<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225208-17-018900.txt : 20171219
<SEC-HEADER>0001225208-17-018900.hdr.sgml : 20171219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171219163810
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225208-17-018900
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SORSBY J LARRY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211054

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08551
		FILM NUMBER:		171264440

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 HIGHWAY 35
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 500
		CITY:			RED BANK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07701

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000357294
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATIVE BUILDERS [1531]
		IRS NUMBER:				221851059
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 WEST FRONT STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 500
		CITY:			RED BANK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7327477800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 WEST FRONT STREET PO BOX 500
		STREET 2:		110 WEST FRONT STREET  PO BOX 500
		CITY:			RED BANK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07701
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000357294</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HOV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211054</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SORSBY J LARRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>110 WEST FRONT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RED BANK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Exec. VP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Market Share Units (Performance)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>56446.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-06-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>56446.0000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>56446.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Converts to Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, non-cumulative (&quot;Class A Common Stock&quot;), on a one-for-one basis</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The date of the transaction represents the date on which the financial performance criteria of previously granted Market Share Units were determined to have been satisfied</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Market Share Units vest, if at all and to the extent of specified market performance of the Class A Common Stock over each relevant vesting period, in four equal installments on the following vesting dates:  January 1, 2018, June 12, 2018, June 12, 2019 and June 12, 2020</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would be received upon vesting of the Market Share Units, if any, may vary from 50% to 175% of the number shown depending on the market performance of the Class A Common Stock over each relevant vesting period</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nancy A. Marrazzo Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-12-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
