| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation . The Consolidated Financial Statements of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. ("MDC," “the Company," “we,” “us,” or “our” which refers to M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries) include the accounts of MDC and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. Description of Business . We have homebuilding operations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. The primary functions of our homebuilding operations include land acquisition and development, home construction, purchasing, marketing, merchandising, sales and customer service. We build and sell primarily single-family detached homes, which are designed and built to meet local customer preferences. We are the general contractor for all of our projects and retain subcontractors for site development and home construction. Our financial services operations consist of HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation (“HomeAmerican”), which originates mortgage loans, primarily for our homebuyers, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. (“American Home Insurance”), which offers third-party insurance products to our homebuyers, and American Home Title and Escrow Company (“American Home Title”), which provides title agency services to the Company and our homebuyers in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The financial services operations also include Allegiant Insurance Company, Inc., A Risk Retention Group (“Allegiant”), which provides insurance coverage primarily to our homebuilding subsidiaries on homes that have been delivered and most of our subcontractors for completed work on those delivered homes, and StarAmerican Insurance Ltd. (“StarAmerican”), a wholly owned subsidiary of MDC, which is a re-insurer of Allegiant claims. Presentation . Our balance sheet presentation is unclassified due to the fact that certain assets and liabilities have both short and long-term characteristics. Use of Accounting Estimates . The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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. Cash and Cash Equivalents . The Company periodically invests funds in highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less, such as U.S. government securities, commercial bank deposits, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, money market funds and time deposits, which are included in cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows. Marketable securities . Our debt securities consist of U.S. government treasury securities with original maturities upon acquisition of less than six months and are treated as available-for-sale investments and, as such, are recorded at fair value with all changes in fair value initially recorded through other comprehensive income. Debt securities are reviewed on a regular basis for impairment. Restricted Cash . We receive cash earnest money deposits from our customers who enter into home sale contracts. In certain states we are restricted from using such deposits for general purposes, unless we take measures to release state imposed restrictions on such deposits received from homebuyers, which may include posting blanket surety bonds. We had $3.1 million and $12.8 million in restricted cash related to homebuyer deposits at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Trade and Other Receivables . Trade and other receivables primarily includes home sale receivables, which reflects cash to be received from title companies or outside brokers associated with closed homes. Generally, we will receive cash from title companies and outside brokers within a few days of the home being closed. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, receivables from contracts with customers were $85.1 million and $64.5 million, respectively, and are included in trade and other receivables on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale, net . Mortgage loans held-for-sale are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and estimated market prices received from a third-party. Using fair value allows an offset of the changes in fair values of the mortgage loans and the derivative and financial instruments used to hedge them without having to comply with the requirements for hedge accounting. Inventories . Our inventories are primarily associated with communities where we intend to construct and sell homes, including models and unsold homes. Components of housing completed or under construction primarily include: (1) land costs transferred from land and land under development; (2) direct construction costs associated with a house; (3) real property taxes, engineering fees, permits and other fees; (4) capitalized interest; and (5) indirect construction costs, which include field construction management salaries and benefits, utilities and other construction related costs. Costs capitalized to land and land under development primarily include: (1) land costs; (2) land development costs; (3) entitlement costs; (4) capitalized interest; (5) engineering fees; and (6) title insurance, real property taxes and closing costs directly related to the purchase of the land parcel. Land costs are transferred from land and land under development to housing completed or under construction at the point in time that construction of a home on an owned lot begins. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment (“ASC 360”), homebuilding inventories, excluding those classified as held for sale, are carried at cost unless events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the underlying subdivision may not be recoverable. We evaluate inventories for impairment at each quarter end on a subdivision level basis as each such subdivision represents the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. In making this determination, we review, among other things, the following for each subdivision: • actual and trending “Operating Margin” (which is defined as home sale revenues less home cost of sales and all incremental costs associated directly with the subdivision, including sales commissions and marketing costs); • forecasted Operating Margin for homes in backlog; • actual and trending net home orders; • homes available for sale; • market information for each sub-market, including competition levels, home foreclosure levels, the size and style of homes currently being offered for sale and lot size; and • known or probable events indicating that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of our inventory may not be recoverable, assets are reviewed for impairment by comparing the undiscounted estimated future cash flows from an individual subdivision (including capitalized interest) to its carrying value. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the subdivision’s carrying value, the carrying value of the subdivision is written down to its then estimated fair value. We generally determine the estimated fair value of each subdivision by calculating the present value of the estimated future cash flows using discount rates, which are Level 3 inputs (see Note 6, Fair Value Measurements, in the notes to the financial statements for definitions of fair value inputs), that are commensurate with the risk of the subdivision under evaluation. The evaluation for the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets for each individual subdivision can be impacted significantly by our estimates of future home sale revenues, home construction costs, and development costs per home, all of which are Level 3 inputs. If land is classified as held for sale, in accordance with ASC 360, we measure it at the lower of the carrying value or fair value less estimated costs to sell. In determining fair value, we primarily rely upon the most recent negotiated price which is a Level 2 input (see Note 6, Fair Value Measurements , for definitions of fair value inputs). If a negotiated price is not available, we will consider several factors including, but not limited to, current market conditions, recent comparable sales transactions and market analysis studies. If the fair value less estimated costs to sell is lower than the current carrying value, the land is impaired down to its estimated fair value less costs to sell. Costs Related to Sales Facilities. Costs related to interior and exterior upgrades to the home that will be sold as part of the home, such as wall treatments and additional upgraded landscaping, are recorded as housing completed or under construction. Costs to furnish and ready the model home or on-site sales facility that will not be sold as part of the model home, such as furniture, construction of the sales facility parking lot or construction of the sales center, are capitalized as property and equipment, net. Other costs incurred related to the marketing of the community and readying the model home for sale are expensed as incurred. Property and Equipment, net . Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. For property and equipment related to on-site sales facilities, depreciation is recorded using the units of production method as homes are delivered. For all other property and equipment, depreciation is recorded using a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from 2 to 29 years. Depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment was $26.4 million, $30.2 million and $26.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively which is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in the homebuilding or expenses in the financial services sections of our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The following table sets forth the cost and carrying value of our homebuilding property and equipment by major asset category. Cost Accumulated Carrying December 31, 2022: (Dollars in thousands) Sales facilities $ 76,171 $ (36,113) $ 40,058 Airplane 31,230 (12,150) 19,080 Computer software and equipment 24,072 (22,260) 1,812 Leasehold improvements 8,884 (7,095) 1,789 Other 3,230 (2,239) 991 Total $ 143,587 $ (79,857) $ 63,730 December 31, 2021: Sales facilities $ 67,947 $ (31,644) $ 36,303 Airplane 31,230 (11,481) 19,749 Computer software and equipment 23,690 (21,367) 2,323 Leasehold improvements 7,783 (6,522) 1,261 Other 2,811 (1,886) 925 Total $ 133,461 $ (72,900) $ 60,561 Deferred Tax Assets, net . Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between (1) the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and (2) the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using current enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded against a deferred tax asset if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Variable Interest Entities . In accordance with ASC Topic 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”), we analyze our land option contracts and other contractual arrangements to determine whether the corresponding land sellers are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and, if so, whether we are the primary beneficiary. Although we do not have legal title to the optioned land, ASC 810 requires a company to consolidate a VIE if the company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary, we consider, among other things, whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact VIE’s economic performance, including, but not limited to, determining or limiting the scope or purpose of the VIE, selling or transferring property owned or controlled by the VIE, or arranging financing for the VIE. We also consider whether we have the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. We have concluded that, as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we were not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs from which we are purchasing land under land option contracts. Goodwill. In accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles–Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350” ) , we evaluate goodwill for possible impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. We use a three-step process to assess the realizability of goodwill. The first step is a qualitative assessment that analyzes current economic indicators associated with a particular reporting unit. For example, we analyze changes in economic, market and industry conditions, business strategy, cost factors, and financial performance, among others, to determine if there are indicators of a significant decline in the fair value of a particular reporting unit. If the qualitative assessment indicates a stable or improved fair value, no further testing is required. If a qualitative assessment indicates it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we will proceed to the second step where we calculate the fair value of a reporting unit based on discounted future probability-weighted cash flows. If this step indicates that the carrying value of a reporting unit is in excess of its fair value, we will proceed to the third step where the fair value of the reporting unit will be allocated to assets and liabilities as they would in a business combination. Impairment occurs when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its estimated fair value calculated in the third step. Based on our analysis, we have concluded that as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, our goodwill was not impaired. Liability for Unrecognized Tax Benefits. ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes , regarding liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits provides guidance for the recognition and measurement in financial statements of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The evaluation of a tax position is a two-step process, the first step being recognition. We determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based on the technical merits of the position. The technical merits of a tax position derive from both statutory and judicial authority (legislation and statutes, legislative intent, regulations, rulings, and case law) and their applicability to the facts and circumstances of the tax position. If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in the financial statements. The second step is measurement. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate resolution with a taxing authority. Once the gross unrecognized tax benefit is determined, we also accrue for any interest and penalties, as well as any offsets expected from resultant amendments to federal or state tax returns. We record the aggregate effect of these items in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. To the extent this tax position would be offset against a similar deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed, the liability is treated as a reduction to the related deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward. Otherwise, we record the corresponding liability in accrued and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Warranty Accrual . Our homes are sold with limited third-party warranties and, under our agreement with the issuer of the third-party warranties, we are responsible for performing all of the work for the first two years of the warranty coverage, and paying for certain work required to be performed subsequent to year two Warranty payments are recorded against the warranty accrual. Additional reserves may be established for known, unusual warranty-related expenditures not covered through the independent warranty accrual analysis performed by us. Warranty payments incurred for an individual house may differ from the related reserve established for the home at the time it was closed. The actual disbursements for warranty claims are evaluated in the aggregate to determine if an adjustment to the historical warranty accrual should be recorded. We assess the reasonableness and adequacy of the reserve and the per-unit reserve amount originally included in home cost of sales, as well as the timing of the reversal of any excess reserve on a quarterly basis, using historical payment data and other relevant information. Our warranty accrual is included in accrued and other liabilities in the homebuilding section of our consolidated balance sheets and adjustments to our warranty accrual are recorded as an increase or reduction to home cost of sales in the homebuilding section of our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Insurance Reserves. The establishment of reserves for estimated losses associated with insurance policies issued by Allegiant and re-insurance agreements issued by StarAmerican are based on actuarial studies that include known facts and interpretations of circumstances, including our experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payment patterns, pending levels of unpaid claims, product mix or concentration, claim severity, frequency patterns depending on the business conducted, and changing regulatory and legal environments. It is possible that changes in the insurance payment experience used in estimating our ultimate insurance losses could have a material impact on our insurance reserves. See Note 13, Insurance and Construction Defect Claim Reserves , to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Reserves for Construction Defect Claims. The establishment of reserves for estimated losses to be incurred by our homebuilding subsidiaries associated with (1) the self-insured retention (“SIR”) portion of construction defect claims that are expected to be covered under insurance policies with Allegiant and (2) the entire cost of any construction defect claims that are not expected to be covered by insurance policies with Allegiant are based on actuarial studies that include known facts similar to those established for our insurance reserves. It is possible that changes in the payment experience used in estimating our ultimate losses for construction defect claims could have a material impact on our reserves. See Note 13, Insurance and Construction Defect Claim Reserves , to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Litigation Reserves. We and certain of our subsidiaries have been named as defendants in various cases. We reserve for estimated exposure with respect to these cases based upon currently available information on each case. See Note 17, Commitments and Contingencies , to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Derivative and Financial Instruments . We are exposed to market risks related to fluctuations in interest rates on mortgage loans held-for-sale, mortgage interest rate lock commitments, marketable securities and debt. Financial instruments utilized in the normal course of business by HomeAmerican include forward sales of mortgage-backed securities, which are commitments to sell a specified financial instrument at a specified future date for a specified price, mandatory delivery forward loan sale commitments, which are obligations of an investor to buy loans at a specified price within a specified time period, and best-effort delivery forward loan sale commitments, which are obligations of an investor to buy loans at a specified price subject to the underlying mortgage loans being funded and closed. These instruments are the only significant derivative and financial instruments utilized by MDC to hedge against fluctuations in interest rates. For forward sales commitments, forward sales of mortgage-backed securities and commitments to originate mortgage loans that are still outstanding at the end of a reporting period, we record the changes in fair value of these financial instruments in revenues Derivative and Financial Instruments , to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Revenue Recognition for Homebuilding Segments. We recognize home sale revenues from home deliveries when we have satisfied the performance obligations within the sales agreement, which is generally when title to and possession of the home are transferred to the buyer at the home closing date. Revenue from a home delivery includes the base sales price and any purchased options and upgrades and is reduced for any sales price incentives. In certain states where we build, we are not always able to complete certain outdoor features (such as landscaping or pools) prior to closing the home. To the extent these separate deliverables are not complete upon the closing of a home, we defer home sale revenues related to incomplete outdoor features, and recognize that revenue upon completion of the outdoor features. Revenue expected to be recognized in any future year related to remaining performance obligations (if any) and contract liabilities expected to be recognized as revenue, excluding revenue pertaining to contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less, is not material. Revenue Recognition for HomeAmerican . Revenues recorded by HomeAmerican primarily reflect (1) origination fees and (2) the corresponding sale, or expected future sale, of a loan, which will include the estimated earnings from either the release or retention of a loan’s servicing rights. Origination fees are recognized when a loan is originated. When an interest rate lock commitment is made to a customer, we record the expected gain on sale of the mortgage, plus the estimated earnings from the expected sale of the associated servicing rights, adjusted for a pull-through percentage (which is defined as the likelihood that an interest rate lock commitment will be originated), as revenue. As the interest rate lock commitment gets closer to being originated, the expected gain on the sale of that loan plus its servicing rights is updated to reflect current market value and the increase or decrease in the fair value of that interest rate lock commitment is recorded through revenues. At the same time, the expected pull-through percentage of the interest rate lock commitment to be originated is updated based upon current market conditions and, if there has been a change, revenues are adjusted as necessary. After origination, our mortgage loans, generally including their servicing rights, are sold to third-party purchasers in accordance with sale agreements entered into by us with a third-party purchaser of the loans. We make representations and warranties with respect to the status of loans transferred in the sale agreements. The sale agreements generally include statements acknowledging the transfer of the loans is intended by both parties to constitute a sale. Sale of a mortgage loan has occurred when the following criteria, among others, have been met: (1) fair consideration has been paid for transfer of the loan by a third party in an arms-length transaction, (2) all the usual risks and rewards of ownership that are in substance a sale have been transferred by us to the third party purchaser; and (3) we do not have a substantial continuing involvement with the mortgage loan. We measure mortgage loans held-for-sale at fair value with the changes in fair value being reported in earnings at each reporting date. Net gains on the sale of mortgage loans are included as a component of revenues in the financial services section of the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Home Cost of Sales . Home cost of sales includes the specific construction costs of each home and all applicable land acquisition, land development and related costs, warranty costs and finance and closing costs, including closing cost incentives. We use the specific identification method for the purpose of accumulating home construction costs and allocate costs to each lot within a subdivision associated with land acquisition and land development based upon relative fair value of the lots prior to home construction. Lots within a subdivision typically have comparable fair values, and, as such, we generally allocate costs equally to each lot within a subdivision. We record all home cost of sales when a home is closed and performance obligations have been completed on a house-by-house basis. When a home is closed, we may not have paid for all costs necessary to complete the construction of the home. This includes (1) construction that has been completed on a house but has not yet been billed or (2) work still to be performed on a home (such as limited punch-list items or certain outdoor features). For each of these items, we create an estimate of the total expected costs to be incurred and, with the exclusion of outdoor features, the estimated total costs for those items, less any amounts paid to date, are included in home cost of sales. Actual results could differ from such estimates. For incomplete outdoor features, we will defer the revenue and any cost of sales on this separate stand-alone deliverable until complete. Stock-Based Compensation Expense . In accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards is based on the grant date fair value. For stock option awards granted that do not contain a market condition, we estimate the fair value using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. For any stock option awards granted that contain a market condition, we estimate the fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model. We recognize expense for share-based payment awards based on their varying vesting conditions as follows: • Awards with service-based vesting conditions only – Expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. • Awards with performance-based vesting conditions – Expense is not recognized until it is determined that it is probable the performance-based conditions will be met. When achievement of a performance-based condition is probable, a catch-up of expense will be recorded as if the award had been vesting on a straight-line basis from the award date. The award will continue to be expensed on a straight-line basis until the probability of achieving the performance-based condition changes, if applicable. • Awards with no service or performance based vesting conditions - Expense is recognized immediately upon the grant date of the award. An annual forfeiture rate is estimated at the time of grant for all share-based payment awards that contain service and/or performance conditions. That rate is revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if the actual forfeiture rate differs from our estimate. Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share. For purposes of calculating earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”), a company that has participating security holders (for example, holders of unvested restricted stock that have non-forfeitable dividend rights) is required to utilize the two-class method for calculating earnings per share unless the treasury stock method results in lower EPS. The two-class method is an allocation of earnings/(loss) between the holders of common stock and a company’s participating security holders. Under the two-class method, earnings/(loss) for the reporting period are allocated between common shareholders and other security holders based on their respective rights to receive distributed earnings (i.e., dividends) and undistributed earnings (i.e., net income/(loss)). Our common shares outstanding are comprised of shareholder owned common stock and shares of unvested restricted stock held by participating security holders. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing income or loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, excluding participating shares in accordance with ASC 260. To calculate diluted EPS, basic EPS is further adjusted to include the effect of potentially dilutive stock options outstanding and contingently issuable equity awards. |
