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M/I HOMES, INC. - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)

basedoc10q.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, 2007
     
or
 
 
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
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)
 
 
 
IdentificationNo.)

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, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one.):

Large accelerated filer
   
Accelerated filer
X
 
Non-accelerated filer
 

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: 14,061,653 shares outstanding as of October 31, 2007

 

 

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 September 30, 2007 (Unaudited)
 
   
and December 31, 2006
3
       
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
 
   
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
4
       
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity
 
   
for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
5
       
   
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
6
       
   
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
       
 
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
 
   
Results of Operations
18
       
 
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
38
       
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
40
       
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
 
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
40
       
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
40
       
 
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
42
       
 
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
42
       
 
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
42
       
 
Item 5.
Other Information
42
       
 
Item 6.
Exhibits
42
       
Signatures
   
43
       
Exhibit Index
   
44
 
2

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

 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
2007
 
2006
 
(Dollars in thousands, except par values)
(Unaudited)
     
         
ASSETS:
       
Cash
$
2,485
 
$
11,516
 
Cash held in escrow
 
18,780
   
58,975
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
 
33,080
   
58,305
 
Inventories
 
1,110,669
   
1,184,358
 
Property and equipment - net
 
36,797
   
36,258
 
Investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies
 
42,725
   
49,648
 
Deferred income taxes
 
73,149
   
39,723
 
Other assets
 
36,695
   
38,296
 
TOTAL ASSETS
$
1,354,380
 
$
1,477,079
 
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
           
             
LIABILITIES:
           
Accounts payable
$
100,395
 
$
81,200
 
Accrued compensation
 
7,830
   
22,777
 
Customer deposits
 
14,609
   
19,414
 
Other liabilities
 
67,009
   
66,533
 
Community development district obligations
 
22,963
   
19,577
 
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned
 
7,373
   
5,026
 
Notes payable banks - homebuilding operations
 
255,000
   
410,000
 
Note payable bank - financial services operations
 
21,700
   
29,900
 
Mortgage notes payable
 
6,765
   
6,944
 
Senior notes – net of discount of $1,152 and $1,344, respectively, at September 30, 2007
           
and December 31, 2006
 
198,848
   
198,656
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
 
702,492
   
860,027
 
             
Commitments and contingencies
 
-
   
-
 
             
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
           
Preferred shares - $.01 par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; issued 4,000 and -0- shares,
           
respectively, at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006
 
96,325
   
-
 
Common shares - $.01 par value; authorized 38,000,000 shares; issued 17,626,123 shares
 
176
   
176
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
77,723
   
76,282
 
Retained earnings
 
548,587
   
614,186
 
Treasury shares – at cost – 3,570,993 and 3,705,375 shares, respectively, at September 30, 2007
           
and December 31, 2006
  (70,923 )   (73,592 )
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
651,888
   
617,052
 
             
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
1,354,380
 
$
1,477,079
 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
3

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

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
                 
Revenue
$
243,668
 
$
306,188
 
$
703,774
 
$
877,037
 
                         
Costs and expenses:
                       
Land and housing
 
196,019
   
231,112
   
556,841
   
645,286
 
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies
 
32,334
   
1,921
   
99,539
   
1,921
 
General and administrative
 
24,648
   
25,052
   
73,486
   
74,609
 
Selling
 
20,605
   
21,645
   
58,206
   
65,510
 
Interest
 
5,014
   
3,578
   
12,280
   
10,930
 
                         
Total costs and expenses
 
278,620
   
283,308
   
800,352
   
798,256
 
             
(Loss) income before income taxes
  (34,952 )  
22,880
    (96,578 )  
78,781
 
Income tax (benefit) provision
  (13,235 )  
7,695
    (36,912 )  
28,937
 
                         
Net (loss) income
  (21,717 )  
15,185
    (59,666 )  
49,844
 
Less:  preferred share dividends
 
2,437
   
-
   
4,875
   
-
 
                         
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders
$
(24,154 )
$
15,185
 
$
(64,541 )
$
49,844
 
                         
(Loss) earnings per common share:
                       
Basic
$
(1.73 )
$
1.09
 
$
(4.62 )
$
3.56
 
Diluted
$
(1.73 )
$
1.08
 
$
(4.62 )
$
3.51
 
                         
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                       
Basic
 
13,990
   
13,892
   
13,969
   
13,991
 
Diluted
 
13,990
   
14,078
   
13,969
   
14,187
 
                         
Dividends per common share
$
0.025
 
$
0.025
 
$
0.075
 
$
0.075
 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
 
4

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

 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
 
(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, 2006
     
13,920,748
$176
$76,282
     $614,186
      $(73,592)
$617,052
Net loss
           
       (59,666)
 
   (59,666)
Preferred shares issued, net of
                 
     issuance costs of $3,675
4,000
$96,325
           
    96,325
Dividends to shareholders, $1,218.75 per
                 
    preferred share
           
 (4,875)
 
      (4,875)
Dividends to shareholders, $0.075 per
                 
common share
           
        (1,058)
 
       (1,058)
Income tax benefit from stock options and
                 
   deferred compensation distributions
         
        138
   
         138
Stock options exercised
     
       37,400
 
         65
 
      743
         808
Restricted shares issued, net of forfeitures
     
       61,299
 
    (1,217)
 
   1,217
             -
Stock-based compensation expense
         
    2,452
   
      2,452
Deferral of executive and director compensation
         
      712
   
         712
Executive and director deferred compensation
                 
distributions
     
       35,683
 
       (709)
 
       709
              -
Balance at September 30, 2007
4,000
$96,325
 
14,055,130
$176
$77,723
     $548,587
$(70,923)
$651,888
 
See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 

5

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

 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
             2007
 
2006
 
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
       
Net (loss) income
$
(59,666 )
$
49,844
 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
           
Inventory valuation adjustments and abandoned land transaction write-offs
 
92,068
   
5,901
 
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies
 
8,811
   
-
 
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets
 
5,175
   
-
 
Mortgage loan originations
  (381,607 )   (427,705 )
Proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans
 
406,530
   
459,372
 
Fair value adjustment of mortgage loans held for sale
 
302
    (166 )
Loss from property disposals
 
84
   
106
 
Depreciation
 
4,091
   
2,715
 
Amortization of intangibles, debt discount and debt issuance costs
 
1,682
   
2,094
 
Stock-based compensation expense
 
2,452
   
2,370
 
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense
  (33,425 )  
740
 
Excess tax benefits from stock-based payment arrangements
  (138 )   (123 )
Equity in undistributed loss (income) of limited liability companies
 
916
   
44
 
    Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs
 
534
   
-
 
Change in assets and liabilities:
           
Cash held in escrow
 
40,195
   
9,066
 
Inventories
  (8,554 )   (302,924 )
Other assets
  (5,752 )   (2,748 )
Accounts payable
 
19,195
   
48,685
 
Customer deposits
  (4,805 )   (2,853 )
Accrued compensation
  (14,235 )   (8,906 )
Other liabilities
  (131 )   (17,521 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
 
73,722
    (182,009 )
             
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
           
Purchase of property and equipment
  (3,852 )   (5,043 )
Investment in unconsolidated limited liability companies
  (5,718 )   (12,118 )
Return of investment from unconsolidated limited liability companies
 
578
   
17
 
Net cash used in investing activities
  (8,992 )   (17,144 )
             
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net (repayments of) proceeds from bank borrowings
  (163,200 )  
196,700
 
Principal repayments of mortgage notes payable and community
           
   development district bond obligations
  (340 )   (1,122 )
Proceeds from preferred shares issuance – net of issuance costs of $3,675
 
96,325
   
-
 
Debt issuance costs
  (847 )   (27 )
Payments on capital lease obligations
  (712 )  
-
 
Dividends paid
  (5,933 )   (1,065 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
808
   
65
 
Excess tax benefits from stock-based payment arrangements
 
138
   
123
 
Common share repurchases
 
-
    (17,893 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
  (73,761 )  
176,781
 
Net decrease in cash
  (9,031 )   (22,372 )
Cash balance at beginning of period
 
11,516
   
25,085
 
Cash balance at end of period
$
2,485
 
$
2,713
 
             
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
           
Cash paid during the year for:
           
Interest – net of amount capitalized
$
7,853
 
$
7,044
 
Income taxes
$
10,180
 
$
47,384
 
             
NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS DURING THE YEAR:
           
Community development district infrastructure
$
3,547
 
$
11,772
 
Consolidated inventory not owned
$
2,347
 
$
945
 
Capital lease obligations
$
1,457
 
$
-
 
Distribution of single-family lots from unconsolidated limited liability companies
$
5,560
 
$
12,303
 
Contribution of property to unconsolidated limited liability companies
$
958
 
$
-
 
Deferral of executive and director compensation
$
712
 
$
913
 
Executive and director deferred compensation distributions
$
709
 
$
512
 

   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 period 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, 2006 (the “2006 Form 10-K”).

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 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 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Risk Factors” in Part I of this report, in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of this report and in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our 2006 Form 10-K.

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 Company is in the process of determining the impact the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on its 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.  This statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007.  Early adoption is permitted, provided that the entity also adopts SFAS 157 early.  The Company is in the process of determining the impact the adoption of SFAS 159 will have on its financial statements.











7

 
NOTE 3.  Inventory

A summary of the Company’s inventory as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 is as follows:

 
 September 30,
 
December 31,
(In thousands)
2007
 
2006
  Single-family lots, land and land development costs
$
583,197
 
$
782,621
  Land held for sale
 
72,592
   
21,803
  Homes under construction
 
407,293
   
347,126
  Model homes and furnishings - at cost (less accumulated depreciation:
         
 September 30, 2007 - $1,148; December 31, 2006 - $281)
 
14,470
   
5,522
  Community development district infrastructure (Note 11)
 
22,143
   
18,525
  Land purchase deposits
 
4,899
   
3,735
  Consolidated inventory not owned (Note 12)
 
6,075
   
5,026
  Total inventory
$
1,110,669
 
$
1,184,358

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 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 No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“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.  During the third quarter of 2007, the Company reclassified $5.5 million of land from land held for sale to single-family lots, land and land development costs because the criteria for classification as land held for sale were no longer met.

Homes under construction include homes that are finished and ready for delivery and homes in various stages of construction.  As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, we had 584 homes (valued at $101.3 million) and 717 homes (valued at $130.8 million), respectively, included in homes under construction that were not subject to a sales contract.

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 inventories 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 4 for additional details relating to our procedures for evaluating our inventories 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 relating to such agreement.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company wrote off $0.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively, in option deposits and pre-acquisition costs.  Refer to Note 4 for additional details relating to write-offs of land option deposits and pre-acquisition costs.
 
8

 
NOTE 4.  Valuation Adjustments and Write-offs

The Company assesses inventories 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, 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 and the estimated land development and home construction and selling costs of the community.

The carrying value of the nine operating communities that were impaired during the three month period ending September 30, 2007, net of impairment charges and write-offs of $17.6 million, was $56.8 million at September 30, 2007.

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 3, 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.

The carrying value of the two future communities that were impaired during the three month period ending September 30, 2007, net of impairment charges and write-offs of $0.9 million, was $4.2 million at September 30, 2007.

Land held for sale.  Land held for sale includes land that meets the six criteria defined in SFAS 144, as further discussed above in Note 3.  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.

The carrying value of the nine properties included in land held for sale that were impaired during the three month period ending September 30, 2007, net of impairment charges and write-offs of $7.7 million, was $37.7 million at September 30, 2007.

Investments in unconsolidated limited liability companies.  The Company assesses investments in unconsolidated limited liability companies (“LLCs”) for impairment in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18, “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock” (“APB 18”) and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 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 8.

The investment value of the LLCs that were impaired during the three month period ending September 30, 2007, net of impairment charges and write-offs of $6.1 million, was $7.2 million at September 30, 2007.
9

 
A summary of the Company’s valuation adjustments and write-offs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 is as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(In thousands)
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
Impairment of operating communities:
             
  Midwest
$
453
   
-
 
$
5,816
   
-
  Florida
 
11,739
   
-
   
27,243
   
-
  Mid-Atlantic
 
5,437
   
-
   
26,854
   
-
Total impairment of operating communities (a)
$
17,629
   
-
 
$
59,913
   
-
Impairment of future communities:
                     
  Midwest
$
-
   
-
 
$
1,526
   
-
  Florida
 
-
   
-
   
11,948
   
-
  Mid-Atlantic
 
905
   
-
   
6,923
   
-
Total impairment of future communities (a)
$
905
   
-
 
$
20,397
   
-
Impairment of land held for sale:
                     
  Midwest
$
-
 
$
1,921
 
$
-
 
$
1,921
  Florida
 
7,398
   
-
   
9,840
   
-
  Mid-Atlantic
 
322
   
-
   
578
   
-
Total impairment of land held for sale (a)
$
7,720
 
$
1,921
 
$
10,418
 
$
1,921
Option deposits and pre-acquisition costs write-offs:
                     
  Midwest
$
269
 
$
1,730
 
$
291
 
$
1,976
  Florida (b)
 
-
   
28
   
1,828
   
1,494
  Mid-Atlantic
 
-
   
272
   
46
   
510
Total option deposits and pre-acquisition costs write-offs (c)
$
269
 
$
2,030
 
$
2,165
 
$
3,980
Impairment of investments in unconsolidated LLCs:
                     
  Midwest
$
-
   
-
 
$
-
   
-
  Florida
 
6,080
   
-
   
8,811
   
-
  Mid-Atlantic
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
Total impairment of investments in unconsolidated LLCs (a)
$
6,080
   
-
 
$
8,811
   
-
                       
  Total impairments and write-offs of option deposits and
                     
    pre-acquisition costs
$
32,603
 
$
3,951
 
$
101,704
 
$
5,901

(a) Amounts are recorded within Impairment of Inventory and Investment in Unconsolidated Limited Liability Companies in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

(b) Includes the Company’s $0.8 million share of the write-off of an option deposit in the nine month period of 2007 that is included in Equity in Undistributed Loss (Income) of Limited Liability Companies in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Statement of Cash Flows.

(c) Amounts are recorded within General and Administrative Expense in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

NOTE 5.  Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” and evaluates finite-lived intangible assets for impairment in accordance with SFAS 144.  During the second quarter of 2007, the Company made a decision, primarily due to market conditions, to discontinue the use of the Shamrock name and other intangible assets that were acquired as part of the July 2005 acquisition of Shamrock Homes, a Florida homebuilder, and as a result wrote off the $3.6 million remaining unamortized balance of these intangible assets.  The Company also determined that the goodwill associated with this acquisition was impaired due to continued adverse market conditions, and wrote off the $1.6 million goodwill balance.

NOTE  6.  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)
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
Capitalized interest, beginning of period
$
39,895
 
$
30,332
 
$
35,219
 
$
19,232
 
Interest capitalized to inventory
 
4,604
   
8,431
   
16,316
   
21,468
 
Capitalized interest charged to cost of sales
  (4,013 )   (4,225 )   (11,049 )   (6,162 )
Capitalized interest, end of period
$
40,486
 
$
34,538
 
$
40,486
 
$
34,538
 
                         
Interest incurred (a)
$
9,618
 
$
12,009
 
$
28,596
 
$
32,398
 
 
Interest incurred includes $0.9 million and $1.7 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $0.4 million and $1.1 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, relating to amortization of debt issuance costs.
10

NOTE  7.  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, 2007 and December 31, 2006:

 
September 30,
 
  December 31,
 
(In thousands)
2007
 
  2006
 
Land, building and improvements
$
11,823
 
$
11,823
 
Office furnishings, leasehold improvements, computer equipment and computer software
 
19,086
   
16,130
 
Transportation and construction equipment
 
22,532
   
22,532
 
Property and equipment
 
53,441
   
50,485
 
Accumulated depreciation
  (16,644 )   (14,227 )
Property and equipment, net
$
36,797
 
$
36,258
 

   
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 and $2.7 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

NOTE 8.  Investment in Unconsolidated Limited Liability Companies

At September 30, 2007, the Company had interests ranging from 33% to 50% in LLCs 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 three of these LLCs have 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 guarantees of the completion of land development and minimum net worth levels of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries as more fully described in Note 9 below.  These entities have assets totaling $174.6 million and liabilities totaling $84.4 million, including third party debt of $74.8 million, as of September 30, 2007.  The Company’s maximum exposure related to its investment in these entities as of September 30, 2007 is the amount invested of $42.7 million, plus letters of credit and bonds totaling $8.4 million and the possible future obligation of $45.7 million under the guarantees and indemnifications discussed in Note 9 below.  Included in the Company’s investment in LLCs at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 are $1.9 million and $1.3 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.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2007, the Company contributed $1.0 million of land to invest in a new unconsolidated LLC which was distributed from an existing unconsolidated LLC, and also exchanged its interest in certain unconsolidated LLCs for developed lots.  This transaction was accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29.”  There was no cash exchanged in the transaction and no gain or loss recorded on the transaction. 

In accordance with APB 18 and SAB Topic 5M, the Company evaluates its investment in unconsolidated LLCs for potential impairment.  Refer to Note 4 for additional details relating to our procedures for evaluating our investment in LLCs for impairment.

NOTE  9.  Guarantees and Indemnifications

Warranty

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company implemented a new limited warranty program (“Home Builder’s Limited Warranty”) in conjunction with its thirty-year transferable structural limited warranty, on homes closed after the implementation date.  The Home Builder’s Limited Warranty covers 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
 
11

 
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 homes close to homebuyers and is intended to cover estimated material and outside 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, 2007 and 2006 is as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(In thousands)
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
Warranty accrual, beginning of period
$
13,137
 
$
12,689
 
$
14,095
 
$
13,940
 
Warranty expense on homes delivered during the period
 
1,843
   
2,191
   
5,161
   
6,558
 
Changes in estimates for pre-existing warranties
  (683 )  
584
    (449 )   (341 )
Settlements made during the period
  (2,582 )   (2,343 )   (7,092 )   (7,036 )
Warranty accrual, end of period
$
11,715
 
$
13,121
 
$
11,715
 
$
13,121
 

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 $134.0 million and $174.0 million were covered under the above guarantees as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.  A portion of the revenue paid to M/I Financial for providing the guarantees on the above loans was deferred at September 30, 2007 and will be recognized in income as M/I Financial is released from its obligation under the guarantees.  M/I Financial has provided indemnifications to third party investors in lieu of repurchasing certain loans.  The total of these indemnified loans was approximately $2.4 million as of both September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.  The risk associated with the guarantees and indemnities above 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 collectibility 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 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 $1.9 million and $2.1 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, 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, guarantees for the completion of land development, 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 land development completion guarantees, the Company and its partner in the applicable LLC are jointly and severally liable to incur any and all costs necessary to complete the development of the land in the event that the LLC fails to complete the project.  The maximum amount that the Company could be required to pay under the land development completion guarantees was approximately $30.3 million and $11.1 million as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.  The risk associated with these guarantees is offset by the value of the underlying assets.  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, 2007, the total maximum amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under the loan maintenance and limited payment guaranty was approximately $15.4 million.  As of September 30, 2007, the Company believes that it will be required to contribute approximately $1.6 million of capital to an unconsolidated LLC under the loan maintenance and limited payment guaranty.  This contribution, along with any contribution from our partner in the unconsolidated LLC, would reduce the current maximum amount of future payments the Company would be required to make under the loan maintenance and limited payment guaranty discussed above.  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
 
12

 
maintenance and limited payment guaranty.  Under the minimum net worth guarantees, the Company is required to maintain $300 million of total net worth, and two of our subsidiaries are also required to maintain minimum levels of net worth that are substantially lower than the total Company requirement.

The Company has recorded a liability relating to the guarantees and indemnities described above totaling $2.4 million at September 30, 2007 and $2.5 million at December 31, 2006.  The recorded guarantee or indemnity liability was based on management’s best estimate of the fair value of the Company’s liability as of the date the guarantee or indemnity was entered into.

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

NOTE 10.  Commitments and Contingencies

At September 30, 2007, the Company had sales agreements outstanding, some of which have contingencies for financing approval, to deliver 1,468 homes with an aggregate sales price of approximately $480.5 million.  Based on our current quarter cost structure, we estimate payments totaling approximately $153.3 million to be made in the future relating to those homes.  At September 30, 2007, the Company also had options and contingent purchase agreements to acquire land and developed lots with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $132.7 million.  Purchase of such properties is contingent upon satisfaction of certain requirements by the Company and the sellers.

At September 30, 2007, the Company had outstanding approximately $128.5 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 July 2015.  Included in this total are: (1) $86.4 million of performance bonds and $25.2 million of performance letters of credit that serve as completion bonds for land development work in progress (including the Company’s $4.5 million share of our LLCs’ letters of credit and bonds); (2) $11.0 million of financial letters of credit, of which $4.1 million represent deposits on land and lot purchase agreements and (3) $5.8 million of financial bonds.

At September 30, 2007, the Company had outstanding $1.5 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, 2007, the Company had $0.2 million of certificates of deposit included in Other Assets 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 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 11.  Community Development District Infrastructure and Related Obligations

A Community Development District and/or Community Development Authority (“CDD”) is a unit of local government created under various state and/or local statutes to encourage planned community development and to allow for the construction and maintenance of long-term infrastructure through alternative financing sources, including the tax-exempt markets.  A CDD is generally created through the approval of the local city or county in which the CDD is located and is controlled by a Board of Supervisors representing the landowners within the CDD.  CDDs may utilize bond financing to fund construction or acquisition of certain on-site and off-site infrastructure improvements near or within these communities.  CDDs are also granted the power to levy special assessments to impose ad valorem taxes, rates, fees and other charges for the use of the CDD project.  An allocated share of the principal and interest on the bonds issued by the CDD is assigned to and constitutes a lien on each parcel within the
13

 
community evidenced by an assessment (“Assessment”).  The owner of each such parcel is responsible for the payment of the Assessment on that parcel.  If the owner of the parcel fails to pay the Assessment, the CDD may foreclose on the lien pursuant to powers conferred to the CDD under applicable state laws and/or foreclosure procedures.  In connection with the development of certain of the Company’s communities, CDDs have been established and bonds have been issued to finance a portion of the related infrastructure.  Following are details relating to the CDD bond obligations issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2007:
 
 
Issue Date
 
Maturity Date
 
Interest Rate
Principal Amount
(in thousands)
5/1/2004
5/1/2035
6.00%
$  9,280
7/15/2004
12/1/2022
6.00%
    4,755
7/15/2004
12/1/2036
6.25%
  10,060
3/1/2006
5/1/2037
5.35%
  22,685
3/15/2007
5/1/2037
5.20%
    7,105
Total CDD bond obligations issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2007
$53,885
 
In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 91-10, “Accounting for Special Assessments and Tax Increment Financing,” the Company records a liability for the estimated developer obligations that are fixed and determinable and user fees that are required to be paid or transferred at the time the parcel or unit is sold to an end user.  The Company reduces this liability by the corresponding Assessment assumed by property purchasers and the amounts paid by the Company at the time of closing and the transfer of the property.  The Company has recorded a liability of $22.1 million and $18.5 million as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, related to these CDD bond obligations, along with the related inventory infrastructure.

In addition, at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding a CDD bond obligation in connection with the purchase of land of $0.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  This obligation bears interest at a rate of 5.5% and matures November 1, 2010.  As lots are closed to third parties, the Company will repay the CDD bond obligation associated with each lot.

NOTE 12.  Consolidated Inventory Not Owned and Related Obligation

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into land option contracts in order to secure land for the construction of homes in the future.  Pursuant to these land option contracts, 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.  Under FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“FIN 46(R)”), if the entity holding the land under the option contract is a variable interest entity, the Company’s deposit (including letters of credit) represents a variable interest in the entity.  The Company does not guarantee the obligations or performance of these variable interest entities.

In applying the provisions of FIN 46(R), the Company evaluated all land option contracts and determined that the Company was subject to a majority of the expected losses or entitled to receive a majority of the expected residual returns under certain land contracts.  As the primary beneficiary under these contracts, the Company is required to consolidate the fair value of the variable interest entities.

As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had recorded $4.0 million and $3.3 million, respectively, within Inventory on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, representing the fair value of land under certain land option contracts.  The corresponding liability has been classified as Obligation for Consolidated Inventory Not Owned on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company also had recorded within Inventory on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet $2.1 million and $1.7 million, respectively, of land for which the Company does not have title because the land was sold to a third party, with the Company retaining an option to repurchase developed lots.  In accordance with SFAS No. 66, “Accounting for Sales of Real Estate,” the Company has continuing involvement in the land as a result of the repurchase option, and therefore is not permitted to recognize the sale of the land.  The corresponding liability has been classified as Obligation for Consolidated Inventory Not Owned on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
 
14

 
NOTE 13.  Notes Payable Banks
 
On August 28, 2007, the Company entered into the First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 6, 2006 (the “Credit Facility”).  Among other things, the First Amendment amends the Credit Facility by:  (1) reducing the Aggregate Commitment (as defined therein) from $650 million to $500 million; (2) incrementally reducing the required ratio of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA (as defined therein) to consolidated interest incurred (the “Interest Coverage Ratio” or “ICR”) beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2007 and continuing through the quarter ending March 31, 2009, and then slightly increasing the ICR thereafter; (3) reducing the maximum permitted ratio of indebtedness to consolidated tangible net worth (the “Leverage Ratio”) if the ICR is less than 2.00 to 1.00, with the amount of the decrease dependent on the amount by which the ICR is below 2.00 to 1.00; (4) increasing certain pricing provisions when the ICR is less than 2.00 to 1.00; (5) providing that the value of speculative houses in the borrowing base shall not exceed $125 million; and (6) increasing the permitted percentage of speculative houses relative to total house closings.  As of September 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of the Credit Facility.

NOTE 14.  (Loss) Earnings Per Share

Basic (loss) earnings per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted (loss) earnings per common share is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding adjusted for the incremental shares attributed to  non-vested contingent shares, shares underlying deferred compensation awards and outstanding options to purchase common shares (together, “incremental shares”), if dilutive.  For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, there were no incremental shares because the Company had a net loss for the periods and such shares would not be dilutive.

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
    2007
 
  2006
 
   2007
 
2006
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
 
13,990
   
13,892
   
13,969
   
13,991
Effect of dilutive securities:
                     
Stock option awards
 
-
   
61
   
-
   
73
Contingent shares (performance-based restricted shares) (a)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
Deferred compensation awards
 
-
   
125
   
-
   
123
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
 
13,990
   
14,078
   
13,969
   
14,187
                       
Net (loss) income
$
(21,717 )
$
15,185
 
$
(59,666 )
$
49,844
Less:  preferred share dividends
 
2,437
   
-
   
4,875
   
-
                       
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders
$
(24,154 )
$
15,185
 
$
(64,541 )
$
49,844
(Loss) earnings per common share
                     
Basic
$
(1.73 )
$
1.09
 
$
(4.62 )
$
3.56
Diluted
$
(1.73 )
$
1.08
 
$
(4.62 )
$
3.51
Anti-dilutive equity awards not included in the calculation
                     
of diluted earnings per common share
 
1,133
   
672
   
1,141
   
726

(a) These performance-based awards were granted during the first quarter of 2007.  As of September 30, 2007, the performance conditions have not been met; therefore, there is no impact on diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007.

NOTE 15.  Income Taxes
 
The Company provides for income taxes in interim periods based on its annual estimated effective tax rate.  The Company estimates the annual effective tax rate based upon its forecast of annual pre-tax results by tax jurisdiction.  The Company currently estimates a 37.6% annual effective tax rate.  To the extent that actual pre-tax results differ from the forecast estimates applied at the end of the most recent interim period, the actual income tax rate recognized in 2007 could be materially different than the estimated annual effective tax rate.
 
As of September 30, 2007, the Company’s deferred income tax assets were $73.4 million, compared to $39.7 million at December 31, 2006, with the increase primarily due to additional inventory valuation adjustments and write-offs as discussed in Note 4.  At September 30, 2007, the Company has recorded a $0.3 million valuation allowance relating to deferred tax assets compared to none at December 31, 2006.  The valuation allowance has been established for deferred tax assets on a “more likely than not” threshold.  The Company has considered the following possible sources of taxable income when assessing the realization of the deferred tax assets: (1) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences; (2) taxable income in prior carryback years; (3) tax planning strategies; and (4) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.  If in the future the Company determines that it is more likely than not that any of these deferred tax assets will be realized, the valuation allowance will be reversed accordingly.

15

 
On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), which requires the Company to determine whether it is more likely than not that its current tax positions will be sustained upon examination and, if so, the Company must measure each tax position and recognize in its financial statements the largest amount of benefit that has greater than a 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement.  As of the date of adoption, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $5.1 million, of which $4.7 million would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized.  The cumulative effect of adopting FIN 48 had no impact on the Company’s beginning retained earnings.  As of January 1, 2007, the Company had $1.7 million of accrued interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions.  The Company continues to record interest and penalties as a component of the Provision for Income Taxes on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and as a component of the unrecognized tax benefits recorded within Other Liabilities on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

As of September 30, 2007, the Company estimated that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $1.0 million within the next twelve months, of which $0.7 million would decrease income tax expense if recognized, resulting from the closing of certain tax years.  These unrecognized tax benefits relate primarily to the deductibility of certain intercompany charges.  As of September 30, 2007, the Company’s federal income tax returns for 2004 through 2006 are open years.  The Company files income tax returns in various state and local jurisdictions, with varying statutes of limitations.  Ohio and Florida are both major tax jurisdictions.  As of September 30, 2007, Ohio has open tax years of 2004 through 2006 and Florida has open tax years of 2003 through 2006.

NOTE 16.  Purchase of Treasury Shares

On November 8, 2005, the Company obtained authorization from the Board of Directors to repurchase up to $25 million of its outstanding common shares.  The repurchase program expires on November 8, 2010 and was publicly announced on November 10, 2005.  The repurchases may occur in the open market and/or in privately negotiated transactions as market conditions warrant.  During the nine month period ended September 30, 2007, the Company did not repurchase any shares.  As of September 30, 2007, the Company had approximately $6.7 million available to repurchase outstanding common shares under the Board approved repurchase program.

NOTE 17.  Dividends on Common Shares

On October 18, 2007, the Company paid to shareholders of record of its common shares on October 1, 2007 a cash dividend of $0.025 per share.  Total dividends paid on common shares in 2007 through October 18 were approximately $1.4 million.

NOTE 18.  Preferred Shares

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 2,000,000 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.  As of September 30, 2007, total dividends paid on preferred shares in 2007 were approximately $4.9 million.

NOTE 19.  Universal Shelf Registration

As of September 30, 2007, $50 million remains available for future offerings under a $150 million universal shelf registration filed by the Company with the SEC in April 2002.  Pursuant to the filing, the Company may, from time to time over an extended period, offer new debt, preferred stock and/or other equity securities.  Of the equity shares, up to 1 million common shares may be sold by certain shareholders who are considered selling shareholders.  The timing and amount of offerings, if any, will depend on market and general business conditions.

NOTE 20.  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 eleven individual homebuilding operating segments and the results of the financial services operation; (2) our three homebuilding regions; and (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.  
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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 (2)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Orlando, Florida
Virginia
Indianapolis, Indiana
West Palm Beach, Florida
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois (1)
 
Raleigh, North Carolina

 
(1) The Company announced its entry into the Chicago market during the second quarter of 2007, and has not purchased any land or sold or closed any homes in this market as of September 30, 2007.
 
      (2)  Maryland also includes homebuilding operations in Delaware.

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

The chief operating decision makers utilize operating (loss) income, defined as (loss) income before interest expense and income taxes, as a performance measure.

The following table shows, by segment, revenue, operating (loss) income and interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, as well as the Company’s total (loss) income before taxes for such periods:
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(In thousands)
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
Revenue:
               
Midwest homebuilding
$
96,831
 
$
122,837
 
$
246,718
 
$
345,179
 
Florida homebuilding
 
67,778
   
117,439
   
238,761
   
354,100
 
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
 
74,802
   
63,645
   
204,119
   
158,923
 
Other homebuilding - unallocated (a)
  (552 )   (1,372 )   (780 )  
3,425
 
Financial services (b)
 
4,809
   
5,124
   
14,956
   
19,250
 
Intercompany eliminations
 
-
    (1,485 )  
-
    (3,840 )
Total revenue
$
243,668
 
$
306,188
 
$
703,774
 
$
877,037
 
                         
Operating (loss) income:
                       
Midwest homebuilding
$
(964 )
$
2,852
 
$
(8,559 )
$
18,239
 
Florida homebuilding
  (20,417 )  
23,729
    (34,732 )  
75,214
 
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
  (2,935 )  
5,606
    (27,291 )  
13,947
 
Other homebuilding - unallocated (a)
 
327
    (186 )  
254
   
503
 
Financial services
 
2,175
   
2,417
   
7,240
   
11,015
 
Less: Corporate selling, general and administrative expense
  (8,124 )   (7,960 )   (21,210 )   (29,207 )
Total operating (loss) income
$
(29,938 )
$
26,458
 
$
(84,298 )
$
89,711
 
                         
Interest expense: (c)
                       
Midwest homebuilding
$
1,617
 
$
1,365
 
$
3,631
 
$
4,516
 
Florida homebuilding
 
2,223
   
1,273
   
5,579
   
3,233
 
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
 
1,014
   
920
   
2,683
   
2,883
 
Financial services
 
160
   
20
   
387
   
298
 
Total interest expense
$
5,014
 
$
3,578
 
$
12,280
 
$
10,930
 
                         
Total (loss) income before income taxes
$
(34,952 )
$
22,880
 
$
(96,578 )
$
78,781
 
 
(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) Financial services revenue includes $2.5 million and $1.5 million of revenue from the homebuilding segments for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $6.0 million and $3.9 million of revenue from the homebuilding segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

(c) Interest expense is allocated to our homebuilding operating segments based on the average monthly net investment (total assets less total liabilities) for each operating segment.
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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 70,000 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, Orlando and West Palm Beach, Florida; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Delaware; and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.  In 2006, the latest year for which information is available, we were the 21st 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
Discussion of Risk Factors
 
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 factors relating to the economic environment, interest rates, availability of resources, competition, market concentration, land development activities and various governmental rules and regulations, as more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and as set forth in Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors.  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 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.
 
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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.”  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 and 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 Statement 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.  We defer the application and origination fees, net of costs, and recognize them as revenue, along with the associated gains or losses on the sale of the loans and related servicing rights, when the loans are sold to third party investors in accordance with SFAS No. 91, “Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans.”  The revenue recognized is reduced by the fair value of the related guarantee provided to the investor.  The guarantee fair value 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.

Inventories.  We use the specific identification method for the purpose of accumulating costs associated with land acquisition and development, and home construction.  Inventories are 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, inventories include 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.

The Company assesses inventories 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.

Operating communities.  For existing operating communities, the recoverability of assets is measured 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
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the 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 and the estimated land development, home construction and selling costs of the community, overall market supply and demand, the local economy and competitive conditions.  Management reviews these assumptions on a quarterly basis, and adjusts the assumptions as necessary based on current and projected 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 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.   Fair value is determined based on the expected third party sale proceeds.

The key assumptions relating to the above valuations are dependent on project-specific local market and/or community conditions and are inherently uncertain. Local market-specific factors that may impact our project 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;, and
current local market economic and demographic conditions and related trends and forecasts.

These and other factors are considered by our local personnel as they prepare or update the project level assumptions. The key assumptions included in our estimated future net cash flows are interrelated. For example, a decrease in estimated sales price due to increased price discounting may result in a complementary increase in sales rates.

As of September 30, 2007, our projections generally assume a gradual improvement in market conditions over time along with a gradual increase in costs.  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, 2007, 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.
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Our quarterly assessments reflect management’s estimates.  However, if homebuilding market conditions and our operating results change, or if the current challenging market conditions continue for an extended period, future results could differ materially from management’s judgments and estimates.

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.

Investment in Unconsolidated Limited Liability Companies.  We invest in entities that acquire and develop land for distribution or sale 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 over these entities.  If we were to determine that we have substantive control 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.

In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18, “The Equity Method of Investments In Common Stock,” and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 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 continuous 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 or sale of lots to the Company from the limited liability company, the projected fair value of the lots at the time of distribution or sale 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, 2007, 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.  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
 
21

 
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 – new 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 new 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.

Changes in estimates for pre-existing warranties occur due to changes in the historical payment experience, and are also due to 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 2007, 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 $18.25 million 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 $3.2 million and $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for all self-insured and general liability claims.  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, 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”).

22

 
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 and, in accordance with SFAS 133 and related Derivatives Implementation Group conclusions, are accounted for at fair value with gains or losses 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.  Income taxes are calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” which requires the use of the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using current enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. Inherent in the measurement of deferred balances are certain judgments and interpretations of enacted tax law and published guidance with respect to applicability to the Company’s operations. We establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets based on whether realizing the deferred tax asset is “more likely than not.”  We consider the following possible sources of taxable income when assessing the realization of the deferred tax assets: (1) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences; (2) taxable income in prior carryback years; (3) tax planning strategies; and (4) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.  If in the future we determine that it is more likely than not that any of these deferred tax assets will be realized, the valuation allowance will be reversed accordingly.  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 for Income Taxes in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

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 eleven individual homebuilding operating segments and the results of the financial services operation; (2) our three homebuilding regions; and (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 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 (2)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Orlando, Florida
Virginia
Indianapolis, Indiana
West Palm Beach, Florida
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois (1)
 
Raleigh, North Carolina

 
(1) The Company announced its entry into the Chicago market during the second quarter of 2007, and has not purchased any land or sold or closed any homes in this market as of September 30, 2007.
 
      (2)  Maryland also includes homebuilding operations in Delaware.

The financial services operations include the origination and sale of mortgage loans and title and insurance agency services for purchasers of the Company’s homes.
 
23

 
Highlights and Trends for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007

Overview

The housing market continues to remain challenging with uncertainty throughout the industry.  Widely reported industry concerns over credit tightening and difficulties in the sub-prime market, excess inventory of new and existing homes and weakening demand continue to impact us in virtually all of our markets.  All of these factors have led to further price competition and margin compression in most of our markets.  We continue to estimate that we will deliver approximately 3,000 homes in 2007, with a breakdown by region of 45% in the Midwest, 30% in Florida and 25% in the Mid-Atlantic region; however, given these market conditions, it is difficult for us to predict either our new contracts or margins.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, our total gross margin percentage was 6.3%; however, excluding the impairment charges discussed below, the gross margin percentage was 19.6%, compared to 24.5% in 2006’s third quarter (excluding 2006's impairment charges).  Gross margin percentage excluding impairment of inventory and investments in unconsolidated LLCs is a non-GAAP financial measure disclosed by certain of our competitors and has been presented by us because we find it useful in evaluating our operating performance and believe that it helps readers of our financial statements compare our operations with those of our competitors.

In early 2007, we experienced some indications that conditions were improving slightly, based on our higher new contracts and reduced cancellation rate compared to the second half of 2006.  In the second quarter of 2007, however, conditions deteriorated, particularly in our Florida region, where new contracts were down 38% compared to the second quarter of 2006 and were also below our expectations.  Conditions continued to decline in the third quarter of 2007, and as a result, we recognized charges totaling $32.6 million for the impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs and abandoned land transactions.  These charges by region were as follows: Midwest - $0.7 million, Florida - $25.2 million and Mid-Atlantic - $6.7 million.

We continue to focus on our predominantly defensive operating strategy, making ongoing pricing decisions on a community by community basis rather than following the significant discounting approach certain competitors are employing.  We also continue to be committed to our operating strategy, which emphasizes the following:

Providing a superior customer experience;
Focusing on premier locations and highly desirable communities;
Offering products with diversity and innovative design; and
Focusing on profitability via inventory and expense reduction.

Key Financial Results

For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, total revenue decreased $62.5 million (20%) compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2006, to approximately $243.7 million.  This decrease is largely attributable to a decrease of $57.8 million in housing revenue, from $290.1 million in 2006 to $232.3 million in 2007.  Homes delivered decreased 15%, and the average sales price of homes delivered decreased from $313,000 to $295,000.  Revenue from the outside sale of land to third parties decreased $6.7 million (48%) from $13.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 to $7.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.  Financial services revenue decreased 6% from $5.1 million for the third quarter of 2007 compared to $4.8 million for the prior year’s quarter due primarily to a 12% decrease in the number of mortgage loans originated.
   
Loss before taxes for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 was $35.0 million compared to income before taxes of $22.9 million in the third quarter of 2006.  During the third quarter of 2007, the Company incurred charges totaling $32.6 million related to 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 $2.4 million, which represents a $25.3 million decrease from 2006’s income of $22.9 million.  This decrease was driven by the decrease in housing revenue discussed above, along with lower gross margins, which declined from 24.5% in 2006’s third quarter (excluding 2006’s impairment charges) to 19.6% in 2007’s third quarter.  General and administrative expenses decreased slightly from $25.1 million in 2006 to $24.6 million in 2007.  This slight decrease was driven by (1) a decrease of $1.0 million in payroll and incentive expenses and (2) a decrease of $1.8 million in abandoned projects and deposit write-offs.  These decreases were partially offset by (1) an increase of $0.5 million in severance expenses, (2) an increase of $0.8 million in rent expense and (3) an increase of $1.8 million in costs related to our investment in land, primarily real estate taxes.  Selling expenses also decreased by $1.0 million (5%) for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 when compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2006 primarily due to a $1.1 million decrease in variable selling expenses and a $0.9 million decrease in advertising expenses.  Partially offsetting those decreases in selling expenses were increases of $0.5 million in payroll expenses and $0.4 million for enhancements made to our design centers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24
 
 
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, total revenue decreased $173.3 million (20%) compared to the first nine months of 2006.  This decrease is largely attributable to a decrease of $166.6 million in housing revenue, from $840.0 million in 2006 to $673.4 million in 2007.  Homes delivered for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 decreased 18% compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the average sales price of homes delivered decreased from $306,000 to $300,000.  Revenue from the outside sale of land to third parties decreased slightly from $18.2 million in 2006 to $16.2 million in 2007.  Financial services revenue decreased $4.3 million (22%), driven by a 16% decrease in the number of mortgage loans originated.
   
Loss before taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $96.6 million compared to income before taxes of $78.8 million in the 2006 nine-month period.  In 2007, the Company incurred charges totaling $101.7 million related to impairment of inventory, investment in unconsolidated LLCs and abandoned transaction costs, and $5.2 million related to the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets relating to our 2005 acquisition of Shamrock Homes, a Florida homebuilder.  Excluding the impact of the above-mentioned charges, the Company earned pre-tax income of $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, which represents a $68.5 million decrease from 2006’s income of $78.8 million.  This decrease was driven by the decrease in housing revenue, along with lower gross margins, which declined from 26.4% for the first nine months of 2006 (excluding the impact of 2006’s impairment charges) to 20.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.  General and administrative expenses decreased $1.1 million (2%) primarily due to (1) a decrease in payroll and incentive expenses of $5.9 million, (2) a decrease in severance expenses of $4.4 million and (3) a decrease of $1.8 million relating to abandoned land transactions and deposit write-offs.  These decreases were partially offset by (1) the write-off of the goodwill and other assets of our July 2005 acquisition of Shamrock Homes of $5.2 million, (2) an increase of $1.7 million in rent expense and (3) an increase of $4.3 million in costs related to our investment in land, primarily real estate taxes.
   
New contracts for the third quarter of 2007 were 561 compared to 571 in 2006’s third quarter.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, new contracts decreased by 281 (11%) compared to the same period in 2006. For the third quarter of 2007, our cancellation rate was 38% compared to 42% in 2006’s third quarter.  By region, our third quarter cancellation rates in 2007 versus 2006 were as follows: Midwest – 38% in 2007 and 47% in 2006; Florida – 45% in 2007 and 47% in 2006; and Mid-Atlantic – 29% in 2007 and 22% in 2006.  The overall cancellation rate remained consistent at approximately 30% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to 31% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
   
As a result of lower refinance volume for outside lenders and increased competition, during 2007 we expect to continue to experience pressure on our mortgage company’s capture rate, which was approximately 75% for the first nine months of 2007 and 80% for the first nine months of 2006.  This continued pressure on our capture rate could continue to negatively impact earnings.
   
As discussed above, we are experiencing changes in market conditions that require us to constantly monitor the value of our inventories 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, 2007, we recorded $32.6 million and $101.7 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 2007, we will continue to update our evaluation of the value of our inventories 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.
   
Our income tax rate was 37.9% and 38.2%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 33.6% and 36.7%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.

 
25

The following table shows, by segment, revenue, operating (loss) income and interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, as well as the Company’s total (loss) income before taxes for such periods:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(In thousands)
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
Revenue:
               
Midwest homebuilding
$
96,831
 
$
122,837
 
$
246,718
 
$
345,179
 
Florida homebuilding
 
67,778
   
117,439
   
238,761
   
354,100
 
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
 
74,802
   
63,645
   
204,119
   
158,923
 
Other homebuilding - unallocated (a)
  (552 )   (1,372 )   (780 )  
3,425
 
Financial services (b)
 
4,809
   
5,124
   
14,956
   
19,250
 
Intercompany eliminations
 
-
    (1,485 )  
-
    (3,840 )
Total revenue
$
243,668
 
$
306,188
 
$
703,774
 
$
877,037
 
                         
Operating (loss) income:
                       
Midwest homebuilding
$
(964 )
$
2,852
 
$
(8,559 )
$
18,239
 
Florida homebuilding
  (20,417 )  
23,729
    (34,732 )  
75,214
 
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
  (2,935 )  
5,606
    (27,291 )  
13,947
 
Other homebuilding - unallocated (a)
 
327
    (186 )  
254
   
503
 
Financial services
 
2,175
   
2,417
   
7,240
   
11,015
 
Less: Corporate selling, general and administrative expense
  (8,124 )   (7,960 )   (21,210 )   (29,207 )
Total operating (loss) income
$
(29,938 )
$
26,458
 
$
(84,298 )
$
89,711
 
                         
Interest expense: (c)
                       
Midwest homebuilding
$
1,617
 
$
1,365
 
$
3,631
 
$
4,516
 
Florida homebuilding
 
2,223
   
1,273
   
5,579
   
3,233
 
Mid-Atlantic homebuilding
 
1,014
   
920
   
2,683
   
2,883
 
Financial services
 
160
   
20
   
387
   
298
 
Total interest expense
$
5,014
 
$
3,578
 
$
12,280
 
$
10,930
 
                         
Total (loss) income before income taxes
$
(34,952 )
$
22,880
 
$
(96,578 )
$
78,781
 

(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 above for further discussion.

(b) Financial services revenue includes $2.5 million and $1.5 million of revenue from the homebuilding segments for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $6.0 million and $3.9 million of revenue from the homebuilding segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

(c) Interest expense is allocated to our homebuilding operating segments based on the average monthly net investment (total assets less total liabilities) for each operating segment.

Seasonality

Our homebuilding operations experience significant seasonality and quarter-to-quarter variability in homebuilding activity levels.  In general, homes delivered increase 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.
26

 
Reportable Segments

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
     (Dollars in thousands, except as otherwise noted)
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
                 
Midwest Region
               
Homes delivered
 
376
   
466
   
993
   
1,299
 
Average sales price per home delivered
$
249
 
$
263
 
$
244
 
$
264
 
Revenue homes
$
93,534
 
$
122,505
 
$
242,276
 
$
343,403
 
Revenue third party land sales
$
3,297
 
$
332
 
$
4,442
 
$
1,776
 
Operating (loss) income homes
$
(1,121 )
$
4,615
 
$
(8,847 )
$
19,985
 
Operating income (loss) third party land sales
$
157
 
$
(1,763 )
$
288
 
$
(1,746 )
New contracts, net
 
252
   
258
   
1,056
   
1,260
 
Backlog at end of period
 
695
   
901
   
695
   
901
 
Average sales price of homes in backlog
$
264
 
$
284
 
$
264
 
$
284
 
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog (in millions)
$
184
 
$
255
 
$
184
 
$
255
 
Number of active communities
 
76
   
89
   
76
   
89
 
                         
Florida Region
                       
Homes delivered
 
196
   
292
   
686
   
1,035
 
Average sales price per home delivered
$
326
 
$
357
 
$
336
 
$
327
 
Revenue homes
$
63,935
 
$
104,191
 
$
229,750
 
$
338,404
 
Revenue third party land sales
$
3,843
 
$
13,248
 
$
9,011
 
$
15,696
 
Operating (loss) income homes
$
(14,134 )
$
20,374
 
$
(27,220 )
$
70,773
 
Operating (loss) income third party land sales
$
(6,283 )
$
3,355
 
$
(7,512 )
$
4,441
 
New contracts, net
 
145
   
138
   
462
   
690
 
Backlog at end of period
 
359
   
1,195
   
359
   
1,195
 
Average sales price of homes in backlog
$
354
 
$
407
 
$
354
 
$
407
 
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog (in millions)
$
127
 
$
487
 
$
127
 
$
487
 
Number of active communities
 
46
   
47
   
46
   
47
 
                         
Mid-Atlantic Region
                       
Homes delivered
 
215
   
169
   
567
   
412
 
Average sales price per home delivered
$
348
 
$
375
 
$
355
 
$
384
 
Revenue homes
$
74,802
 
$
63,405
 
$
201,363
 
$
158,153
 
Revenue third party land sales
$
-
 
$
240
 
$
2,756
 
$
770
 
Operating (loss) income homes
$
(2,613 )
$
5,522
 
$
(26,941 )
$
13,830
 
Operating (loss) income third party land sales
$
(322 )
$
84
 
$
(350 )
$
117
 
New contracts, net
 
164
   
175
   
673
   
522
 
Backlog at end of period
 
414
   
437
   
414
   
437
 
Average sales price of homes in backlog
$
411
 
$
414
 
$
411
 
$
414
 
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog (in millions)
$
170
 
$
181
 
$
170
 
$
181
 
Number of active communities
 
37
   
34
   
37
   
34
 
                         
Total Homebuilding Regions
                       
Homes delivered
 
787
   
927
   
2,246
   
2,746
 
Average sales price per home delivered
$
295
 
$
313
 
$
300
 
$
306
 
Revenue homes
$
232,271
 
$
290,101
 
$
673,389
 
$
839,960
 
Revenue third party land sales
$
7,140
 
$
13,820
 
$
16,209
 
$
18,242
 
Operating (loss) income homes
$
(17,868 )
$
30,511
 
$
(63,008 )
$
104,588
 
Operating (loss) income third party land sales
$
(6,448 )
$
1,676
 
$
(7,574 )
$
2,812
 
New contracts, net
 
561
   
571
   
2,191
   
2,472
 
Backlog at end of period
 
1,468
   
2,533
   
1,468
   
2,533
 
Average sales price of homes in backlog
$
327
 
$
364
 
$
327
 
$
364
 
Aggregate sales value of homes in backlog (in millions)
$
481
 
$
923
 
$
481
 
$
923
 
Number of active communities
 
159
   
170
   
159
   
170
 
                         
Financial Services
                       
Number of loans originated
 
549
 
 
625
   
1,528
   
1,821
 
Value of loans originated
$
134,554
 
$
148,130
 
$
381,607
 
$
427,705
 
Revenue
$
4,809
 
$
5,124
 
$
14,956
 
$
19,250
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
$
2,634
 
$
2,707
 
$
7,716
 
$
8,235
 
Interest expense
$
160
 
$
20
 
$
387
 
$
298
 
Income before income taxes
$
2,015
 
$
2,397
 
$
6,853
 
$
10,717
 

27

 
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.

Operating (loss) income by region for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 includes the following charges associated with impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated LLCs and abandoned land transactions:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(In thousands)
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
Housing:
             
  Midwest
$
722
 
$
245
 
$
7,633
 
$
1,976
  Florida
 
17,819
   
1,466
   
49,830
   
1,494
  Mid-Atlantic
 
6,342
   
239
   
33,823
   
510
Total housing
$
24,883
 
$
1,950
 
$
91,286
 
$
3,980
Land:
                     
  Midwest
$
-
 
$
1,921
 
$
-
 
$
1,921
  Florida
 
7,398
   
-
   
9,840
   
-
  Mid-Atlantic
 
322
   
-
   
578
   
-
Total land
$
7,720
 
$
1,921
 
$
10,418
 
$
1,921
                       
Total
$
32,603
 
$
3,871
 
$
101,704
  $
5,901

Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2006

Midwest Region.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, Midwest homebuilding revenue was $96.8 million, a 21% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2006.  The decrease was primarily due to the 19% decrease in the number of homes delivered, along with a 5% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered from $263,000 to $249,000.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, our operating loss was $1.0 million, representing a $3.8 million decrease from last year’s operating income of $2.8 million as the result of fewer homes delivered, a change in the mix of products delivered and a reduction in profit due to sales incentives offered to customers.  Impairment and abandonment charges were $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2007 compared to $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2006.  For the three months ended September 30, 2007, new contracts declined 2% compared to the three months ended September 30, 2006.  Quarter-end backlog declined 23% in units and 28% in total sales value, with an average sales price in backlog of $264,000 at September 30, 2007 compared to $284,000 at September 30, 2006.  Market conditions in the Midwest are very challenging, and we anticipate that these challenging conditions could continue until at least 2009 based on the current levels of inventory of new and re-sale homes on the market.

Florida Region. For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, Florida homebuilding revenue decreased to $67.8 million, a decrease of 42% compared to the same period in 2006.  The decrease in revenue is primarily due to a 33% decrease in the number of homes delivered in 2007 compared to 2006, along with a 9% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered from $357,000 to $326,000.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, our operating loss was $20.4 million, a decrease of $44.1 million when compared to 2006 operating income of $23.7 million.  The decrease in operating income is due to (1) the impact of the decline in homebuilding revenue discussed above, (2) impairment and abandonment charges of $25.2 million in the third quarter of 2007 versus less than $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2006 and (3) lower pre-impairment gross margin resulting from competitive price pressures.  For the third quarter of 2007, new contracts increased 5%, from 138 in 2006 to 145 in 2007.  Quarter-end backlog units declined from 1,195 at September 30, 2006 to 359 at September 30, 2007.  Along with the decrease in the number of backlog units, the average sales price of the homes in backlog decreased from $407,000 at September 30, 2006 to $354,000 at September 30, 2007.  Market conditions in Florida are very challenging and we anticipate that these challenging conditions could continue until at least 2009.

Mid-Atlantic Region. In our Mid-Atlantic region, homebuilding revenue increased to $74.8 million, an increase of 18% for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.  Driving this increase was a 27% increase in the number of homes delivered.  Partially offsetting the increase in revenue was a 7% decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered from $375,000 for the third quarter of 2006 to $348,000 for the third quarter of 2007.  The decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered primarily related to the change in mix between markets, with more homes being delivered in our North Carolina markets, which have a lower average sales price than homes in our Washington, D.C. markets.  In addition, the average sales price in our Washington, D.C. markets declined due to competitive discounting attributable to softness in market conditions.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, our operating loss was $2.9 million, a decrease of $8.5 million from 2006’s income of $5.6 million, primarily due to $6.7 million of impairment charges recorded in the third quarter of 2007 and lower pre-impairment

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gross margins, primarily in our Washington, D.C. markets.  New contracts decreased 6% from 175 in the third quarter of 2006 to 164 in the third quarter of 2007, and backlog units decreased 5%.

Financial Services.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, revenue from our mortgage and title operations decreased $0.3 million (6%), from $5.1 million in 2006 to $4.8 million in 2007, due primarily to a 12% decrease in loan originations.  At September 30, 2007, M/I Financial had mortgage operations in all of our markets except Chicago.  Approximately 77% of our homes delivered during the third quarter of 2007 that were financed were through M/I Financial, compared to 80% in 2006’s third quarter.  As a result of lower refinance volume for outside lenders, resulting in increased competition for the Company’s homebuyers, throughout 2007 and possibly 2008 we expect to experience continued pressure on our capture rate and margins, which could continue to negatively affect earnings.

Corporate Selling, General and Administrative Expense.  Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses remained consistent, increasing $0.1 million (2%), from $8.0 million in 2006 to $8.1 million in 2007.  During the three months ended September 30, 2007, there was a decrease of $1.1 million in payroll and incentive expenses due to workforce reductions and lower incentive compensation due to expected lower net income levels.  Partially offsetting this decrease were increases in severance expenses of $0.5 million and marketing costs of $0.5 million.

Interest.  Interest expense for the Company increased $1.4 million (40%), from $3.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 to $5.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.  This increase was primarily due to the decrease in interest capitalized from $8.4 million in the third quarter of 2006 to $4.6 million in the third quarter of 2007 due primarily to a significant reduction in land development activities.  We also had an increase in our weighted average borrowing rate from 7.39% in 2006 to 8.08% in 2007.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in our weighted average borrowings from $669.2 million in the third quarter of 2006 to $479.5 million in the third quarter of 2007.

Income Taxes.  The Company’s tax rate for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 was 37.9%, compared to 33.6% for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.  The prior year’s quarter benefited from a shift in operations to lower income tax rate states.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006

Midwest Region.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, Midwest homebuilding revenue decreased $98.5 million (29%) compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2006, from $345.2 million to $246.7 million.  The decrease was primarily due to the 24% decrease in the number of homes delivered, as well as a decrease in the average sales price of homes delivered from $264,000 in 2006 to $244,000 in 2007.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, our operating loss was $8.6 million, compared to last year’s operating income of $18.2 million as a result of (1) a change in the mix of products delivered, (2) a reduction in profit due to sales incentives offered to customers and (3) impairment charges totaling $7.6 million for the first nine months of 2007 compared to $3.9 million in 2006.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, new contracts declined 16% compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2006 due to softness in market conditions in the Midwest.

Florida Region.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, Florida homebuilding revenue decreased $115.3 million (33%), from $354.1 million in 2006 to $238.8 million in 2007.  The decrease in revenue is primarily due to a 34% decrease in the number of homes delivered during the first nine months of 2007 compared to the first nine months of 2006 and was partially offset by a 3% increase in the average sales price of homes delivered from $327,000 in 2006 to $336,000 in 2007.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, our operating loss was $34.7 million, a decrease of $109.9 million from 2006’s operating income of $75.2 million.  This decrease was the result of (1) the decrease in homes delivered, (2) impairment and abandonment charges totaling $64.9 million in the first nine months of 2007, including impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, compared to $1.5 million in the first nine months of 2006 and (3) lower pre-impairment gross margins.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, new contracts decreased 33%, from 690 in 2006 to 462 in 2007, which we believe is primarily due to the current oversupply of inventory driven by many investors exiting the market and the resulting impact on new home inventory and consumer confidence.

Mid-Atlantic Region. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, Mid-Atlantic homebuilding revenue increased $45.2 million (28%), from $158.9 million in the first nine months of 2006 to $204.1 million in the first nine months of 2007.  Driving this increase was a 38% increase in the number of homes delivered from 412 in 2006 to 567 in 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, our operating loss was $27.3 million, a decrease of $41.2 million compared to our operating income of $13.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.  The decrease in operating income was primarily due to impairment charges totaling $34.4 million in the first nine
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months of 2007 compared to $0.5 million in the first nine months of 2006.  New contracts increased 29% from 522 in the first nine months of 2006 to 673 in the first nine months of 2007 primarily due to increases in our North Carolina markets.  

Financial Services.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, revenue from our mortgage and title operations decreased $4.3 million (22%), from $19.3 million in 2006 to $15.0 million in 2007, due primarily to a 16% decrease in loan originations.  In addition, increased competition and financing initiatives resulted in erosion of margins.  Approximately 75% of our homes delivered during the first nine months of 2007 were financed were through M/I Financial, compared to 80% in 2006’s first nine months.

Corporate Selling, General and Administrative Expense.  Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $8.0 million (27%), from $29.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to $21.2 million for the same period in 2007.  During the first nine months of 2007, there was a $4.4 million decrease in severance expenses compared to 2006, along with a decrease of $4.5 million in payroll and incentive expenses due to workforce reductions and lower incentive compensation due to expected lower net income levels.  Partially offsetting those decreases was an increase in marketing costs of $0.4 million.

Interest.  Interest expense for the Company increased $1.4 million (12%), from $10.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to $12.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.  This increase was primarily due to the decrease in interest capitalized from $21.5 million in the first nine months of 2006 to $16.3 million in the first nine months of 2007.  We also had an increase in our weighted average borrowing rate from 7.18% in 2006 to 7.62% in 2007.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in our weighted average borrowings from $608.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to $507.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

Income Taxes.  The Company’s tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was 38.2%, compared to 36.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.  The prior year benefited from a shift in operations to lower tax rate states.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Operating Cash Flow Activities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we generated $73.7 million of cash from our operating activities, compared to $182.0 million of cash used in such activities during the first nine months of 2006.  The net cash generated was primarily a result of (1) the $40.2 million decrease in cash held in escrow resulting from cash collected in 2007 relating to homes that closed near the end of 2006, (2) the $25.2 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, and (3) $19.2 million relating to an increase in accounts payable.  In addition, we generated cash from operating activities, after adjustments for non-cash charges, of $6.7 million resulting from our net loss of $59.7 million and excluding non-cash impairment, abandonment costs and goodwill and intangible asset charges, net of tax, of $66.4 million.  Partially offsetting these cash flow additions was the $14.2 million use of cash relating to payment of 2006’s incentive compensation.

The principal reason for the generation of cash from operations during the first nine months of 2007 compared to our use of cash during the first nine months of 2006 was our defensive strategy to reduce our land purchases to better match our forecasted number of home sales driven by challenging market conditions.  We currently plan to purchase approximately $26 million of land during 2007 compared to $164 million purchased in 2006, and continue to focus on further reducing our investment in land.  To the extent our inventory levels decrease during fiscal 2007, we expect to have net positive cash flows from operating activities during the remainder of 2007.

Investing Cash Flow Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we used $9.0 million of cash through our investing activities for additional investments in certain of our unconsolidated LLCs and the purchase of property and equipment.

Financing Cash Flow Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we used $73.8 million of cash.  As discussed in greater detail below under the caption “Financing Cash Flow Activities – Preferred Shares,” in the first quarter of 2007, we issued 4,000 preferred shares, generating net cash proceeds of $96.3 million.  The proceeds from the issuance of these preferred
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shares, along with cash generated from operations during the first nine months of 2007, were used to repay $163.2 million under our revolving credit facilities.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we paid a total of $5.9 million in dividends, which includes $4.9 million in dividends paid on the preferred shares.

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.  As we utilize our capital resources and liquidity to fund our operations, we constantly focus on the impact on our balance sheet.  We have incurred substantial indebtedness, and may incur substantial indebtedness in the future, to fund our homebuilding activities.  During the first nine months of 2007, we purchased approximately $18 million of land and lots.  We currently estimate that we will purchase approximately an additional $7 million during 2007, with the 2007 land and lot purchases being located primarily in our Mid-Atlantic region.  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 $10.5 million as of September 30, 2007 as consideration for the right to purchase land and lots in the future, including the right to purchase $132.7 million of land and lots during the years 2008 through 2014.  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.  We believe we will be able to continue to fund our future cash needs through our cash flows from operations, our existing credit facilities and the issuance of new debt, preferred stock and/or other equity securities through the public capital markets.  Please refer to our discussion of Forward-Looking Statements on page 18 and Risk Factors beginning on page 34 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further discussion of risk factors that could impact our source of funds.

Included in the table below is a summary of our available sources of cash as of September 30, 2007:
 
(In thousands)
Expiration
Date
Outstanding
Balance
Available
Amount
Notes payable banks – homebuilding (a)
10/6/2010
$255,000
$209,989
Note payable bank – financial services
4/25/2008
$  21,700
$  10,129
Senior notes
4/1/2012
$200,000
            -
Universal shelf registration (b)
-
            -
$  50,000
 
(a) As of September 30, 2007, the Credit Facility (as defined below) also provides for an additional $500 million of borrowing through the accordion feature upon request by the Company and approval by the applicable lenders party to the Credit Facility.

(b) The timing and amount of offerings, if any, will depend on market and general business conditions.

Notes Payable Banks - Homebuilding.  On August 28, 2007, we entered into the First Amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 6, 2006 (the “Credit Facility”).  Among other things, the First Amendment amends the Credit Facility by:  (1) reducing the Aggregate Commitment (as defined therein) from $650 million to $500 million; (2) incrementally reducing the required ratio of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA (as defined therein) to consolidated interest incurred (the “Interest Coverage Ratio” or “ICR”) beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2007 and continuing through the quarter ending March 31, 2009, and then slightly increasing the ICR thereafter; (3) reducing the maximum permitted ratio of indebtedness to consolidated tangible net worth (the “Leverage Ratio”) if the ICR is less than 2.00 to 1.00, with the amount of the decrease dependent on the amount by which the ICR is below 2.00 to 1.00; (4) increasing certain pricing provisions when the ICR is less than 2.00 to 1.00; (5) providing that the value of speculative houses in the borrowing base shall not exceed $125 million; and (6) increasing the permitted percentage of speculative houses relative to total house closings.

At September 30, 2007, the Company’s homebuilding operations had borrowings totaling $255.0 million, financial letters of credit totaling $11.0 million and performance letters of credit totaling $24.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility.  The Credit Facility provides for a maximum borrowing amount of $500 million and the ability to increase the loan capacity to up to $1.0 billion upon request by the Company and approval by the applicable lenders party to the Credit Facility.  Under the terms of the Credit Facility, the $500 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 borrowing base indebtedness, less the actual borrowing base indebtedness (including cash borrowings under the Credit Facility, senior notes, financial letters of credit and the 10% commitment on the MIF Credit Facility (as defined below)). 
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As of September 30, 2007, borrowing availability was $210.0 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 ranging from zero to 37.5 basis points, or at the Eurodollar Rate plus a margin ranging from 100 to 200 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. 

The Credit Facility also places limitations on the amount of additional indebtedness that may be incurred by the Company, limitations on the investments that the Company may make, including joint ventures and advances to officers and employees, and limitations on the aggregate cost of certain types of inventory that the Company can hold at any one time.  The Company is required under the Credit Facility to maintain a certain amount of tangible net worth and, as of September 30, 2007, had approximately $109.9 million in excess of the required tangible net worth that would be available for payment of dividends.  As of September 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of the Credit Facility.

Note Payable Bank – Financial Services.  At September 30, 2007, we had $21.7 million outstanding under the M/I Financial First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement (the “MIF Credit Facility”).  M/I Homes, Inc. and M/I Financial are co-borrowers under the MIF Credit Facility.  The MIF Credit Facility provides M/I Financial with $40.0 million maximum borrowing availability to finance mortgage loans initially funded by M/I Financial for our customers, except for the period December 15, 2007 through January 15, 2008, when the maximum borrowing availability is increased to $65.0 million.  The maximum borrowing availability is limited to 95% of eligible mortgage loans.  In determining eligible mortgage loans, the MIF Credit Facility provides limits on certain types of loans.  The borrowings under the MIF Credit Facility are at the Prime Rate or LIBOR plus 135 basis points, with a commitment fee on the unused portion of the MIF Credit Facility of 0.20%.  Under the terms of the MIF Credit Facility, M/I Financial is required to maintain minimum net worth amounts and certain financial ratios.  As of September 30, 2007, the borrowing base was $31.8 million with $10.1 million of availability.  As of September 30, 2007, the Company and M/I Financial were in compliance with all restrictive covenants of the MIF Credit Facility.

Senior Notes.  At September 30, 2007, there was $200 million of 6.875% senior notes outstanding.  The notes are due April 2012.  The indenture covering the senior notes contains various covenants, including limitations on additional indebtedness, affiliate transactions, sale of assets and a restriction on certain payments.  Payments for dividends and share repurchases are subject to a limitation, with increases in the limitation resulting from issuances of equity interests and quarterly net earnings and decreases in the limitation resulting from quarterly net losses, with such increases and decreases being cumulative since the March 2005 issuance of the notes.   As of September 30, 2007, the Company had approximately $100.2 million available that could be used for the payment of dividends or share repurchases.  As of September 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of the notes.

Weighted Average Borrowings.  For the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, our weighted average borrowings outstanding were $479.5 million and $669.2 million, respectively, with a weighted average interest rate of 8.1% and 7.4%, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, our weighted average borrowings outstanding were $507.2 million and $608.5 million, respectively, with a weighted average interest rate of 7.6% and 7.2%, respectively.  The decrease in borrowings was primarily the result of the Company issuing the Preferred Shares (as defined below), the proceeds of which were used to pay down the Company’s outstanding debt; cash generated from operations was also used 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 that were used for the partial payment of the outstanding balance under the Credit Facility.  The Preferred Shares were offered pursuant to our existing $150 million universal shelf registration statement.  The Preferred Shares are non-cumulative and have a liquidation preference equal to $25 per depositary share.  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 (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
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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.”

Universal Shelf Registration.  In April 2002, we filed a $150 million universal shelf registration statement with the SEC.  Pursuant to the filing, we may, from time to time over an extended period, offer new debt, preferred stock and/or other equity securities.  Of the equity shares, up to 1 million common shares may be sold by certain shareholders who are considered selling shareholders.  The timing and amount of offerings, if any, will depend on market and general business conditions.

On March 15, 2007, we issued $100 million of Preferred Shares, as further discussed above under “Financing Cash Flow Activities – Preferred Shares,” which were offered pursuant to the $150 million universal shelf filed in April 2002.  As of September 30, 2007, $50 million remains available under this universal shelf registration for future offerings.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Refer to the Contractual Obligations section of 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, 2006 for a summary of future payments by period for our contractual obligations. 

On January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of FIN 48, as further discussed in Note 15 of our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.   As of September 30, 2007, we have recorded a liability totaling $6.2 million related to uncertain tax positions, including estimated interest and penalties, in accordance with the provisions of FIN 48.  At this time, we are unable to determine the amount of any future cash settlements by period relating to this liability.  The amount of cash settlements, if any, and the timing of such cash settlements, will not be determinable until settlements have been agreed upon by the Company and respective taxing authorities.

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 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 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, 2007 to be the amount invested of $42.7 million, plus letters of credit and bonds totaling $8.4 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 8 and Note 9 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

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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, 2007 related to these agreements is equal to the amount of the Company’s outstanding deposits, which totaled $10.5 million, including cash deposits of $4.9 million, letters of credit of $4.1 million and corporate promissory notes of $1.5 million.  Further details relating to our land option agreements are included in Note 12 of our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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, 2007, the Company has outstanding approximately $128.5 million of completion bonds and standby letters of credit, including those related to LLCs and land option agreements discussed above.

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 9 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.

 RISK FACTORS
 
The following cautionary discussion of risks, uncertainties and possible inaccurate assumptions relevant to our business includes factors we believe could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results.  Other factors beyond those listed below, including factors unknown to us and factors known to us which we have not currently determined to be material, could also adversely affect us.

Because of the cyclical nature of our industry, changes in general economic, real estate construction or other business conditions could adversely affect our business and/or our financial results.

The homebuilding industry is cyclical and is significantly affected by changes in national and local economic and other conditions.  Many of these conditions are beyond our control.  These conditions include employment levels and job growth, population growth, changing demographics, availability of financing for homebuyers, consumer confidence, housing demand and levels of new and existing homes for sale.

In 2006, the homebuilding industry experienced an industry-wide softening in demand.  In many markets, home price appreciation over the past several years attracted real estate investors and speculators.  As price appreciation slowed and price declines began to occur in many of our markets, many investors and speculators decided to reduce their investment in homes and, as a result, many markets have experienced, and are continuing to experience, an over-supply of home inventory, both new homes and resale homes.  In response to the higher inventory level of homes, many homebuilders have increased the amount of sales incentives offered in an attempt to continue to sell homes.  These
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conditions in the real estate market are still continuing to impact all of our homebuilding regions in 2007, and we anticipate they will continue to impact us into 2009.  As a result of these economic conditions, we have offered, and may continue to offer, certain sales incentives, including reduction in home sales prices, to aid our sales efforts.  These incentives and reductions in home sales prices and sales volume could negatively impact our financial results.  We cannot predict the duration or severity of the current market conditions, nor provide any assurances that the adjustments we have made to our operating strategy to address these conditions will be successful.

We face significant competition in our efforts to sell homes and provide mortgage financing.

The homebuilding industry is highly competitive.  We compete in each of our local markets with numerous national, regional and local homebuilders, some of which have greater financial, marketing, land acquisition and sales resources than we have.  Builders of new homes compete not only for homebuyers, but also for desirable properties, financing, raw materials and skilled subcontractors.  Currently, many of our homebuilding competitors are offering significant discounts in the markets in which we operate in an attempt to generate sales and reduce inventory.  We also compete with the existing home resale market that provides certain attractions for homebuyers over the new home market, and we believe that the resale market is becoming more of a competitive factor than in the past, particularly in markets that have had more investor buyers, such as Washington, D.C., Tampa, Orlando and West Palm Beach.  As a result of the general softening in the real estate market, the impact of competition may continue to have an unfavorable impact on our ability to sell new homes.

In addition to competition within our homebuilding operations, the mortgage financing industry has also become increasingly competitive.  M/I Financial competes with outside lenders for the capture of our homebuyers.  Competition typically increases during periods in which there is a decline in the refinance activity within the industry.  During the first nine months of 2007, M/I Financial experienced a decrease in its capture rate and profitability.  As a result of lower refinance volume for outside lenders, resulting in increased competition for our homebuyer customer, we expect to experience continued pressure on our capture rate and margins, which could negatively affect earnings.

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.

We must anticipate demand for new homes several years prior to those homes being sold to homeowners.  There are significant risks inherent in controlling or purchasing land, especially as the demand for new homes decreases.  The value of undeveloped land, building lots and housing inventories can fluctuate significantly as a result of changing market conditions.  In addition, inventory carrying costs can be significant and fluctuations in value can result in reduced profits.  Economic conditions could result in the necessity to sell homes or land at a loss, or hold land in inventory longer than planned, which could significantly impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and stock performance.  As a result of softened market conditions in most of our markets, during the first nine months of 2007, we recorded a loss of $99.5 million for impairment of inventory and investments in unconsolidated LLCs and wrote-off $2.2 million relating to abandoned land transactions. It is possible that the estimated cash flows from these inventory positions may change and could result in a future need to record additional valuation adjustments.  Additionally, if conditions in the homebuilding industry worsen in the future, we may be required to evaluate additional inventory for potential impairment which may result in additional valuation adjustments which could be significant and could negatively impact our financial results and condition.  We cannot make any assurances that the measures we employ to manage inventory risks and costs will be successful.

If we are not able to obtain suitable financing, our business may be negatively impacted.

The homebuilding industry is capital intensive because of the length of time from when land or lots are acquired to when the related homes are constructed on those lots and delivered to homebuyers.  Our business and earnings depend on our ability to obtain financing to support our homebuilding operations and to provide the resources to carry inventory.  We may be required to seek additional capital, whether from sales of equity or debt or additional bank borrowings, to support our business.  The ability for us to secure the needed capital at terms that are acceptable to us may be impacted by factors beyond our control.

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

Our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes impose restrictions on our operations and activities.  The most significant restrictions place limitations on the amount of additional indebtedness that may be incurred, limitations on investments, including joint ventures and advances to officers and employees, limitations on the aggregate cost of certain types of inventory we can hold at any one time and limitations on asset dispositions or
35

 
creation of liens.  We are also required to maintain a certain level of net worth and maintain certain ratios, including a minimum interest coverage. 

Under the interest coverage covenant contained in our Credit Facility, we are required to maintain a minimum ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash charges (“EBITDA”) to interest incurred (as defined in the Credit Facility).  The minimum ratio of EBITDA to interest incurred on a rolling four quarter basis is as follows, subject to certain exceptions discussed below: (1) for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, a ratio of 2.0 to 1.0; (2) for the quarters ending December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008, a ratio of 1.25 to 1.0; (3) for the quarters ending June 30, 2008 through March 31, 2009, a ratio of 1.0 to 1.0; (4) for the quarters ending June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2009, a ratio of 1.25 to 1.0; and (5) for each of the quarters including and after December 31, 2009, a ratio of 1.5 to 1.0.  The Credit Facility permits this interest coverage ratio to be less than 1.0 to 1.0 for up to three quarters at any time during the term of the Credit Facility, provided that our leverage ratio is less than 1.0 to 1.0 at the end of such quarter.  In addition to the rolling four quarter interest coverage ratio, we are also required to maintain a minimum quarter interest coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0.  The Credit Facility permits this quarter interest coverage ratio to be less than 1.0 to 1.0 for a maximum of four consecutive quarters during the term of the Credit Facility.

The indenture covering the senior notes contains various covenants, including limitations on additional indebtedness, affiliate transactions, sale of assets and a restriction on certain payments.  Payments for dividends and share repurchases are subject to a limitation, with increases in the limitation resulting from issuances of equity interests and quarterly net earnings and decreases in the limitation resulting from quarterly net losses, with such increases and decreases being cumulative since the March 2005 issuance of the notes.   

Based on our current estimates, we believe we will meet the minimum net worth and the interest coverage covenants through at least the third quarter of 2008.  We monitor these and other covenant requirements closely, and will pursue certain actions should it appear that we will be unable to meet these requirements in 2008.  We can provide no assurance that we will be successful in complying with all restrictions of our indebtedness.

Homebuilding is subject to warranty and liability claims in the ordinary course of business that can be significant.

As a homebuilder, we are subject to home warranty and construction defect claims arising in the ordinary course of business.  We record warranty and other reserves for homes we sell based on historical experience in our markets and our judgment of the qualitative risks associated with the types of homes built.  We have, and require the majority of our subcontractors to have, general liability, workers compensation and other business insurance.  These insurance policies protect us against a portion of our risk of loss from claims, subject to certain self-insured retentions, deductibles and other coverage limits.  We reserve for the costs to cover our self-insured retentions and deductible amounts under these policies and for any costs of claims and lawsuits based on an analysis of our historical claims, which includes an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported.  Because of the uncertainties inherent to these matters, we cannot provide assurance that our insurance coverage, our subcontractors’ arrangements and our reserves will be adequate to address all our warranty and construction defect claims in the future.  For example, contractual indemnities can be difficult to enforce, we may be responsible for applicable self-insured retentions and some types of claims many not be covered by insurance or may exceed applicable coverage limits.  Additionally, the coverage offered and the availability of general liability insurance for construction defects are currently limited and costly.  We have responded to the recent increases in insurance costs and coverage limitations by increasing our self-insured retentions.  There can be no assurance that coverage will not be further restricted and may become even more costly or may not be available at rates that are acceptable to us.

The availability and affordability of residential mortgage financing could adversely affect our business.

Our business is significantly affected by the impact of interest rates.  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.  If mortgage interest rates increase, or experience substantial volatility, our business could be adversely affected.  In addition, tighter lending standards for mortgage products and volatility in the sub-prime and alternative mortgage markets may have a negative impact on our business by making it more difficult for certain of our homebuyers to obtain financing or resell their existing home.  During the first nine months of 2007, approximately 7% of our closings were in the sub-prime category and approximately 12% were in the alternative category, with the majority of these sub-prime and alternative loans being brokered to third party mortgage companies.  We define sub-prime mortgages as conventional loans with a credit score below 620 or government loans with a credit score below 575, and we define alternative loans as loans that do not fit in the conforming categories due to a variety of reasons such as documentation, residency or occupancy.
36

 
Natural disasters and severe weather conditions could delay deliveries, increase costs and decrease demand for homes in affected areas.

Several of our markets, specifically our operations in Florida, North Carolina and Washington, D.C., are situated in geographical areas that are regularly impacted by severe storms, hurricanes and flooding.  In addition, our operations in the Midwest can be impacted by severe storms, including tornados.  The occurrence of these or other natural disasters can cause delays in the completion of, or increase the cost of, developing one or more of our communities, and as a result could adversely impact our results of operations.

Supply shortages and other risks related to the demand for skilled labor and building materials could increase costs and delay deliveries.

The residential construction industry has, from time to time, experienced significant material and labor shortages in insulation, drywall, brick, cement and certain areas of carpentry and framing, as well as fluctuations in lumber prices and supplies.  Any shortages of long duration in these areas could delay construction of homes, which could adversely affect our business and increase costs.  We have not experienced any significant issues with availability of building materials or skilled labor.

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.  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 the protection of health and the environment.  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.

We are dependent on the services of certain key employees, and the loss of their services could hurt our business.

Our future success depends, in part, on our ability to attract, train and retain skilled personnel.  If we are unable to retain our key employees or attract, train and retain other skilled personnel in the future, it could impact our operations and result in additional expenses for identifying and training new personnel.
37

 
ITEM 3:  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MAREKT 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 Facility, which permit borrowings of up to $540 million as of September 30, 2007, 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 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 $6.1 million and $10.2 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.  At September 30, 2007, the fair value of the committed IRLCs resulted in a liability of less than $0.1 million and the related best-efforts contracts resulted in an asset of less than $0.1 million.  At December 31, 2006, the fair value of the committed IRLCs resulted in an asset of $0.1 million and the related best-efforts contracts resulted in a liability of $0.1 million.  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.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized less than $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.

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, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the notional amount of the uncommitted IRLCs was $67.2 million and $37.8 million, respectively.  The fair value adjustment related to these uncommitted IRLCs, which is based on quoted market prices, resulted in a liability of less than $0.1 million and an asset of less than $0.1 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.  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.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized income of $1.3 million and $0.5 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, 2007, the notional amount under these FMBSs was $81.0 million and the related fair value adjustment, which is based on quoted market prices, resulted in a liability of $0.1 million.  At December 31, 2006, the notional amount under the FMBSs was $36.0 million and the related fair value adjustment resulted in an asset of $0.1 million.  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.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized expense of $0.5 million and income of less than $0.1 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 $9.1 million and $9.5 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.  The fair value of the best-efforts contracts and related mortgage loans held for sale resulted in a net asset of less than $0.1 million and a net liability of less than $0.1 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, under the matched terms method of SFAS 133.  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.  There was no net impact to earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.

The notional amounts of the FMBSs and the related mortgage loans held for sale were $24.0 million and $24.2 million, respectively, at September 30, 2007 and were $47.7 million and $48.9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2006.  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, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the related fair value adjustment for marking these FMBSs to market resulted in a liability of $0.4 million and an asset of $0.1 million, respectively.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recognized
 
38

 
expense of $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, relating to marking these FMBSs to market.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized expense of $0.7 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, 2007:

 
Weighted
               
 
Average
             
Fair
 
Interest
Expected Cash Flows by Period
 
Value
(Dollars in thousands)
Rate
2007
 2008
  2009
  2010
  2011
Thereafter
Total
9/30/07
ASSETS:
                 
Mortgage loans held for sale:
                 
  Fixed rate
6.39%
$30,417
 $         -
$     -
$           -
$     -
$            -
$  30,417
$  29,268
  Variable rate
5.94%
    3,877
            -
      -
             -
      -
              -
      3,877
      3,812
                   
LIABILITIES:
                 
Long-term debt – fixed rate
6.92%
      $      62
 $     261
$283
$      306
$332
$205,521
$206,765
$170,399
Long-term debt – variable rate
7.48%
        -
   21,700
      -
 255,000
      -
            -
   276,700
  276,700



39

 
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 under the supervision, and with the participation, of the Company's management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer.  Based on that evaluation, the Company's management, including the 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 2007, 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 controls 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 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 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.

Item  1A.  Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our risk factors as previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 in response to Item 1A. to Part I of such Form 10-K, except for the following updates to such previously disclosed risk factors:

The availability and affordability of residential mortgage financing could adversely affect our business. 

Our business is significantly affected by the impact of interest rates.  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.  If mortgage interest rates increase, or experience substantial volatility, our business could be adversely affected.  In addition, tighter lending standards for mortgage products and volatility in the sub-prime and alternative mortgage markets may have a negative impact on our business by making it more difficult for certain of our homebuyers to obtain financing or resell their existing home.  During the first nine months of 2007, approximately 7% of our closings were in the sub-prime category and approximately 12% were in the alternative category, with the majority of these sub-prime and alternative loans being brokered to third party mortgage companies.  We define sub-prime mortgages as conventional loans with a credit score below 620 or government loans with a credit score below 575, and we define alternative loans as loans that do not fit in the conforming categories due to a variety of reasons such as documentation, residency or occupancy.
40

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

Our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes impose restrictions on our operations and activities.  The most significant restrictions place limitations on the amount of additional indebtedness that may be incurred, limitations on investments, including joint ventures and advances to officers and employees, limitations on the aggregate cost of certain types of inventory we can hold at any one time, and limitations on asset dispositions or creation of liens.  We are also required to maintain a certain level of net worth and maintain certain ratios, including a minimum interest coverage. 

Under the interest coverage covenant contained in our Credit Facility, we are required to maintain a minimum ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash charges (“EBITDA”) to interest incurred (as defined in the Credit Facility).  The minimum ratio of EBITDA to interest incurred on a rolling four quarter basis is as follows, subject to certain exceptions discussed below: (1) for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, a ratio of 2.0 to 1.0; (2) for the quarters ending December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008, a ratio of 1.25 to 1.0; (3) for the quarters ending June 30, 2008 through March 31, 2009, a ratio of 1.0 to 1.0; (4) for the quarters ending June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2009, a ratio of 1.25 to 1.0; and (5) for each of the quarters including and after December 31, 2009, a ratio of 1.5 to 1.0.  The Credit Facility permits this interest coverage ratio to be less than 1.0 to 1.0 for up to three quarters at any time during the term of the Credit Facility, provided that our leverage ratio is less than 1.0 to 1.0 at the end of such quarter.  In addition to the rolling four quarter interest coverage ratio, we are also required to maintain a minimum quarter interest coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0.  The Credit Facility permits this quarter interest coverage ratio to be less than 1.0 to 1.0 for a maximum of four consecutive quarters during the term of the Credit Facility.

The indenture covering the senior notes contains various covenants, including limitations on additional indebtedness, affiliate transactions, sale of assets and a restriction on certain payments.  Payments for dividends and share repurchases are subject to a limitation, with increases in the limitation resulting from issuances of equity interests and quarterly net earnings and decreases in the limitation resulting from quarterly net losses, with such increases and decreases being cumulative since the March 2005 issuance of the notes.

Based on our current estimates, we believe we will meet the minimum net worth and the interest coverage covenant through at least the third quarter of 2008.  We monitor these and other covenant requirements closely, and will pursue certain actions should it appear that we will be unable to meet these requirements in 2008.  We can provide no assurance that we will be successful in complying with all restrictions of our indebtedness.

Because of the cyclical nature of our industry, changes in general economic, real estate construction or other business conditions could adversely affect our business and/or our financial results.

The homebuilding industry is cyclical and is significantly affected by changes in national and local economic and other conditions.  Many of these conditions are beyond our control.  These conditions include employment levels and job growth, population growth, changing demographics, availability of financing for homebuyers, consumer confidence, housing demand and levels of new and existing homes for sale.

In 2006, the homebuilding industry experienced an industry-wide softening in demand.  In many markets, home price appreciation over the past several years attracted real estate investors and speculators.  As price appreciation slowed and price declines began to occur in many of our markets, many investors and speculators decided to reduce their investment in homes and, as a result, many markets have experienced, and are continuing to experience, an over-supply of home inventory, both new homes and resale homes.  In response to the higher inventory level of homes, many homebuilders have increased the amount of sales incentives offered in an attempt to continue to sell homes.  These conditions in the real estate market are still continuing to impact all of our homebuilding regions in 2007, and we anticipate they will continue to impact us into 2009.  As a result of these economic conditions, we have offered, and may continue to offer, certain sales incentives, including reduction in home sales prices and sales volume, to aid our sales efforts.  These incentives and reductions in home sales prices could negatively impact our financial results.  We cannot predict the duration or severity of the current market conditions, nor provide any assurances that the adjustments we have made to our operating strategy to address these conditions will be successful.
41

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, 2007, the Company did not repurchase any shares.  As of September 30, 2007, 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, 2007
   -
 
     $       -
 
 -
 
   $6,715,000
August 1 to August 31, 2007
   -
 
              -
 
 -
 
   $6,715,000
September 1 to September 30, 2007
  -
 
              -
 
 -
 
   $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.

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
 
First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated August 28, 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 31, 2007.
     
10.2
 
Third Amendment to First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement effective as of August 8, 2007 by and among M/I Financial Corp., the Company and Guaranty Bank.  (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.)

42

 

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 7, 2007
 
By:
/s/ Robert H. Schottenstein
         
Robert H. Schottenstein
 
         
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
         
President
 
         
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
             
             
             
             
Date:
 
November 7, 2007
 
By:
/s/ Ann Marie W. Hunker
         
Ann Marie W. Hunker
 
         
Vice President, Corporate Controller
 
         
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
             
             


43

 

EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
     
10.1
 
First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated August 28, 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 31, 2007.
     
10.2
 
Third Amendment to First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement effective as of August 8, 2007 by and among M/I Financial Corp., the Company and Guaranty Bank.  (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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