basedoc.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2008
     
or
     
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
    For the transition period from ______ to ______ 
 
Commission File Number  1-12434
 
M/I HOMES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio
     
31-1210837
(State or other jurisdiction
     
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)
     
Identification No.)

3 Easton Oval, Suite 500, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(614) 418-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
X
 
No
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer
   
Accelerated filer
X
 
Non-accelerated filer
   
 
Smaller reporting company
 
   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
   


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
   
No
X

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common shares, par value $.01 per share: 14,023,133 shares outstanding as of October 30, 2008
 

 

M/I HOMES, INC.
FORM 10-Q
       
TABLE OF CONTENTS
       
PART 1.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
 
Item 1.
M/I Homes, Inc. and Subsidiaries Unaudited Condensed Consolidated
 
   
Financial Statements
 
       
   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2008
 
   
(Unaudited) and December 31, 2007
3
       
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
 
   
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
4
       
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity
 
   
for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
5
       
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
6
       
   
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
       
 
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
 
   
Results of Operations
20
       
 
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
41
       
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
43
       
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
 
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
43
       
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
43
       
 
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
45
       
 
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
46
       
 
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
46
       
 
Item 5.
Other Information
46
       
 
Item 6.
Exhibits
46
       
Signatures
   
47
       
Exhibit Index
   
48
 
 

 
M/I HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 

 
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
2008
 
2007
 
(Dollars in thousands, except par values)
(Unaudited)
     
         
ASSETS:
       
Cash
$ 4,343   $ 1,506  
Cash held in escrow
  10,122     21,239  
Mortgage loans held for sale
  34,695     54,127  
Inventory
  617,933     797,329  
Property and equipment - net
  31,244     35,699  
Investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies
  22,955     40,343  
Income tax receivable
  39,457     53,667  
Deferred income taxes
  -     67,867  
Other assets
  20,743     31,270  
Assets of discontinued operation
  -     14,598  
TOTAL ASSETS
$ 781,492   $ 1,117,645  
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
           
             
LIABILITIES:
           
Accounts payable
$ 48,271   $ 66,242  
Accrued compensation
  4,149     9,509  
Customer deposits
  5,205     6,932  
Other liabilities
  56,248     58,473  
Community development district obligations
  11,491     12,410  
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned
  7,093     7,433  
Liabilities of discontinued operation
  -     14,286  
Notes payable banks - homebuilding operations
  -     115,000  
Note payable bank - financial services operations
  25,606     40,400  
Notes payable – other
  16,481     6,703  
Senior notes – net of discount of $896 and $1,088, respectively, at September 30, 2008
           
and December 31, 2007
  199,104     198,912  
TOTAL LIABILITIES
  373,648     536,300  
             
Commitments and contingencies
  -     -  
             
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
           
Preferred shares - $.01 par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; issued 4,000 shares
  96,325     96,325  
Common shares - $.01 par value; authorized 38,000,000 shares; issued 17,626,123 shares
  176     176  
Additional paid-in capital
  81,586     79,428  
Retained earnings
  301,316     477,339  
Treasury shares – at cost – 3,602,990 and 3,621,333 shares, respectively, at
           
September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007
  (71,559     (71,923 )
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  407,844     581,345  
             
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$ 781,492   $ 1,117,645  

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 

 

M/I HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
 
2008
 
2007
   
2008
 
2007
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
                   
Revenue
$ 160,385   $ 232,983     $ 457,472   $ 676,000  
Costs, expenses and other income:
                         
   Land and housing
  141,499     187,876       395,300     536,552  
   Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs
  43,166     24,249       104,145     83,573  
   General and administrative
  17,267     23,719       51,958     70,407  
   Selling
  14,726     19,709       41,539     55,647  
   Interest - net
  2,150     4,638       8,695     11,426  
   Other income
  -     -       (5,555 )   -  
Total costs, expenses and other income
  218,808     260,191       596,082     757,605  
                           
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
  (58,423 )   (27,208 )     (138,610 )   (81,605 )
                           
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
  232     (10,403 )     31,445     (31,440 )
                           
Loss from continuing operations
  (58,655 )   (16,805 )     (170,055 )   (50,165 )
                           
Discontinued operation, net of tax
  -     (4,912 )     (33 )   (9,501 )
                           
Net loss
  (58,655 )   (21,717 )     (170,088 )   (59,666 )
                           
Preferred dividends
  -     2,437       4,875     4,875  
                           
Net loss to common shareholders
$ (58,655 ) $ (24,154 )   $ (174,963 ) $ (64,541 )
                           
Loss per common share:
                         
  Basic:
                         
    Continuing operations
$ (4.18 ) $ (1.38 )   $ (12.48 ) $ (3.94 )
    Discontinued operation
  -     (0.35 )     -     (0.68 )
    Basic loss
$ (4.18 ) $ (1.73 )   $ (12.48 ) $ (4.62 )
  Diluted:
                         
    Continuing operations
$ (4.18 ) $ (1.38 )   $ (12.48 ) $ (3.94 )
    Discontinued operation
  -     (0.35 )     -     (0.68 )
    Diluted loss
$ (4.18 ) $ (1.73 )   $ (12.48 ) $ (4.62 )
                           
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                         
   Basic
  14,019     13,990       14,014     13,969  
   Diluted
  14,019     13,990       14,014     13,969  
                           
Dividends per common share
$ -   $ 0.025     $ 0.05   $ 0.075  

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

M/I HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY


 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Preferred Shares
 
Common Shares
 
Additional
         
Total
 
 
Shares
   
Shares
   
Paid-in
 
Retained
 
Treasury
 
Shareholders’
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Outstanding
Amount
 
Outstanding
Amount
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
Shares
 
Equity
 
Balance at December 31, 2007
4,000
$96,325
 
14,004,790
$176
  $79,428   $ 477,339   $(71,923 ) $ 581,345  
Net loss
                (170,088 )     (170,088 )
Dividends on preferred shares, $1,218.75 per share
                (4,875 )     (4,875 )
Dividends on common shares, $0.05 per share
                (1,060 )     (1,060 )
Income tax benefit from stock options and
                           
   deferred compensation distributions
            (88 )         (88 )
Stock options exercised
     
        5,544
    (36 )     110   74  
Stock-based compensation expense
            2,423           2,423  
Deferral of executive and director compensation
            113           113  
Executive and director deferred compensation
                           
distributions
     
       12,799
    (254 )     254   -  
Balance at September 30, 2008
4,000
$96,325
 
14,023,133
$176
  $81,586   $ 301,316   $(71,559 ) $ 407,844  
                             
        
         See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 
M/I HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
            2008
 
2007
 
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
       
Net loss
$ (170,088 ) $ (59,666 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
           
Inventory valuation adjustments and abandoned land transaction write-offs
  86,826     92,068  
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies
  18,887     8,811  
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets
  -     5,175  
Mortgage loan originations
  (279,966 )   (381,607 )
Proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans
  304,332     407,118  
Fair value adjustment of mortgage loans held for sale
  (1,569 )   (286 )
Net (gain) loss from property disposals
  (5,531 )   84  
Depreciation
  4,262     4,091  
Amortization of intangibles, debt discount and debt issue costs
  1,169     1,682  
Stock-based compensation expense
  2,423     2,452  
Deferred income tax benefit
  (11,748 )   (33,425 )
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
  79,615     -  
Income tax receivable
  14,210     -  
Excess tax benefits from stock-based payment arrangements
  88     (138 )
Equity in undistributed loss of limited liability companies
  34     916  
Write-off of unamortized debt discount and financing costs
  1,059     534  
Change in assets and liabilities:
           
Cash held in escrow
  11,133     40,195  
Inventory
  103,534     (8,554 )
Other assets
  8,596     (5,752 )
Accounts payable
  (22,153 )   19,195  
Customer deposits
  (3,099 )   (4,805 )
Accrued compensation
  (5,486 )   (14,235 )
Other liabilities
  (10,355 )   (131 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
  126,173     73,722  
             
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
           
Purchase of property and equipment
  (2,661 )   (3,852 )
Proceeds from the sale of property
  9,454     -  
Investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies
  (3,825 )   (5,718 )
Return of investment from unconsolidated limited liability companies
  416     578  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
  3,384     (8,992 )
             
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
           
Repayments of bank borrowings - net
  (119,708 )   (163,200 )
Principal repayments of mortgage notes payable and community
           
development district bond obligations
  (379 )   (340 )
Proceeds from preferred shares issuance – net of issue costs of $3,675
  -     96,325  
Debt issue costs
  (10 )   (847 )
Payments on capital lease obligations
  (674 )   (712 )
Dividends paid
  (5,935 )   (5,933 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
  74     808  
Excess tax benefits from stock-based payment arrangements
  (88 )   138  
Net cash used in financing activities
  (126,720 )   (73,761 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash
  2,837     (9,031 )
Cash balance at beginning of period
  1,506     11,516  
Cash balance at end of period
$ 4,343   $ 2,485  
             
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
           
Cash paid during the year for:
           
Interest – net of amount capitalized
$ 4,571   $ 7,853  
Income taxes
$ 476   $ 10,180  
             
NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS DURING THE YEAR:
           
Community development district infrastructure
$ (848 ) $ 3,547  
Consolidated inventory not owned
$ (340 ) $ 2,347  
Capital lease obligations
$ -   $ 1,457  
Distribution of single-family lots from unconsolidated limited liability companies
$ 4,559   $ 5,560  
Non-monetary exchange of fixed assets
$ 13,000   $ -  
Contribution of property to unconsolidated limited liability companies
$ -   $ 958  
Deferral of executive and director compensation
$ 113   $ 712  
Executive and director deferred compensation distributions
$ 254   $ 709  
             
See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
6

M/I HOMES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
NOTE  1.  Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (the “financial statements”) of M/I Homes, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) and Notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information.  The financial statements include the accounts of M/I Homes, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.  Results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.  In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments (all of which are normal and recurring in nature) necessary for a fair presentation of financial results for the interim periods presented.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during that period.  Actual results could differ from these estimates and have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and cash flows.  With regard to the Company, estimates and assumptions are inherent in calculations relating to valuation of inventory and investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies (“LLCs”), property and equipment depreciation, valuation of derivative financial instruments, accounts payable on inventory, accruals for costs to complete, accruals for warranty claims, accruals for self-insured general liability claims, litigation, accruals for health care and workers’ compensation, accruals for guaranteed or indemnified loans, stock-based compensation expense, income taxes and contingencies.  Items that could have a significant impact on these estimates and assumptions include the risks and uncertainties listed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008 and in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of this report.

NOTE 2.  Impact of Accounting Standards

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”).  SFAS 157 defines fair value by clarifying the exchange price notion presented in earlier definitions and providing a framework for measuring fair value.  SFAS 157 also expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those years.  The provisions of SFAS 157 relating to non-financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis did not have an impact on the Company.  The FASB deferred the provisions of SFAS 157 relating to non-financial assets and liabilities that are not measured on a recurring basis, which are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 and interim periods within those years.  The Company does not believe the adoption of SFAS 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”).  SFAS 159 allows companies to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value.  SFAS 159 also provides presentation and disclosure requirements that will enable users to compare similar types of assets and liabilities of different entities that have different measurement attributes.  The Company adopted SFAS 159 on January 1, 2008, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2007, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 109, “Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings” (“SAB 109”).  SAB 109, which revises and rescinds portions of SAB 105, “Application of Accounting Principles to Loan Commitments,” specifically states that the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of a loan should be included in the measurements of all written loan commitments that are accounted for at fair value through earnings.  The provisions of SAB 109 are applicable to written loan commitments issued or modified in fiscal quarters beginning after December 15, 2007.  The Company adopted SAB 109 on January 1, 2008, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
7

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”).  SFAS 161 expands the disclosure requirements in SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 133”), regarding an entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities.  SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.  The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 161 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3.   Fair Value Measurements

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted and implemented SFAS 159 for its mortgage loans held for sale, and adopted SAB 109 for both mortgage loans held for sale and interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”).  Electing fair value allows a better offset of the changes in fair values of the loans and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them.

In the normal course of business, our financial services segment enters into contractual commitments to extend credit to buyers of single-family homes with fixed expiration dates.  The commitments become effective when the borrowers “lock-in” a specified interest rate within established time frames.  Market risk arises if interest rates move adversely between the time of the “lock-in” of rates by the borrower and the sale date of the loan to an investor.  To mitigate the effect of the interest rate risk inherent in providing rate lock commitments to borrowers, the Company enters into optional or mandatory delivery forward sale contracts to sell whole loans and mortgage-backed securities to broker/dealers or investors.  The forward sale contracts lock in an interest rate and price for the sale of loans similar to the specific rate lock commitments.  The Company does not engage in speculative or trading derivative activities.  Both the rate lock commitments to borrowers and the forward sale contracts to broker/dealers or investors are undesignated derivatives pursuant to the requirements of SFAS 133, and accordingly, are marked to fair value through earnings.  Fair value is determined pursuant to SFAS 157 and SAB 109, both of which the Company adopted on a prospective basis as of the beginning of 2008.  Fair value measurements are included in earnings in the accompanying statements of operations.  During the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized a $1.4 million fair value adjustment to earnings as the result of including the servicing release premiums in the fair value calculation as required by SAB 109.

SFAS 157:  (1) establishes a common definition for fair value to be applied to assets and liabilities; (2) establishes a framework for measuring fair value; and (3) expands disclosures concerning fair value measurements.  SFAS 157 gives us three measurement input levels for determining fair value, which are Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.  Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.  Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.  Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.

The fair value is based on published prices for mortgage-backed securities with similar characteristics and the buyup fees received or buydown fees to be paid upon securitization of the loan. The buyup and buydown fees are calculated pursuant to contractual terms with investors.  To calculate the effects of interest rate movements, the Company utilizes applicable published mortgage-backed security prices, and multiplies the price movement between the rate lock date and the balance sheet date by the notional loan commitment amount.  The Company sells all of its loans on a servicing released basis, and receives a servicing release premium upon sale.  Thus, the value of the servicing rights included in the fair value measurement is based upon contractual terms with investors and depends on the loan type. The Company applies a fallout rate to IRLCs when measuring the fair value of rate lock commitments.  Fallout is defined as locked loan commitments for which the Company does not close a mortgage loan and is based on management’s judgment and experience.

The fair value of the Company’s forward sales contracts to broker/dealers solely considers the market price movement of the same type of security between the trade date and the balance sheet date.  The market price changes are multiplied by the notional amount of the forward sales contracts to measure the fair value.

Mortgage loans held for sale are closed at cost, which includes all fair value measurement in accordance with SFAS 133.

Loan Commitments: IRLCs are extended to home-buying customers who have applied for mortgages and who meet certain defined credit and underwriting criteria.  Typically, the IRLCs will have a duration of less than nine months; however, in certain markets, the duration could extend to twelve months.

 

 
Some IRLCs are committed to a specific third-party investor through the use of best-efforts whole loan delivery commitments matching the exact terms of the IRLC loan.  The notional amount of the committed IRLCs and the best-efforts contracts was $5.3 million and $2.1 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  At September 30, 2008, the fair value of the committed IRLCs resulted in a liability of $0.1 million and the related best-efforts contracts resulted in an asset of less than $0.1 million.  At December 31, 2007, the fair value of the committed IRLCs resulted in an asset of less than $0.1 million and the related best-efforts contracts resulted in a liability of less than $0.1 million.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized $0.1 million of income and $0.1 million of expense, respectively, relating to marking these committed IRLCs and the related best-efforts contracts to market.  For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized less than $0.1 million of expense relating to marking these committed IRLCs and the related best-efforts contracts to market.

Uncommitted IRLCs are considered derivative instruments under SFAS 133 and are fair value adjusted, with the resulting gain or loss recorded in current earnings.  At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the notional amount of the uncommitted IRLCs was $65.5 million and $34.3 million, respectively.  The fair value adjustment related to these uncommitted IRLCs, which is based on quoted market prices, resulted in an asset of $1.0 million and $0.2 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized income of $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, relating to marking the uncommitted IRLCs to market.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized income of $0.7 million and expense of less than $0.1 million, respectively, relating to marking the uncommitted IRLCs to market.

Forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“FMBSs”) are used to protect uncommitted IRLC loans against the risk of changes in interest rates between the lock date and the funding date.  FMBSs related to uncommitted IRLCs are classified and accounted for as non-designated derivative instruments, with gains and losses recorded in current earnings.  At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the notional amount under these FMBSs was $64.0 million and $37.0 million, respectively, and the related fair value adjustment, which is based on quoted market prices, resulted in a liability of $0.2 million at both September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized expense of $0.3 million and income of $0.1 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized expense of $0.5 million and $0.2 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale:  During the intervening period between when a loan is closed and when it is sold to an investor, the interest rate risk is covered through the use of a best-efforts contract or by FMBSs.

The notional amount of the best-efforts contracts and related mortgage loans held for sale was $0.9 million and $15.4 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The fair value of the best-efforts contracts and related mortgage loans held for sale resulted in a net liability of less than $0.1 million at both September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 under the matched terms method of SFAS 133.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized income of less than $0.1 million and expense of less than $0.1 million, respectively, relating to marking these best-efforts contracts and the related mortgage loans held for sale to market.  For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized income of less than $0.1 million relating to marking these best-efforts contracts and the related mortgage loans held for sale to market.

The notional amounts of the FMBSs and the related mortgage loans held for sale were both $33.0 million at September 30, 2008 and $43.0 million and $43.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2007.  In accordance with SFAS 133, the FMBSs are classified and accounted for as non-designated derivative instruments, with gains and losses recorded in current earnings.  As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the related fair value adjustment for marking these FMBSs to market resulted in a liability of $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized expense of $1.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized expense of $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.










 

 
The table below shows the level and measurement of our assets measured at fair value:

 
Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active
     
Significant
 
Measurements
 
Markets for Identical
 
Significant Other
 
Unobservable
Description of Financial Instrument
September 30,
 
Assets
 
Observable Inputs
 
Inputs
(In thousands)
2008
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
               
Mortgage loans held for sale
$  638
 
$  -
 
$  638
 
$  -
Mortgage-backed securities
    (873)
 
    -
 
    (873)
 
    -
Interest rate lock commitments
     896
 
    -
 
     896
 
    -
Best-efforts contracts
      24
 
    -
 
      24
 
    -
Total
$  685
 
$  -
 
$  685
 
$  -

NOTE 4.   Discontinued Operation

In December 2007, the Company sold substantially all of its West Palm Beach, Florida division to a private builder and announced it would exit this market.

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”), results of our West Palm Beach division have been classified as a discontinued operation, and prior periods have been restated to be consistent with the September 30, 2008 presentation.  The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets reflect the assets and liabilities of the discontinued operation as separate line items, and the operations of its West Palm Beach division for the current and prior periods are reported in discontinued operation on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  Discontinued operation includes revenues from our West Palm Beach division of $10.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and $13.1 million and $27.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  It also includes pre-tax losses of $7.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and pre-tax losses of $0.1 million and $15.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  There was no activity in discontinued operation for the three months ended September 30, 2008.

NOTE 5.  Inventory

A summary of the Company’s inventory as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is as follows:

 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
(In thousands)
2008
 
2007
 
  Single-family lots, land and land development costs
$ 357,068   $ 489,953  
  Land held for sale
  2,773     8,523  
  Homes under construction
  227,344     264,912  
  Model homes and furnishings - at cost (less accumulated depreciation:  September 30, 2008 - $2,195;
           
 December 31, 2007 - $1,236)
  11,403     11,750  
  Community development district infrastructure
  10,831     11,625  
  Land purchase deposits
  2,719     4,431  
  Consolidated inventory not owned
  5,795     6,135  
  Total inventory
$ 617,933   $ 797,329  

Single-family lots, land and land development costs include raw land that the Company has purchased to develop into lots, costs incurred to develop the raw land into lots, and lots for which development has been completed but which have not yet been used to start construction of a home.

Land held for sale includes land that meets all of the following criteria, as defined in SFAS 144:  (1) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the asset; (2) the asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets; (3) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset have been initiated; (4) the sale of the asset is probable, and transfer of the asset is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale, within one year; (5) the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and (6) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.  In accordance with SFAS 144, the Company records land held for sale at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less costs to sell.

Homes under construction include homes that are finished and ready for delivery and homes in various stages of construction.  As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we had 479 homes (valued at $82.3 million) and 632 homes (valued at $117.7 million), respectively, included in homes under construction that were not subject to a sales contract.

 
10 

 
Model homes and furnishings include homes that are under construction or have been completed and are being used as sales models.  The amount also includes the net book value of furnishings included in our model homes.  Depreciation on model home furnishings is recorded using an accelerated method over the estimated useful life of the assets, typically three years.

The Company assesses inventory for recoverability in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 144, which requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in local or national economic conditions indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  Refer to Note 6 below for additional details relating to our procedures for evaluating our inventory for impairment.

Land purchase deposits include both refundable and non-refundable amounts paid to third-party sellers relating to the purchase of land.  On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates the land option agreements relating to the land purchase deposits.  In the period during which the Company makes the decision not to proceed with the purchase of land under an agreement, the Company writes off any deposits and accumulated pre-acquisition costs relating to such agreement.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company wrote off $0.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in option deposits and pre-acquisition costs.  Refer to Note 6 below for additional details relating to write-offs of land option deposits and pre-acquisition costs.

NOTE 6.  Valuation Adjustments and Write-offs

The Company assesses inventory for recoverability in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 144, which requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in local or national economic conditions indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Operating communities.  For existing operating communities which may have impairment indicators, the recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the assets based on home sales.  These estimated cash flows are developed based primarily on management’s assumptions relating to the specific community.  The significant assumptions used to evaluate the recoverability of assets include:  the timing of development and/or marketing phases, projected sales price and sales pace of each existing or planned community; the estimated land development and home construction and selling costs of the community; overall market supply and demand; the local market; and competitive conditions.

Future communities.  For raw land or land under development that management anticipates will be utilized for future homebuilding activities, the recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the assets based on home sales, consistent with the evaluations performed for operating communities discussed above.

For raw land, land under development or lots that management intends to market for sale to a third party, but that do not meet all of the criteria to be classified as land held for sale as discussed above in Note 5, the recoverability of the assets is determined based on either the estimated net sales proceeds expected to be realized on the sale of the assets or the estimated fair value determined using cash flow valuation techniques.

If the Company has not yet determined whether raw land or land under development will be utilized for future homebuilding activities or marketed for sale to a third party, the Company assesses the recoverability of the inventory using a probability-weighted approach, in accordance with SFAS 144.

Land held for sale.  Land held for sale includes land that meets the six criteria defined in SFAS 144, as discussed above in Note 5.  In accordance with SFAS 144, the Company records land held for sale at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less costs to sell.  Fair value is determined based on the expected third party sale proceeds.

Investments in unconsolidated limited liability companies.  The Company assesses investments in unconsolidated limited liability companies (“LLCs”) for impairment in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 18, “The Equity Method of Investments In Common Stock” (“APB 18”), and SEC SAB Topic 5.M, “Other Than Temporary Impairment of Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (“SAB Topic 5M”).  When evaluating the LLCs, if the fair value of the investment is less than the investment carrying value, and the Company determines the decline in value is other than temporary, the Company would write down the investment to fair value.  The Company’s LLCs engage in land acquisition and development activities for the purpose of selling or distributing (in the form of a capital distribution) developed lots to the Company and its partners in the entity, as further discussed in Note 9.

 
11 

 
A summary of the Company’s valuation adjustments and write-offs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
(In thousands)
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
Impairment of operating communities:
               
  Midwest
$ 15,942   $ 453   $ 26,858   $ 5,816  
  Florida
  1,682     3,654     6,273     14,191  
  Mid-Atlantic
  10,249     5,437     16,762     26,854  
Total impairment of operating communities (a)
$ 27,873   $ 9,544   $ 49,893   $ 46,861  
Impairment of future communities:
                       
  Midwest
$ -   $ -   $ 1,524   $ 1,526  
  Florida
  -     -     4,380     9,034  
  Mid-Atlantic
  -     905     -     6,923  
Total impairment of future communities (a)
$ -   $ 905   $ 5,904   $ 17,483  
Impairment of land held for sale:
                       
  Midwest
$ 4,241   $ -   $ 4,599   $ -  
  Florida
  7,080     7,398     24,553     9,840  
  Mid-Atlantic
  309     322     309     578  
Total impairment of land held for sale (a)
$ 11,630   $ 7,720   $ 29,461   $ 10,418  
Option deposits and pre-acquisition costs write-offs:
                       
  Midwest
$ 1   $ 269   $ 26   $ 291  
  Florida (b)
  4     -     137     1,828  
  Mid-Atlantic
  351     -     1,405     46  
Total option deposits and pre-acquisition costs write-offs (c)
$ 356   $ 269   $ 1,568   $ 2,165  
Impairment of investments in unconsolidated LLCs:
                       
  Midwest
$ 1,167   $ -   $ 1,343   $ -  
  Florida
  2,496     6,080     17,544     8,811  
  Mid-Atlantic
  -     -     -     -  
Total impairment of investments in unconsolidated LLCs (a)
$ 3,663   $ 6,080   $ 18,887   $ 8,811  
                         
  Total impairments and write-offs of option deposits and
                       
    pre-acquisition costs (d)
$ 43,522   $ 24,518   $ 105,713   $ 85,738  

(a) Amounts are recorded within impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(b) Includes the Company’s $0.8 million share of the write-off of an option deposit in the three and nine month periods of 2007 that is included in equity in undistributed loss of limited liability companies in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows.

(c) Amounts are recorded within general and administrative expense in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(d)  Total impairment excludes impairment of our West Palm Beach, Florida division of $8.1 million and $16.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, which is included in discontinued operation in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  No impairment has been recorded for this discontinued operation for 2008.

NOTE  7.  Capitalized Interest

The Company capitalizes interest during land development and home construction.  Capitalized interest is charged to cost of sales as the related inventory is delivered to a third party.  A summary of capitalized interest is as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
(In thousands)
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
Capitalized interest, beginning of period
$
28,123  
$
32,895  
$
29,212  
$
29,492  
Interest capitalized to inventory
  2,476     3,875     7,699     14,013  
Capitalized interest charged to cost of sales
  (3,420 )   (3,787 )   (9,732 )   (10,522 )
Capitalized interest, end of period
$
27,179  
$
32,983  
$
27,179  
$
32,983  
                         
Interest incurred (a)
$
4,626  
$
8,513  
$
16,394  
$
25,439  

(a)  
  Interest incurred includes $0.4 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and $0.9 million and $1.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, relating to amortization of debt issue costs.

 
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NOTE  8.  Property and Equipment

The Company records property and equipment at cost and subsequently depreciates the assets using both straight-line and accelerated methods.  Following is a summary of the major classes of depreciable assets and their estimated useful lives as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
(In thousands)
2008
 
2007
 
Land, building and improvements
$ 11,823   $ 11,823  
Office furnishings, leasehold improvements, computer equipment and computer software
  20,716     18,153  
Transportation and construction equipment
  13,391     22,528  
Property and equipment
  45,930     52,504  
Accumulated depreciation
  (14,686 )   (16,805 )
Property and equipment, net
$ 31,244   $ 35,699  

   
Estimated
   
Useful Lives
Building and improvements
 
35 years
Office furnishings, leasehold improvements, computer equipment and computer software
 
3-7 years
Transportation and construction equipment
 
5-20 years

Depreciation expense (excluding expense relating to model furnishings classified in Inventory) was approximately $3.2 million for the nine month periods ended both September 30, 2008 and 2007.

NOTE 9.  Investment in Unconsolidated Limited Liability Companies

At September 30, 2008, the Company had interests ranging from 33% to 50% in limited liability companies that do not meet the criteria of variable interest entities because each of the entities had sufficient equity at risk to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated support from the equity investors, and two of these LLCs had outside financing that is not guaranteed by the Company.  These LLCs engage in land acquisition and development activities for the purpose of selling or distributing (in the form of a capital distribution) developed lots to the Company and its partners in the entity.  In certain of these LLCs, the Company and its partner in the entity have provided the lenders with environmental indemnifications and minimum net worth levels of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries as more fully described in Note 10 below.  These entities had assets totaling $65.1 million and liabilities totaling $12.5 million, including third party debt of $11.7 million, as of September 30, 2008.  The Company’s maximum exposure related to its investment in these entities as of September 30, 2008 was the amount invested of $23.0 million plus letters of credit totaling $4.7 million and the possible future obligation of $11.7 million under the guarantees and indemnifications discussed in Note 10 below.  Included in the Company’s investment in LLCs at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, of capitalized interest and other costs.  The Company does not have a controlling interest in these LLCs; therefore, they are recorded using the equity method of accounting.

In the third quarter of 2008, the Company wrote-off its remaining investment of $2.5 million in one of its unconsolidated limited liability companies.  The unconsolidated limited liability company has received notice of default of its obligations under third-party financing to the unconsolidated limited liability company.  The Company does not believe that it has significant financial exposure to matters pertaining to the unconsolidated limited liability company or its financing.  The assets and liabilities of this limited liability company at September 30, 2008 were $40.8 million and $35.1 million (including third party debt of $29.0 million), respectively.

In accordance with APB 18 and SAB Topic 5M, the Company evaluates its investment in unconsolidated LLCs for potential impairment.  If the fair value of the investment is less than the investment carrying value, and the Company determines the decline in value was other than temporary, the Company would write down the investment to fair value.

NOTE  10.  Guarantees and Indemnifications

Warranty

In 2007, the Company implemented a new limited warranty program (“Home Builder’s Limited Warranty”) in addition to its thirty-year transferable structural limited warranty, on homes closed after the implementation date.  The Home
 
13 

 
Builder’s Limited Warranty covers construction defects and certain damage resulting from construction defects for a statutory period based on geographic market and state law (currently ranging from five to ten years for the states in which the Company operates) and includes a mandatory arbitration clause.  Prior to this new warranty program, the Company provided up to a two-year limited warranty on materials and workmanship and a twenty-year (for homes closed between 1989 and 1998) and a thirty-year (for homes closed during or after 1998) transferable limited warranty against major structural defects.  The Company does not believe that this change in warranty program will significantly impact its warranty expense.

Warranty expense is accrued as the home sale is recognized and is intended to cover estimated material and labor costs to be incurred during the warranty period.  The accrual amounts are based upon historical experience and geographic location.  A summary of warranty activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
(In thousands)
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
Warranty accrual, beginning of period
$
10,441  
$
13,137  
$
12,006  
$
14,095  
Warranty expense on homes delivered during the period
  1,344     1,843     3,512     5,161  
Changes in estimates for pre-existing warranties
  471     (683 )   538     (449 )
Settlements made during the period
  (2,371 )   (2,582 )   (6,171 )   (7,092 )
Warranty accrual, end of period
$
9,885  
$
11,715  
$
9,885  
$
11,715  

Guarantees and Indemnities

In the ordinary course of business, M/I Financial Corp., our wholly-owned subsidiary (“M/I Financial”), enters into agreements that guarantee certain purchasers of its mortgage loans that M/I Financial will repurchase a loan if certain conditions occur, primarily if the mortgagor does not meet those conditions of the loan within the first six months after the sale of the loan.  Loans totaling approximately $89.1 million and $174.8 million were covered under the above guarantees as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  A portion of the revenue paid to M/I Financial for providing the guarantees on the above loans was deferred at September 30, 2008, and will be recognized in income as M/I Financial is released from its obligation under the guarantees.  M/I Financial has not repurchased any loans under the above agreements in 2008 or 2007, but has provided indemnifications to third-party investors in lieu of repurchasing certain loans.  The total of these indemnified loans was approximately $2.8 million and $2.4 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The risk associated with the above guarantees and indemnities is offset by the value of the underlying assets.  The Company has accrued management’s best estimate of the probable loss on the above loans.

M/I Financial has also guaranteed the collectability of certain loans to third-party insurers of those loans for periods ranging from five to thirty years.  The maximum potential amount of future payments under these guarantees is equal to the outstanding loan value less the value of the underlying asset plus administrative costs incurred related to foreclosure on the loans, should this event occur.  The total of these costs are estimated to be $1.8 million as of September 30, 2008 and $1.9 million as of December 31, 2007, and would be offset by the value of the underlying assets.  The Company has accrued management’s best estimate of the probable loss on the above loans.

The Company has also provided certain other guarantees and indemnifications.  The Company has provided an environmental indemnification to an unrelated third-party seller of land in connection with the Company’s purchase of that land.  In addition, the Company has provided environmental indemnifications, a loan maintenance and limited payment guaranty and minimum net worth guarantees of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries in connection with outside financing provided by lenders to certain of our 50% owned LLCs.  Under the environmental indemnifications, the Company and its partner in the applicable LLC are jointly and severally liable for any environmental claims relating to the property that are brought against the lender.  Under the loan maintenance and limited payment guaranty, the Company and the applicable LLC partner have jointly and severally agreed to the third-party lender to fund any shortfall in the event the ratio of the loan balance to the current fair market value of the property under development by the LLC is below a certain threshold.  As of September 30, 2008, the total maximum amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under the loan maintenance and limited payment guaranty was approximately $11.7 million.  Under the above guarantees and indemnifications, the LLC operating agreements provide recourse against our LLC partners for 50% of any actual liability associated with the environmental indemnifications, land development completion guarantees and loan maintenance and limited payment guaranty.

The Company has recorded a liability relating to the guarantees and indemnities described above totaling $2.3 million as of both September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, which was management’s best estimate of the fair value of the Company’s liability.
 
14 

 
The Company has also provided a guarantee of the performance and payment obligations of its wholly-owned subsidiary, M/I Financial, up to an aggregate principle amount of $13.0 million.  The guarantee was provided to a government-sponsored enterprise to which M/I Financial delivers loans.

NOTE 11.  Commitments and Contingencies

At September 30, 2008, the Company had sales agreements outstanding, some of which have contingencies for financing approval, to deliver 781 homes, with an aggregate sales price of approximately $212.2 million.  Based on our current housing gross margin, plus variable selling costs, less payments to date on homes in backlog of $105.1 million, we estimate payments totaling approximately $94.0 million to be made in 2008 relating to those homes.  At September 30, 2008, the Company also had outstanding options and contingent purchase agreements to acquire land and developed lots with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $97.9 million.  Purchase of such properties is contingent upon satisfaction of certain requirements by the Company and the sellers.

At September 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding approximately $88.4 million of completion bonds and standby letters of credit, some of which were issued to various local governmental entities that expire at various times through December 2015.  Included in this total are: (1) $47.8 million of performance bonds and $24.4 million of performance letters of credit that serve as completion bonds for land development work in progress (including the Company’s $2.3 million share of our LLCs’ letters of credit and bonds); (2) $10.5 million of financial letters of credit, of which $1.0 million represent deposits on land and lot purchase agreements; and (3) $5.7 million of financial bonds.

At September 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding $1.4 million of corporate promissory notes.  These notes are due and payable in full upon default of the Company under agreements to purchase land or lots from third parties.  No interest or principal is due until the time of default.  In the event that the Company performs under these purchase agreements without default, the notes will become null and void and no payment will be required.

At September 30, 2008, the Company had $0.2 million of certificates of deposit included in other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet that have been pledged as collateral for mortgage loans sold to third parties and, therefore, are restricted from general use.

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have been named as defendants in various claims, complaints and other legal actions incidental to the Company’s business.  Certain of the liabilities resulting from these actions are covered by insurance.  While management currently believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, earnings, cash flows, or overall trends in results of operations, such matters are subject to inherent uncertainties.  The Company has recorded a liability to provide for the anticipated costs, including legal defense costs, associated with the resolution of these matters.  However, there exists the possibility that the costs to resolve these matters could differ from the recorded estimates and, therefore, have a material adverse impact on the Company’s net income for the periods in which the matters are resolved.

NOTE 12.  Notes Payable Banks

On May 22, 2008, M/I Financial entered into a secured credit agreement (“MIF Credit Agreement”) with a financial institution.  This agreement replaced M/I Financial’s previous credit facility that expired on May 30, 2008.

The MIF Credit Agreement provides M/I Financial with $30.0 million maximum borrowing availability, with an additional $10.0 million of availability from December 15, 2008 through January 15, 2009.  The MIF Credit Agreement, which expires on May 21, 2009, is secured by certain mortgage loans.  The MIF Credit Agreement also provides for limits with respect to certain loan types that can secure the borrowings under the agreement.  As of the end of each fiscal quarter, M/I Financial must have tangible net worth of at least $9.0 million and adjusted tangible net worth (tangible net worth less the outstanding amount of intercompany loans) of no less than $7.0 million.  The ratio of total liabilities to adjusted tangible net worth shall never be more than 10.0 to 1.0.  M/I Financial pays interest on each advance under the MIF Credit Agreement at a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 1.35%.

At September 30, 2008, we had $0.3 million of availability under the MIF Credit Agreement.  As of September 30, 2008, M/I Financial was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of the MIF Credit Agreement.

At September 30, 2008, the Company did not have any borrowings under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 6, 2006 (as amended, the “Credit Facility”), compared to $115.0 million of borrowings at

 
15 

 
December 31, 2007.  The Company was able to pay off the Credit Facility using the $49.0 million tax refund received in the first quarter of 2008 and cash generated from operations.

Under the Second Amendment to the Credit Facility, the most restrictive covenant is the minimum net worth requirement.  Under the minimum net worth requirement we are required to maintain tangible net worth (“Minimum Net Worth”) of at least $400 million less a deferred tax asset valuation of up to $65 million, plus 50% of net income earned for each full fiscal quarter ending after December 31, 2007 (with no deduction for net losses), plus 50% of the aggregated net increase in tangible net worth resulting from the sale of capital stock and other equity interests (as defined therein).  In no event can tangible net worth be less than $335 million.  At September 30, 2008, our tangible net worth exceeded the minimum tangible net worth required by this covenant by approximately $69.5 million.

NOTE 13.   Senior Notes

As of September 30, 2008, we had $200 million of 6.875% senior notes outstanding.  The notes are due April 2012.  The Credit Facility prohibits the early repurchase of our senior notes.

The indenture governing our senior notes contains restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of the Company to pay dividends on common and preferred shares or repurchase any shares.  If our “consolidated restricted payments basket,” as defined in the indenture governing our senior notes, is less than zero, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, as well as from repurchasing any shares.  At September 30, 2008, our restricted payments basket was ($71.4) million.  As a result of this deficit, we are currently restricted from paying dividends on our common shares and our 9.75% Series A Preferred Shares, and from repurchasing any shares under our common shares repurchase program that was authorized by our Board of Directors in November 2005.  These restrictions do not affect our compliance with any of the covenants contained in the Credit Facility and will not permit the lenders under the Credit Facility to accelerate the loans.

NOTE 14.  Loss Per Share

(Loss) earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period.  The difference between basic and diluted shares outstanding is due to the effect of dilutive stock options and deferred compensation.  There are no adjustments to net loss necessary in the calculation of basic or diluted earnings per share.  The table below presents information regarding basic and diluted loss per share from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
2008
 
2007
 
 
Loss
 
Shares
 
EPS
 
Loss
 
Shares
 
EPS
 
Basic loss from continuing operations
$(58,655 )         $(16,805 )        
Less: preferred stock dividends
-           2,437          
Loss to common shareholders from continuing operations
$(58,655 ) 14,019   $(4.18 ) $(19,242 ) 13,990   $(1.38 )
                         
Effect of dilutive securities:
                       
   Stock option awards
    -           -      
   Deferred compensation awards
    -           -      
Diluted loss to common shareholders from
                       
    continuing operations
$(58,655 ) 14,019   $(4.18 ) $(19,242 ) 13,990   $(1.38 )
                         
Anti-dilutive stock equivalent awards not included in the
                       
  calculation of diluted loss per share
    1,420           1,133      

 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
2008
 
2007
 
 
Loss
 
Shares
 
EPS
 
Loss
 
Shares
 
EPS
 
Basic loss from continuing operations
$(170,055 )         $(50,165 )        
Less: preferred stock dividends
4,875           4,875          
Loss to common shareholders from continuing operations
$(174,930 ) 14,014   $(12.48 ) $(55,040 ) 13,969   $(3.94 )
                         
Effect of dilutive securities:
                       
   Stock option awards
    -           -      
   Deferred compensation awards
    -           -      
Diluted loss to common shareholders from
                       
    continuing operations
$(174,930 ) 14,014   $(12.48 ) $(55,040 ) 13,969   $(3.94 )
                         
Anti-dilutive stock equivalent awards not included in the
                       
  calculation of diluted loss per share
    1,398           1,141      
 
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NOTE 15.  Income Taxes

Deferred federal and state income tax assets primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income.  If, for some reason, the combination of future years’ income (or loss) combined with the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried back to prior years or carried forward to future years to recover the deferred tax assets.

In accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“SFAS 109”), the Company evaluates its deferred tax assets, including net operating losses, to determine if a valuation allowance is required.  SFAS 109 requires that companies assess whether a valuation allowance should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard.  In making such judgments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified.  SFAS 109 provides that a cumulative loss in recent years is significant negative evidence in considering whether deferred tax assets are realizable and also restricts the amount of reliance on projections of future taxable income to support the recovery of deferred tax assets.  The Company’s current and prior year losses present the most significant negative evidence as to whether the Company needs to reduce its deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance.  Given the continued downturn in the homebuilding industry during 2008, we are now in a four-year cumulative pre-tax loss position during the years 2005 through 2008.  We currently believe the cumulative weight of the negative evidence exceeds that of the positive evidence and, as a result, it is more likely than not that we will not be able to utilize all of our deferred tax assets.  Therefore, during the second quarter of 2008, in accordance with paragraph 194 of SFAS 109, which relates to interim reporting, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $58.0 million against its deferred tax assets, $22.1 million of which relates to beginning of the year deferred tax assets and $35.9 million of which relates to deferred tax assets that arose in 2008 as a result of 2008 operating activities.  Our valuation allowance for current and deferred taxes increased $21.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2008 to a balance of $79.9 million.  The accounting for deferred taxes is based upon an estimate of future results.  Differences between the anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.

At September 30, 2008, the Company had a $39.5 million income tax receivable primarily relating to the estimated cash refund to be realized upon the carryback of our current net taxable operating loss to 2006.  At September 30, 2008, the Company had a Federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryback of approximately $120.8 million and a federal NOL carryforward of approximately $3.5 million.  The Company also had state NOL benefits of $7.2 million.  These state carryforward benefits will begin to expire in 2022.   The amount of taxable income that needs to be generated by the Company in order to realize our gross deferred tax assets is $214.2 million.   

NOTE 16.   Preferred Shares

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 2,000,000 non-cumulative preferred shares, par value $.01 per share.  On March 15, 2007, the Company issued 4,000,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/1000th of a 9.75% Series A Preferred Share, or 4,000 Preferred Shares in the aggregate (the “Preferred Shares”).  The aggregate liquidation value of the preferred shares is $100 million.  As of September 30, 2008, total dividends paid on Preferred Shares in 2008 were approximately $4.9 million.

As discussed in Note 13, the indenture governing our senior notes contains a provision that restricts the payment of dividends when the calculation of the “consolidated restricted payments basket,” as defined therein, falls below zero.  At September 30, 2008, the restricted payments basket was $(71.4) million and, therefore, we are currently restricted from making any further dividend payments on our Preferred Shares.  We will continue to be restricted from paying dividends until such time as the restricted payments basket has been restored or our senior notes are repaid, and our Board of Directors authorizes us to resume dividend payments.

NOTE 17.  Universal Shelf Registration

On August 4, 2008, the Company filed a $250 million universal shelf registration statement with the SEC.  Pursuant to the filing, the Company may, from time to time over an extended period, offer new debt and/or equity securities.  The timing and amount of offerings, if any, will depend on market and general business conditions.

NOTE 18.  Business Segments

In conformity with SFAS No. 131, “Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” (“SFAS 131”), the Company’s segment information is presented on the basis that the chief operating decision makers use in evaluating segment performance.  The Company’s chief operating decision makers evaluate the Company’s performance in various ways, including: (1) the results of our ten individual homebuilding operating segments and the results of the financial services operation; (2) the results of our three homebuilding regions; and
 
17

(3) our consolidated financial results.  We have determined our reportable segments in accordance with SFAS 131 as follows: Midwest homebuilding, Florida homebuilding, Mid-Atlantic homebuilding and financial services operations.  The homebuilding operating segments that are included within each reportable segment have similar operations and exhibit similar economic characteristics, and therefore meet the aggregation criteria in SFAS 131.  Our homebuilding operations include the acquisition and development of land, the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached homes and the occasional sale of lots to third parties.  The homebuilding operating segments that comprise each of our reportable segments are as follows:

Midwest
Florida
Mid-Atlantic
Columbus, Ohio
Tampa, Florida
Maryland
Cincinnati, Ohio
Orlando, Florida
Virginia
Indianapolis, Indiana
 
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
 
Raleigh, North Carolina

The financial services operations include the origination and sale of mortgage loans and title and insurance agency services primarily for purchasers of the Company’s homes.

The chief operating decision makers utilize operating income (loss), defined as income (loss) before interest expense and income taxes, as a performance measure.  Selected financial information for our reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is presented below:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
(In thousands)
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
Revenue:
               
Midwest homebuilding
$ 64,564   $ 96,831   $ 171,042   $ 246,718  
Florida homebuilding
  29,979     57,093     119,620     210,987  
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
  63,270     74,802     148,526     204,119  
Other homebuilding - unallocated (a)
  -     (552 )   7,131     (780 )
Financial services
  2,572     4,809     11,153     14,956  
Total revenue
$ 160,385   $ 232,983   $ 457,472   $ 676,000  
                         
Operating loss:
                       
Midwest homebuilding (b)
$ (25,137 ) $ (964 ) $ (43,496 ) $ (8,559 )
Florida homebuilding  (b)
  (12,599 )   (13,049 )   (55,208 )   (20,613 )
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding (b)
  (12,047 )   (2,935 )   (22,280 )   (27,291 )
Other homebuilding - unallocated (a)
  -     327     502     254  
Financial services
  732     2,175     5,325     7,240  
Less: Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses (c)
  (7,222 )   (8,124 )   (20,313 )   (21,210 )
Total operating loss
$ (56,273 ) $ (22,570 ) $ (135,470 ) $ (70,179 )
                         
Interest expense-net:
                       
Midwest homebuilding
$ 1,181   $ 1,617   $ 3,900   $ 3,631  
Florida homebuilding
  302     1,847     1,813     4,725  
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
  553     1,014     2,624     2,683  
Financial services
  114     160     358     387  
Total interest expense-net
$ 2,150   $ 4,638   $ 8,695   $ 11,426  
                         
Other income (d)
$ -   $ -   $ 5,555   $ -  
                         
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
$ (58,423 ) $ (27,208 ) $ (138,610 ) $ (81,605 )

(a) Other homebuilding – unallocated consists of the net impact in the period due to timing of homes delivered with low down-payment loans (buyers put less than 5% down) funded by the Company’s financial services operations not yet sold to a third party.  In accordance with applicable accounting rules, recognition of such revenue must be deferred until the related loan is sold to a third party.  Refer to the Revenue Recognition policy described in our Application of Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion.

(b) For the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the impact of charges relating to the impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs and the write-off of land deposits and pre-acquisition costs was $43.5 million and $24.5 million, respectively.  These charges reduced operating income by $21.3 million and $0.7 million in the Midwest region, $11.3 million and $17.1 million in the Florida region, and $10.9 million and $6.7 million in the Mid-Atlantic region for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

      For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the impact of charges relating to the impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs and the write-off of land deposits and pre-acquisition costs was $105.7 million and $85.7 million, respectively.  These charges reduced operating income by $34.3 million and $7.6 million in the Midwest region, $52.9 million and $43.7 million in the Florida region, and $18.5 million and $34.4 million in the Mid-Atlantic region for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
(c) The three and nine months ended September, 2008 include the impact of severance charges of $0.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively, and the three and nine months ended September, 2007 include the impact of severance charges of $0.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively.

(d) Other income is comprised of the gain recognized on the exchange of the Company’s airplane.
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The following table shows total assets by segment as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

 
At September 30, 2008
             
Corporate,
   
             
Financial Services
   
(In thousands)
Midwest
 
Florida
 
Mid-Atlantic
 
and Unallocated
 
Total
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
$       321
 
$         50
 
$    2,348
 
$             -
 
$    2,719
Inventory
278,773
 
125,133
 
211,308
 
-
 
615,214
Investments in unconsolidated entities
11,734
 
11,221
 
-
 
-
 
22,955
Other assets
2,284
 
13,240
 
9,753
 
115,327
 
140,604
Total assets
$293,112
 
$149,644
 
$223,409
 
$115,327
 
$781,492

 
At December 31, 2007
             
Corporate,
   
             
Financial Services
   
(In thousands)
Midwest
 
Florida
 
Mid-Atlantic
 
and Unallocated
 
Total
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
$       344
 
           $       388
 
$    3,699
 
$            -
 
$       4,431
Inventory
332,991
 
205,773
 
253,468
 
666
 
792,898
Investments in unconsolidated entities
15,705
 
24,638
 
-
 
-
 
40,343
Other assets
5,180
 
10,849
 
19,720
 
244,224
 
279,973
Total assets
$354,220
 
$241,648
 
$276,887
 
$244,890
 
$1,117,645
19

ITEM 2:  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
   RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


OVERVIEW
M/I Homes, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) is one of the nation’s leading builders of single-family homes, having delivered over 72,000 homes since we commenced homebuilding in 1976.  The Company’s homes are marketed and sold under the trade names M/I Homes and Showcase Homes.  The Company has homebuilding operations in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Tampa and Orlando, Florida; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.  In 2007, the latest year for which information is available, we were the 19th largest U.S. single-family homebuilder (based on homes delivered) as ranked by Builder Magazine.

Included in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are the following topics relevant to the Company’s performance and financial condition:

Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements
Our Application of Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
Our Results of Operations
Discussion of Our Liquidity and Capital Resources
Update of Our Contractual Obligations
Discussion of Our Utilization of Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Impact of Interest Rates and Inflation

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain information included in this report or in other materials we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us) contains or may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our future financial performance and financial condition.  Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Any forward-looking statements that we make herein and in future reports and statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors such as:

The U.S. economy is in the midst of an unprecedented combination of economic turmoil, uncertainty in the credit and financial markets, and worldwide concerns of a financial collapse. Prolonged conditions of this nature could severely impact our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
The homebuilding industry is in the midst of a significant downturn. A continuing decline in demand for new homes coupled with an increase in the inventory of available new homes and alternatives to new homes could adversely affect our sales volume and pricing even more than has occurred to date.
Demand for new homes is sensitive to economic conditions over which we have no control, such as the availability of mortgage financing.
Increasing interest rates could cause defaults for homebuyers who financed homes using non-traditional financing products, which could increase the number of homes available for resale.
Our land investment exposes us to significant risks, including potential impairment write-downs that could negatively impact our profits if the market value of our inventory declines.
If we are unable to successfully compete in the highly competitive homebuilding industry, our financial results and growth may suffer.
If the current downturn becomes more severe or continues for an extended period of time, it could have continued negative consequences on our operations, financial position and cash flows.
Our future operations may be adversely impacted by high inflation.
Our lack of geographic diversification could adversely affect us if the homebuilding industry in our markets declines.
If we are not able to obtain suitable financing, our business may be negatively impacted.
Reduced numbers of home sales force us to absorb additional carrying costs.
The terms of our indebtedness may restrict our ability to operate.
The terms of our debt instruments allow us to incur additional indebtedness.
We could be adversely affected by a negative change in our credit rating.
We conduct certain of our operations through unconsolidated joint ventures with independent third parties
   
 
 
 
 
20
 
 
 
in which we do not have a controlling interest. These investments involve risks and are highly illiquid.
One unconsolidated entity in which we have an investment may not be able to modify the terms of its loan agreement.
The credit agreement of our financial services segment will expire in May 2009.
We compete on several levels with homebuilders that may have greater sales and financial resources, which could hurt future earnings.
In the ordinary course of business, we are required to obtain performance bonds, the unavailability of which could adversely affect our results of operations and/or cash flows.
Our income tax provision and other tax liabilities may be insufficient if taxing authorities are successful in asserting tax positions that are contrary to our position.
We experience fluctuations and variability in our operating results on a quarterly basis and, as a result, our historical performance may not be a meaningful indicator of future results.
Homebuilding is subject to warranty and liability claims in the ordinary course of business that can be significant.
Natural disasters and severe weather conditions could delay deliveries, increase costs and decrease demand for homes in affected areas.
Supply shortages and other risks related to the demand for skilled labor and building materials could increase costs and delay deliveries.
We are subject to extensive government regulations which could restrict our homebuilding or financial services business.
We are dependent on the services of certain key employees, and the loss of their services could hurt our business.
Our net operating loss carryforwards could be substantially limited if we experience an ownership change as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.
Our business requires the use of significant amounts of capital, sources for which may include our Credit Facility.  In the event we were to amend our Credit Facility, such amendment could result in lower available commitment amounts and less favorable terms and conditions, which could have a negative impact on our borrowing capacity and/or cash flows. 
Cash flows and results of operations could be adversely affected if legal claims are brought against us and are not resolved in our favor. 

These risk factors are more fully discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008 and in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of Part II of this report.  Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date made.  Except as required by applicable law or the rules and regulations of the SEC, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements or risk factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  However, any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K should be consulted.  This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and all of our forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referenced in this section.

APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.  Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  On an ongoing basis, management evaluates such estimates and judgments and makes adjustments as deemed necessary.  Actual results could differ from these estimates using different estimates and assumptions, or if conditions are significantly different in the future.  Listed below are those estimates that we believe are critical and require the use of complex judgment in their application.

Revenue Recognition.  Revenue from the sale of a home is recognized when the closing has occurred, title has passed, and an adequate initial and continuing investment by the homebuyer is received, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 66, “Accounting for Sales of Real Estate,” or when the loan has been sold to a third-party investor.  Revenue for homes that close to the buyer having a deposit of 5% or greater, home closings financed by third parties, and all home closings insured under FHA or VA government-insured programs are recorded in the financial statements on the date of closing.

Revenue related to all other home closings initially funded by our wholly-owned subsidiary, M/I Financial Corp. (“M/I Financial”), is recorded on the date that M/I Financial sells the loan to a third-party investor, because the receivable from the third-party investor is not subject to future subordination and the Company has transferred to this investor the usual risks and rewards of ownership that is in substance a sale and does not have a substantial continuing involvement with the home, in accordance with SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.”
 
21 

 
All associated homebuilding costs are charged to cost of sales in the period when the revenues from home closings are recognized.  Homebuilding costs include land and land development costs; home construction costs (including an estimate of the costs to complete construction); previously capitalized interest, real estate taxes; indirect costs; and estimated warranty costs.  All other costs are expensed as incurred.  Sales incentives, including pricing discounts and financing costs paid by the Company, are recorded as a reduction of revenue in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  Sales incentives in the form of options or upgrades are recorded in homebuilding costs in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force No. 01-09, “Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of a Vendor’s Products).”

We recognize the majority of the revenue associated with our mortgage loan operations when the mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold to third party investors.  The revenue recognized is reduced by the fair value of the related guarantee provided to the investor.  The fair value of the guarantee is recognized in revenue when the Company is released from its obligation under the guarantee.  Generally, all of the financial services mortgage loans and related servicing rights are sold to third party investors within two weeks of origination.  We recognize financial services revenue associated with our title operations as homes are closed, closing services are rendered, and title policies are issued, all of which generally occur simultaneously as each home is closed.  All of the underwriting risk associated with title insurance policies is transferred to third-party insurers.

Inventory.  We use the specific identification method for the purpose of accumulating costs associated with land acquisition and development, and home construction.  Inventory is recorded at cost, unless events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the land may be impaired.  In addition to the costs of direct land acquisition, land development and related costs (both incurred and estimated to be incurred) and home construction costs, inventory includes capitalized interest, real estate taxes, and certain indirect costs incurred during land development and home construction.  Such costs are charged to cost of sales simultaneously with revenue recognition, as discussed above.  When a home is closed, we typically have not yet paid all incurred costs necessary to complete the home.  As homes close, we compare the home construction budget to actual recorded costs to date to estimate the additional costs to be incurred from our subcontractors related to the home.  We record a liability and a corresponding charge to cost of sales for the amount we estimate will ultimately be paid related to that home.  We monitor the accuracy of such estimate by comparing actual costs incurred in subsequent months to the estimate.  Although actual costs to complete in the future could differ from the estimate, our method has historically produced consistently accurate estimates of actual costs to complete closed homes.

Typically, our building cycle ranges from five to six years, commencing with the acquisition of the entitled land and continuing through the land development phase and concluding with the sale, construction and closing of the homes.  Actual community lives will vary, based on the size of the community and the associated absorption rates.  Master-planned communities encompassing several phases may have significantly longer lives.  Additionally, the current slow-down in the housing market has negatively impacted our sales pace, thereby also extending the lives of certain communities.

The Company assesses inventory for recoverability in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”), which requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in local or national economic conditions indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  In conducting our quarterly review for indicators of impairment on a community level, we evaluate, among other things, the margins on homes that have been delivered, margins on sales contracts in backlog, projected margins with regard to future home sales over the life of the community, projected margins with regard to future land sales, and the value of the land itself.  We pay particular attention to communities in which inventory is moving at a slower than anticipated absorption pace, and communities whose average sales price and/or margins are trending downward and are anticipated to continue to trend downward.  From this review, we identify communities whose carrying values may exceed their undiscounted cash flows.  For those communities deemed to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the communities exceeds the fair value of the communities.

Our determination of fair value is based on projections and estimates.  Changes in these expectations may lead to a change in the outcome of our impairment analysis.  Our analysis is completed on a quarterly basis at a community level; therefore, changes in local conditions may affect one or several of our communities.

For the three months ended September 30, 2008, the company evaluated all communities for impairment indicators.  A recoverability analysis was performed for 87 communities and an impairment charge was recorded in 45 of those communities.  The carrying value of those 45 impaired communities was $187.7 million at September 30, 2008.
 
22 

 
For all of the categories listed below, the key assumptions relating to the valuations are dependent on project-specific local market and/or community conditions and are inherently uncertain.  Because each inventory asset is unique, there are numerous inputs and assumptions used in our valuation techniques.  Local market-specific factors that may impact these projected assumptions include:

historical project results such as average sales price and sales rates, if closings have occurred in the project;
competitors’ local market and/or community presence and their competitive actions;
project specific attributes such as location desirability and uniqueness of product offering;
potential for alternative product offerings to respond to local market conditions;
current local market economic and demographic conditions and related trends and forecasts; and
community-specific strategies regarding speculative homes.

Operating communities.  For existing operating communities, the recoverability of assets is measured on a quarterly basis by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the assets based on home sales.  These estimated cash flows are developed based primarily on management’s assumptions relating to the specific community.  The significant assumptions used to evaluate the recoverability of assets include:  the timing of development and/or marketing phases; projected sales price and sales pace of each existing or planned community; the estimated land development, home construction and selling costs of the community; overall market supply and demand; the local market; and competitive conditions.  Management reviews these assumptions on a quarterly basis.  While we consider available information to determine what we believe to be our best estimates as of the end of a reporting period, these estimates are subject to change in future reporting periods as facts and circumstances change.  These assumptions vary widely across different communities and geographies and are largely dependent on local market conditions.

Future communities.  For raw land or land under development that management anticipates will be utilized for future homebuilding activities, the recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the assets based on home sales, consistent with the evaluations performed for operating communities discussed above.

For raw land, land under development or lots that management intends to market for sale to a third party, but that do not meet all of the criteria to be classified as land held for sale as discussed below, the recoverability of the assets is determined based on either the estimated net sales proceeds expected to be realized on the sale of the assets or the estimated fair value determined using cash flow valuation techniques.

If the Company has not yet determined whether raw land or land under development will be utilized for future homebuilding activities or marketed for sale to a third party, the Company assesses the recoverability of the inventory using a probability-weighted approach, in accordance with SFAS 144.

Land held for sale.  Land held for sale includes land that meets all of the following six criteria, as defined in SFAS 144:  (1) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the asset; (2) the asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets; (3) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset have been initiated; (4) the sale of the asset is probable, and transfer of the asset is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale, within one year; (5) the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and (6) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.  In accordance with SFAS 144, the Company records land held for sale at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less costs to sell.  In performing impairment evaluation for land held for sale, management considers, among other things, prices for land in recent comparable sales transactions, market analysis and recent bona fide offers received from outside third parties, as well as actual contracts.  If the estimated fair value less the costs to sell an asset is less than the current carrying value, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value less costs to sell.

The market-specific factors that may impact project assumptions discussed above are considered by personnel in our homebuilding divisions as they prepare or update the forecasted assumptions for each community. Quantitative and qualitative factors other than home sales prices could significantly impact the potential for future impairments.  The sales objectives can differ between communities, even within a given sub-market.  For example, facts and circumstances in a given community may lead us to price our homes with the objective of yielding a higher sales absorption pace, while facts and circumstances in another community may lead us to price our homes to minimize deterioration in our gross margins, although it may result in a slower sales absorption pace.  Furthermore, the key assumptions included in our estimated future undiscounted cash flows may be interrelated.  For example, a decrease
 
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in estimated base sales price or an increase in home sales incentives may result in a corresponding increase in sales absorption pace.  Additionally, a decrease in the average sales price of homes to be sold and closed in future reporting periods for one community that has not been generating what management believes to be an adequate sales absorption pace may impact the estimated cash flow assumptions of a nearby community.  Changes in our key assumptions, including estimated construction and development costs, absorption pace, selling strategies, or discount rates, could materially impact future cash flow and fair value estimates.  We perform a sensitivity analysis based on possible scenarios that considers various significant changes in these factors.

As of September 30, 2008, our projections generally assume a gradual improvement in market conditions over time, along with a gradual increase in costs.  These assumed gradual increases generally begin in 2010, depending on the market and community.  If communities are not recoverable based on undiscounted cash flows, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.  The fair value of a community is determined by discounting management’s cash flow projections using an appropriate risk-adjusted interest rate.  As of September 30, 2008, we utilized discount rates ranging from 12% to 15% in the above valuations.  The discount rate used in determining each asset’s fair value depends on the community’s projected life, development stage, and the inherent risks associated with the related estimated cash flow stream.  For example, construction in progress inventory, which is closer to completion, will generally require a lower discount rate than land under development in communities consisting of multiple phases spanning several years of development.  We believe our assumptions on discount rates are critical because the selection of a discount rate affects the estimated fair value of the homesites within a community. A higher discount rate reduces the estimated fair value of the homesites within the community, while a lower discount rate increases the estimated fair value of the homesites within a community.

Our quarterly assessments reflect management’s estimates.  Due to the uncertainties related to our operations and our industry as a whole as further discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008 and in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of Part II of this report., we are unable to determine at this time if and to what extent continuing changes in our local markets will result in future impairments.

Consolidated Inventory Not Owned.  We enter into land option agreements in the ordinary course of business in order to secure land for the construction of homes in the future.  Pursuant to these land option agreements, we typically provide a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase land at different times in the future, usually at pre-determined prices.  If the entity holding the land under option is a variable interest entity, the Company’s deposit (including letters of credit) represents a variable interest in the entity, and we must use our judgment to determine if we are the primary beneficiary of the entity.  Factors considered in determining whether we are the primary beneficiary include the amount of the deposit in relation to the fair value of the land, the expected timing of our purchase of the land, and assumptions about projected cash flows.  We consider our accounting policies with respect to determining whether we are the primary beneficiary to be critical accounting policies due to the judgment required.

We also periodically enter into lot option arrangements with third-parties to whom we have sold our raw land inventory.  We evaluate these transactions in accordance with SFAS No. 49, “Accounting for Product Financing Arrangements,” to determine if we should record an asset and liability at the time we sell the land and enter into the lot option contract.

Investment in Unconsolidated Limited Liability Companies.  We invest in entities that acquire and develop land for distribution to us in connection with our homebuilding operations.  In our judgment, we have determined that these entities generally do not meet the criteria of variable interest entities because they have sufficient equity to finance their operations.  We must use our judgment to determine if we have substantive control or exercise significant influence over these entities.  If we were to determine that we have substantive control or exercise significant influence over an entity, we would be required to consolidate the entity.  Factors considered in determining whether we have substantive control or exercise significant influence over an entity include risk and reward sharing, experience and financial condition of the other partners, voting rights, involvement in day-to-day capital and operating decisions, and continuing involvement.  In the event an entity does not have sufficient equity to finance its operations, we would be required to use judgment to determine if we were the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity.  We consider our accounting policies with respect to determining whether we are the primary beneficiary or have substantive control or exercise significant influence over an entity to be critical accounting policies due to the judgment required.  Based on the application of our accounting policies, these entities are accounted for by the equity method of accounting.
 
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In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18, “The Equity Method of Investments In Common Stock,” and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5.M, “Other Than Temporary Impairment of Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” the Company evaluates its investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies (“LLCs”) for potential impairment on a quarterly basis.  If the fair value of the investment is less than the investment’s carrying value and the Company has determined that the decline in value is other than temporary, the Company would write down the value of the investment to fair value.  The determination of whether an investment’s fair value is less than the carrying value requires management to make certain assumptions regarding the amount and timing of future contributions to the limited liability company, the timing of distribution of lots to the Company from the limited liability company, the projected fair value of the lots at the time of distribution to the Company, and the estimated proceeds from, and timing of, the sale of land or lots to third parties.  In determining the fair value of investments in unconsolidated LLCs, the Company evaluates the projected cash flows associated with the LLC using a probability-weighted approach based on the likelihood of different outcomes.  As of September 30, 2008, the Company used a discount rate of 15% in determining the fair value of investments in unconsolidated LLCs.  In addition to the assumptions management must make to determine if the investment’s fair value is less than the carrying value, management must also use judgment in determining whether the impairment is other than temporary.  The factors management considers are: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than cost; (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the Company; and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the limited liability company for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value.  In situations where the investments are 100% equity financed by the partners, and the joint venture simply distributes lots to its partners, the Company evaluates “other than temporary” by preparing an undiscounted cash flow model as described in inventory above for operating communities.  If such model results in positive value versus carrying value, the Company determines that the impairment is temporary; otherwise, the Company determines that the impairment is other than temporary and impairs the investment.  Because of the high degree of judgment involved in developing these assumptions, it is possible that the Company may determine the investment is not impaired in the current period but, due to passage of time or change in market conditions leading to changes in assumptions, impairment could occur.

Guarantees and Indemnities.  Guarantee and indemnity liabilities are established by charging the applicable income statement or balance sheet line, depending on the nature of the guarantee or indemnity, and crediting a liability.  M/I Financial provides a limited-life guarantee on loans sold to certain third parties and estimates its actual liability related to the guarantee and any indemnities subsequently provided to the purchaser of the loans in lieu of loan repurchase based on historical loss experience.  Actual future costs associated with loans guaranteed or indemnified could differ materially from our current estimated amounts.  The Company has also provided certain other guarantees and indemnifications in connection with the purchase and development of land, including environmental indemnifications, guarantees of the completion of land development, a loan maintenance and limited payment guaranty, and minimum net worth guarantees of certain subsidiaries.  The Company estimates these liabilities based on the estimated cost of insurance coverage or estimated cost of acquiring a bond in the amount of the exposure.  Actual future costs associated with these guarantees and indemnifications could differ materially from our current estimated amounts.

Warranty.  Warranty accruals are established by charging cost of sales and crediting a warranty accrual for each home closed.  The amounts charged are estimated by management to be adequate to cover expected warranty-related costs for materials and outside labor required under the Company’s warranty programs.  Accruals are recorded for warranties under the following warranty programs:
 
Home Builder’s Limited Warranty – warranty program which became effective for homes closed starting with the third quarter of 2007;
30-year transferable structural warranty – effective for homes closed after April 25, 1998;
two-year limited warranty program – effective prior to the implementation of the Home Builder’s Limited Warranty; and
20-year transferable structural warranty – effective for homes closed between September 1, 1989 and April 24, 1998.
 
The warranty accruals for the Home Builder’s Limited Warranty and two-year limited warranty program are established as a percentage of average sales price, and the structural warranty accruals are established on a per unit basis.  Our warranty accruals are based upon historical experience by geographic area and recent trends.  Factors that are given consideration in determining the accruals include: (1) the historical range of amounts paid per average sales price on a home; (2) type and mix of amenity packages added to the home; (3) any warranty expenditures included in the above not considered to be normal and recurring; (4) timing of payments; (5) improvements in quality of construction expected to impact future warranty expenditures; (6) actuarial estimates, which reflect both Company and industry data; and (7) conditions that may affect certain projects and require a different percentage of average sales price for those specific projects.
 
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Changes in estimates for warranties occur due to changes in the historical payment experience and differences between the actual payment pattern experienced during the period and the historical payment pattern used in our evaluation of the warranty accrual balance at the end of each quarter.  Actual future warranty costs could differ from our current estimated amount.

Self-insurance.  Self-insurance accruals are made for estimated liabilities associated with employee health care, Ohio workers’ compensation and general liability insurance.  Our self-insurance limit for employee health care is $250,000 per claim per year for fiscal 2008, with stop loss insurance covering amounts in excess of $250,000 up to $2,000,000 per claim per year.  Our self-insurance limit for workers’ compensation is $400,000 per claim, with stop loss insurance covering all amounts in excess of this limit.  The accruals related to employee health care and workers’ compensation are based on historical experience and open cases.  Our general liability claims are insured by a third party; the Company generally has a $7.5 million deductible per occurrence and an $18.25 million deductible in the aggregate, with lower deductibles for certain types of claims.  The Company records a general liability accrual for claims falling below the Company’s deductible.  The general liability accrual estimate is based on an actuarial evaluation of our past history of claims and other industry specific factors.  The Company has recorded expenses totaling less than $0.1 million and $3.2 million, respectively, for all self-insured and general liability claims during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.  Because of the high degree of judgment required in determining these estimated accrual amounts, actual future costs could differ from our current estimated amounts.

Stock-Based Compensation.  We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment,” which requires that companies measure and recognize compensation expense at an amount equal to the fair value of share-based payments granted under compensation arrangements.  We calculate the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the grant date requires judgment in developing assumptions, which involve a number of variables.  These variables include, but are not limited to, the expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, the expected dividend yield, and the expected term of the option.  In addition, when we first issue share-based awards we also use judgment in estimating the number of share-based awards that are expected to be forfeited.

Derivative Financial Instruments.  To meet financing needs of our home-buying customers, M/I Financial is party to interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”), which are extended to customers who have applied for a mortgage loan and meet certain defined credit and underwriting criteria.  These IRLCs are considered derivative financial instruments under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 133”).  M/I Financial manages interest rate risk related to its IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale through the use of forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“FMBSs”), use of best-efforts whole loan delivery commitments and the occasional purchase of options on FMBSs in accordance with Company policy.  These FMBSs, options on FMBSs and IRLCs covered by FMBSs are considered non-designated derivatives.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”), and SAB No. 109, “Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings” (“SAB 109”), for IRLCs entered into in 2008.  In determining fair value of IRLCs, M/I Financial considers the value of the resulting loan if sold in the secondary market.  The fair value includes the price that the loan is expected to be sold for along with the value of servicing release premiums.  The fair value of IRLCs entered into in 2007 excludes the value of the servicing release premium in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance at that time.  This determines the initial fair value, which is indexed to zero at inception.  Subsequent to inception, M/I Financial estimates an updated fair value which is compared to the initial fair value.  In addition, M/I Financial uses fallout estimates which fluctuate based on the rate of the IRLC in relation to current rates.  In accordance with SFAS 133 and related Derivatives Implementation Group conclusions, gains or losses are recorded in financial services revenue.  Certain IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale are committed to third party investors through the use of best-efforts whole loan delivery commitments.  In accordance with SFAS 133, the IRLCs and related best-efforts whole loan delivery commitments, which generally are highly effective from an economic standpoint, are considered non-designated derivatives and are accounted for at fair value, with gains or losses recorded in financial services revenue.  Under the terms of these best-efforts whole loan delivery commitments covering mortgage loans held for sale, the specific committed mortgage loans held for sale are identified and matched to specific delivery commitments on a loan-by-loan basis.  The delivery commitments are designated as fair value hedges of the mortgage loans held for sale, and both the delivery commitments and loans held for sale are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in financial services revenue.

Income Taxes—Valuation Allowance.  In accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” a valuation allowance is recorded against a deferred tax asset if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion or the entire deferred tax asset will not be realized. The realization of a deferred tax asset ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income in
 
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either the carryback or carryforward periods under applicable tax law. The four sources of taxable income to be considered in determining whether a valuation allowance is required include:

future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences (i.e., offset gross deferred tax assets against gross deferred tax liabilities);
taxable income in prior carryback years;
tax planning strategies; and
future taxable income, exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.
 
Determining whether a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is necessary requires an analysis of both positive and negative evidence regarding realization of the deferred tax assets. Examples of positive evidence may include:

a strong earnings history exclusive of the loss that created the deductible temporary differences, coupled with evidence indicating that the loss is the result of an aberration rather than a continuing condition;
an excess of appreciated asset value over the tax basis of a company’s net assets in an amount sufficient to realize the deferred tax asset; and
existing backlog that will produce more than enough taxable income to realize the deferred tax asset based on existing sales prices and cost structures.

Examples of negative evidence may include:

the existence of “cumulative losses” (defined as a pre-tax cumulative loss for the business cycle – in our case four years);
an expectation of being in a cumulative loss position in a future reporting period;
a carryback or carryforward period that is so brief that it would limit the realization of tax benefits;
a history of operating loss or tax credit carryforwards expiring unused; and
unsettled circumstances that, if unfavorably resolved, would adversely affect future operations and profit levels on a continuing basis.

The weight given to the potential effect of negative and positive evidence should be commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. A company must use judgment in considering the relative impact of positive and negative evidence. At June 30, 2008, we recorded a non-cash charge of $58.0 million for a valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company updated its assessment and recorded an additional $21.6 million valuation allowance for deferred tax assets primarily created during the three months ended September 30, 2008.

Future adjustments to our deferred tax asset valuation allowance will be determined based upon changes in the expected realization of our net deferred tax assets.  For the remainder of 2008, we do not expect to record any additional tax benefits as the carryback has been exhausted due to projected utilization of beginning of the year deferred tax assets.  Additionally, our determination with respect to recording a valuation allowance may be further impacted by, among other things:

additional inventory impairments;
additional pre-tax operating losses; or
the utilization of tax planning strategies that could accelerate the realization of certain deferred tax assets.

Because a valuation allowance can be impacted by any one or a combination of the foregoing factors, we do not believe it is possible to develop a meaningful sensitivity analysis associated with potential adjustments to the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets.  Additionally, due to the considerable estimates utilized in establishing a valuation allowance and the potential for changes in facts and circumstances in future reporting periods, it is reasonably possible that we will be required to either increase or decrease our valuation allowance in future reporting periods.

Income Taxes—FIN 48.  The Company evaluates tax positions that have been taken or are expected to be taken in tax returns, and records the associated tax benefit or liability in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”).  Tax positions are recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position would be sustained upon examination.  The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement.  Interest and penalties for all uncertain tax positions are recorded within provision (benefit) for income taxes in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

In conformity with SFAS No. 131, “Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” (“SFAS 131”), the Company’s segment information is presented on the basis that the chief operating decision makers use in evaluating segment performance.  The Company’s chief operating decision makers evaluate the Company’s performance in various ways, including: (1) the results of our ten individual homebuilding operating segments and the results of the financial services operation; (2) the results of our three homebuilding regions; and (3) the results of our consolidated financial results.  We have determined our reportable segments in accordance with SFAS 131 as follows: Midwest homebuilding, Florida homebuilding, Mid-Atlantic homebuilding, and financial services operations.  The homebuilding operating segments that are included within each reportable segment have similar operations and exhibit similar economic characteristics, and therefore meet the aggregation criteria in SFAS 131.  Our homebuilding operations include the acquisition and development of land, the sale and construction of single-family attached and detached homes, and the occasional sale of lots and land to third parties.  The homebuilding operating segments that comprise each of our reportable segments are as follows:

Midwest
Florida
Mid-Atlantic
Columbus, Ohio
Tampa, Florida
Maryland
Cincinnati, Ohio
Orlando, Florida
Virginia
Indianapolis, Indiana
 
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
 
Raleigh, North Carolina

The financial services operations include the origination and sale of mortgage loans and title and insurance agency services primarily for purchasers of the Company’s homes.

Highlights and Trends for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008

Overview

The United States is in the midst of an unprecedented combination of economic turmoil, uncertainty in the credit and financial markets, and worldwide concerns of a financial collapse. The $700 billion financial bailout plan signed into law by the President on October 3, 2008 appears to only just now be starting to thaw the credit markets and help ease the panic of investors. These unprecedented economic conditions wreaked havoc on the homebuilding industry during the third quarter of 2008 and have continued into October as well.  Potential home buyers, reacting to industry specific factors and these broader economic concerns, are likely to stay on the sidelines until the economic and financial picture becomes clearer.  With the U.S. housing inventory growing in excess of absorption and declining consumer confidence, the prospect of further deterioration in the homebuilding industry will likely become reality absent further Federal government action. If there is further deterioration in market conditions, this may lead to a further increase in the supply of new and existing homes that are for sale as a result of decreased absorption levels and increased foreclosures.  In the face of these uncertainties and our trends of declining units and pricing in all of our markets, which we believe will persist well into 2009, we will continue our diligent pursuit of our predominantly defensive operating strategy, focused on cash flow generation, operating with a right-sized overhead structure, and carefully managing our inventory.  Specifically we have (1) adjusted our approach to land acquisition and development and construction practices and continue to shorten our land pipeline, (2) limited land development expenditures, (3) reduced production volumes, and (4) worked to try to balance home price and profitability with sales pace.  We are also delaying planned land purchases and development spending and have significantly reduced our total number of controlled lots owned and under option.  While we will continue to purchase select land positions where it makes strategic and economic sense to do so, we currently anticipate minimal investment in new land parcels in the near term.  We have also closely evaluated and made significant reductions in employee headcount and overhead expenses and have put in place strategic plans to reduce costs and improve ongoing operating efficiencies.  Given the persistence of these difficult market conditions, improving the efficiency of our overhead costs will continue to be a significant area of focus.  We believe that these measures will help to strengthen our market position and allow us to take advantage of opportunities that may develop when the homebuilding industry stabilizes. Given the continued weakness in new home sales and closings, visibility as to future earnings performance is limited.  Our outlook is tempered with caution, as conditions in many of the markets we serve have become increasingly challenging.  Our evaluation for land-related charges recorded to date assumed our best estimates of cash flows for the communities tested. If conditions in the homebuilding industry worsen in the future or if our strategy related to certain communities changes, we may be required to evaluate our assets, including additional communities, for additional impairments or write-downs, which could result in additional charges that might be significant.

 
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Key Financial Results

For the quarter ended September 30, 2008, total revenue decreased $72.6 million (31%) to approximately $160.4 million when compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2007.  This decrease is largely attributable to a decrease of $70.7 million in housing revenue, from $222.2 million in 2007 to $151.5 million in 2008 due to both a decline in homes delivered and the average sales price of homes delivered.  Homes delivered decreased 27%, from 765 in the third quarter of 2007 to 555 in the same period of 2008, and the average sales price of homes delivered decreased from $290,000 to $273,000.  Our financial services revenue also decreased $2.2 million (47%) for the third quarter of 2008 compared to the prior year due primarily to a 20% decrease in the number of mortgage loans originated.
   
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes for the third quarter of 2008 increased by $31.2 million from $27.2 million in the third quarter of 2007 to $58.4 million in the third quarter of 2008.  During the third quarter of 2008, the Company incurred charges totaling $43.5 million compared to $24.5 million incurred in the third quarter of 2007, related to the impairment of inventory, investment in unconsolidated LLCs and abandoned land transaction costs.  Excluding the impact of the above-mentioned charges, the Company had a pre-tax loss of $14.9 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared to $2.7 million in 2007’s third quarter.  The $12.2 million increase in pre-tax loss from 2007 was driven by the decrease in housing revenue discussed above, along with lower pre-impairment gross margins, which declined from 19.4% in 2007’s third quarter to 11.8% in 2008’s third quarter.  General and administrative expenses decreased $6.5 million (27%) from the third quarter of 2007 to the third quarter of 2008 primarily due to a decrease of $4.1 million in payroll and incentive expenses and a decrease of $1.6 million in land related expenses, including abandoned projects and deposit write-offs.  Selling expenses decreased by $5.0 million (25%) for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 when compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2007 primarily due to a $2.6 million decrease in variable selling expenses, a $1.3 million decrease in model home expenses and a $0.4 million decrease in advertising expenses.
   
For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, total revenue decreased $218.5 million (32%) compared to the first nine months of 2007.  This decrease was attributable to a decrease of $237.1 million in housing revenue, from $646.3 million in 2007 to $409.2 million in 2008 due to both a decline in homes delivered and average sales price.  Homes delivered decreased 33% from 2,189 in the first nine months of 2007 to 1,471 in the same period of 2008, and the average sales price of homes delivered decreased from $295,000 to $278,000.  Slightly offsetting the decrease in housing revenue was an increase in revenue from the outside sale of land to third parties, which increased 92% from $15.6 million in 2007 to $30.0 million in 2008.  Financial services revenue also decreased $3.8 million (25%), driven by a 24% decrease in the number of mortgage loans originated.
   
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $138.6 million compared to $81.6 million in the 2007 nine-month period.  During the first nine months of 2008, the Company incurred charges totaling $105.7 million compared to $85.7 million incurred in the first nine months of 2007, related to the impairment of inventory, investment in unconsolidated LLCs and abandoned land transaction costs.  Excluding the impact of the above-mentioned charges, the Company had a pre-tax loss of $32.9 million in the first nine months of 2008, which represents a $37.0 million decrease from 2007’s pre-impairment income of $4.1 million.  The decrease from 2007 was driven by the decrease in housing revenue, along with lower pre-impairment gross margins, which declined from 20.6% for the first nine months of 2007 to 13.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  General and administrative expenses decreased $18.4 million (26%) for the first nine months of 2008 compared to the first nine months of 2007 primarily due to (1) a decrease of $5.7 million in intangible amortization due to the 2007 write-off of the goodwill and other assets; (2) a decrease of $6.7 million in payroll and incentive expenses; (3) a decrease of $3.5 million in land related expenses, including abandoned projects and deposit write-offs; (4) a decrease of $2.7 million of miscellaneous expenses; (5) a decrease of $0.3 million in computer related expenses; and (6) a decrease of $0.2 million in other tax expenses.  Selling expenses decreased by $14.1 million (25%) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2007 primarily due to an $8.1 million decrease in variable selling expenses, a $3.7 million decrease in model home expenses and a $1.5 million decrease in advertising expenses.

 
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New contracts for the third quarter of 2008 were 456, down 16% compared to 546 in 2007’s third quarter.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, new contracts decreased by 619 (29%), from 2,159 to 1,540 for the same period in 2007. For the third quarter of 2008, our cancellation rate was 32% compared to 37% in 2007’s third quarter.  By region, our third quarter cancellation rates in 2008 versus 2007 were as follows: Midwest – 35% in 2008 and 38% in 2007; Florida – 28% in 2008 and 44% in 2007; and Mid-Atlantic – 28% in 2008 and 29% in 2007.  The overall cancellation rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were 26% and 30%, respectively.
   
Our mortgage company’s capture rate increased from 77% for the third quarter of 2007 to approximately 84% in the third quarter of 2008.  For the first nine months of 2008, approximately 83% of our homes delivered that were financed were through M/I Financial, compared to 75% in 2007’s first nine months.  Capture rate is influenced by financing availability and can fluctuate up or down from quarter to quarter.
   
We continue to deal with very weak and ever-changing market conditions that require us to constantly monitor the value of our inventory and investments in unconsolidated LLCs in those markets in which we operate, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recorded $43.5 million and $105.7 million, respectively, of charges relating to the impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs and write-off of abandoned land transaction costs.  We generally believe that we will see a gradual improvement in market conditions over the long term.  During 2008, we will continue to update our evaluation of the value of our inventory and investments in unconsolidated LLCs for impairment, and could be required to record additional impairment charges, which would negatively impact earnings should market conditions deteriorate further or results differ from management’s original assumptions.
   
During the third quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a non-cash tax charge of $21.6 million for an additional valuation allowance related to its deferred tax assets. This was reflected as a charge to income tax expense and resulted in a reduction of the Company’s net deferred tax assets. The income tax valuation allowance charges totaled $79.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  Consequently, the Company’s effective tax rate was 22.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to an effective tax rate of 38.5% for the same period in 2007. Due to the uncertainty of current market conditions, the Company is unable to provide precise annual effective tax rate guidance at this time.

The following table shows, by segment, revenue, operating loss and interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, as well as the Company’s loss from continuing operations before income taxes for such periods:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
(In thousands)
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
Revenue:
               
Midwest homebuilding
$ 64,564   $ 96,831   $ 171,042   $ 246,718  
Florida homebuilding
  29,979     57,093     119,620     210,987  
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
  63,270     74,802     148,526     204,119  
Other homebuilding - unallocated (a)
  -     (552 )   7,131     (780 )
Financial services
  2,572     4,809     11,153     14,956  
Total revenue
$ 160,385   $ 232,983   $ 457,472   $ 676,000  
                         
Operating loss:
                       
Midwest homebuilding (b)
$ (25,137 ) $ (964 ) $ (43,496 ) $ (8,559 )
Florida homebuilding  (b)
  (12,599 )   (13,049 )   (55,208 )   (20,613 )
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding (b)
  (12,047 )   (2,935 )   (22,280 )   (27,291 )
Other homebuilding - unallocated (a)
  -     327     502     254  
Financial services
  732     2,175     5,325     7,240  
Less: Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses (c)
  (7,222 )   (8,124 )   (20,313 )   (21,210 )
Total operating loss
$ (56,273 ) $ (22,570 ) $ (135,470 ) $ (70,179 )
                         
Interest expense-net:
                       
Midwest homebuilding
$ 1,181   $ 1,617   $ 3,900   $ 3,631  
Florida homebuilding
  302     1,847     1,813     4,725  
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
  553     1,014     2,624     2,683  
Financial services
  114     160     358     387  
Total interest expense-net
$ 2,150   $ 4,638   $ 8,695   $ 11,426  
                         
Other income (d)
$ -   $ -   $ 5,555   $ -  
                         
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
$ (58,423 ) $ (27,208 ) $ (138,610 ) $ (81,605 )
 
30 

 
(a) Other homebuilding – unallocated consists of the net impact in the period due to timing of homes delivered with low down-payment loans (buyers put less than 5% down) funded by the Company’s financial services operations not yet sold to a third party.  In accordance with applicable accounting rules, recognition of such revenue must be deferred until the related loan is sold to a third party.  Refer to the Revenue Recognition policy described in our Application of Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion.

(b) For the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the impact of charges relating to the impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs and the write-off of land deposits and pre-acquisition costs was $43.5 million and $24.5 million, respectively.  These charges reduced operating income by $21.3 million and $0.7 million in the Midwest region, $11.3 million and $17.1 million in the Florida region, and $10.9 million and $6.7 million in the Mid-Atlantic region for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

      For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the impact of charges relating to the impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs and the write-off of land deposits and pre-acquisition costs was $105.7 million and $85.7 million, respectively.  These charges reduced operating income by $34.3 million and $7.6 million in the Midwest region, $52.9 million and $43.7 million in the Florida region, and $18.5 million and $34.4 million in the Mid-Atlantic region for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

(c) The three and nine months ended September, 2008 include the impact of severance charges of $0.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively, and the three and nine months ended September, 2007 include the impact of severance charges of $0.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively.

(d) Other income is comprised of the gain recognized on the exchange of the Company’s airplane.

The following table shows total assets by segment:

 
At September 30, 2008
             
Corporate,
   
             
Financial Services
   
(In thousands)
Midwest
 
Florida
 
Mid-Atlantic
 
and Unallocated
 
Total
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
$         321
 
$         50
 
$    2,348
 
  $            -
 
$    2,719
Inventory
278,773
 
125,133
 
211,308
 
-
 
615,214
Investments in unconsolidated entities
11,734
 
11,221
 
-
 
-
 
22,955
Other assets
2,284
 
13,240
 
9,753
 
115,327
 
140,604
Total assets
$293,112
 
$149,644
 
$223,409
 
$115,327
 
$781,492

 
At December 31, 2007
             
Corporate,
   
             
Financial Services
   
(In thousands)
Midwest
 
Florida
 
Mid-Atlantic
 
and Unallocated
 
Total
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
$       344
 
    $      388
 
$    3,699
 
$            -
 
$       4,431
Inventory
332,991
 
205,773
 
253,468
 
666
 
792,898
Investments in unconsolidated entities
15,705
 
24,638
 
-
 
-
 
40,343
Other assets
5,180
 
10,849
 
19,720
 
244,224
 
279,973
Total assets
$354,220
 
$241,648
 
$276,887
 
$244,890
 
$1,117,645

Seasonality

Our homebuilding operations experience significant seasonality and quarter-to-quarter variability in homebuilding activity levels.  In general, homes delivered increase substantially in the second half of the year.  We believe that this seasonality reflects the tendency of homebuyers to shop for a new home in the spring with the goal of closing in the fall or winter, as well as the scheduling of construction to accommodate seasonal weather conditions.  Our financial services operations also experience seasonality because loan originations correspond with the delivery of homes in our homebuilding operations.

31 

 
Reportable Segments

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
     (Dollars in thousands, except as otherwise noted)
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
Midwest Region
               
Homes delivered
  257     376     673     993  
Average sales price per home delivered
$ 244   $ 249   $ 250   $ 244  
Revenue homes
$ 62,677   $ 93,534   $ 168,355   $ 242,276  
Revenue third party land sales
$ 1,887   $ 3,297   $ 2,687   $ 4,442  
Operating loss homes (a)
$ (20,923 ) $ (1,121 ) $ (38,913 ) $ (8,847 )
Operating (loss) income land (a)
$ (4,214 ) $ 157   $ (4,583 ) $ 288  
New contracts, net
  238     252     726     1,056  
Backlog at end of period
  444     695     444     695  
Average sales price of homes in backlog
$ 247   $ 264   $ 247   $ 264  
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog (in millions)
$ 109   $ 184   $ 109   $ 184  
Number of active communities
  80     76     80     76  
                         
Florida Region
                       
Homes delivered
  105     174     355     629  
Average sales price per home delivered
$ 244   $ 310   $ 260   $ 323  
Revenue homes
$ 25,544   $ 53,892   $ 92,341   $ 202,618  
Revenue third party land sales
$ 4,435   $ 3,201   $ 27,279   $ 8,369  
Operating loss homes (a)
$ (5,519 ) $ (6,681 ) $ (31,323 ) $ (13,016 )
Operating loss land (a)
$ (7,080 ) $ (6,368 ) $ (23,885 ) $ (7,597 )
New contracts, net
  87     130     374     430  
Backlog at end of period
  140     294     140     294  
Average sales price of homes in backlog
$ 291   $ 327   $ 291   $ 327  
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog (in millions)
$ 41   $ 96   $ 41   $ 96  
Number of active communities
  26     40     26     40  
                         
Mid-Atlantic Region
                       
Homes delivered
  193     215     443     567  
Average sales price per home delivered
$ 328   $ 348   $ 336   $ 355  
Revenue homes
$ 63,270   $ 74,802   $ 148,526   $ 201,363  
Revenue third party land sales
$ -   $ -   $ -   $ 2,756  
Operating loss homes (a)
$ (11,837 ) $ (2,613 ) $ (22,070 ) $ (26,941 )
Operating loss land (a)
$ (210 ) $ (322 ) $ (210 ) $ (350 )
New contracts, net
  131     164     440     673  
Backlog at end of period
  197     414     197     414  
Average sales price of homes in backlog
$ 314   $ 411   $ 314   $ 411  
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog (in millions)
$ 62   $ 170   $ 62   $ 170  
Number of active communities
  32     37     32     37  
                         
Total Homebuilding Regions
                       
Homes delivered
  555     765     1,471     2,189  
Average sales price per home delivered
$ 273   $ 290   $ 278   $ 295  
Revenue homes
$ 151,491   $ 222,228   $ 409,222   $ 646,257  
Revenue third party land sales
$ 6,322   $ 6,498   $ 29,966   $ 15,567  
Operating loss homes (a)
$ (38,279 ) $ (10,415 ) $ (92,306 ) $ (48,804 )
Operating loss land (a)
$ (11,504 ) $ (6,533 ) $ (28,678 ) $ (7,659 )
New contracts, net
  456     546     1,540     2,159  
Backlog at end of period
  781     1,403     781     1,403  
Average sales price of homes in backlog
$ 272   $ 321   $ 272   $ 321  
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog (in millions)
$ 212   $ 450   $ 212   $ 450  
Number of active communities
  138     153     138     153  
                         
Financial Services
                       
Number of loans originated
  439     549     1,168     1,528  
Value of loans originated
$ 107,995   $ 134,554   $ 279,966   $ 381,607  
Revenue
$ 2,572   $ 4,809   $ 11,153   $ 14,956  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
$ 1,840   $ 2,634   $ 5,828   $ 7,716  
Interest expense
$ 114   $ 160   $ 358   $ 387  
Income before income taxes
$ 618   $ 2,015   $ 4,967   $ 6,853  
                         

(a) Amount includes impairment charges and write-off of land deposits and pre-acquisition costs for 2008 and 2007 as follows:
 
32 

 

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
(In thousands)
2008    2007    2008    2007  
Midwest:
               
Homes
$ 17,110   $ 722   $ 29,751   $ 7,633  
Land
  4,241     -     4,599     -  
                         
Florida:
                       
Homes
  4,182     9,734     28,624     33,864  
Land
  7,080     7,398     24,263     9,840  
                         
Mid-Atlantic:
                       
Homes
  10,599     6,342     18,166     34,079  
Land
  310     322     310     322  
                         
Total
                       
Homes
$ 31,891   $ 16,798   $ 76,541   $ 75,576  
Land
$ 11,631   $ 7,720   $ 29,172   $ 10,162  

A home is included in “new contracts” when our standard sales contract is executed.  “Homes delivered” represents homes for which the closing of the sale has occurred.  “Backlog” represents homes for which the standard sales contract has been executed, but which are not included in homes delivered because closings for these homes have not yet occurred as of the end of the period specified.

Cancellation Rates

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(In thousands)
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
Midwest:
34.6%
 
38.2%
 
29.0%
 
28.3%
Florida:
28.1%
 
44.0%
 
19.0%
 
44.2%
Mid-Atlantic:
28.0%
 
29.0%
 
24.4%
 
18.2%
               
Total
31.6%
 
37.3%
 
25.5%
 
29.6%

Three Months Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2007

Midwest Region.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2008, Midwest homebuilding revenue was $64.6 million, a 33% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2007.  The decrease was primarily due to the 32% decrease in the number of homes delivered, along with a 2% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered from $249,000 in the third quarter of 2007 to $244,000 in the third quarter of 2008.  Excluding impairment charges of $21.4 million and $0.5 million for the third quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively, our gross margins were 9.1% and 12.8% for those same periods in our Midwest region.  The 3.7% decrease was a result of more sales incentives offered on our Midwest homes along with an increase in the percentage of speculative homes delivered, which typically have a lower profit margin compared to total homes delivered.  Selling, general and administrative costs decreased $3.2 million, going from $12.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 to $9.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 due to a decrease in payroll related expenses and real estate taxes.  For the three months ended September 30, 2008, our Midwest region new contracts declined 6% compared to the three months ended September 30, 2007 due to weak market conditions.  Quarter-end backlog declined 36% in units, from 695 at September 30, 2007 to 444 at September 30, 2008, and 40.3% in total sales value, from $183.4 million at September 30, 2007 to $109.5 million at September 30, 2008, with an average sales price in backlog of $247,000 at September 30, 2008 compared to $264,000 at September 30, 2007.

Florida Region. For the quarter ended September 30, 2008, Florida housing revenue decreased by $28.3 million (53%) compared to the same period in 2007.  The decrease in revenue was primarily due to a 40% decrease in the number of homes delivered in 2008 compared to 2007.  Partially offsetting the decrease in housing revenue was the increase in revenue from outside land sales of $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2008 when compared to 2007.  Excluding impairment charges of $11.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and $17.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, our gross margins were 13.2% and 24.2% for those same periods.  The 11% decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered from $310,000 in the third quarter of 2007 to $244,000 in the third quarter of 2008, along with an increase in the number of speculative homes delivered, which typically have a lower profit margin.  Selling, general and administrative costs decreased $4.5 million, from $9.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 to $5.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 due to a decrease in payroll related expenses and real estate taxes.  For the third quarter of 2008, our Florida region new contracts decreased from 130 in 2007 to 87 in 2008.  Management anticipates continued challenging conditions in our Florida markets to continue in 2008 based on the decrease in backlog units from 294 at September 30, 2007 to 140 at
 
33

September 30, 2008 along with the decrease in the average sales price of homes in backlog from $327,000 at September 30, 2007 to $291,000 at September 30, 2008.

Mid-Atlantic Region. In our Mid-Atlantic region, homebuilding revenue decreased $11.5 million (15%) for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.  This decrease is primarily due to the decrease in homes delivered from 215 in 2007 to 193 in 2008.  New contracts decreased 20%, from 164 in the third quarter of 2007 to 131 in the third quarter of 2008.  Excluding impairment charges of $10.6 million and $6.7 million for the third quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively, our gross margins were 10.2% and 18.4% for those same periods in our Mid-Atlantic region.  The decrease of 8.2% was primarily due to the decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered, from $348,000 in the third quarter of 2007 to $328,000 in the third quarter of 2008, and an increase in the number of speculative homes delivered, which typically have a lower profit margin.  Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $2.1 million excluding deposit write-offs and pre-acquisition costs of $0.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, primarily due to a decrease in payroll related expenses.  Quarter-end backlog declined 52% in units, from 414 at September 30, 2007 to 197 at September 30, 2008, and 64% in total sales value, from $170.0 million at September 30, 2007 to $62.0 million at September 30, 2008, with an average sales price in backlog of $314,000 at September 30, 2008 compared to $411,000 at September 30, 2007.

Financial Services.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2008, revenue from our mortgage and title operations decreased $2.2 million (46%), from $4.8 million in 2007 to $2.6 million in 2008, due primarily to a decrease of 20% in loan originations.

At September 30, 2008, M/I Financial had mortgage operations in all of our markets except Chicago.  Approximately 84% of our homes delivered during the third quarter of 2008 that were financed were through M/I Financial, compared to 77% in 2007’s third quarter.  Capture rate is influenced by financing availability and can fluctuate up or down from quarter to quarter.

Corporate Selling, General and Administrative Expense.  Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.9 million (11%), from $8.1 million in the third quarter of 2007 to $7.2 million in the third quarter of 2008.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of approximately $2.1 million in payroll related expenses due to workforce reductions.  This decrease was partially offset by a $0.8 million increase in professional fees and a $0.3 million increase in advertising expenses.

Interest - Net.  Interest expense for the Company decreased $2.5 million (54%) from $4.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 to $2.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.  This decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the weighted average borrowings from $479.5 million in the third quarter of 2007 to $241.5 million in the third quarter of 2008, which was partially offset by a decrease in interest capitalized due primarily to a significant reduction in land development activities and a slight increase in our weighted average borrowing rate from 8.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2007 to 7.69% for the three months ended September 30, 2008.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007

Midwest Region.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, Midwest homebuilding revenue decreased $75.7 million (31%) compared to the first nine months of 2007, from $246.7 million to $171.0 million.  The decrease was primarily due to the 32% decrease in the number of homes delivered, from 993 for the first nine months of 2007 to 673 for the same period in 2008.  Partially offsetting the decrease in homes delivered was the increase in the average sales price of homes delivered from $244,000 in the first nine months of 2007 to $250,000 in the first nine months of 2008.  Excluding impairment charges of $34.3 million and $7.3 million for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively, our gross margins were 10.2% and 13.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The 3.5% decrease was a result of more sales incentives offered on our Midwest homes and an increase in the number of speculative homes delivered, which typically have a lower profit margin.  Selling, general and administrative costs decreased $8.2 million, from $34.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 to $26.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 due to a decrease in payroll related expenses and real estate taxes.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, new contracts declined 31% compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2007 due to weak market conditions in the Midwest.

Florida Region.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, Florida housing revenue decreased $110.3 million (54%), from $202.6 million in the first nine months of 2007 to $92.3 million in the first nine months of 2008.  The decrease in revenue was primarily due to a 44% decrease in the number of homes delivered during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the first nine months of 2007, along with a decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered from $323,000 in the first nine months of 2007 to $260,000 in the first nine months of 2008.  Partially offsetting the decrease in housing revenue was an increase in revenue from outside land sales of 225%, from $8.4
 
34 

 
million in 2007 to $27.3 million in 2008.  Excluding impairment charges of $52.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and $41.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, our gross margin declined over 1,000 basis points due to the decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered discussed above along with an increase in the number of speculative homes delivered, which typically have a lower profit margin.  Selling, general and administrative costs decreased $15.3 million excluding deposit write-offs and pre-acquisition costs of $0.1 million in the first nine months of 2008 and $1.8 million in the first nine months of 2007.  This decrease was primarily due to the write-off of goodwill and other assets of our July 2005 acquisition of $5.2 million in the second quarter of 2007 and a decrease in payroll related expenses and real estate taxes.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, new contracts decreased 13%, from 430 in 2007 to 374 in 2008.

Mid-Atlantic Region. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, Mid-Atlantic homebuilding revenue decreased $55.6 million (27%) from $204.1 million in the first nine months of 2007 to $148.5 million in the first nine months of 2008.  Driving this decrease was a 22% decrease in the number of homes delivered from 567 in 2007 to 443 in 2008, along with a decrease in the average selling price from $355,000 in 2007 to $336,000 in 2008.  Excluding impairment charges of $17.1 million and $34.4 million for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively, our gross margins were 11.9% and 17.1% for those same periods.  The 5.2% decrease was a result of the decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered discussed above and an increase in the number of speculative homes delivered, which typically have a lower profit margin.  Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $6.2 million excluding deposit write-offs and pre-acquisition costs of $1.4 million and less than $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The primary reason for this decrease was due to a decrease in payroll related expenses and model home expenses.  New contracts decreased 35% from 673 in the first nine months of 2007 to 440 for the first nine months of 2008.

Financial Services.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, revenue from our mortgage and title operations decreased $3.8 million (25%), from $15.0 million in the first nine months of 2007 to $11.2 million in the first nine months of 2008, due primarily to a 24% decrease in loan originations, which was partially offset by the inclusion of the servicing release premiums in revenue due to the adoption of SAB No.109 and SFAS 159 in the first quarter of 2008, resulting in a one-time increase in revenue of $1.4 million.

At September 30, 2008, M/I Financial had mortgage operations in all of our markets except Chicago.  Approximately 83% of our homes delivered during the first nine months of 2008 that were financed were through M/I Financial, compared to 75% in 2007’s first nine months.  Capture rate is influenced by financing availability and can fluctuate up or down from quarter to quarter.

Corporate Selling, General and Administrative Expense.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, corporate selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.9 million, from $21.2 million in the first nine months of 2007 to $20.3 million in the first nine months of 2008.  This decrease was driven by a decrease of $2.4 million in payroll and payroll related expenses, which was partially offset by an increase in professional fees of $0.7 million and a $0.9 million increase in advertising expenses.

Interest - Net.  Interest expense for the Company decreased $2.7 million (24%) from $11.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 to $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  This decrease was primarily due to the decrease in our weighted average borrowings from $507.2 million in the first nine months of 2007 to $272.7 million in the first nine months of 2008, which was partially offset by a decrease in interest capitalized due primarily to a significant reduction in land development activities and a slight increase in our weighted average borrowing rate from 7.62% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 to 8.05% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  In addition, during the first nine months of 2008, we wrote-off $1.1 million of deferred financing fees related to the 50% reduction in the size of our Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 6, 2006 (as amended, the “Credit Facility”).

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Operating Cash Flow Activities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we generated $126.2 million of cash from our operating activities, compared to $73.7 million of cash from our operating activities during the first nine months of 2007.  The net cash generated during the first nine months of 2008 was primarily a result of a $49 million tax refund,  $103.5 million net conversion of inventory into cash as a result of home closings as well as land sales, which generated $36.9 million of cash during 2008 (including the collection of a $6.4 million receivable) versus $16.2 million in 2007.  The net cash generated was also due to the $22.8 million net reduction in mortgage loans held for sale due to proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans being in excess of new loan originations during the period.  Partially
 
35 

 
offsetting these increases was a net decrease due to other operating activities, including $22.2 million in accounts payable and $5.5 million in accrued compensation.

The principal reason for the increase in the generation of cash from operations during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the first nine months of 2007 was our defensive strategy to reduce our land purchases and land development to better match our forecasted number of home sales driven by challenging market conditions.  We are actively trying to reduce our inventory levels further and maintain positive cash flow.   During the first nine months of 2008, we purchased $14.7 million of land and lots.  We have entered into land option agreements in order to secure land for the construction of homes in the future.  Pursuant to these land option agreements, we have provided deposits to land sellers totaling $6.0 million as of September 30, 2008 as consideration for the right to purchase land and lots in the future, including the right to purchase $97.9 million of land and lots during the years 2008 through 2018.  We evaluate our future land purchases on an ongoing basis, taking into consideration current and projected market conditions, and negotiate terms with sellers, as necessary, based on market conditions and our existing land supply by market.

Investing Cash Flow Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we generated $3.4 million of cash, primarily due to the proceeds of $9.5 million from the exchange of our airplane, which was partially offset by $3.8 million used for additional investments in certain of our unconsolidated LLCs.

Financing Cash Flow Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we used $126.7 million of cash.  Using the $49 million tax refund that we received in the first quarter of 2008, along with cash generated from operations, we repaid $119.7 million under our revolving credit facilities.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we paid a total of $5.9 million in dividends, which includes $4.9 million in dividends paid on our 9.75% Series A preferred shares.  The indenture governing our senior notes contains a provision that restricts the payment of dividends on our common or preferred shares when the calculation of the “consolidated restricted payments basket,” as defined therein, falls below zero, which it did during the second quarter of 2008.  As a result, we are restricted from making any further dividend payments on our common or preferred shares.  Until such time as the restricted payments basket has been restored or our senior notes are repaid, and our Board of Directors authorizes us to resume dividend payments.

Our homebuilding and financial services operations financing needs depend on anticipated sales volume in the current year as well as future years, inventory levels and related turnover, forecasted land and lot purchases, and other Company plans.  We fund these operations with cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our bank credit facilities, which are primarily unsecured, and, from time to time, issuances of new debt and/or equity securities, as management deems necessary.

We have incurred substantial indebtedness, and may incur substantial indebtedness in the future, to fund our homebuilding activities.  We routinely monitor current operational requirements, financial market conditions, and credit relationships.  We believe that our operations and borrowing resources will provide for our current and long-term liquidity requirements.  However, we continue to evaluate the impact of market conditions on our liquidity and may determine that modifications are necessary if market conditions continue to deteriorate and extend beyond our expectations.  Please refer to our discussion of Forward-Looking Statements beginning on page 20, in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008 and in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of this report, for a discussion of factors that could impact our liquidity and source of funds.

Included in the table below is a summary of our available sources of cash as of September 30, 2008:
       
(In thousands)
Expiration
Date
Outstanding
Balance
Available
Amount
Notes payable banks – homebuilding
10/6/2010
$            -
$141,555
Note payable bank – financial services
5/21/2009
$  26,000
$       263
Senior notes
 4/1/2012
$200,000
$            -

Notes Payable Banks - Homebuilding.  In March 2008, we entered into the Second Amendment to the Credit Facility to:  (1) reduce the Aggregate Commitment (as defined therein) from $500 million to $250 million; (2) modify the minimum interest coverage ratio from an event of default to one that reduces maximum permitted Leverage Ratio (as defined therein) and adds an additional liquidity provision; (3) reduce the minimum tangible net worth covenant to $400 million less a deferred tax asset valuation allowance of up to $65 million; (4) modify certain borrowing base calculations and reduce borrowing base land limitations; (5) increase the extension of credit in
 
36 

 

connection with the sale of land; (6) reduce permitted secured indebtedness to $25 million from $50 million; (7) prohibit the early pre-payment of our senior notes; and (8) modify the applicable interest rate by up to 100 basis points, depending upon our senior debt rating.

Under the terms of the Credit Facility, during the Reduced Interest Coverage Period (as defined therein), the Leverage Ratio cannot exceed 1.40 to 1.00, and the maximum Leverage Ratio decreases further as the Interest Ratio decreases below 1.40 to 1.00 for each four trailing four-quarter period.  The table below shows the relationship between reductions in the Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined therein) and the maximum Leverage Ratio (as defined therein):

When Interest Coverage is:
 
Maximum Leverage Ratio:
> 1.25x
 
< 1.40x
1.25x to 1.00x
 
≤ 1.25x
< 1.00x
 
≥1.00x

During any Reduced Interest Coverage Period, when this ratio is less than 1.50x to 1.00x, either adjusted cash flow from operations (as defined therein) or a minimum $25 million in liquidity (unrestricted cash) must be maintained.

Our Credit Facility has key financial and other covenants, including:

requiring us to maintain tangible net worth (“Minimum Net Worth”) of at least $400 million less a deferred tax asset valuation of up to $65 million plus 50% of net income earned for each full fiscal quarter ending after December 31, 2007 (with no deduction for net losses) plus 50% of the aggregated net increase in tangible net worth resulting from the sale of capital stock and other equity interests (as defined therein);
prohibiting our ratio of indebtedness (as defined therein) to tangible net worth (the “Leverage Ratio”) from being greater than 1.40 to 1.00 (subject to reduction during the Reduced Interest Coverage Period);
requiring us to maintain a ratio of EBITDA (including interest amortized to cost of sales) to interest incurred (as defined therein) (the “Interest Coverage Ratio”) of at least 1.5 to 1.0 (subject to reduction during the Reduced Interest Coverage Period);
requiring adjusted cash flow from operations to be greater than 1.50x, or requiring us to maintain unrestricted cash of greater than $25 million;
prohibiting our consolidated indebtedness (excluding certain subordinated debt and certain secured debt) from exceeding a borrowing base based on the sum of:  (1) 100% of receivables; (2) 90% of the net book value of presold units and land; (3) 75% of the net book value of unsold units under construction and models; (4) 70% of the net book value of finished lots; (5) 50% of the net book value of land/lots under development; and (6) 10% of the net book value of unimproved entitled land (the “Permitted Debt Based on Borrowing Base”); this borrowing base is further limited to the extent clauses (4), (5) and (6) exceeds 40% of the total borrowing base;
prohibiting secured indebtedness from exceeding $25 million;
prohibiting the net book value of our land and lots where construction of a home has not commenced, less the lesser of 25% of tangible net worth or prior six month sales times average book value of a finished lot, from exceeding 125% of tangible net worth plus 50% of the aggregate outstanding subordinated debt (the “Total Land Restriction”);
limiting the number of unsold housing units and model units that we may have in our inventory at the end of any fiscal quarter from exceeding the greater of 30% of the number of home closings within the four fiscal quarters ending on such date or 60% of the number of unit closings within the two fiscal quarters ending on such date (the “Spec and Model Home Restriction”);
limiting extension of credit on the sale of land to 5% of tangible net worth; and
limiting investment in joint ventures to 15% of tangible net worth.

The following table summarizes these covenant thresholds pursuant to the Credit Facility, and our compliance with such covenants as of September 30, 2008:

Financial Covenant
 
Covenant Requirement
 
Actual
   
(dollars in millions)
Minimum Net Worth (1)
=
$                      335.0
 
$                        404.5
Leverage Ratio (2)
             1.40 to 1.00
 
 0.68 to 1.00
Adjusted Cash Flow Ratio (3)
             1.50 to 1.00
 
12.41 to 1.00
Permitted Debt Based on Borrowing Base
$                     141.6
 
$                            0.0
Total Land Restriction
$                     505.6
 
$                        297.4
Spec and Model Homes Restriction
                           765
 
               523

 
(1)   Minimum Net Worth (called “Actual Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” in the Credit Agreement) was calculated based on the stated amount of our consolidated equity less intangible assets of $3.3 million as of September 30, 2008.
 
(2)    Repayment guarantees are included in the definition of Indebtedness for purposes of calculating the Leverage Ratio.
 
(3)   If the adjusted cash flow ratio is below 1.50X, the Company is required to maintain unrestricted cash in an amount not less than $25 million.
 
37

We continue to operate in a challenging economic environment, and our ability to comply with our debt covenants may be affected by economic or business conditions beyond our control.  However, we believe that cash flow from operating activities, together with available borrowing options, and other sources of liquidity, will be sufficient to fund currently anticipated working capital, planned capital spending and debt service requirements for at least the next 12 months.

Currently, the Company believes that the tangible net worth covenant is the most restrictive covenant of the Credit Facility.  Our current cushion under this covenant is $69.5 million. However, we will pursue certain actions, if necessary, to enable the Company to remain in compliance with its covenants under the Credit Facility through 2009.

At September 30, 2008, the Company’s homebuilding operations did not have any outstanding borrowings, had financial letters of credit totaling $10.5 million and had performance letters of credit totaling $22.7 million outstanding under the Credit Facility.  The Credit Facility provides for a maximum borrowing amount of $250 million.  Under the terms of the Credit Facility, the $250 million capacity includes a maximum amount of $100 million in outstanding letters of credit.  Borrowing availability is determined based on the lesser of: (1) Credit Facility loan capacity less Credit Facility borrowings (including cash borrowings and letters of credit) or (2) the calculated maximum asset based borrowing base capacity, less the actual borrowing base indebtedness (including, but not limited to cash borrowings under the Credit Facility, senior notes, financial letters of credit, 10% of surety bonds and performance letters of credit, and the 10% commitment on the MIF Credit Agreement (as defined below)).

As of September 30, 2008, borrowing availability was $141.6 million in accordance with the borrowing base calculation.  Borrowings under the Credit Facility are unsecured and are at the Alternate Base Rate plus a margin of 37.5 basis points, or at the Eurodollar Rate plus a margin ranging from 200 to 300 basis points.  The Alternate Base Rate is defined as the higher of the Prime Rate, the Base CD Rate plus 100 basis points or the Federal Funds Rate plus 50 basis points.  As of September 30, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of the Credit Facility. 

Note Payable Bank – Financial Services.  On May 22, 2008, M/I Financial entered into a Secured Credit Agreement (“MIF Credit Agreement”) with Guaranty Bank.  This agreement replaced M/I Financial’s previous credit agreement that expired on May 30, 2008.

The MIF Credit Agreement provides M/I Financial with $30.0 million maximum borrowing availability, with an additional $10 million of availability from December 15, 2008 through January 15, 2009.  The Credit Agreement, which expires on May 21, 2009, is secured by certain mortgage loans.  The Credit Agreement also provides for limits with respect to certain loan types that can secure the borrowings under the agreement.  As of the end of each fiscal quarter, M/I Financial must have tangible net worth of at least $9.0 million and adjusted tangible net worth (tangible net worth less the outstanding amount of intercompany loans) of no less than $7.0 million.  The ratio of total liabilities to adjusted tangible net worth shall never be more than 10.0 to 1.0.  M/I Financial pays interest on each advance under the MIF Credit Agreement at a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 1.35%.

At September 30, 2008, we had $0.3 million of availability under the MIF Credit Agreement.  As of September 30, 2008, M/I Financial was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of the MIF Credit Agreement.

Senior Notes.  At September 30, 2008, we had $200.0 million of 6.875% senior notes outstanding.  The notes are due April 2012.  The Credit Facility prohibits the early repurchase of the senior notes.

The indenture governing our senior notes contains restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of the Company to pay dividends on common and preferred shares as well as the ability to repurchase any shares.  If our consolidated restricted payments basket, as defined in the indenture governing our senior notes, is less than zero, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, as well as repurchasing any shares.  At September 30, 2008, our restricted payments basket was ($71.4) million.  As a result of this deficit, we are currently restricted from paying dividends on our common shares and our 9.75% Series A Preferred Shares, as well as repurchasing any shares under our common share repurchase program that was approved by our Board of Directors in November 2005.  
 
 
38 

 
Weighted Average Borrowings.  For the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, our weighted average borrowings outstanding were $241.5 million and $479.5 million, respectively, with a weighted average interest rate of 7.69% and 8.08%, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, our weighted average borrowings outstanding were $272.7 million and $507.2 million, respectively, with a weighted average interest rate of 8.05% and 7.62%, respectively.  The decrease in borrowings was primarily the result of the Company using cash generated from operations to pay down outstanding debt.  The increase in the weighted average interest rate was due to the overall market increase in interest rates, which has impacted our variable rate borrowings.

Preferred Shares.  On March 15, 2007, we issued 4,000,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/1000th of a 9.75% Series A Preferred Share (the “Preferred Shares”), or 4,000 Preferred Shares in the aggregate, for net proceeds of $96.3 million.  Dividends on the Preferred Shares are non-cumulative and are paid at an annual rate of 9.75%.  Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears, if declared by us, on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15.  If there is a change of control of the Company and if the Company’s corporate credit rating is withdrawn or downgraded to a certain level (together constituting a “change of control event”), the dividends on the Preferred Shares will increase to 10.75% per year.  We may not redeem the Preferred Shares prior to March 15, 2012, except following the occurrence of a change of control event.  On or after March 15, 2012, we have the option to redeem the Preferred Shares in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, payable in cash of $25 per depositary share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends through the date of redemption for the then current quarterly dividend period.  The Preferred Shares have no stated maturity, are not subject to any sinking fund provisions, are not convertible into any other securities and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless redeemed by us.  The Preferred Shares have no voting rights, except as otherwise required by applicable Ohio law; however, in the event we do not pay dividends for an aggregate of six quarters (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to nominate two members to serve on our Board of Directors.  The Preferred Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “MHO-PA.”

In April and June 2008, we paid a total of $4.9 million of dividends on the Preferred Shares.  The indenture governing our senior notes (see Note 13 of our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements) contains restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of the Company to pay dividends on common and preferred shares.  The indenture governing our senior notes contains a provision that restricts the payment of dividends when the calculation of the restricted payment basket, as defined therein, falls below zero.  At September 30, 2008, the payment basket is $(71.4) million and, therefore, we are restricted from making any further dividend payments.  We will continue to be restricted until such time that the restricted payments basket has been restored or our senior notes are repaid, and our Board of Directors authorizes us to resume dividend payments.  
 
Universal Shelf Registration. On August 4, 2008, the Company filed a $250 million universal shelf registration statement with the SEC.  Pursuant to the filing, the Company may, from time to time over an extended period, offer new debt and/or equity securities.  The timing and amount of offerings, if any, will depend on market and general business conditions.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Our contractual obligations have not changed materially from those disclosed in “Contractual Obligations” contained in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

Our primary use of off-balance sheet arrangements is for the purpose of securing the most desirable lots on which to build homes for our homebuyers in a manner that we believe reduces the overall risk to the Company.  Our off-balance sheet arrangements relating to our homebuilding operations include unconsolidated LLCs, land option agreements, guarantees and indemnifications associated with acquiring and developing land, and the issuance of letters of credit and completion bonds.  Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, our financial services operation issues guarantees and indemnities relating to the sale of loans to third parties.

Unconsolidated Limited Liability Companies.  In the ordinary course of business, the Company periodically enters into arrangements with third parties to acquire land and develop lots.  These arrangements include the creation by
 
 
 
39 

 
the Company of LLCs, with the Company’s interest in these entities ranging from 33% to 50%.  These entities engage in land development activities for the purpose of distributing (in the form of a capital distribution) or selling developed lots to the Company and its partners in the entity.  These entities generally do not meet the criteria of variable interest entities (“VIEs”), because the equity at risk is sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated support from the equity investors; however, we must evaluate each entity to determine whether it is or is not a VIE.  If an entity was determined to be a VIE, we would then evaluate whether or not we are the primary beneficiary.  These evaluations are initially performed when each new entity is created and upon any events that require reconsideration of the entity.

We have determined that none of the LLCs in which we have an interest are VIEs, and we also have determined that we do not have substantive control or exercise significant influence over any of these entities; therefore, our homebuilding LLCs are recorded using the equity method of accounting.  The Company believes its maximum exposure related to any of these entities as of September 30, 2008 to be the amount invested of $23.0 million, plus letters of credit and bonds totaling $4.7 million that serve as completion bonds for the development work in progress and our possible future obligations under guarantees and indemnifications provided in connection with these entities, as further discussed in Note 9 and Note 10 of our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Land Option Agreements.  In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into land option agreements in order to secure land for the construction of homes in the future.  Pursuant to these land option agreements, the Company will provide a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase land at different times in the future, usually at predetermined prices.  Because the entities holding the land under the option agreement often meet the criteria for VIEs, the Company evaluates all land option agreements to determine if it is necessary to consolidate any of these entities.  The Company currently believes that its maximum exposure as of September 30, 2008 related to these agreements is equal to the amount of the Company’s outstanding deposits, which totaled $6.0 million, including cash deposits of $2.7 million, prepaid acquisition costs of $0.9 million, letters of credit of $1.0 million and corporate promissory notes of $1.4 million.

Letters of Credit and Completion Bonds.  The Company provides standby letters of credit and completion bonds for development work in progress, deposits on land and lot purchase agreements and miscellaneous deposits.  As of September 30, 2008, the Company had outstanding $88.4 million of completion bonds and standby letters of credit, some of which were issued to various local governmental entities, that expire at various times through December 2015.  Included in this total are: (1) $47.8 million of performance bonds and $24.4 million of performance letters of credit that serve as completion bonds for land development work in progress (including the Company’s $2.3 million share of our LLCs’ letters of credit and bonds); (2) $10.5 million of financial letters of credit, of which $1.0 million represents deposits on land and lot purchase agreements; and (3) $5.7 million of financial bonds.

Guarantees and Indemnities.  In the ordinary course of business, M/I Financial enters into agreements that guarantee purchasers of its mortgage loans that M/I Financial will repurchase a loan if certain conditions occur.  M/I Financial has also provided indemnifications to certain third party investors and insurers in lieu of repurchasing certain loans.  The risks associated with these guarantees and indemnities are offset by the value of the underlying assets, and the Company accrues its best estimate of the probable loss on these loans.  Additionally, the Company has provided certain other guarantees and indemnities in connection with the acquisition and development of land by our homebuilding operations.  Refer to Note 10 of our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details relating to our guarantees and indemnities.

INTEREST RATES AND INFLATION

Our business is significantly affected by general economic conditions of the United States of America and, particularly, by the impact of interest rates and inflation.  Higher interest rates may decrease our potential market by making it more difficult for homebuyers to qualify for mortgages or to obtain mortgages at interest rates that are acceptable to them.  The impact of increased rates can be offset, in part, by offering variable rate loans with lower interest rates.  In conjunction with our mortgage financing services, hedging methods are used to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations between the commitment date of the loan and the time the loan closes.

During the past year, we have experienced some detrimental effect from inflation, particularly the inflation in the cost of land that occurred over the past several years.   As a result of declines in market conditions in most of our markets, in certain communities we have been unable to recover the cost of these higher land prices, resulting in lower gross margins and significant charges being recorded in our operating results due to the impairment of inventory and investments in unconsolidated LLCs, and other write-offs relating to deposits and pre-acquisition costs of abandoned land transactions.  In recent years, we have not experienced a detrimental effect from inflation in relation to our home construction costs, and we have been successful in reducing certain of these costs with our subcontractors.  However, unanticipated construction costs or a change in market conditions may occur during the period between the date sales contracts are entered into with customers and the delivery date of the related homes, resulting in lower gross profit margins.
 
40 

 
ITEM 3:   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our primary market risk results from fluctuations in interest rates.  We are exposed to interest rate risk through borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facilities, consisting of the Credit Facility and the MIF Credit Agreement, which permit borrowings of up to $280 million as of September 30, 2008, subject to availability constraints.  Additionally, M/I Financial is exposed to interest rate risk associated with its mortgage loan origination services.

Loan Commitments: Interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) are extended to home-buying customers who have applied for mortgages and who meet certain defined credit and underwriting criteria.  Typically, the IRLCs will have a duration of less than nine months; however, in certain markets, the duration could extend to twelve months.

Some IRLCs are committed to a specific third-party investor through the use of best-efforts whole loan delivery commitments matching the exact terms of the IRLC loan.  The notional amount of the committed IRLCs and the best-efforts contracts was $5.3 million and $2.1 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  At September 30, 2008, the fair value of the committed IRLCs resulted in a liability of $0.1 million and the related best-efforts contracts resulted in an asset of less than $0.1 million.  At December 31, 2007, the fair value of the committed IRLCs resulted in an asset of less than $0.1 million and the related best-efforts contracts resulted in a liability of less than $0.1 million.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized $0.1 million of income and $0.1 million of expense, respectively, relating to marking these committed IRLCs and the related best-efforts contracts to market.  For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized less than $0.1 million of expense relating to marking these committed IRLCs and the related best-efforts contracts to market.

Uncommitted IRLCs are considered derivative instruments under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 133”), and are fair value adjusted, with the resulting gain or loss recorded in current earnings.  At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the notional amount of the uncommitted IRLCs was $65.5 million and $34.3 million, respectively.  The fair value adjustment related to these uncommitted IRLCs, which is based on quoted market prices, resulted in an asset of $1.0 million and $0.2 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized income of $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, relating to marking the uncommitted IRLCs to market.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized income of $0.7 million and expense of less than $0.1 million, respectively, relating to marking the uncommitted IRLCs to market.

Forward sales of mortgage-backed securities (“FMBSs”) are used to protect uncommitted IRLC loans against the risk of changes in interest rates between the lock date and the funding date.  FMBSs related to uncommitted IRLCs are classified and accounted for as non-designated derivative instruments, with gains and losses recorded in current earnings.  At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the notional amount under these FMBSs was $64.0 million and $37.0 million, respectively, and the related fair value adjustment, which is based on quoted market prices, resulted in a liability of $0.2 million at both September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized expense of $0.3 million and income of $0.1 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized expense of $0.5 million and $0.2 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale: During the intervening period between when a loan is closed and when it is sold to an investor, the interest rate risk is covered through the use of a best-efforts contract or by FMBSs.

The notional amount of the best-efforts contracts and related mortgage loans held for sale was $0.9 million and $15.4 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The fair value of the best-efforts contracts and related mortgage loans held for sale resulted in a net liability of less than $0.1 million at both September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 under the matched terms method of SFAS 133.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized income of less than $0.1 million and expense of less than $0.1 million, respectively, relating to marking these best-efforts contracts and the related mortgage loans held for sale to market.  For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized income of less than $0.1 million relating to marking these best-efforts contracts and the related mortgage loans held for sale to market.

The notional amounts of both the FMBSs and the related mortgage loans held for sale were $33.0 million at September 30, 2008 and $43.0 million and $43.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2007.  In accordance with SFAS 133, the FMBSs are classified and accounted for as non-designated derivative instruments, with gains and losses recorded in current earnings.  As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the related fair value adjustment for marking these FMBSs to market resulted in a liability of $0.7 million and a liability of $0.4 million, respectively.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, we recognized expense of $1.3 million and

 
41 

 
$0.3 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized expense of $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.

The following table provides the expected future cash flows and current fair values of borrowings under our credit facilities and mortgage loan origination services that are subject to market risk as interest rates fluctuate, as of September 30, 2008:

 
Weighted
                                 
 
Average
                               
Fair
 
Interest
   
Expected Cash Flows by Period
     
Value
(Dollars in thousands)
Rate
   
2008
 
2009
 
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
9/30/08
ASSETS:
                                   
Mortgage loans held for sale:
                                   
  Fixed rate
5.70 %   $ 35,125   $ -   $ -   $ -   $ -   $ -   $ 35,125   $ 34,695
  Variable rate
N/A       -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -
                                                     
LIABILITIES:
                                                   
Long-term debt – fixed rate
6.91 %   $ 67   $ 283   $ 306   $ 332   $ 200,360   $ 5,161   $ 206,509   $ 167,586
Long-term debt – variable rate
5.53 %     114     26,063     457     457     457     8,029     35,577     35,577


 
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ITEM 4:  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was performed by the Company's management, with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and the principal financial officer.  Based on that evaluation, the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the third quarter of 2008, certain changes in responsibility for performing internal control procedures occurred as a result of workforce reductions.  Management has evaluated these changes in our internal control over financial reporting, and believes that we have taken the necessary steps to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting during the period of change.

It should be noted that the design of any system of controls is based, in part, upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.  In addition, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.

Part II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item  1.  Legal Proceedings
 
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have been named as defendants in various claims, complaints and other legal actions including the legal action described below which are routine and incidental to our business.  Certain of the liabilities resulting from these actions are covered by insurance.  While management currently believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations, such matters are subject to inherent uncertainties.  The Company has recorded a liability to provide for the anticipated costs, including legal defense costs, associated with the resolution of these matters.  However, there exists the possibility that the costs to resolve these matters could differ from the recorded estimates and, therefore, have a material adverse impact on the Company’s net income for the periods in which the matters are resolved.  On March 14, 2008, a former employee filed a complaint in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, on behalf of himself and those similarly situated, against M/I Homes, Inc., alleging that he and other construction superintendents were misclassified as exempt and not paid overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and seeking equitable relief, damages and attorneys' fees.  Five other plaintiffs have filed consent forms in order to join the action.  The Company filed an answer on or about August 21, 2008 and intends to vigorously defend against the claims.

Item  1A.  Risk Factors

The risk factors appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 were updated in their entirety by the risk factors set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008.  There has been no material change in the information provided therein except for the updates set forth below.  Other factors beyond those referred to above and listed below, including factors known to us which we have not currently determined to be material, could also adversely affect us.

The U.S. economy is in the midst of an unprecedented combination of economic turmoil, uncertainty in the credit and financial markets, and worldwide concerns of a financial collapse. Prolonged conditions of this nature could severely impact our financial condition, results of opertions and liquidity.

The sharp slow-down in the U.S. economy coupled with an on-going credit crisis, and volatility in the financial markets, could cause continued erosion in home prices and/or demand and cause further significant inventory write-downs as well as a reduction in our ability to generate cash flow from operations.

The terms of our indebtedness may restrict our ability to operate.

The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 6, 2006 (as amended, the “Credit Facility”) and the indenture governing our senior notes impose restrictions on our operations and activities.  The most significant restrictions under the indenture governing our senior notes relate to debt incurrence, sales of assets, cash distributions and investments by us and certain of our subsidiaries.  In addition, our Credit Facility requires compliance with certain financial covenants, including a minimum adjusted consolidated tangible net worth requirement and a maximum permitted leverage ratio.
 
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Currently, we believe the most restrictive covenant of the Credit Facility is minimum tangible net worth.  We expect to pursue certain actions, if necessary, to enable the Company to remain in compliance with its covenants through 2009. Failure to comply with this covenant or any of the other restrictions or covenants of our Credit Facility could result in a default under the Credit Facility, which in turn could result in a default under the indenture governing our senior notes as well as other related indebtedness.  In addition, if a default occurs, the affected lenders could elect to declare the indebtedness, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable.  We could also be precluded from incurring additional borrowings under our revolving credit facility, which could impair our ability to maintain sufficient working capital.  In such a situation, there can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain alternative financing.  Any of the foregoing results could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and the ability to operate our business.
 
The indenture governing our senior notes contains restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of the Company to pay dividends on common and preferred shares as well as the ability to repurchase any shares.  If our “consolidated restricted payments basket,” as defined in the indenture governing our senior notes, is less than zero, we are restricted from making certain payments, including dividends, as well as repurchasing any shares.  We are currently restricted from paying dividends on our common shares and our 9.75% Series A Preferred Shares, as well as repurchasing any shares.  We cannot resume making such payments until such time as the basket becomes positive or the senior notes are repaid, and our Board of Directors authorizes such payments.
 
Our business requires the use of significant amounts of capital, sources for which may include our Credit Facility.  In the event we were to amend our Credit Facility, such amendment could result in lower available commitment amounts and less favorable terms and conditions, which could have a negative impact on our borrowing capacity and/or cash flows.
 
Our Credit Facility has an aggregate Commitment amount of $250 million and a maturity date of October 6, 2010. The facility’s provision for letters of credit is available in the aggregate amount of $100 million. If we were to amend our Credit Facility, lenders might not be willing to provide credit on terms that are comparable to those governing our existing Credit Facility, in which case our capacity to borrow or issue letters of credit could be reduced significantly, which could require us to use cash or other sources of capital.

Our net operating loss carryforwards could be substantially limited if we experience an “ownership change” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Based on recent impairments and our current financial performance, we expect to generate net operating loss carryforwards for the year ending December 31, 2008 and possibly future years.  Under the Internal Revenue Code, we may use these net operating loss carryforwards to offset future earnings and reduce our federal income tax liability.  As a result, we believe these net operating loss carryforwards could be a substantial asset for us.

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code contains rules that limit the ability of a company that undergoes an “ownership change,” which is generally defined as any change in ownership of more than 50% of its common stock over a three-year period, to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards and certain built-in losses recognized in years after the ownership change.  These rules generally operate by focusing on ownership changes among shareholders owning, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the company’s common stock (including changes involving a shareholder becoming a 5% shareholder) or any change in ownership arising from a new issuance of stock by the company.

If we undergo an “ownership change” for purposes of Section 382 as a result of future transactions involving our common shares, including transactions involving a shareholder becoming an owner of 5% or more of our common shares and purchases and sales of our common shares by existing 5% shareholders, our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and recognize certain built-in losses would be limited by Section 382.  Depending on the resulting limitation, a significant portion of our net operating loss carryforwards could expire before we would be able to use them.  Our inability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards could have a material adverse affect on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Cash flows and results of operations could be adversely affected if legal claims are brought against us and are not resolved in our favor.

Claims, including one class action suit, have been brought against us in various legal proceedings that have not had, and are not expected to have, a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition. Should claims be filed in the future, it is possible that our cash flows and results of operations could be affected, from time to time, by the negative outcome of one or more of such matters.

We are subject to extensive government regulations which could restrict our homebuilding or financial services business.

The homebuilding industry is subject to increasing local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning zoning, resource protection, building design and construction, and similar matters.  This includes local regulations that impose restrictive zoning and density requirements in order to limit the number of homes that can eventually be built within the boundaries of a particular location. Such regulation also affects construction activities, including construction materials that must be used in certain aspects of building design, as well as sales activities and other dealings with homebuyers. We must also obtain licenses, permits and approvals from various governmental agencies for our development activities, the granting of which are beyond our control.  Furthermore, increasingly stringent requirements may be imposed on homebuilders and developers in the future.  Although we cannot predict the impact on us to comply with any such requirements, such requirements could result in time-consuming and expensive compliance programs.  In addition, we have been, and in the future may be, subject to periodic delays or may be precluded from developing certain projects due to building moratoriums.   
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These moratoriums generally relate to insufficient water supplies or sewage facilities, delays in utility hookups, or inadequate road capacity within the specific market area or subdivision.  These moratoriums can occur prior to, or subsequent to, commencement of our operations, without notice or recourse.
 
We are also subject to a variety of local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning consumer protection matters and the protection of health and the environment.  These statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, and any failure to comply therewith, could give rise to additional liabilities or expenditures and have an adverse affect on our results of operations, financial condition or business.  The particular consumer protection matters regulate the marketing, sales, construction, closing and financing of our homes.  The particular environmental laws that apply to any given project vary greatly according to the project site and the present and former uses of the property.  These environmental laws may result in delays, cause us to incur substantial compliance costs (including substantial expenditures for pollution and water quality control), and prohibit or severely restrict development in certain environmentally sensitive regions.  Although there can be no assurance that we will be successful in all cases, we have a general practice of requiring resolution of environmental issues prior to purchasing land in an effort to avoid major environmental issues in our developments.

In addition to the laws and regulations that relate to our homebuilding operations, M/I Financial is subject to a variety of laws and regulations concerning the underwriting, servicing and sale of mortgage loans.
 
 Item  2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a) Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities – None.

(b) Use of Proceeds – Not Applicable.
 
(c) Purchases of Equity Securities

On November 8, 2005, the Company obtained authorization from the Board of Directors to repurchase up to $25 million worth of its outstanding common shares.  The repurchase program expires on November 8, 2010, and was publicly announced on November 10, 2005.  The purchases may occur in the open market and/or in privately negotiated transactions as market conditions warrant.  During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, the Company did not repurchase any shares.  As of September 30, 2008, the Company had approximately $6.7 million available to repurchase outstanding common shares from the Board-approved repurchase program.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities:
 
 
Period
Total number of shares
purchased
 
Average
price
paid
per share
 
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced program
 
Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program (1)
July 1 to July 31, 2008
  -
 
     $       -
 
  -
 
   $6,715,000
August 1 to August 31, 2008
  -
 
              -
 
  -
 
   $6,715,000
September 1 to September 30, 2008
  -
 
              -
 
  -
 
   $6,715,000
Total
  -
 
     $       -
 
  -
 
   $6,715,000

(1) On November 10, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $25 million worth of its outstanding common shares.  This repurchase program expires on November 8, 2010.
 
 
 
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Item  3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities  - None.

Item  4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders  - None.

Item  5.  Other Information  - None.
 
Item  6.  Exhibits

The exhibits required to be filed herewith are set forth below.

Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
     
10.1
 
Fourth Amendment to the M/I Homes, Inc. 1993 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, effective as of August 28, 2008.  (Filed herewith).
     
10.2
 
M/I Homes, Inc. Amended and Restated Director Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of August 28, 2008.  (Filed herewith).
     
10.3
 
M/I Homes, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Director Equity Incentive Plan, effective as of August 28, 2008.  (Filed herewith).
     
10.4
 
M/I Homes, Inc. Amended and Restated Executives’ Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of August 28, 2008.  (Filed herewith).
     
31.1
 
Certification by Robert H. Schottenstein, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Filed herewith.)
     
31.2
 
Certification by Phillip G. Creek, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Filed herewith.)
     
32.1
 
Certification by Robert H. Schottenstein, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Filed herewith.)
     
32.2
 
Certification by Phillip G. Creek, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Filed herewith.)

 

 
 
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SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


       
M/I Homes, Inc.
       
(Registrant)
             
             
Date:
 
November 3, 2008
 
By:
/s/ Robert H. Schottenstein
         
Robert H. Schottenstein
 
         
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
         
President
 
         
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
             
             
             
             
Date:
 
November 3, 2008
 
By:
/s/ Ann Marie W. Hunker
         
Ann Marie W. Hunker
 
         
Vice President and Corporate Controller
 
         
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
             
             


 
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EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
     
10.1
 
Fourth Amendment to the M/I Homes, Inc. 1993 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, effective as of August 28, 2008.  (Filed herewith).
     
10.2
 
M/I Homes, Inc. Amended and Restated Director Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of August 28, 2008.  (Filed herewith).
     
10.3
 
M/I Homes, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Director Equity Incentive Plan, effective as of August 28, 2008.  (Filed herewith).
     
10.4
 
M/I Homes, Inc. Amended and Restated Executives’ Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of August 28, 2008.  (Filed herewith).
     
31.1
 
Certification by Robert H. Schottenstein, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Filed herewith.)
     
31.2
 
Certification by Phillip G. Creek, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Filed herewith.)
     
32.1
 
Certification by Robert H. Schottenstein, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Filed herewith.)
     
32.2
 
Certification by Phillip G. Creek, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  (Filed herewith.)






 
 
 
 
 
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