March 28, 2024

Form 10-Q for HOMEFED CORP


26-Jul-2012

Quarterly Report

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Interim Operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

For the six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, net cash was used for operating activities, principally for real estate project expenditures, general and administrative expenses, farming expenses at the Rampage property and estimated federal and state tax payments. The Company’s principal sources of funds are proceeds from the sale of real estate, fee income from the San Elijo Hills project, dividends and tax sharing payments from its subsidiaries, farming income related to grape sales at the Rampage property, borrowings from or repayment of advances by its subsidiaries and cash and cash equivalents and investments. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had aggregate cash, cash equivalents and investments of $59,750,000 to meet its current liquidity needs and for future investment opportunities.

As of June 30, 2012, the remaining land at the San Elijo Hills project to be developed and sold or leased consisted of the following (including real estate under contract for sale):

 

Single family lots                        266
Multi-family units                         11
Square footage of commercial space     37,800

In March 2012, the Company sold 18 single family lots at San Elijo Hills to a homebuilder for aggregate cash proceeds of $3,350,000, pursuant to which it had previously received a non-refundable option payment of $350,000 in 2011, and recognized a gain of $2,700,000. These lots were originally zoned for residential development, and the buyer was able to obtain approval from the City to convert 18 units from the project’s multi-family designation to single family lots.

As more fully discussed in the 2011 10-K, residential property sales volume, prices and new building starts have declined significantly in many U.S. markets, including California and the greater San Diego region, which have negatively affected sales and profits at the San Elijo Hills project. The slowdown in residential sales has been exacerbated by the turmoil in the mortgage lending and credit markets, which has resulted in stricter lending standards and reduced liquidity for prospective home buyers. Sales of new homes and re-sales of existing homes have declined substantially from the early years of the project’s development.

Recent homebuilder interest and sales activity at the San Elijo Hills project are encouraging; however, it is too soon to determine if the long slump in the housing market is coming to an end, or when the Company will be able to sell its remaining inventory. The Company believes that by exercising patience and waiting for market conditions to improve it can best maximize shareholder value with its remaining residential lot inventory. On an ongoing basis the Company evaluates the local real estate market and economic conditions in general, and updates its expectations of future market conditions as it continues to assess the best time to market its remaining residential lot inventory for sale. Although development has been completed on all of the remaining residential single family lots at the San Elijo Hills project to the same degree as lots previously sold, the Company has recently determined to further develop some of the remaining lots at the project to enhance sales value. Additional development work will include the extension of sewer, water, storm drain, road and curb improvements from the neighborhood boundary to individual lots. The Company has not determined whether all of the remaining lots will be further developed.

In February 2012, the Company acquired approximately 450 acres of land in Virginia Beach, Virginia for cash consideration of $17,350,000 including closing costs. The project is entitled for 455 single family lots, of which 91 are finished lots that are available for sale. In July 2012, the Company sold 17 finished lots at the Virginia Beach project for net cash consideration of $2,300,000.

 


 

Results of Operations

Real Estate Sales Activity

San Elijo Hills Project:

There were no sales of real estate during the three month period ended June 30,
2012. During the three month period ended June 30, 2011 and the six months ended
June 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company closed on sales of real estate and
recognized revenues as follows:

                                                      For the three month               For the six month
                                                          period ended                    periods ended
                                                         June 30, 2011          June 30, 2012       June 30, 2011

Single family units                                                      -                  18                  32
Multi-family units                                                       -                   -                   -
Residential condominium units                                            1                   -                   1

Sales price $ 400,000 $ 3,350,000 $ 7,400,000During the three month period ended June 30, 2011, cost of sales of real estate aggregated $400,000, and during the six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, cost of sales of real estate aggregated $650,000 and $4,000,000, respectively.

Otay Ranch Project:

There was no real estate sales activity at the Otay Ranch project during the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. As discussed in the 2011 10-K, the Company continues to evaluate how to maximize the value of this investment while pursuing land sales and processing further entitlements on portions of its property. The Otay Ranch project is in the early stages of development; as a result, the Company does not expect any sales activity in the near future.

Other Results of Operations Activity

Rental income increased by $20,000 and $40,000, respectively, during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011 due to the addition of one retail tenant and reduced charges for uncollectible rent.

The Company recorded co-op marketing and advertising fees of $100,000 and $50,000 for the three month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $220,000 and $80,000 for the six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company records these fees when the San Elijo Hills project builders sell homes, and are generally based upon a fixed percentage of the homes’ selling price. These fees provide the Company with funds to conduct its marketing activities.

General and administrative expenses increased slightly during the three month period ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 primarily due to higher professional and travel expenses. The increase primarily relates to activity at the Virginia Beach project.

General and administrative expenses decreased during the six month period ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 primarily due to lower legal expenses. Legal expenses for the six month periods ended June 30, 2012 decreased by $550,000, principally due to lower legal fees associated with litigation brought by a minority shareholder against one of the Company’s subsidiaries related to the San Elijo Hills project. The Company also incurred higher professional and travel expenses related to activity at the Virginia Beach project during 2012.

 


The change in interest and other income for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011 reflect a moderate decline in interest income due to lower interest rates. The six month 2011 period also includes $150,000 of income relating to proceeds received from the settlement of a contract dispute.

The Company’s effective income tax rate is higher than the federal statutory rate due to state income taxes.

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