NVR (NVR) 10-Q2024 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

As of October 31, 2024 there were 3,063,876 shares of common stock outstanding.

NVR, Inc.

(in thousands)

1. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NVR, Inc. (“NVR”, the “Company”, "we", "us" or "our") and its subsidiaries and certain other entities in which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary (see Notes 2 and 3 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements).  Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Because the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP, they should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals except as otherwise noted herein) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, comprehensive income equaled net income; therefore, a separate statement of comprehensive income is not included in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Homebuilding revenue is recognized on the settlement date at the contract sales price, when control is transferred to our customers. Our contract liabilities, which consist of deposits received from customers on homes not settled, were $358,609 and $334,441 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. We expect that substantially all of the customer deposits held as of December 31, 2023 will be recognized in revenue in 2024. Our contract assets consist of prepaid sales compensation and totaled approximately $25,100 and $17,900 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Prepaid sales compensation is included in homebuilding “Other assets” on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2023-09, "Income Taxes - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures." The amendments in the ASU require disclosure of specific categories in the rate reconciliation and for the entity to provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. The ASU will be effective for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The amendments in the ASU are to be applied on a prospective basis and early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2023-09 and do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, "Segment Reporting - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures." The amendments in the ASU are intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss. The amendments also expand interim segment disclosure requirements. The ASU will be effective for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 and for interim periods starting in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. The

amendments in this ASU are required to be applied on a retrospective basis and early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2023-07 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

2.    Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs")

Fixed Price Finished Lot Purchase Agreements (“LPAs”)

We generally do not engage in the land development business. Instead, we typically acquire finished building lots at market prices from various development entities under LPAs. The LPAs require deposits that may be forfeited if we fail to perform under the LPAs. The deposits required under the LPAs are in the form of cash or letters of credit in varying amounts, and typically range up to 10% of the aggregate purchase price of the finished lots.  

The deposit placed by us pursuant to the LPA is deemed to be a variable interest in the respective development entities. Those development entities are deemed to be VIEs. Therefore, the development entities with which we enter into LPAs, including the joint venture limited liability corporations discussed below, are evaluated for possible consolidation by us. We have concluded that we are not the primary beneficiary of the development entities with which we enter into LPAs, and therefore, we do not consolidate any of these VIEs.

As of September 30, 2024, we controlled approximately 144,400 lots under LPAs with third parties through deposits in cash and letters of credit totaling approximately $696,500 and $10,400, respectively. Our sole legal obligation and economic loss for failure to perform under these LPAs is limited to the amount of the deposit pursuant to the liquidated damage provisions contained in the LPAs and, in very limited circumstances, specific performance obligations. For the three months ended September 30, 2024, we incurred pre-tax impairment charges on lot deposits of approximately $3,900. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded a net expense reversal of approximately $4,900 related to previously impaired lot deposits based on current market conditions. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, we incurred pre-tax impairment charges on lot deposits of approximately $3,800. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded a net expense reversal of approximately $6,200 related to previously impaired lot deposits. Our contract land deposit asset is shown net of a $47,686 and $53,397 impairment reserve as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

In addition, we have certain properties under contract with land owners that are expected to yield approximately 38,200 lots, which are not included in the number of total lots controlled. Some of these properties may require rezoning or other approvals to achieve the expected yield. These properties are controlled with cash deposits totaling approximately $19,700 as of September 30, 2024, of which approximately $5,100 is refundable if certain contractual conditions are not met. We generally expect to assign the raw land contracts to a land developer and simultaneously enter into an LPA with the assignee if the project is determined to be feasible.

3.    Joint Ventures

On a limited basis, we acquire finished lots using joint venture limited liability corporations (“JVs”). The JVs are typically structured such that we are a non-controlling member and are at risk only for the amount we have invested, or have committed to invest, in addition to any deposits placed under LPAs with the joint venture. We are not a borrower, guarantor or obligor on any debt of the JVs, as applicable. We enter into LPAs to purchase lots from these JVs, and as a result have a variable interest in these JVs. We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary in any of the JVs because we and the other JV partner either share power or the other JV partner has the controlling financial interest.

As of September 30, 2024, we had an aggregate investment totaling approximately $27,800 in three JVs that are expected to produce approximately 5,150 finished lots, of which approximately 4,800 lots were controlled by us and the remaining approximately 350 lots were either under contract with unrelated parties or not currently under contract. We had additional funding commitments totaling approximately $9,800 to one of the JVs as of September 30, 2024. As of December 31, 2023, our aggregate investment in JVs totaled approximately $29,200. Investments in JVs for the respective periods are reported in the homebuilding "Other assets" line item on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. None of the JVs had any indicators of impairment as of September 30, 2024.

We recognize income from the JVs as a reduction to the lot cost of the lots purchased from the respective JVs when the homes are settled, based on the expected total profitability and the total number of lots expected to be produced by the respective JVs.

We classify distributions received from unconsolidated JVs using the cumulative earnings approach. As a result, distributions received up to the amount of cumulative earnings recognized by us are reported as distributions of earnings and those in excess of that amount are reported as a distribution of capital. These distributions are classified within the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows as cash flows from operating activities and investing activities, respectively.

4.    Land Under Development

On a limited basis, we directly acquire raw land parcels already zoned for its intended use to develop into finished lots.  Land under development includes the land acquisition costs, direct improvement costs, capitalized interest, where applicable, and real estate taxes. During the first quarter of 2024, we purchased a raw land parcel for approximately $20,000, which is expected to produce approximately 850 lots.

As of September 30, 2024, we owned land with a carrying value of $63,339 that will be developed into approximately 2,600 finished lots. As of December 31, 2023, the carrying value of land under development was $36,895. None of the raw parcels had any indicators of impairment as of September 30, 2024.

5.    Capitalized Interest

6.    Earnings per Share

7.    Shareholders’ Equity

We repurchased 42,629 and 192,655 shares of our outstanding common stock during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. We settle Option exercises and vesting of RSUs by issuing shares of treasury stock. We issued 17,153 and 61,939 shares from the treasury account during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, in settlement of Option exercises and vesting of RSUs. Shares are relieved from the treasury account based on the weighted average cost basis of treasury shares.

We repurchased 78,750 and 134,751 shares of our outstanding common stock during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. We issued 28,189 and 125,745 shares from the treasury account during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, in settlement of Option exercises and vesting of RSUs.  

8.    Product Warranties

We establish warranty and product liability reserves (“Warranty Reserve”) to provide for estimated future expenses as a result of construction and product defects, product recalls and litigation incidental to our homebuilding business. Liability estimates are determined based on management’s judgment, considering such factors as historical experience, the estimated current cost of corrective action, manufacturers’ and subcontractors’ participation in sharing the cost of corrective action, consultations with third party experts such as engineers, and discussions with our general counsel and outside counsel retained to handle specific product liability cases.

9.    Segment Disclosures

We disclose four homebuilding reportable segments that aggregate geographically our homebuilding operating divisions, and we present our mortgage banking operations as one reportable segment. The homebuilding

Homebuilding profit before tax includes all revenues and income generated from the sale of homes, less the cost of homes sold, selling, general and administrative expenses and a corporate capital allocation charge. The corporate capital allocation charge is eliminated in consolidation and is based on the segment’s average net assets employed. The corporate capital allocation charged to the operating segment allows the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to determine whether the operating segment’s results are providing the desired rate of return after covering our cost of capital.  

Assets not allocated to the operating segments are not included in either the operating segment’s corporate capital allocation charge or the CODM’s evaluation of the operating segment’s performance. We record charges on contract land deposits when it is determined that it is probable that recovery of the deposit is impaired. For segment reporting purposes, impairments on contract land deposits are generally charged to the operating segment upon the termination of an LPA with the developer, or the restructuring of an LPA resulting in the forfeiture of the deposit. Mortgage banking profit before tax consists of revenues generated from mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services, less the costs of such services and general and administrative costs. Mortgage banking operations are not charged a corporate capital allocation charge.

In addition to the corporate capital allocation and contract land deposit impairments discussed above, the other reconciling items between segment profit and consolidated profit before taxes include unallocated corporate overhead (including all management incentive compensation), equity-based compensation expense, consolidation adjustments and external corporate interest expense. Our overhead functions such as accounting, treasury and human resources are centrally performed and these costs are not allocated to our operating segments. Consolidation adjustments consist of such items necessary to convert the reportable segments’ results, which are predominantly maintained on a cash basis, to a full accrual basis for external financial statement presentation purposes, and are not allocated to our operating segments. External corporate interest expense primarily consists of interest charges on our 3.00% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Senior Notes”), which are not charged to the operating segments because the charges are included in the corporate capital allocation discussed above.

10.    Fair Value

GAAP assigns a fair value hierarchy to the inputs used to measure fair value. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs.

Unrealized gains/losses from the change in the fair value measurements are included in earnings as a component of mortgage banking fees in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. The fair value measurement will be impacted in the future by the change in the value of the servicing rights, interest rate movements, security price fluctuations, and the volume and product mix of NVRM’s closed loans and locked loan commitments.

11.    Debt

As of September 30, 2024, we had the following debt instruments outstanding:

Senior Notes

Our outstanding Senior Notes have an aggregate principal balance of $900,000, mature on May 15, 2030 and bear interest at 3.00%, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with any of our existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness. The Senior Notes were issued in three separate issuances, $600,000 issued at a discount to yield 3.02%, and the two additional issuances totaling $300,000 issued at a premium to yield 2.00%. The Senior Notes have been reflected net of the unamortized discount or premium, as applicable, and the unamortized debt issuance costs in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

The indenture governing the Senior Notes does not contain any financial covenants; however, it does contain, among other items, and subject to certain exceptions, covenants that restrict our ability to create, incur, assume or guarantee secured debt, enter into sale and leaseback transactions and conditions related to mergers and/or the sale of assets. We were in compliance with all covenants under the Senior Notes as of September 30, 2024.

Credit Agreement

We have an unsecured Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), which provides for aggregate revolving loan commitments of $300,000 (the “Facility”). Under the Credit Agreement, we may request increases of up to $300,000 to the Facility in the form of revolving loan commitments or term loans to the extent that new or existing lenders agree to provide additional revolving loan or term loan commitments. The Credit Agreement provides for a $100,000 sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit, of which approximately $17,100 was outstanding as of September 30, 2024. The Credit Agreement termination date is February 12, 2026. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Facility as of September 30, 2024.

Repurchase Agreement

NVRM provides for its mortgage origination and other operating activities using cash generated from its operations, borrowings from its parent company, NVR, as well as a revolving mortgage repurchase agreement (the

“Repurchase Agreement”), which is non-recourse to NVR. The Repurchase Agreement provides for loan purchases up to $150,000, subject to certain sub-limits. Amounts outstanding under the Repurchase Agreement are collateralized by the Company’s mortgage loans held for sale.

Effective July 16, 2024, NVRM entered into the Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Master Repurchase Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association, as Agent and a Buyer (the "Amended MRA"), which extended the term of the Repurchase Agreement through July 14, 2025. All other terms and conditions under the Amended Repurchase Agreement remained materially consistent. As of September 30, 2024, there were no borrowing base limitations reducing the amount available under the Repurchase Agreement and there were no borrowings outstanding.

12.    Commitments and Contingencies

We are involved in various litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, and based on advice of legal counsel, this litigation is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Legal costs incurred in connection with outstanding litigation are expensed as incurred.

13.    Leases

We have operating leases for our corporate and division offices, production facilities, model homes, and certain office and production equipment. Additionally, we have finance leases for certain production equipment and facilities which are recorded in homebuilding "Property, plant and equipment, net" and "Accrued expenses and other liabilities" on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our finance lease Right-of-use ("ROU") assets and finance lease liabilities were $31,038 and $33,198, respectively, as of September 30, 2024, and $13,310 and $14,965, respectively, as of December 31, 2023. Our leases have remaining lease terms of up to 15.9 years, some of which include options to extend the lease for up to 20 years, and some of which include options to terminate the lease.

We recognize operating lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We have elected to use the portfolio approach for certain equipment leases which have similar lease terms and payment schedules. Additionally, for certain equipment we account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. Our sublease income is de minimis.

We have certain leases, primarily the leases of model homes, which have initial lease terms of twelve months or less ("Short-term leases"). We elected to exclude these leases from the recognition requirements under Topic 842, and these leases have not been included in our recognized ROU assets and lease liabilities.

14.    Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was 20.3% and 20.6%, respectively, compared to 19.7% and 18.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate in the three and nine month periods of 2024 compared to the same periods in 2023 was primarily attributable to a lower income tax benefit recognized for excess tax benefits from stock option exercises, which totaled $23,128 and $73,736 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $31,877 and $111,028 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as statements made by us in periodic press releases or other public communications, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Certain, but not necessarily all, of such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should” or “anticipates” or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology.  All statements other than of historical facts are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements contained in this document may include those regarding market trends, our financial position and financial results, business strategy, the outcome of pending litigation, investigations or similar contingencies, projected plans and objectives of management for future operations.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results or performance to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Such risk factors include, but are not limited to the following: general economic and business conditions (on both a national and regional level); interest rate changes; access to suitable financing by us and our customers; increased regulation in the mortgage banking industry; the ability of our mortgage banking subsidiary to sell loans it originates into the secondary market; competition; the availability and cost of land and other raw materials used by us in our homebuilding operations; shortages of labor; the economic impact of a major epidemic or pandemic; weather related slow-downs; building moratoriums; governmental regulation; fluctuation and volatility of stock and other financial markets; mortgage financing availability; and other factors over which we have little or no control.  We undertake no obligation to update such forward-looking statements except as required by law.  For additional information regarding risk factors, see Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “NVR,” “we,” “us,” or “our” include NVR and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

Our primary business is the construction and sale of single-family detached homes, townhomes and condominiums, all of which are primarily constructed on a pre-sold basis. To fully serve customers of our homebuilding operations, we also operate a mortgage banking and title services business. We primarily conduct our operations in mature markets. Additionally, we generally grow our business through market share gains in our existing markets and by expanding into markets contiguous to our current active markets. Our four homebuilding reportable segments consist of the following regions:

Our lot acquisition strategy is predicated upon avoiding the financial requirements and risks associated with direct land ownership and development. We generally do not engage in land development (see discussion below of our land development activities). Instead, we typically acquire finished building lots from various third party land developers pursuant to fixed price finished lot purchase agreements (“LPAs”). These LPAs require deposits, typically ranging up to 10% of the aggregate purchase price of the finished lots, in the form of cash or letters of credit that may be forfeited if we fail to perform under the LPA. This strategy has allowed us to maximize inventory turnover, which we believe enables us to minimize market risk and to operate with less capital, thereby enhancing rates of return on equity and total capital.

In addition to constructing homes primarily on a pre-sold basis and utilizing what we believe is a conservative lot acquisition strategy, we focus on obtaining and maintaining a leading market position in each market we serve. This strategy allows us to gain valuable efficiencies and competitive advantages in our markets, which we believe contributes to minimizing the adverse effects of regional economic cycles and provides growth opportunities within these markets. Our continued success is contingent upon our ability to control an adequate supply of finished lots on which to build.

In certain specific strategic circumstances we engage in joint venture arrangements with land developers or directly acquire raw ground already zoned for its intended use for development. Once we acquire control of raw ground, we determine whether to sell the raw parcel to a developer and enter into an LPA with the developer to purchase the finished lots or to hire a developer to develop the land on our behalf. While joint venture arrangements and direct land development activity are not our preferred method of acquiring finished building lots, we may enter into additional transactions in the future on a limited basis where there exists a compelling strategic or prudent financial reason to do so. We expect, however, to continue to acquire substantially all our finished lot inventory using LPAs with forfeitable deposits.

As of September 30, 2024, we controlled approximately 151,800 lots as described below.

We controlled approximately 144,400 lots under LPAs with third parties through deposits in cash and letters of credit totaling approximately $696,500 and $10,400, respectively. Included in the number of controlled lots are approximately 9,600 lots for which we have recorded a contract land deposit impairment reserve of approximately $47,700 as of September 30, 2024.

We had an aggregate investment totaling approximately $27,800 in three JVs, expected to produce approximately 5,150 lots. Of the lots to be produced by the JVs, approximately 4,800 lots were controlled by us and approximately 350 were either under contract with unrelated parties or currently not under contract. We had additional funding commitments totaling approximately $9,800 to one of the JVs as of September 30, 2024.

We owned land with a carrying value of approximately $63,300 that will be developed into approximately 2,600 finished lots.

See Notes 2, 3 and 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein for additional information regarding LPAs, JVs and land under development, respectively.

In addition, we have certain properties under contract with land owners that are expected to yield approximately 38,200 lots, which are not included in the number of total lots controlled. Some of these properties may require rezoning or other approvals to achieve the expected yield. As of September 30, 2024, these properties are controlled with deposits in cash totaling approximately $19,700, of which approximately $5,100 is refundable if certain contractual conditions are not met. We generally expect to assign the raw land contracts to a land developer and simultaneously enter into an LPA with the assignee if the project is determined to be feasible.

Key Financial Results

Our consolidated revenues for the third quarter of 2024 totaled $2,732,951, a 6% increase from the third quarter of 2023. Net income for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $429,323, or $130.50 per diluted share. For the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, net income decreased 1% and diluted earnings per share increased 4% when compared to net income and diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2023, respectively. Our homebuilding gross profit margin percentage decreased to 23.4% in the third quarter of 2024 from 24.3% in the third quarter of 2023. New orders, net of cancellations (“New Orders”) increased by 19% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023. The New Order cancellation rate for the third quarter of 2024 increased to 14.5% from 13.6% in the same period in 2023. The average sales price for New Orders in the third quarter of 2024 was $450.7, a decrease of 1% compared to the third quarter of 2023.

Homebuilding Operations

Consolidated Homebuilding - Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

Homebuilding revenues increased 7% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, primarily as a result of a 5% increase in the number of units settled. The increase in settlements was primarily attributable to a 3% higher backlog unit balance entering the third quarter of 2024 compared to the backlog unit balance entering the third quarter of 2023, coupled with a higher backlog turnover rate quarter over quarter. Gross profit margin percentage in the third quarter of 2024 decreased to 23.4%, from 24.3% in the third quarter of 2023. Gross profit margin was negatively impacted by higher lot costs and closing cost assistance quarter over quarter.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense in the third quarter of 2024 increased by approximately $7,100 compared to the third quarter of 2023, but as a percentage of revenue decreased to 5.6% from

5.7% quarter over quarter. The increase in SG&A expense was primarily attributable to a $7,000 increase in personnel costs attributable to an increase in headcount quarter over quarter. Additionally, sales and marketing expenses were approximately $3,300 higher quarter over quarter due to an increase in model home related expenses. These increases in SG&A expense were partially offset by a $6,600 decrease in equity-based compensation quarter over quarter due primarily to the Options and RSUs issued as part of the 2018 four-year block grant being fully vested as of December 31, 2023.

New Orders increased 19%, while the average sales price of New Orders decreased 1% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023. New Orders were impacted primarily by a higher sales absorption rate in the third quarter of 2024.

Consolidated Homebuilding - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

Homebuilding revenues increased 8% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, primarily as a result of a 9% increase in the number of units settled. The increase in settlements was attributable to a 12% higher backlog unit balance entering 2024 compared to the backlog unit balance entering 2023. Gross profit margin percentage in the first nine months of 2024 decreased to 23.8% from 24.4% in the first nine months of 2023. Gross profit margin was negatively impacted by higher lot costs and closing cost assistance year over year.

SG&A expense in the first nine months of 2024 increased by approximately $8,600 compared to the same period in 2023, and as a percentage of revenue decreased to 5.9% in 2024 from 6.3% in 2023. The increase in SG&A expense was primarily attributable to a $14,500 increase in personnel costs attributable to an increase in headcount year over year. Additionally, sales and marketing expenses were approximately $7,200 higher year over year due to an increase in model home related expenses. These increases in SG&A expense were partially offset by a $17,700 decrease in equity-based compensation year over year due primarily to the Options and RSUs issued as part of the 2018 four-year block grant being fully vested as of December 31, 2023.

New Orders and the average sales price of New Orders increased 7% and 2%, respectively, in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. New Orders were favorably impacted primarily by a higher sales absorption rate year over year. The increase in the average sales price of New Orders is primarily attributable to a relative shift to higher priced markets and communities in certain of our reporting segments as discussed in the respective segments below.

The backlog turnover rate is impacted by various factors, including, but not limited to, changes in New Order activity, internal production capacity, external subcontractor capacity, building material supply chain disruptions and other external factors over which we do not exercise control.

Reportable Segments

Homebuilding segment profit includes all revenues and income generated from the sale of homes, less the cost of homes sold, SG&A expenses, and a corporate capital allocation charge determined by corporate management. The corporate capital allocation charge eliminates in consolidation and is based on the segment’s average net assets employed. The corporate capital allocation charged to the operating segment allows the Chief Operating Decision Maker to determine whether the operating segment is providing the desired rate of return after covering our cost of capital.

We record charges on contract land deposits when we determine that it is probable that recovery of the deposit is impaired. For segment reporting purposes, impairments on contract land deposits are generally charged to the operating segment upon the termination of an LPA with the developer, or the restructuring of an LPA resulting in the forfeiture of the deposit. We evaluate our entire net contract land deposit portfolio for impairment each quarter. For presentation purposes below, the contract land deposit reserve as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 has been allocated to the respective year’s reportable segments to show contract land deposits on a net basis. The net contract land deposit balances below also include approximately $10,400 and $7,700 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, of letters of credit issued as deposits in lieu of cash.

The following tables summarize certain homebuilding operating activity by reportable segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.