taxes
(1,628)
 
(10,169)
 
(58,684)
 
1,178 
 
4,740 
 
(64,563)
State and federal
                     
  income tax
                     
  (benefit) provision
(5,881)
     
5,460 
         
(421)
Equity in (loss) income
                     
  of consolidated
                     
  subsidiaries
(68,395)
             
68,395 
 
Net (loss) income
$(64,142)
 
$(10,169)
 
$(64,144)
 
$1,178 
 
$73,135 
 
$(64,142)

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2010
(In Thousands)
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary Issuer
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
NonGuarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenues:
                     
Homebuilding
$4 
 
$(40)
 
$313,275 
 
$40 
 
$(1,240)
 
$312,039 
Financial services
       
1,459 
 
6,147 
     
7,606
Intercompany charges
   
31,563 
 
(46,219)
 
(441)
 
15,097 
 
Total revenues
 
31,523 
 
268,515 
 
5,746 
 
13,857 
 
319,645 
                       
Expenses:
                     
Homebuilding
2,264 
 
40,604 
 
324,574 
 
(679)
 
4,656 
 
371,419 
Financial services
130 
     
1,421 
 
4,019 
 
(175)
 
5,395 
Total expenses
2,394 
 
40,604 
 
325,995 
 
3,340 
 
4,481 
 
376,814 
Gain on extinguishment
                     
  of debt
   
2,574 
             
2,574 
(Loss) income from
                     
  unconsolidated joint
                     
  ventures
       
(394)
 
21 
     
(373)
(Loss) income before
  income taxes
(2,390)
 
(6,507)
 
(57,874)
 
2,427 
 
9,376 
 
(54,968)
State and federal
                     
  income tax
                     
  (benefit) provision
(291,157)
 
(2,277)
 
(291,549)
 
224 
 
293,602 
 
(291,157)
Equity in (loss) income
                     
  from subsidiaries
(52,578)
             
52,578 
 
-
Net income (loss)
$236,189 
 
$(4,230)
 
$233,675 
 
$2,203 
 
$(231,648)
 
$236,189 


 
 

 


HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2011
(In Thousands)
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary Issuer
 
 Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
NonGuarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating
  activities:
                     
Net (loss) income
$(64,142)
 
$(10,169)
 
$(64,144)
 
$1,178 
 
$73,135 
 
$(64,142)
Adjustments to reconcile net
                     
  (loss) income to net cash
                     
  provided by (used in)
                     
  operating activities
15,725 
 
14,051 
 
91,484 
 
18,494 
 
(73,135)
 
66,619 
Net cash (used in) provided by
               
   
  operating activities
(48,417)
 
3,882 
 
27,340 
 
19,672 
     
2,477 
Net cash provided by (used in)
                     
  investing activities
       
(233) 
 
(1,355)
     
(1,588)
Net cash (used in)
                     
  financing activities
       
(2,122) 
 
(49,571)
     
(51,693)
Intercompany investing and
                     
  financing activities – net
48,417 
 
(38,227)
 
(23,904)
 
13,714 
     
Net (decrease) increase in cash
 
(34,345)
 
1,081 
 
(17,540)
 
 
(50,804)
Cash and cash equivalents
                     
  balance, beginning of period
10 
 
212,370 
 
(12,812)
 
167,612 
 
 
367,180 
Cash and cash equivalents
                     
  balance, end of period
$10 
 
$178,025 
 
$(11,731)
 
$150,072 
 
$       - 
 
$316,376 

HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2010
(In Thousands)
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary Issuer
 
 Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
NonGuarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating
  activities:
                     
Net income (loss)
$236,189 
 
$(4,230)
 
$233,675 
 
$2,203
 
$(231,648)
 
$236,189 
Adjustments to reconcile net
                     
  income (loss) to net cash
                     
   (used in) provided by
                     
  operating activities
(287,584)
 
17,447 
 
(270,046)
 
20,976 
 
231,648 
 
(287,559)
Net cash (used in) provided by
                     
  operating activities
(51,395)
 
13,217 
 
(36,371)
 
23,179 
 
 
(51,370)
Net cash (used in)
                     
  investing activities
       
(63)
 
(331)
     
(394)
Net cash (used in) provided by
                     
  financing activities
   
(22,721)
 
3,450 
 
(22,593)
     
(41,864)
Intercompany investing and
  financing activities – net
51,395 
 
(81,485)
 
34,280 
 
(4,190)
     
Net (decrease) increase in cash
 
(90,989)
 
1,296 
 
(3,935)
 
 
(93,628)
Cash and cash equivalents
                     
  balance, beginning of period
10 
 
292,407 
 
(15,584)
 
149,859 
 
 
426,692 
Cash and cash equivalents
  balance, end of period
$10 
 
$201,418 
 
$(14,288)
 
$145,924 
 
$          - 
 
$333,064 


 
 

 

21.  Subsequent Events - On February 9, 2011, we completed an underwritten public offering of 13,512,500 shares of our Class A Common Stock, including 1,762,500 shares issued pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters, at a price of $4.30 per share.

Also on February 9, 2011, we and K. Hovnanian completed an underwritten public offering of an aggregate of 3,000,000 7.25% Tangible Equity Units (the “Units”), and on February 14, 2011, we and K. Hovnanian issued an additional 450,000 Units pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters.

Each Unit initially consists of (i) a prepaid stock purchase contract (each, a “Purchase Contract,” and collectively, the “Purchase Contracts”), which will be settled by us by delivery of a number of shares of our Class A Common Stock to be determined pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of the Units and (ii) a senior subordinated amortizing note due February 15, 2014 (each, an “Amortizing Note,” and collectively, the “Amortizing Notes”) issued by K. Hovnanian and guaranteed by us and substantially all of our subsidiaries, which has an initial principal amount of $4.526049 per Amortizing Note, bears interest at a rate of 12.072% per annum, and has a scheduled final installment payment date of February 15, 2014.  Each Unit may be separated into its constituent Purchase Contract and Amortizing Note after the initial issuance date of the Units, and the separate components may be combined to create a Unit.  The amortizing note component of the Units will be recorded as debt, and the purchase contract component of the Units will be recorded as equity as additional paid in capital.

Unless settled earlier, on February 15, 2014 (subject to postponement under certain circumstances), each Purchase Contract will automatically settle and we will deliver a number of shares of Class A Common Stock based on the applicable market value, which is the average of the closing prices of the Class A Common Stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, as follows:

 
 
if the applicable market value equals or exceeds the threshold appreciation price, which is approximately $5.25, holders will receive 4.7655 shares (subject to adjustment);
       
 
 
if the applicable market value is greater than $4.30 but less than the threshold appreciation price, holders will receive a number of shares having a value, based on the applicable market value, equal to $25; and
       
 
 
if the applicable market value is less than or equal to $4.30, holders will receive 5.8140 shares (subject to adjustment).

At any time prior to the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, the holder of a Purchase Contract may settle its purchase contract early, and we will deliver 4.7655 shares of Class A Common Stock.  In addition, if a “fundamental change” (as defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement) occurs and the Purchase Contract holder elects to settle its Purchase Contract early in connection with such fundamental change, such holder will receive a number of shares of Class A Common Stock based on the fundamental change early settlement rate, as described in the Purchase Contract Agreement.  We may elect to settle all, but not less than all, outstanding Purchase Contracts prior to February 15, 2014 at the “early mandatory settlement rate” (as defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement), upon a date fixed by us upon not less than five business days’ notice. Except for cash in lieu of fractional shares, the Purchase Contract holders will not receive any cash distributions under the Purchase Contracts.

In order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, beneficial owners of Units and any separate Purchase Contracts will be subject to both a beneficial ownership limitation (the “Section 382 Ownership Blocker”) and a settlement limitation (the “Section 382 settlement blocker”) each as described in the Purchase Contract Agreement.  In addition, holders of Class A Common Stock (including holders of Units or separate Purchase Contracts that become holders of Class A Common Stock upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts), will be subject to both our stockholder rights plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation.

On each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing on May 15, 2011 (each, an “installment payment date”), K. Hovnanian will pay holders of Amortizing Notes equal quarterly cash installments of $0.453125 per Amortizing Note (except for the May 15, 2011 installment payment, which will be $0.483334 per Amortizing Note), which cash payment in the aggregate will be equivalent to 7.25% per year with respect to each $25 stated amount of Units. Each installment will constitute a payment of interest (at a rate of 12.072% per annum) and a partial repayment of principal on the Amortizing Note, allocated as set forth in the amortization schedule provided in the Indenture under which the Amortizing Notes were issued (the “Amortizing Notes Indenture”).  If we elect to settle the Purchase Contracts early, holders of the Amortizing Notes will have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase such holders’ Amortizing Notes, except in certain circumstances as described in the Amortizing Notes Indenture.

The Units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOVU”. However, we will not initially apply to list the separate purchase contracts or the separate amortizing notes on any securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system.

On February 14, 2011, K. Hovnanian completed an underwritten public offering of $155.0 million aggregate principal amount of 11 7/8% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “Senior Notes”), which are guaranteed by us and substantially all of our subsidiaries.  The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 11 7/8% per annum, which is payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2011, and mature on October 15, 2015.  The Senior Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at K. Hovnanian’s option at 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, if any, plus a “make-whole” amount.  In addition, K. Hovnanian may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes before April 15, 2014 with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a price equal to 111.875% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The net proceeds from the issuances of the Class A Common Stock, Units and Senior Notes were approximately $286.2 million, a portion of which were used to fund the purchase, on February 14, 2011, of certain of K. Hovnanian’s senior and senior subordinated notes in tender offers for any and all of such notes as follows: approximately $24.6 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2012 (the “2012 Senior Notes”), $44.1 million aggregate principal amount of 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the “2012 Senior Subordinated Notes”) and $29.2 million aggregate principal amount of 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “2013 Notes” and, together with the 2012 Senior Notes and the 2012 Senior Subordinated Notes, the “Tender Offer Notes”). Also on February 14, 2011, K. Hovnanian called for redemption on March 15, 2011 all Tender Offer Notes that were not tendered in the tender offers for an aggregate redemption price of approximately $60.1 million.   Such redemptions will be funded with proceeds from the offerings of the Class A Common Stock, the Units and the Senior Notes.  The remaining net proceeds from the issuances will be used for general corporate purposes.


 
 

 


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
  AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Beginning during the second half of our fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, the U. S. housing market has been impacted by declining consumer confidence, increasing home foreclosure rates and large supplies of resale and new home inventories.  The result has been weakened demand for new homes, slower sales, higher than normal cancellation rates until recently, and increased price discounts and other sales incentives to attract homebuyers.  Additionally, the availability of certain mortgage financing products became more constrained starting in February 2007 when the mortgage industry began to more closely scrutinize subprime, Alt-A, and other non-prime mortgage products, and over the past few years, many lenders have significantly tightened their underwriting standards.  The overall economy has weakened significantly and fears of further prolonged economic weakness are still present due to high unemployment levels, further deterioration in consumer confidence and the reduction in extensions of credit and consumer spending.  As a result, we experienced significant decreases in our revenues and gross margins during 2007, 2008 and 2009 compared with prior years.  During 2010 and through January 31, 2011, the homebuilding market exhibited a large degree of choppiness.  Signs of this choppiness can be seen in key measures, such as our gross margin, cancellation rates and total deliveries.  We continued to see declines in deliveries and revenues during the first quarter of fiscal 2011, however, our gross margin percentage has increased to 16.9% for the three months ended January 31, 2011 from 16.0% for the three months ended January 31, 2010, and our contract cancellation rate of 22.0% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 is consistent with more normalized levels, as seen in fiscal 2003 and 2004.  Contracts per average active selling community decreased to 4.3 for the three months ended January 31, 2011 compared to 4.5 in the same period in the prior year.  Active selling communities increased by 5.0% compared with the same period a year ago.  Although we remain cautiously optimistic, several challenges such as persistently high unemployment levels and the threat of more foreclosures continue to hinder a recovery in the housing market.

Over the course of this multiple year downturn in the homebuilding market, we have recorded $2.3 billion in inventory impairment and option walkaway charges from the first quarter of 2006 through today.  We have exposure to additional impairments of our inventories, which, as of January 31, 2011, have a book value of $948.2 million, net of $859.6 million of impairments recorded on 157 of our communities.  We also have $51.7 million invested in 12,153 lots under option, including cash and letters of credit option deposits of $28.4 million as of January 31, 2011.  We will record a write-off for the amounts associated with an option if we determine it is probable we will not exercise it.  As of January 31, 2011, we have total investments in, and advances to, unconsolidated joint ventures of $57.8 million.  Each of our joint ventures assesses its inventory and other long-lived assets for impairment and we separately assess our investment in joint ventures for recoverability, which has resulted in total reductions in our investment in joint ventures of $115.8 million from the second half of fiscal 2006, the first period in which we had impairments on our joint ventures, through October 31, 2010.  There were no write-downs of our investment in unconsolidated joint ventures during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  We still have exposure to future write-downs of our investment in unconsolidated joint ventures if conditions deteriorate further in the markets in which our joint ventures operate.
 
As the market for new homes declined, we adjusted our approach to land acquisition and construction practices and shortened our land pipeline, reduced production volumes, and balanced home price and profitability with sales pace.  We delayed and cancelled planned land purchases and renegotiated land prices and significantly reduced our total number of controlled lots owned and under option.  Additionally, we significantly reduced our total number of speculative homes put into production over the past several years.  Recently, however, we have begun to see more opportunities to purchase land at prices that make economic sense in light of the current sales prices and sales paces and plan to continue pursuing such land acquisitions.  New land purchases at pricing that will generate appropriate investment returns and drive greater operating efficiencies are needed to return to profitability.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we decreased our controlled lots by 1,191, primarily due to land options that expired or we terminated, and we opened 16 new communities.  Also during the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we purchased approximately 550 lots within 60 newly identified communities (which we define as communities that were controlled subsequent to January 31, 2009).   In the third quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2010, we had an increase in active selling communities in consecutive quarters.  This was the first consecutive quarter increase in active selling community count since the second quarter of fiscal 2007.  This trend continued into the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, where we had an increase in active selling communities from the third quarter of fiscal 2010.  In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, active selling communities decreased by four communities.  However, we put under option approximately 1,800 lots in 38 newly identified communities during the first quarter of 2011.  We have also closely evaluated and made reductions in selling, general and administrative expenses, including corporate general and administrative expenses, reducing these expenses during this downturn due in large part to a 77.6% reduction in head count at January 31, 2011 from our peak in June 2006.  Given the persistence of these difficult market conditions, improving the efficiency of our selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to be a significant area of focus.  For the three months ended January 31, 2011, homebuilding selling, general and administrative costs declined 6.7% to $40.2 million compared to the three months ended January 31, 2010.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Management believes that the following critical accounting policies require its most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements:
 
Income Recognition from Home and Land Sales - We are primarily engaged in the development, construction, marketing and sale of residential single-family and multi-family homes where the planned construction cycle is less than 12 months. For these homes, in accordance with ASC 360-20, “Property, Plant and Equipment - Real Estate Sales” (“ASC 360-20”), revenue is recognized when title is conveyed to the buyer, adequate initial and continuing investments have been received, and there is no continued involvement. In situations where the buyer’s financing is originated by our mortgage subsidiary and the buyer has not made an adequate initial investment or continuing investment as prescribed by ASC 360-20, the profit on such sales is deferred until the sale of the related mortgage loan to a third-party investor has been completed.
 
Income Recognition from Mortgage Loans - Our Financial Services segment originates mortgages, primarily for our homebuilding customers. We use mandatory investor commitments and forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) to hedge our mortgage-related interest rate exposure on agency and government loans.
 
We elected the fair value option for our loans held for sale for mortgage loans originated subsequent to October 31, 2008 in accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments”, which permits us to measure our loans held for sale at fair value. Management believes that the election of the fair value option for loans held for sale 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, we recognize the fair value of our 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 is included in loans held for sale. Fair value of the servicing rights is determined based on values in the Company’s servicing sales contracts.

Substantially all of the mortgage loans originated are sold within a short period of time in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, nonrecourse basis, although the Company remains liable for certain limited representations, such as fraud, and warranties related to loan sales.  Mortgage investors could seek to have us buy back loans or compensate them for losses incurred on mortgages we have sold based on claims that we breached our limited representations or warranties.  To date, we have not made significant payments to the purchasers of our loans and we have established reserves for potential losses.  Included in mortgage loans held for sale at January 31, 2011 is $1.4 million of mortgage loans, which represent the fair value of loans that cannot currently be sold at reasonable terms in the secondary mortgage market.  These loans are serviced by a third party until such time that they can be liquidated via alternative mortgage markets, foreclosure or repayment.

Inventories - Inventories consist of land, land development, home construction costs, capitalized interest and construction overhead. Construction costs are accumulated during the period of construction and charged to cost of sales under specific identification methods. Land, land development, and common facility costs are allocated based on buildable acres to product types within each community, then charged to cost of sales equally based upon the number of homes to be constructed in each product type.

We record inventories in our consolidated balance sheets at cost unless the inventory is determined to be impaired, in which case the inventory is written down to its fair value. Our inventories consist of the following three components: (1) sold and unsold homes and lots under development, which includes all construction, land, capitalized interest, and land development costs related to started homes and land under development in our active communities; (2) land and land options held for future development or sale, which includes all costs related to land in our communities in planning or mothballed communities; and (3) consolidated inventory not owned, which includes all costs related to specific performance options, variable interest entities, and other options, which consists primarily of model homes financed with an investor and inventory related to structured lot options.

We have decided to mothball (or stop development on) certain communities where we have determined the current market conditions do not justify further investment at this time. When we decide to mothball a community, the inventory is reclassified from "Sold and unsold homes and lots under development" to "Land and land options held for future development or sale".  As of January 31, 2011, the net book value associated with our 53 mothballed communities was $167.1 million, net of impairment charges of $542.8 million. We regularly review communities to determine if mothballing is appropriate or to re-activate previously mothballed communities, as we did with three communities in the three months ended January 31, 2011.  In addition, during the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we sold two previously mothballed communities.

The recoverability of inventories and other long-lived assets are assessed in accordance with the provisions of ASC 360-10, “Property, Plant and Equipment - Overall” (“ASC 360-10”). ASC 360-10 requires long-lived assets, including inventories, held for development to be evaluated for impairment based on undiscounted future cash flows of the assets at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows. As such, we evaluate inventories for impairment at the individual community level, the lowest level of discrete cash flows that we measure.

We evaluate inventories of communities under development and held for future development for impairment when indicators of potential impairment are present. Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, decreases in local housing market values, decreases in gross margins or sales absorption rates, decreases in net sales prices (base sales price net of sales incentives), or actual or projected operating or cash flow losses. The assessment of communities for indication of impairment is performed quarterly, primarily by completing detailed budgets for all of our communities and identifying those communities with a projected operating loss for any projected fiscal year or for the entire projected community life. For those communities with projected losses, we estimate the remaining undiscounted future cash flows and compare those to the carrying value of the community, to determine if the carrying value of the asset is recoverable.

The projected operating profits, losses, or cash flows of each community can be significantly impacted by our estimates of the following:

 
future base selling prices;
 
 
future home sales incentives;
 
 
future home construction and land development costs; and
 
 
future sales absorption pace and cancellation rates.
 
These estimates are dependent upon specific market conditions for each community. While we consider available information to determine what we believe to be our best estimates as of the end of a quarterly reporting period, these estimates are subject to change in future reporting periods as facts and circumstances change. Local market-specific conditions that may impact our estimates for a community include:
 
 
the intensity of competition within a market, including available home sales prices and home sales incentives offered by our competitors;
 
 
the current sales absorption pace for both our communities and competitor communities;
 
 
community-specific attributes, such as location, availability of lots in the market, desirability and uniqueness of our community, and the size and style of homes currently being offered;
 
 
potential for alternative product offerings to respond to local market conditions;
 
 
changes by management in the sales strategy of the community; and
 
 
current local market economic and demographic conditions and related trends and forecasts.
 
These and other local market-specific conditions that may be present are considered by management in preparing projection assumptions for each community. The sales objectives can differ between our communities, even within a given market. For example, facts and circumstances in a given community may lead us to price our homes with the objective of yielding a higher sales absorption pace, while facts and circumstances in another community may lead us to price our homes to minimize deterioration in our gross margins, although it may result in a slower sales absorption pace. In addition, the key assumptions included in our estimate of future undiscounted cash flows may be interrelated. For example, a decrease in estimated base sales price or an increase in homes sales incentives may result in a corresponding increase in sales absorption pace. Additionally, a decrease in the average sales price of homes to be sold and closed in future reporting periods for one community that has not been generating what management believes to be an adequate sales absorption pace may impact the estimated cash flow assumptions of a nearby community. Changes in our key assumptions, including estimated construction and development costs, absorption pace and selling strategies, could materially impact future cash flow and fair-value estimates. Due to the number of possible scenarios that would result from various changes in these factors, we do not believe it is possible to develop a sensitivity analysis with a level of precision that would be meaningful.
 
If the undiscounted cash flows are more than the carrying value of the community, then the carrying amount is recoverable, and no impairment adjustment is required. However, if the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, then the community is deemed impaired and is written-down to its fair value. We determine the estimated fair value of each community by determining the present value of its estimated future cash flows at a discount rate commensurate with the risk of the respective community. Our discount rates used for all impairments recorded from October 31, 2006 to January 31, 2011 range from 13.5% to 20.3%. The estimated future cash flow assumptions are virtually the same for both our recoverability and fair value assessments. Should the estimates or expectations used in determining estimated cash flows or fair value, including discount rates, decrease or differ from current estimates in the future, we may be required to recognize additional impairments related to current and future communities. The impairment of a community is allocated to each lot on a relative fair value basis.
 
From time to time, we write off deposits and approval, engineering and capitalized interest costs when we determine that it is no longer probable that we will exercise options to buy land in specific locations or when we redesign communities and/or abandon certain engineering costs. In deciding not to exercise a land option, we take into consideration changes in market conditions, the timing of required land takedowns, the willingness of land sellers to modify terms of the land option contract (including timing of land takedowns), and the availability and best use of our capital, among other factors. The write-off is recorded in the period it is deemed probable that the optioned property will not be acquired. In certain instances, we have been able to recover deposits and other pre-acquisition costs that were previously written off. These recoveries have not been significant in comparison to the total costs written off.
 
Inventories held for sale, which are land parcels where we have decided not to build homes, represented $56.6 million of our total inventories at January 31, 2011, and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. In determining fair value for land held for sale, management considers, among other things, prices for land in recent comparable sale transactions, market analysis studies, which include the estimated price a willing buyer would pay for the land (other than in a forced liquidation sale) and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties.
 
Insurance Deductible Reserves - For homes delivered in fiscal 2011 and 2010, our deductible under our general liability insurance is $20 million per occurrence for construction defect and warranty claims. For bodily injury claims, our deductible per occurrence in fiscal 2011 and 2010 is $0.1 million up to a $5 million limit. Our aggregate retention in 2011 is $21 million for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims.  Our aggregate retention in 2010 was $21 million for construction defect and warranty claims, and $20 million for bodily injury claims.  We do not have a deductible on our worker's compensation insurance in fiscal 2011 and 2010. Reserves for estimated losses for fiscal 2011 and 2010 have been established using the assistance of a third-party actuary. We engage a third-party actuary that uses our historical warranty data and other industry data to assist our management to estimate our unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses and incurred but not reported claims reserves for the risks that we are assuming under the general liability and worker's compensation programs. The estimates include provisions for inflation, claims handling and legal fees. These estimates are subject to a high degree of variability due to uncertainties such as trends in construction defect claims relative to our markets and the types of products we build, claim settlement patterns, insurance industry practices, and legal interpretations, among others. Because of the high degree of judgment required in determining these estimated liability amounts, actual future costs could differ significantly from our currently estimated amounts.
 
Land Options - Costs incurred to obtain options to acquire improved or unimproved home sites are capitalized. Such amounts are either included as part of the purchase price if the land is acquired or charged to operations if we determine we will not exercise the option. If the options are with variable interest entities and we are the primary beneficiary, we record the land under option on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets under “Consolidated inventory not owned” with an offset under “Liabilities from inventory not owned”.  The evaluation of whether or not we are the primary beneficiary can require significant judgment.  Similarly, if the option obligation is to purchase under specific performance or has terms that require us to record it as financing, then we record the option on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets under “Consolidated inventory not owned” with an offset under “Liabilities from inventory not owned”. In accordance with ASC 810-10, “Consolidation - Overall” (“ASC 810-10”), we record costs associated with other options on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets under “Land and land options held for future development or sale”.
 
Unconsolidated Homebuilding and Land Development Joint Ventures - Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, we recognize our proportionate share of earnings and losses earned by the joint venture upon the delivery of lots or homes to third parties. Our ownership interest in joint ventures varies but is generally less than or equal to 50%. In determining whether or not we must consolidate joint ventures where we are the managing member of the joint venture, we assess whether the other partners have specific rights to overcome the presumption of control by us as the manager of the joint venture. In most cases, the presumption is overcome because the joint venture agreements require that both partners agree on establishing the significant operating and capital decisions of the partnership, including budgets, in the ordinary course of business. The evaluation of whether or not we control a venture can require significant judgment. In accordance with ASC 323-10, “Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures - Overall” (“ASC 323-10”), we assess our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures for recoverability, and if it is determined that a loss in value of the investment below its carrying amount is other than temporary, we write down the investment to its fair value. We evaluate our equity investments for impairment based on the joint venture’s projected cash flows. This process requires significant management judgment and estimate. During fiscal 2010 and the first quarter of fiscal 2011, there were no write-downs of our joint venture investments.

Post-Development Completion and Warranty Costs - In those instances where a development is substantially completed and sold and we have additional construction work to be incurred, an estimated liability is provided to cover the cost of such work. In addition, we estimate and accrue warranty costs as part of cost of sales for repair costs under $5,000 per occurrence to homes, community amenities and land development infrastructure. In addition, we accrue for warranty costs over $5,000 per occurrence as part of our general liability insurance deductible expensed as selling, general, and administrative costs. Warranty accruals require our management to make significant estimates about the cost of future claims.  Both of these liabilities are recorded in “Accounts payable and other liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes - Deferred income taxes or income tax benefits are provided for temporary differences between amounts recorded for financial reporting and for income tax purposes. If the combination of future years’ income (or loss) combined with the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried back to prior years or carried forward to future years to recover the deferred tax assets. In accordance with ASC 740-10, “Income Taxes - Overall” (“ASC 740-10”), we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required. ASC 740-10 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more-likely-than-not” standard. See “Total Taxes” below under “Results of Operations” for further discussion of the valuation allowances.

We recognize tax liabilities in accordance with ASC 740-10, and we adjust these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a liability that is materially different from our current estimate. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined.


Recent Accounting Pronouncements - See Note 18 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.  There have been no accounting pronouncements that have been issued but not yet implemented that we believe will materially impact our financial statements.

 
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

Our operations consist primarily of residential housing development and sales in the Northeast (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania), the Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C.), the Midwest (Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio), the Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina), the Southwest (Arizona, Texas), and the West (California).  In addition, we provide certain financial services to our homebuilding customers.

We have historically funded our homebuilding and financial services operations with cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our bank credit facilities and the issuance of new debt and equity securities.  In light of the challenging homebuilding market conditions we have been experiencing over the past few years, we had been operating with a primary focus to generate cash flows from operations through reductions in assets during fiscal 2007, 2008 and 2009.  The generation of cash flow, together with debt repurchases and exchanges at prices below par, allowed us to reduce net debt (debt less cash) over these years.  However, recently we have begun to see more opportunities to purchase land at prices that make economic sense given current home sales prices and sales paces.  As such, in fiscal 2010 and 2011 we have acquired new land at higher levels than in the previous few years.  As a result, our net debt increased during the last half of 2010 and in the first quarter of 2011.

Our homebuilding cash balance at January 31, 2011 decreased by $48.1 million from October 31, 2010.  This decrease was primarily due to spending approximately $75.0 million on land and land development, offset by an increase of $22.0 million from income tax refunds.

Our cash uses during the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 were for operating expenses, land purchases, land deposits, construction spending, state income taxes, interest payments and investments in joint ventures.  We provided for our cash requirements from available cash on hand, housing and land sales, financial service revenues, federal income tax refunds and other revenues.  We believe that these sources of cash will be sufficient through fiscal 2011 to finance our working capital requirements and other needs, despite continued declines in total revenues, the termination of our revolving credit facility in fiscal 2009 and the collateralization with cash in segregated accounts to support certain of our letters of credit.  We may also enter into land sale agreements or joint ventures to generate cash from our existing balance sheet.  Due to a change in tax legislation that became effective on November 6, 2009, we were able to carryback our 2009 net operating loss five years to previously profitable years.  As a result, we received a $274.1 million federal income tax cash refund during our second quarter of fiscal 2010 and we received the remaining $17.2 million of the refund in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.  In addition, in February 2011 we completed several capital markets transactions, which resulted in aggregate net proceeds of approximately $286.2 million, approximately $101.8 million of which was used to repurchase certain of our senior and senior subordinated notes in tender offers for such notes and $60.1 million of which will be used to redeem, on March 15, 2011, all such notes not tendered in the tender offers.  See Note 21 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our net loss historically does not approximate cash flow from operating activities.  The difference between net loss and cash flow from operating activities is primarily caused by changes in inventory levels together with changes in receivables, prepaid and other assets, interest and other accrued liabilities, deferred income taxes, accounts payable, mortgage loans and liabilities, and non-cash charges relating to depreciation, amortization of computer software costs, stock compensation awards and impairment losses for inventory.  When we are expanding our operations, inventory levels, prepaids and other assets increase causing cash flow from operating activities to decrease.  Certain liabilities also increase as operations expand and partially offset the negative effect on cash flow from operations caused by the increase in inventory levels, prepaids and other assets.  Similarly, as our mortgage operations expand, net income from these operations increases, but for cash flow purposes net income is offset by the net change in mortgage assets and liabilities.  The opposite is true as our investment in new land purchases and development of new communities decrease, which is what happened during the last half of fiscal 2007 through fiscal 2009 allowing us to generate positive cash flow from operations over this three year period.  In the latter part of fiscal 2009 and continuing through the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we began to grow our community count again and as a result of the new land purchases and land development we used cash in operations.  Looking forward, given the depressed housing market, it will become more difficult to generate positive cash flow from operations until we return to profitability.  However, we will continue to make adjustments to our structure and our business plans in order to maximize our liquidity while also taking steps to return to profitability, including through land acquisitions.  We continue to focus on maximizing cash flow by limiting our investment in currently owned communities that we believe will not generate positive cash flow in the near term, and by seeking to identify and purchase new land parcels (primarily finished lots) on which homes can be built and delivered in a short period of time, generating acceptable returns based on our underwriting standards and positive cash flow.
 
On July 3, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to purchase up to 4 million shares of Class A Common Stock.  There were no purchases during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  As of January 31, 2011, 3.4 million shares of Class A Common Stock have been purchased under this program (See Part II, Item 2 for information on equity purchases).
 
On July 12, 2005, we issued 5,600 shares of 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $25,000. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are not cumulative and are payable at an annual rate of 7.625%.  The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into the Company’s common stock and is redeemable in whole or in part at our option at the liquidation preference of the shares beginning on the fifth anniversary of their issuance.  The Series A Preferred Stock is traded as depositary shares, with each depositary share representing 1/1000th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.  The depositary shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “HOVNP”.  During the three months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, we did not make any dividend payments on our Series A Preferred Stock as a result of covenant restrictions in our debt instruments.  We anticipate that we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, for the foreseeable future.

In connection with the issuance of our senior secured first lien notes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, we terminated our revolving credit facility and refinanced the borrowing capacity thereunder.  Also in connection with the refinancing, we entered into certain stand alone cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities under which there were a total of $86.3 million and $89.5 million of letters of credit outstanding as of January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively. These agreements and facilities require us to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. As of January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, the amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was $88.3 million and $92.3 million, respectively, which is reflected in “Restricted cash” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC (“K. Hovnanian Mortgage”), originates mortgage loans primarily from the sale of our homes. Such mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time. Our secured Master Repurchase Agreement with Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement”) is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $50 million through April 5, 2011. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors.  Interest is payable upon the sale of each mortgage loan to a permanent investor at LIBOR plus 4.00%.  We believe that we will be able to extend the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement beyond its expiration date, but there can be no assurance of such extension.  As of January 31, 2011, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings under the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement was $18.8 million.

In addition to the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement discussed above, K. Hovnanian Mortgage has a secured Master Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase Master Repurchase Agreement”) which is a short-term borrowing facility that provides up to $25 million through July 18, 2011. The loan is secured by the mortgages held for sale and is repaid when we sell the underlying mortgage loans to permanent investors.  Interest is payable monthly on outstanding advances at LIBOR floor of 2.00% plus applicable margin ranging from 2.50% to 3.00% based on the takeout investor and type of loan.  We believe that we will be able to extend the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement beyond its expiration date, but there can be no assurance of such extension.  As of January 31, 2011, the aggregate principal amount of all borrowings under the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement was $5.3 million.

Both the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement and the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement require K. Hovnanian Mortgage to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Because of the extremely short period of time mortgages are held by K. Hovnanian Mortgage before the mortgages are sold to investors (generally a period of a few weeks), the immateriality to us on a consolidated basis of the size of the facilities, the levels required by these financial covenants, our ability based on our immediately available resources to contribute sufficient capital to cure any default, were such conditions to occur, and our right to cure any conditions of default based on the terms of the two agreements, we do not consider any of these covenants to be substantive or material. As of January 31, 2011, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the Citibank Master Repurchase Agreement and the Chase Master Repurchase Agreement. 

At January 31, 2011, we had $797.2 million ($785.0 million net of discount) of outstanding senior secured notes, comprised of $0.5 million 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013, $785.0 million 10 5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 and $11.7 million 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017.  At January 31, 2011, we also had $713.2  million of outstanding senior notes ($711.7 million net of discount), comprised of $35.5 million 8% Senior Notes due 2012, $54.4 million 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2014, $29.2 million 6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2014, $52.7 million 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2015, $173.2 million 6 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016, $172.3 million 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2016 and $195.9 million 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2017.  In addition, we had $120.2 million of outstanding senior subordinated notes, comprised of $66.7 million 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, and $53.5 million 7 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.  During February 2011, we issued new senior notes and tangible equity units as well as repurchased certain senior and senior subordinated notes in tender offers for such notes.  We also called for redemption all of such notes not tendered in the tender offers.  See Note 21 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more detail on these transactions.

We and each of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes, except for K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the notes, our home mortgage subsidiaries, joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures, certain of our title insurance subsidiaries and our foreign subsidiary (see Note 20 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements).  The indentures governing the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes do not contain any financial maintenance covenants, but do contain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability and that of certain of its subsidiaries, including K. Hovnanian, the issuer of the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes, to incur additional indebtedness (other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness and non-recourse indebtedness), pay dividends and make distributions on common and preferred stock, repurchase senior and senior subordinated notes (with respect to the senior secured first-lien notes indenture), make other restricted payments, make investments, sell certain assets, incur liens, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets and enter into certain transactions with affiliates.  The indentures also contain events of default which would permit the holders of the senior secured, senior and senior subordinated notes to declare those notes to be immediately due and payable if not cured within applicable grace periods, including the failure to make timely payments on the notes or other material indebtedness, the failure to comply with agreements and covenants and specified events of bankruptcy, and insolvency and, with respect to the indentures governing the senior secured notes, the failure of the documents granting security for the senior secured notes to be in full force and effect and the failure of the liens on any material portion of the collateral securing the senior secured notes to be valid and perfected. As of January 31, 2011, we believe we were in compliance with the covenants of the indentures governing our outstanding notes.

Under the terms of the indentures, we have the right to make certain redemptions and, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions, may do so from time to time. We also continue to evaluate our capital structure and may also continue to make debt purchases and/or exchanges from time to time through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise or seek to raise additional debt or equity capital, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.

If our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the indentures governing our senior secured, senior, and senior subordinated notes, is less than 2.0 to 1.0, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, and from incurring indebtedness other than certain permitted indebtedness, refinancing indebtedness, and non-recourse indebtedness. As a result of this restriction, we are currently restricted from paying dividends, which are not cumulative, on our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock. If current market trends continue or worsen, we will continue to be restricted from paying dividends for the foreseeable future.  Our inability to pay dividends is in accordance with covenant restrictions and will not result in a default under our bond indentures or otherwise affect compliance with any of the covenants contained in the bond indentures.

The 10 5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 are secured by a first-priority lien, the 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 are secured by a second-priority lien and the 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 are secured by a third-priority lien, in each case, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, on substantially all the assets owned by us, K. Hovnanian (the issuer of the senior secured notes) and the guarantors, in the case of the 11 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and the 18% Senior Secured Notes due 2017, to the extent such assets secure obligations under the 10 5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2016.  At January 31, 2011, the aggregate book value of the real property collateral securing these notes was approximately $757.5 million, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the appraised value. In addition, cash collateral securing these notes was $273.3 million as of January 31, 2011, which includes $88.3 million of restricted cash also collateralizing certain letters of credit.  Subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and other investments.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2009, our credit ratings were downgraded by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Services (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), as follows:

·  
S&P downgraded our corporate credit rating to CCC from B-,
·  
Moody’s downgraded our corporate family rating to Caa1 from B3,
·  
Fitch downgraded our Issuer Default Rating (“IDR”) to CCC from B- and
·  
S&P, Moody’s and Fitch also downgraded our various senior secured notes, senior notes and senior subordinated notes.

On October 5, 2009, S&P upgraded our corporate credit rating to CCC+ from CCC.  On September 14, 2010, S&P affirmed the corporate credit rating of CCC+ but revised our outlook to negative from developing.

In connection with the issuance of the senior notes in February 2011 (See Note 21 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements), S&P, Moody's and Fitch all reaffirmed their ratings.

Downgrades in our credit ratings do not accelerate the scheduled maturity dates of our debt or affect the interest rates charged on any of our debt issues or our debt covenant requirements or cause any other operating issue.  The only potential risk from these negative changes in our credit ratings is that they may make it more difficult or costly for us to access capital.  However, due to our available cash resources, the downgrades in our credit ratings in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and the revision to S&P's outlook in 2010 have not impacted management’s operating plans, or our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Total inventory, excluding inventory not owned, decreased $11.8 million during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  Total inventory, excluding inventory not owned, decreased in the Northeast $8.4 million, in the Southwest $3.2 million, and in the West $30.5 million.  These decreases were offset by increases in the Mid-Atlantic of $17.3 million, in the Midwest of $2.5 million, and in the Southeast of $10.5 million.  During the three months ended January 31, 2011, we incurred $6.8 million in impairments, the majority of which related to a property contracted for sale.  In addition, we wrote-off costs in the amount of $6.7 million during the three months ended January 31, 2011, related to land options that expired or that we terminated.  See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” - Note 5 for additional information.  Despite these write-downs and inventory reductions due to deliveries, total inventory only decreased $11.8 million, excluding inventory not owned, because we spent approximately $75.0 million on land purchases and land development during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  We have recently been able to identify new land parcels at prices that we believe will generate reasonable returns under current homebuilding market conditions. Substantially all homes under construction or completed and included in inventory at January 31, 2011 are expected to be closed during the next 12 months.  Most inventory completed or under development was/is partially financed through our line of credit and debt and equity issuances.

The total inventory decrease discussed above excluded the decrease in consolidated inventory not owned of $42.0 million consisting of specific performance options, and options with variable interest entities, and other options that were added to our balance sheet in accordance with ASC 470-40, “Debt-Product Financing Arrangements”, ASC 840-40, “Leases-Sales-Leaseback Transactions”, and variable interest entities in accordance with ASC 810-10.  See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”-Note 16 for additional information on ASC 810-10.  Specific performance options inventory decreased $5.4 million during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  This decrease was primarily due to lot take downs in the Southwest and West during the quarter.  Variable interest entity options inventory decreased $32.7 million due to the revised guidance by the FASB for determining which entity is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (see Note 16).  As a result of adoption of this revised guidance, we deconsolidated land previously attributed to variable interest entities and reported as inventory not owned.  Other options inventory decreased $3.8 million for the period.  Other options consist of inventory financed via a model home program and structured lot option agreements.  Model home inventory financed through the model lease program decreased $3.8 million because we have terminated the use of models in certain communities where models were no longer needed and also terminated the option to purchase those models.

We usually option property for development prior to acquisition.  By optioning property, we are only subject to the loss of the cost of the option and predevelopment costs if we choose not to exercise the option.  As a result, our commitment for major land acquisitions is reduced.  However, our inventory representing “Land and land options held for future development or sale” at January 31, 2011, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, decreased by $72.8 million compared to October 31, 2010.  The decrease is due to the formation of a new unconsolidated joint venture to which we contributed property previously reflected in Land and land options held for future development or sale.  We also reclassified certain inventory to our “Sold and unsold homes and lots under development” due to a few communities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and West becoming active developments.  Included in “Land and land options held for future development or sale” are amounts associated with inventory in mothballed communities.  We mothball (or stop development on) communities when we determine the current performance does not justify further investment at this time.  That is, we believe we will generate higher returns if we avoid spending money to improve land today and save the raw land until such times as the markets improve.  As of January 31, 2011, we have mothballed land in 53 communities.  The net book value associated with these 53 communities at January 31, 2011 was $167.1 million, net of impairment write-downs of $542.8 million.  We regularly review communities to determine if mothballing is appropriate or to re-activate previously mothballed communities, as we did with three communities in the three months ended January 31, 2011.  In addition, during the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we sold two previously mothballed communities.


 
 

 

The following table summarizes home sites included in our total residential real estate.  The decrease in total home sites available at January 31, 2011 compared to October 31, 2010 is partially attributable to terminating certain option agreements, offset by signing new land option agreements and acquiring new land parcels.

   
Active Communities(1)
 
Active Communities Homes
 
Proposed Developable Homes
 
Total Homes
January 31, 2011:
               
                 
Northeast
 
17
 
1,424
 
3,691
 
5,115
Mid-Atlantic
 
30
 
2,419
 
5,516
 
7,935
Midwest
 
16
 
1,554
 
349
 
1,903
Southeast
 
22
 
944
 
2,251
 
3,195
Southwest
 
85
 
3,920
 
1,144
 
5,064
West
 
18
 
2,143
 
5,639
 
7,782
                 
Consolidated total
 
188
 
12,404
 
18,590
 
30,994
                 
Unconsolidated joint
  ventures
     
1,637
 
811
 
2,448
                 
Total including
  unconsolidated joint
  ventures
     
14,041
 
19,401
 
33,442
                 
Owned
     
6,990
 
11,721
 
18,711
Optioned
     
5,284
 
6,869
 
12,153
                 
Controlled lots
     
12,274
 
18,590
 
30,864
                 
Construction to
  permanent financing
  lots
     
130
 
-
 
130
                 
Consolidated total
     
12,404
 
18,590
 
30,994
                 
Lots controlled by
  unconsolidated joint
  ventures
     
1,637
 
811
 
2,448
                 
Total including
  unconsolidated joint
  ventures
     
14,041
 
19,401
 
33,442

(1)  Active communities are open for sale communities with 10 or more home sites available.


 
 

 


   
Active Communities(1)
 
Active Communities Homes
 
Proposed Developable Homes
 
Total Homes
October 31, 2010:
               
                 
Northeast
 
15
 
1,287
 
4,720
 
6,007
Mid-Atlantic
 
30
 
2,355
 
4,361
 
6,716
Midwest
 
23
 
1,377
 
428
 
1,805
Southeast
 
18
 
863
 
3,199
 
4,062
Southwest
 
89
 
4,156
 
1,205
 
5,361
West
 
17
 
2,149
 
6,100
 
8,249
                 
Consolidated total
 
192
 
12,187
 
20,013
 
32,200
                 
Unconsolidated joint
  ventures
     
1,536
 
536
 
2,072
                 
Total including
  unconsolidated joint
  ventures
     
13,723
 
20,549
 
34,272
                 
Owned
     
6,839
 
10,837
 
17,676
Optioned
     
5,203
 
9,176
 
14,379
                 
Controlled lots
     
12,042
 
20,013
 
32,055
                 
Construction to
  permanent financing
  lots
     
145
 
-
 
145
                 
Consolidated total
     
12,187
 
20,013
 
32,200
                 
Lots controlled by
  unconsolidated joint
  ventures
     
1,536
 
536
 
2,072
                 
Total including
  unconsolidated joint
  ventures
     
13,723
 
20,549
 
34,272

(1)  Active communities are open for sale communities with 10 or more home sites available.


 
 

 


The following table summarizes our started or completed unsold homes and models, excluding unconsolidated joint ventures, in active and substantially completed communities:

 
January 31, 2011
 
October 31, 2010
                       
 
Started Unsold Homes
 
Models
 
Total
 
Started Unsold Homes
 
Models
 
Total
                       
Northeast
81
 
21
 
102
 
109
 
15
 
124
Mid-Atlantic
87
 
32
 
119
 
72
 
26
 
98
Midwest
41
 
31
 
72
 
44
 
27
 
71
Southeast
82
 
22
 
104
 
80
 
20
 
100
Southwest
383
 
96
 
479
 
421
 
107
 
528
West
103
 
85
 
188
 
60
 
81
 
141
                       
  Total
777
 
287
 
1,064
 
786
 
276
 
1,062
                       
Started or completed
  unsold homes and
  models per active
  and substantially
  completed communities
4.1
 
1.6
 
5.7
 
4.1
 
1.4
 
5.5

Total started unsold homes compared to the prior year end has remained relatively unchanged as active selling communities only decreased by 4 active selling communities from 192 at October 31, 2010 to 188 at January 31, 2011.

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures increased $19.8 million during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  This increase is primarily due to an investment in a new joint venture during the three months ended January 31, 2011, to which we contributed property previously reflected in inventory.  As of January 31, 2011, we have investments in nine homebuilding joint ventures and three land development joint ventures.  Other than guarantees limited only to performance and completion of development, environmental indemnification and standard warranty and representation against fraud misrepresentation and similar actions, including a voluntary bankruptcy, we have no guarantees associated with unconsolidated joint ventures.

Receivables, deposits and notes decreased $9.8 million since October 31, 2010, to $51.2 million at January 31, 2011.  The decrease is due to a decrease in receivables for home closings as a result of cash in transit from various title companies at the end of the respective periods, as well as reimbursements from our insurance carriers for certain warranty claims.  Also contributing to the decrease is the receipt of final payment of a note in our Southwest segment in conjunction with the acquisition of the property that collateralized the note.

Property, plant and equipment decreased $1.8 million during the three months ended January 31, 2011, primarily due to depreciation and a small amount of disposals, which were offset by minor additions for leasehold improvements during the period.

 
 

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets were as follows as of:

 
January 31,
 
October 31,
 
Dollar
(In thousands)
2011
 
2010
 
Change
           
Prepaid insurance
$5,528
 
$1,346
 
$4,182 
Prepaid project costs
40,198
 
41,605
 
(1,407)
Senior residential rental
  properties
7,910
 
8,076
 
(166)
Other prepaids
22,184
 
23,264
 
(1,080)
Other assets
9,513
 
9,637
 
(124)
           
Total
$85,333
 
$83,928
 
$1,405 

Prepaid insurance increased due to the payment of a full year of certain liability insurance premium costs during the three months ended January 31, 2011.  These costs are amortized over the life of the associated insurance policy, which can be one to three years.  Prepaid project costs decreased for homes delivered and were not offset by prepaid spending for new communities.  Prepaid project costs consist of community specific expenditures that are used over the life of the community.  Such prepaids are expensed as homes are delivered.  Other prepaids decreased mainly due to the amortization of the remaining prepaid debt costs.

Financial Services - Mortgage loans held for sale consist primarily of residential mortgages receivable held for sale of $36.2 million and $85.2 million at January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively, which are being temporarily warehoused and are awaiting sale in the secondary mortgage market.  The decrease in mortgage loans held for sale from October 31, 2010 is directly related to a decrease in the volume of loans originated during the first quarter of 2011 compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.  Also included are residential mortgages receivable held for sale of $1.4 million and $1.1 million at January 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively, which represent loans that cannot currently be sold at reasonable terms in the secondary mortgage market.

Nonrecourse land mortgages increased to $20.9 million at January 31, 2011 from $4.3 million at October 31, 2010.  The increase is primarily due to a new mortgage recorded in the Mid-Atlantic segment during the three months ended January 31, 2011.

Accounts payable and other liabilities are as follows:

 
January 31,
 
October 31,
 
Dollar
(In thousands)
2011
 
2010
 
Change
           
Accounts payable
$62,911
 
$84,948
 
$(22,037)
Reserves