by Calculated Risk on 7/24/2014 09:25:00 PM

CR Note: The comments on D.R. Horton are very interesting (more incentives, no price increases).  Also see table at bottom for summary stats.

From housing economist Tom Lawler:

D.R. Horton reported that net home orders in the quarter ended June 30, 2014 totaled 8,551, up 25.3% from the comparable quarter of 2013. Sales per community were up almost 13% YOY. Horton’s acquisition of Crown Communities added 290 to last quarter’s orders. DHI’s average net order price last quarter was $281,336, up 5.0% from a year ago. Home deliveries last quarter totaled 7,676, up 18.8% from the comparable quarter of 2013, at an average sales price of $272,316, up 7.9% from a year ago. The acquisition of Crown Communities added 254 to last quarter’s deliveries. DHI’s order backlog at the end was 11,365, up 14.7% from last June, at an average order price of $286,194, up 9.8% from a year ago.

In the company’s conference call Horton’s CEO characterized the overall demand for new homes last quarter as “relatively stable” compared to a year ago, but that Horton’s previous aggressive acquisition of land/lots, combined with more aggressive use of sales incentives to move inventory, enabled the company to boost its market share to its highest level ever. Another official said that the company increased sales incentives in MANY of its communities in order to meet its aggressive sales goals. The official noted that sales incentives were much lower than normal in 2013 and early 2014, but that last quarter (and currently) sales incentives were “back to normal.” Another official noted that home price appreciation had slowed appreciably.
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PulteGroup reported that net home orders in the quarter ended June 30, 2014 totaled 4,778, down 2.2% from the comparable quarter of 2013. Sales per active community were up about 6% YOY, reflected the 6% YOY drop in community count. Pulte’s average net order price last quarter was $333,698, up 7.1% from a year ago. Home deliveries last quarter totaled 3,798, down 8.5% from the comparable quarter of 2013, at an average sales price of $328,000, up 11.6% from a year ago. The company’s order backlog at the end of June was 8,179, down 4.4% from last June, at an average order price of $338,689, up 6.8% from a year ago.

Meritage Homes reported that net home orders in the quarter ended June 30, 2014 totaled 1,647, up 0.6% from the comparable quarter of 2013. Net orders per community were down about 8.2% YOY. Meritage’s average net order price last quarter was $375,000, up 7.1% from a year ago. Home deliveries last quarter totaled 1,368, up 3.6% from the comparable quarter of 2013, at an average sales price of $368,000, up 11.5% from a year ago. The company’s order backlog at the end of June was 2,548, up 11.6% from last June, at an average order price of $373,000, up 5.7% from a year ago. Meritage owned or controlled about 25,800 lots at the end of June, up 14.2% from last June and up 44.5% from two years ago.

M/I Homes reported that net home orders in the quarter ended June 30, 2014 totaled 1,016, down 5.8% from the comparable quarter of 2013. Sales per community were down 14.4% YOY. Home deliveries last quarter totaled 894, up 13.5% from the comparable quarter of 2013, at an average sales price of $306,000, up 8.9% from a year ago. The company’s order backlog at the end of June was 1,647, down 1.7% from last June, at an average order price of $332,000, up 13.3% from a year ago. In its press release the company attributed the disappointed pace of new orders “primarily to delays in opening new communities and (to) lower traffic levels. Orders were especially weak in the Mid-Atlantic region, where orders were down 15.6% YOY. M/I owned or controlled 20,991 lots at the end of June, 22.3% from last June and up 98.1% from two years ago.

Here are some summary stats from large publicly-traded builders who have reported results for last quarter.

	Net Orders			Settlements			Average Closing Price
Qtr. Ended:	06/14	06/13	% Chg	06/14	06/13	% Chg	06/14	06/13	% Chg
D.R. Horton	8,551	6,822	25.3%	7,676	6,464	18.8%	$272,316	$252,290	7.9%
PulteGroup	4,778	4,885	-2.2%	3,798	4,152	-8.5%	$328,000	$294,000	11.6%
NVR	3,415	3,278	4.2%	2,943	2,878	2.3%	$368,200	$344,700	6.8%
Meritage Homes	1,647	1,637	0.6%	1,368	1,321	3.6%	$368,000	$330,000	11.5%
M/I Homes	1,016	1,078	-5.8%	894	788	13.5%	$306,000	$281,000	8.9%
Total	19,407	17,700	9.6%	16,679	15,603	6.9%	$311,568	$288,463	8.0%