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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Nov. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies include typical obligations of homebuilders for the completion of contracts and those incurred in the ordinary course of business. Warranty. We provide a limited warranty on all of our homes. The specific terms and conditions of our limited warranty program vary depending upon the markets in which we do business. We generally provide a structural warranty of 10 years, a warranty on electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing and certain other building systems each varying from two to five years based on geographic market and state law, and a warranty of one year for other components of the home. Our limited warranty program is ordinarily how we respond to and account for homeowners’ requests to local division offices seeking repairs, including claims where we could have liability under applicable state statutes or tort law for a defective condition in or damages to a home. We estimate the costs that may be incurred under each limited warranty and record a liability in the amount of such costs at the time the revenue associated with the sale of each home is recognized. Our primary assumption in estimating the amounts we accrue for warranty costs is that historical claims experience is a strong indicator of future claims experience. Factors that affect our warranty liability include the number of homes delivered, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and cost per claim. We periodically assess the adequacy of our accrued warranty liability, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets, and adjust the amount as necessary based on our assessment. Our assessment includes the review of our actual warranty costs incurred to identify trends and changes in our warranty claims experience, and considers our home construction quality and customer service initiatives and outside events. While we believe the warranty liability currently reflected in our consolidated balance sheets to be adequate, unanticipated changes or developments in the legal environment, local weather, land or environmental conditions, quality of materials or methods used in the construction of homes or customer service practices and our warranty claims experience could have a significant impact on our actual warranty costs in the future and such amounts could differ significantly from our current estimates. The changes in our warranty liability are as follows (in thousands):
| Years Ended November 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 48,704 |  |  | $ | 47,822 |  |  | $ | 67,693 |
Warranties issued (a) | 18,479 |  |  | 14,261 |  |  | 8,416 |
Payments | (39,458 | ) |  | (45,338 | ) |  | (19,701 | )
Adjustments (b) | 17,471 |  |  | 31,959 |  |  | (8,586 | )
Balance at end of year | $ | 45,196 |  |  | $ | 48,704 |  |  | $ | 47,822 |
(a) | The year-over-year increase in the expense associated with warranties issued in 2014 and 2013 reflected higher housing revenues in each of those years. Additionally, in 2013, we increased the warranty accrual rate per home based on our historical claims experience.
(b) | Adjustments in 2014 were primarily comprised of reclassifications of estimated minimum probable recoveries to receivables and a reclassification to establish a separate accrual for a water intrusion-related inquiry from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Florida (the “Attorney General’s Office”). These items had no impact on our consolidated statements of operations. Adjustments in 2013 were comprised of charges associated with water intrusion-related issues in central and southwest Florida. In 2012, favorable warranty adjustments were partly offset by similar water intrusion-related charges.
Central and Southwest Florida Claims. During 2012, we received warranty claims from homeowners in certain of our communities in central and southwest Florida that primarily involved framing, stucco, roofing and/or sealant matters on homes we delivered between 2003 and 2009, with many resulting in water intrusion-related issues. While we initially believed these issues were isolated, after additional investigation we determined in the fourth quarter of 2012 that more homes and communities may have been affected, and we continued our investigations throughout 2013 and 2014 in an effort to identify the scope of the issues, to examine and fully understand the causes and to address them as quickly and completely as possible. During this period, we encountered an evolving and at times unexpected range of varied and complex conditions and repairs with respect to affected homes. As a result, prior to the second quarter of 2013, we were unable to estimate the number of similarly affected homes likely to be identified in the future and the repair costs associated with those homes. Beginning in the second quarter of 2013, we believed we accumulated adequate experience with these water intrusion-related issues through our assessment process and continued investigative efforts to identify, examine and repair affected homes to be able to reasonably estimate as of the end of that quarter and as of the end of each respective subsequent quarterly period the number of similarly affected homes that were then likely to be identified in the future and the probable repair costs associated with such similarly affected homes, in addition to updating the number of identified affected homes and our estimate of the repair costs associated with such identified affected homes. In 2014, the number of affected homes that we identified decreased substantially from the number of affected homes that we identified during 2013, and we continued to make significant progress on resolving repairs. Based on the status of our ongoing investigation and repair efforts, our overall warranty liability at November 30, 2014 included $9.4 million for estimated remaining repair costs associated with 324 homes in central and southwest Florida that have been identified as having water intrusion-related issues and estimated repair costs associated with similarly affected homes in central and southwest Florida that we believe are likely to be identified in the future. Our overall warranty liability at November 30, 2013 included $28.9 million for estimated remaining repair costs associated with 710 identified affected homes and estimated repair costs associated with similarly affected homes then-believed likely to be identified in the future. The decrease in the liability for such estimated repair costs during the year ended November 30, 2014 reflected payments made during the year to repair affected homes and a lower number of identified affected homes with unresolved repairs at November 30, 2014 compared to November 30, 2013. The $9.4 million included in our overall warranty liability as of November 30, 2014 encompasses what we believe is the probable overall cost of the repair effort remaining before insurance and other recoveries. However, our actual costs to fully resolve repairs on affected homes could differ from the overall costs we have estimated. During 2014, repairs were resolved on 536 identified affected homes and we identified 150 additional affected homes, most of which were in one attached-home community. During 2013, repairs were resolved on 754 identified affected homes. For these purposes, we consider repairs for identified homes to be resolved when all repairs are completed and all repair costs are fully paid. During 2014 and 2013, we paid $26.6 million and $32.7 million to repair identified affected homes, respectively. Since first identifying affected homes in 2012, we have identified a total of 1,614 affected homes requiring more than minor repairs and resolved repairs on 1,290 of those homes through November 30, 2014. As of November 30, 2014, we had paid $63.3 million of the total estimated repair costs of $72.7 million that we have estimated for the overall repair effort. Approximately 64% of the total estimated repair costs as of November 30, 2014 related to three attached-home communities. We anticipate resolving repairs on homes in central and southwest Florida affected by the water intrusion-related issues during 2015. As of November 30, 2014, based on our assessment of the water intrusion-related issues, we believe it is probable that we will recover a portion of our repair costs associated with affected homes from various sources, including our insurers, and subcontractors involved with the original construction of the homes and their insurers. During 2014, we collected $.9 million of such recoveries. As of November 30, 2014, our estimated minimum probable recoveries totaled $26.6 million, of which $9.4 million was included in our overall warranty liability and the remainder was included in receivables. As of November 30, 2013, the estimated minimum probable recoveries, all of which were included in our warranty liability, totaled $19.4 million. Our assessment of the water intrusion-related issues, including the process of determining potentially responsible parties and our efforts to obtain recoveries, is ongoing, and as a result, our estimate of minimum probable recoveries may change as additional information is obtained. Other Claims. With respect to potential recoveries on claims regarding other homes previously delivered, we have tendered claims with responsible liability insurance carriers, seeking reimbursement of costs we have incurred to make repairs and to handle claims. During 2012, we recognized insurance recoveries of $26.5 million as a reduction to construction and land costs in our consolidated statements of operations, representing amounts we received from one of our insurance carriers for a portion of the claims we have tendered. We intend to continue to undertake efforts, including legal proceedings, to obtain reimbursement from various sources, including subcontractors, suppliers and their insurers, for the costs we have incurred or expect to incur to investigate and complete repairs and to defend ourselves in litigation. Given uncertainties in the potential outcomes of these efforts, we had not recorded any amounts for potential future recoveries as of November 30, 2014 or 2013. Overall Warranty Liability Assessment. In assessing our overall warranty liability at a reporting date, we evaluate the costs for warranty-related items on a combined basis for all of our previously delivered homes that are under our limited warranty program, which would include homes in central and southwest Florida that have been or may in the future be identified as having water intrusion-related issues. Based on our assessments of our overall warranty liability during 2014, we recorded adjustments to increase our warranty liability mainly to reflect our identification of additional homes affected by the water intrusion-related issues and our updated estimate of remaining repair costs for such affected homes, with a corresponding charge to construction and land costs in our consolidated statement of operations. We also recorded adjustments to increase our estimated minimum probable recoveries during 2014 based on our updated estimate of repair costs on identified affected homes. These adjustments had no net impact on our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended November 30, 2014. In addition, due to payments we have made for repair costs on identified affected homes and an increase to the estimated minimum probable recoveries recorded during the year ended November 30, 2014, the estimated minimum probable recoveries exceeded the estimated remaining repair costs in our warranty liability associated with these water intrusion-related issues. Therefore, during 2014, we reclassified a total of $18.1 million of estimated minimum probable recoveries, that were in excess of the then-estimated remaining repair costs associated with water intrusion-related issues, to a receivable. In 2013, based on our assessment of our overall warranty liability, we recorded adjustments to increase our warranty liability by $32.0 million with a corresponding charge to construction and land costs in our consolidated statements of operations. The adjustments reflected our then-current estimate of remaining repair costs associated with homes in central and southwest Florida that had been identified as having water intrusion-related issues and our estimate of repair costs associated with similarly affected homes in central and southwest Florida then-believed likely to be identified in the future, net of an increase in estimated minimum probable recoveries of such repair costs and other adjustments. These adjustments were made in each quarter of 2013 as our assessment process continued and we gained more experience and knowledge of the scope and nature of the water intrusion-related issues and the associated repair efforts and costs, and potential recoveries. The adjustments we made in 2013 also reflected the identification of 687 additional affected homes at other communities in central and southwest Florida, and our estimate of the total number of affected homes that we believed were likely to be identified in the future. In 2012, notwithstanding our actual or estimated remaining repair costs related to the water intrusion-related issues and homes affected by other issues, we had experienced favorable trends in our actual warranty costs incurred for the previous several years with respect to claims relating to other warranty-related items, reflecting, among other things, our ongoing focus on construction quality and customer service. Based on our assessments of these and other relevant factors on a combined basis, we determined that our overall warranty liability at November 30, 2012 was sufficient to cover our overall warranty obligations on previously delivered homes then under our limited warranty program. Additionally, based on our assessment of the trends in our warranty claims experience, and taking into account the decrease in the overall number of homes we had delivered over the past several years before 2012 and other factors, we recorded a favorable warranty adjustment of $11.2 million in 2012 as a reduction to construction and land costs in our consolidated statement of operations. However, as of November 30, 2012, based on our assessment of our overall warranty liability on a combined basis for all of our previously delivered homes that were under our limited warranty, including the increased number of homes potentially affected by water intrusion-related issues, we recorded an adjustment to increase our overall warranty liability by $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 with a corresponding charge to construction and land costs in our consolidated statements of operations. Depending on the number of additional homes in central and southwest Florida that are identified as having water intrusion-related issues, and the actual costs we incur in future periods to repair identified affected homes and/or homes affected by other issues, including costs to provide certain affected homeowners with temporary housing, we may revise the amount of our estimated liability, which could result in an increase or decrease in our overall warranty liability. Based on our assessment of these water intrusion-related issues, we believe that our warranty liability is adequate to cover the estimated probable total repair costs on these affected homes and on homes affected by other issues, though we believe it is reasonably possible that our loss in this matter could exceed the amount accrued as of November 30, 2014 by up to $3 million. Attorney General’s Office Inquiry. In 2013, we were notified by the Attorney General’s Office that it was making a preliminary inquiry into the status of our communities in Florida affected by water intrusion-related issues. We are cooperating with the Attorney General’s Office inquiry and are in discussions to resolve its concerns. While the ultimate outcome of the inquiry is uncertain, based on the status of our discussions, we established an accrual for the estimated minimum probable loss with respect to this inquiry during 2014 and increased the accrual as of November 30, 2014. At this stage of our discussions, we are unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss, and the ultimate outcome may or may not be material to our consolidated financial statements. Guarantees. In the normal course of our business, we issue certain representations, warranties and guarantees related to our home sales and land sales that may be affected by Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 460, “Guarantees.” Based on historical evidence, we do not believe any potential liability with respect to these representations, warranties or guarantees would be material to our consolidated financial statements. Self-Insurance. W e maintain, and require the majority of our subcontractors to maintain, general liability insurance (including construction defect and bodily injury coverage) and workers’ compensation insurance. These insurance policies protect us against a portion of our risk of loss from claims related to our homebuilding activities, subject to certain self-insured retentions, deductibles and other coverage limits, each of which have generally increased in recent years, reducing the overall benefit of such coverage significantly. We self-insure a portion of our overall risk through the use of a captive insurance subsidiary. We also maintain certain other insurance policies. In Arizona, California, Colorado and Nevada, our subcontractors’ general liability insurance primarily takes the form of a wrap-up policy, where eligible subcontractors are enrolled as insureds on each project. Enrolled subcontractors contribute toward the cost of the insurance and agree to pay a contractual amount in the future in the event of a claim related to their work. To the extent provided under the wrap-up program, we absorb the enrolled subcontractors’ general liability associated with the work performed on our homes within the applicable projects as part of our overall general liability insurance and our self-insurance through our captive insurance subsidiary. We record expenses and liabilities based on the estimated costs required to cover our self-insured retention and deductible amounts under our insurance policies, and the estimated costs of potential claims and claim adjustment expenses that are above our coverage limits or that are not covered by our insurance policies. These estimated costs are based on an analysis of our historical claims and industry data, and include an estimate of construction defect claims incurred but not yet reported. We engage a third-party actuary that uses our historical claim and expense data, as well as industry data, to estimate our liabilities related to unpaid claims, claim adjustment expenses, third-party recoveries and incurred but not yet reported claims for the risks that we are assuming under our self-insurance. These estimates are subject to uncertainty due to a variety of factors, the most significant being the long period of time between the delivery of a home to a homebuyer and when a structural warranty or construction defect claim is made, and the ultimate resolution of the construction defect claim. Though state regulations vary, construction defect claims are reported and resolved over a prolonged period of time, which can extend for 10 years or longer. As a result, the majority of the estimated liability relates to incurred but not yet reported claims. Because the majority of our estimated liabilities relate to incurred but not yet reported claims, adjustments related to individual existing claims generally do not significantly impact the overall estimated liability. Adjustments to our liabilities related to homes delivered in prior years are recorded in the period in which a change in our estimate occurs. The changes in our self-insurance liability are as follows (in thousands):
| Years Ended November 30,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 92,214 |  |  | $ | 93,349 |  |  | $ | 94,823 |
Self-insurance expense (a) | 13,491 |  |  | 8,239 |  |  | 7,894 |
Payments, net of recoveries (b) | (19,131 | ) |  | (9,374 | ) |  | (10,168 | )
Adjustments | — |  |  | — |  |  | 800 |
Balance at end of year | $ | 86,574 |  |  | $ | 92,214 |  |  | $ | 93,349 |
(a) | These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and are largely offset by contributions from subcontractors participating in the wrap-up policy.
(b) | Recoveries are reflected in the period we receive funds from subcontractors and/or their insurers.
The projection of losses related to these liabilities requires actuarial assumptions that are subject to variability due to uncertainties regarding construction defect claims relative to differences in our markets and the types of product we build, insurance industry practices and legal or regulatory interpretations, among other factors. Key assumptions used in these estimates include claim frequencies, severities and settlement patterns, which can occur over an extended period of time. In addition, changes in the frequency and severity of reported claims and the estimates to settle claims can impact the trends and assumptions used in the actuarial analysis, which could be material to our consolidated financial statements. Due to the degree of judgment involved and the potential for variability in these underlying assumptions, our actual future costs could differ from those estimated. Performance Bonds and Letters of Credit. We are often required to provide to various municipalities and other government agencies performance bonds and/or letters of credit to secure the completion of our projects and/or in support of obligations to build community improvements such as roads, sewers, water systems and other utilities, and to support similar development activities by certain of our unconsolidated joint ventures. At November 30, 2014, we had $541.6 million of performance bonds and $26.7 million of letters of credit outstanding. At November 30, 2013, we had $410.8 million of performance bonds and $41.5 million of letters of credit outstanding. If any such performance bonds or letters of credit are called, we would be obligated to reimburse the issuer of the performance bond or letter of credit. We do not believe that a material amount of any currently outstanding performance bonds or letters of credit will be called. Performance bonds do not have stated expiration dates. Rather, we are released from the performance bonds as the underlying performance is completed. The expiration dates of some letters of credit issued in connection with community improvements coincide with the expected completion dates of the related projects or obligations. Most letters of credit, however, are issued with an initial term of one year and are typically extended on a year-to-year basis until the related performance obligations are completed. Land Option Contracts. In the ordinary course of business, we enter into land option contracts and other similar contracts to acquire rights to land for the construction of homes. At November 30, 2014, we had total deposits of $33.2 million, comprised of $33.1 million of cash deposits and $.1 million of letters of credit, to purchase land having an aggregate purchase price of $958.5 million. Our land option contracts and other similar contracts generally do not contain provisions requiring our specific performance. Leases. We lease certain property and equipment under noncancelable operating leases. Office and equipment leases are typically for terms of three to five years and generally provide renewal options for terms up to an additional five years. In most cases, we expect that leases that expire will be renewed or replaced by other leases with similar terms. The future minimum rental payments under operating leases, which primarily consist of office leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year, are as follows (in thousands):
Years Ending November 30, |  |
2015 |  | $ | 8,140 |
2016 |  | 6,630 |
2017 |  | 4,813 |
2018 |  | 4,044 |
2019 |  | 3,576 |
Thereafter |  | 12,320 |
Total minimum lease payments |  | $ | 39,523 |
Rental expense on our operating leases was $7.7 million in 2014, $6.5 million in 2013 and $5.5 million in 2012.

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