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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Organization. Beazer Homes USA, Inc. is one of the ten largest homebuilders in the United States, based on number of homes closed. We are a geographically diversified homebuilder with active operations in 16 states: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Results from our title services business and exit markets are reported as discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for all periods presented (see Note 16 for further discussion of our Discontinued Operations). We evaluated events that occurred after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements were issued or are available to be issued for accounting treatment and disclosure. Presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. and our subsidiaries. Intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. We consider investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At September 30, 2014, the majority of our cash and cash equivalents were invested in high-quality money market mutual funds, highly marketable securities, or on deposit with major banks, which were valued at par with no withdrawal restrictions. The underlying investments of these funds were U.S. Government and U.S. Government Agency obligations or high quality marketable securities. Restricted cash includes cash restricted by state law or a contractual requirement, including cash collateral for our cash secured term loan and outstanding letters of credit. Accounts Receivable. Accounts receivable include escrow deposits to be received from title companies associated with closed homes, receivables from municipalities related to the development of utilities or other infrastructure and other miscellaneous receivables. Generally, we receive cash from title companies within a few days of the home being closed. We regularly review our receivable balances for collectiblity and record an allowance against the receivable when collectiblity is deemed to be uncertain. Inventory. Owned inventory consists solely of residential real estate developments. Interest, real estate taxes and development costs are capitalized in inventory during the development and construction period. Construction and land costs are comprised of direct and allocated costs, including estimated future costs for warranties and amenities. Land, land improvements and other common costs are typically allocated to individual residential lots on a pro-rata basis, and the costs of residential lots are transferred to homes under construction when home construction begins. Consolidated inventory not owned represents the fair value of land under option agreements of a variable interest entity (VIE) where the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE. VIEs are entities in which 1) equity investors do not have a controlling financial interest and/or 2) the entity is unable to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. In addition, when our deposits and pre-acquisition development costs exceed certain thresholds, we record the remaining purchase price of the lots as consolidated inventory not owned and obligations related to consolidated inventory not owned in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Inventory Valuation - Held for Development. Our homebuilding inventories that are accounted for as held for development include land and home construction assets grouped together as communities. Homebuilding inventories held for development are stated at cost (including direct construction costs, capitalized indirect costs, capitalized interest and real estate taxes) unless facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. We assess these assets no less than quarterly for recoverability. Generally, upon the commencement of land development activities, it may take three to five years (depending on, among other things, the size of the community and its sales pace) to fully develop, sell, construct and close all the homes in a typical community. A significant downturn in our business, as experienced in the recent past, may negatively impact the estimated life of communities. Recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the expected undiscounted cash flows generated are expected to be less than its carrying amount, an impairment charge should be recorded to write down the carrying amount of such asset to its estimated fair value based on discounted cash flows. When conducting our community level review for the recoverability of our homebuilding inventories held for development, we establish a quarterly “watch list” of communities with more than 10 homes remaining that carry profit margins in backlog or in our forecast that are below a minimum threshold of profitability. In our experience, this threshold represents a level of profitability that may be an indicator of conditions which would require an asset impairment but does not guarantee that such impairment will definitively be appropriate. As such, assets on the quarterly watch list are subject to substantial additional financial and operational analyses and review that consider the competitive environment and other factors contributing to profit margins below our watch list threshold. For communities where the current competitive and market dynamics indicate that these factors may be other than temporary, which may call into question the recoverability of our investment, a formal impairment analysis is performed. The formal impairment analysis consists of both qualitative competitive market analyses and a quantitative analysis reflecting market and asset specific information. Our qualitative competitive market analyses include site visits to competitor new home communities and written community level competitive assessments. A competitive assessment consists of a comparison of our specific community with its competitor communities, considering square footage of homes offered, amenities offered within the homes and the communities, location, transportation availability and school districts, among many factors. In addition, we review the pace of monthly home sales of our competitor communities in relation to our specific community. We also review other factors such as the target buyer and the macro-economic characteristics that impact the performance of our assets, such as unemployment and the availability of mortgage financing, among other things. Based on this qualitative competitive market analysis, adjustments to our sales prices may be required in order to make our communities competitive. We incorporate these adjusted prices in our quantitative analysis for the specific community. The quantitative analysis compares the projected future undiscounted cash flows for each such community with its current carrying value. This undiscounted cash flow analysis requires important assumptions regarding the location and mix of house plans to be sold, current and future home sale prices and incentives for each plan, current and future construction costs for each plan, and the pace of monthly sales to occur today and into the future. t There is uncertainty associated with preparing the undiscounted cash flow analysis because future market conditions will almost certainly be different, either better or worse, than current conditions. The single most important “input” to the cash flow analysis is current and future home sales prices for a specific community. The risk of over or under-stating any of the important cash flow variables, including home prices, is greater with longer-lived communities and within markets that have historically experienced greater home price volatility. In an effort to address these risks, we consider some home price and construction cost appreciation in future years for certain communities that are expected to be selling for more than three years and/or if the market has typically exhibited high levels of price volatility. Absent these assumptions on cost and sales price appreciation, we believe the long-term cash flow analysis would be unrealistic and would serve to artificially improve expected future profitability. Finally, we also ensure that the monthly sales absorptions, including historical seasonal differences of our communities and those of our competitors, used in our undiscounted cash flow analyses are realistic, consider our development schedules and relate to those achieved by our competitors for the specific communities. If the aggregate undiscounted cash flows from our quantitative analysis are in excess of the carrying value, the asset is considered to be recoverable and is not impaired. If the aggregate undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying or book value, we perform a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the fair value of the community. The fair value of the community is estimated using the present value of the estimated future cash flows using discount rates commensurate with the risk associated with the underlying community assets. The discount rate used may be different for each community. The factors considered when determining an appropriate discount rate for a community include, among others: (1) community specific factors such as the number of lots in the community, the status of land development in the community, the competitive factors influencing the sales performance of the community and (2) overall market factors such as employment levels, consumer confidence and the existing supply of new and used homes for sale. If the determined fair value is less than the carrying value of the specific asset, the asset is considered not recoverable and is written down to its fair value plus the asset's share of capitalized unallocated interest and other costs. The carrying value of assets in communities that were previously impaired and continue to be classified as held for development is not increased for future estimates of increases in fair value in future reporting periods. Due to uncertainties in the estimation process, particularly with respect to projected home sales prices and absorption rates, the timing and amount of the estimated future cash flows and discount rates, it is reasonably possible that actual results could differ from the estimates used in our impairment analyses. Asset Valuation - Land Held for Future Development. For those communities for which construction and development activities are expected to occur in the future or have been idled (land held for future development), all applicable interest and real estate taxes are expensed as incurred and the inventory is stated at cost unless facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. The future enactment of a development plan or the occurrence of events and circumstances may indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We evaluate the potential development plans of each community in land held for future development if changes in facts and circumstances occur which would give rise to a more detailed analysis for a change in the status of a community to active status or held for development. Asset Valuation - Land Held for Sale. We record assets held for sale at the lower of the carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. The following criteria are used to determine if land is held for sale:
• | management has the authority and commits to a plan to sell the land;
• | the land is available for immediate sale in its present conditions;
• | there is an active program to locate a buyer and the plan to sell the property has been initiated;
• | the sale of the land is probable within one year;
• | the property is being actively marketed at a reasonable sale price relative to its current fair value; and
• | it is unlikely that the plan to sell will be withdrawn or that significant changes to the plan will be made.
Additionally, in certain circumstances, management will re-evaluate the best use of an asset that is currently being accounted for as held for development. In such instances, management will review, among other things, the current and projected competitive circumstances of the community, including the level of supply of new and used inventory, the level of sales absorptions by us and our competition, the level of sales incentives required and the number of owned lots remaining in the community. If, based on this review and the foregoing criteria have been met at the end of the applicable reporting period, we believe that the best use of the asset is the sale of all or a portion of the asset in its current condition, then all or portions of the community are accounted for as held for sale. In determining the fair value of the assets less cost to sell, we consider factors including current sales prices for comparable assets in the area, recent market analysis studies, appraisals, any recent legitimate offers, and listing prices of similar properties. If the estimated fair value less cost to sell of an asset is less than its current carrying value, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value less cost to sell. Due to uncertainties in the estimation process, it is reasonably possible that actual results could differ from the estimates used in our historical analyses. Land Not Owned Under Option Agreements. In addition to purchasing land directly, we utilize lot option agreements which generally enable us to defer acquiring portions of properties owned by third parties and unconsolidated entities until we have determined whether to exercise our lot option. A majority of our lot option contracts require a non-refundable cash deposit or irrevocable letter of credit based on a percentage of the purchase price of the land for the right to acquire lots during a specified period of time at a certain price. Under lot option contracts, purchase of the properties is contingent upon satisfaction of certain requirements by us and the sellers. Under lot option contracts our liability is generally limited to forfeiture of the non-refundable deposits, letters of credit and other non-refundable amounts incurred. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), if the entity holding the land under option is a VIE, the Company's deposit represents a variable interest in that entity. To determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE, we are first required to evaluate whether we have the ability to control the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance. Such activities include, but are not limited to, the ability to determine the budget and scope of land development work, if any; the ability to control financing decisions for the VIE; the ability to acquire additional land into the VIE or dispose of land in the VIE not under contract with Beazer; and the ability to change or amend the existing option contract with the VIE. If we are not determined to control such activities, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE and thus do not consolidate the VIE. If we do have the ability to control such activities, we will continue our analysis by determining if we are expected to absorb a potentially significant amount of the VIE's losses or, if no party absorbs the majority of such losses, if we will benefit from potentially a significant amount of the VIE's expected gains. If we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE, we will consolidate the VIE and reflect such assets and liabilities as land not owned under option agreements in our balance sheets, though creditors of the VIE have no recourse against the Company. For VIEs we are required to consolidate, we record the remaining contractual purchase price under the applicable lot option agreement to land not owned under option agreements with an offsetting increase to obligations related to land not owned under option agreements. During the recent housing industry downturn, the Company canceled a significant number of lot option agreements, which resulted in significant write-offs of the related deposits and pre-acquisition costs but did not expose the Company to the overall risks or losses of the applicable VIEs. Investments in Marketable Securities and Unconsolidated Entities. We have an equity investment in American Homes 4 Rent (AMH) resulting from the sale of Pre-Owned. We account for the investment in AMH as a marketable security. As of September 30, 2014, all of our marketable securities were treated as available-for-sale investments, and, as such, we have recorded all of our marketable securities at fair value with changes in fair value being recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). When a security is sold, we use specific identification to determine the cost of the security sold for the amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). We evaluate our investments in marketable securities for impairment during each reporting period. We consider the length of time and extent to which the marketable value of the investment has been less than cost, either or both of which may lead to a conclusion that the security is other than temporarily impaired. We also participate in a number of joint ventures and other investments in which we have less than a controlling interest. We enter into the majority of these investments with land developers, other homebuilders and financial partners to acquire attractive land positions, to manage our risk profile and to leverage our capital base. The land positions are developed into finished lots for sale to the unconsolidated entity’s members or other third parties. We recognize our share of equity in income (loss) and profits (losses) from the sale of lots to other buyers. Our share of profits from lots we purchase from the unconsolidated entities is deferred and treated as a reduction of the cost of the land purchased from the unconsolidated entity. Such profits are subsequently recognized at the time the home closes and title passes to the homebuyer. We evaluate our investments in unconsolidated entities for impairment during each reporting period. A series of operating losses of an investee or other factors may indicate that a decrease in the value of our investment in the unconsolidated entity has occurred which is other-than-temporary. The amount of impairment recognized is the excess of the investment’s carrying value over its estimated fair value. Our unconsolidated entities typically obtain secured acquisition and development financing. We account for our interest in unconsolidated entities under the equity method. See Note 3, Investments in Marketable Securities and Unconsolidated Entities. Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis at rates based on estimated useful lives as follows:
Buildings |  | 25 - 30 years
Building improvements |  | Lesser of estimated useful life of the improvements or remaining useful life of the building
Information systems |  | Lesser of estimated useful life of the asset or 5 years
Furniture, fixtures, and computer and office equipment |  | 3 - 7 years
Model and sales office improvements |  | Lesser of estimated useful life of the asset or estimated useful life of the community
Leasehold improvements |  | Lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset
Other Assets. Other assets principally include prepaid expenses, debt issuance costs and deferred compensation plan assets. Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes is comprised of taxes that are currently payable and deferred taxes that relate to temporary differences between financial reporting carrying values and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities result from deductible or taxable amounts in future years when such assets and liabilities are recovered or settled and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. We include any estimated interest and penalties on tax related matters in income taxes payable. We recognize the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition of measurement are recorded in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. We record interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Other Liabilities. Other liabilities include the following:
(In thousands) | September 30, 2014 |  | September 30, 2013
Income tax liabilities | $ | 5,576 |  |  | $ | 20,170 |
Accrued warranty expenses | 16,084 |  |  | 11,663 |
Accrued interest | 34,645 |  |  | 33,372 |
Accrued and deferred compensation | 24,270 |  |  | 25,579 |
Customer deposits | 11,977 |  |  | 11,408 |
Other | 49,964 |  |  | 43,431 |
Total | $ | 142,516 |  |  | $ | 145,623 |
Income Recognition and Classification of Costs. Revenue and related profit are generally recognized at the time of the closing of a sale, when title to and possession of the property are transferred to the buyer. Sales discounts and incentives include items such as cash discounts, discounts on options included in the home, option upgrades (such as upgrades for cabinetry, countertops and flooring), and seller-paid financing or closing costs. In addition, from time to time, we may also provide homebuyers with retail gift certificates and/or other nominal retail merchandise. All sales incentives other than cash discounts are recognized as a cost of selling the home and are included in home construction and land sales expenses. Cash discounts are accounted for as a reduction in the sales price of the home. Estimated future warranty costs are charged to cost of sales in the period when the revenues from home closings are recognized. Such estimated warranty costs generally range from 0.1% to 2.1% of total revenue. Additional warranty costs are charged to cost of sales as necessary based on management's estimate of the costs to remediate existing claims. See Note 9 for a more detailed discussion of warranty costs and related reserves. Advertising costs related to our continuing operations of $17.8 million, $14.2 million and $13.5 million for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, were expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses. Earnings Per Share. The computation of basic EPS is determined by dividing net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS additionally gives effect (when dilutive) to stock options, other stock based awards and other potentially dilutive securities including the common shares issuable upon conversion of our Tangible Equity Unit prepaid stock purchase contracts. These common stock equivalents for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 included options/stock-settled appreciation rights (SSARs) to purchase 0.7 million shares of common stock and 5.2 million shares issuable upon the conversion of our TEU prepaid stock purchase contracts (based on the maximum potential shares upon conversion). In computing diluted income (loss) per share for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, all common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share as a result of their anti-dilutive effect. See Notes 7, 12 and 13 for further discussion of these common stock equivalents. Fair Value Measurements. Certain of our assets are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of our available-for-sale marketable equity securities are based on readily available share prices. The fair value of our deferred compensation plan assets are based on market-corroborated inputs. Certain of our assets are required to be recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recovered. We review our long-lived assets, including inventory, for recoverability when factors that indicate an impairment may exist, but no less than quarterly. Fair value is based on estimated cash flows discounted for market risks associated with the long-lived assets. The fair value of certain of our financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts due to the short maturity of these assets and liabilities or the variable interest rates on such obligations. The fair value of our publicly held debt is generally estimated based on quoted bid prices for these instruments. Certain of our other financial instruments are estimated by discounting scheduled cash flows through maturity or using market rates currently being offered on loans with similar terms and credit quality. See Note 10 for additional discussion of our fair value measurements. Stock-Based Compensation. We use the Black-Scholes model to value SSARs and stock option grants. We estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense related to stock-based compensation. In addition, we reflect the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost as a financing cash inflow and an operating cash outflow. Nonvested stock granted to employees is valued based on the market price of the common stock on the date of the grant. Performance based, nonvested stock granted to employees is valued using the Monte Carlo valuation method. Cash-settled, stock-based awards if, and when, granted to employees are initially valued based on the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant and are adjusted to fair value until vested. Stock options issued to non-employees are valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Nonvested stock granted to non-employees is initially valued based on the market price of the common stock on the date of the grant and is adjusted to fair value until vested. Compensation cost arising from nonvested stock granted to employees, from cash-settled, stock-based employee awards and from non-employee stock awards is recognized as expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period. Although the Company may, from time to time grant cash-settled awards to employees, for the fiscal years ended as of September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, there were no such awards either granted or outstanding. Use of Estimates. 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. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, (ASU 2013-11). ASU 2013-11 which states that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward with certain defined exceptions. ASU 2013-11 is intended to end inconsistent practices regarding the presentation of a unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss (NOL), a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward is available to reduce the taxable income or tax payable that would result from the disallowance of a tax position. ASU 2013-11 will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2014 and subsequent interim periods. Early and retrospective adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)." ASU 2014-09 requires companies to recognize revenue when it transfers goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration in which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The guidance within ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning October 1, 2017 and allows for both full retrospective or modified retrospective methods of adoption. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6003-108592 + Details
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