Dream Finders Homes, Inc 10-K for FY2024
Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (DFH)
10-K
2025-02-25
For: 2024-12-31
View Original
Added on
April 12, 2026
About this 10-K
Dream Finders Homes, Inc filed this 10-K on February 25, 2025, covering the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (FY2024).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $4.45B
- up 18.8% from $3.75B a year earlier
- Net income
- $335.34M
- up 13.3% from net income of $295.9M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- $3.34
- up 19.7% from $2.79 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
| Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |||||
For the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2024
OR
| Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from _________to_________.
Commission file number 001-39916
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) | |||||||
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| (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) | ||
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
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 o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | o | x | |||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | o | Smaller reporting company | |||||||||
| Emerging growth company | |||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. x
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Class A common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2024, based on the closing stock price per share as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date, was approximately $478.3 million.
As of February 19, 2025, there were 35,710,848 shares of the registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding and 57,726,153 shares of the registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated herein by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
DREAM FINDERS HOMES, INC.
2024 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
Table of Contents
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| PART I | ||||||||
Item 1C. | ||||||||
| PART II | ||||||||
| PART III | ||||||||
| PART IV | ||||||||
i
PART I
Explanatory Note
Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires, “DFH,” “Dream Finders Homes,” “Dream Finders,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer collectively to Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Company Overview
We design, build and sell homes primarily in high-growth markets using our asset-light lot acquisition strategy. Our primary focus is on constructing and selling single-family homes across entry-level, first-time move-up, second-time move-up and active adult homes. Our home offerings are marketed under various brands, including Dream Finders Homes, DF Luxury, Craft Homes, and Coventry Homes.
To fully serve our homebuyers and capture ancillary business opportunities, we have financial services operations that offer title insurance primarily through DF Title, LLC, doing business as Golden Dog Title & Trust or Golden Dog Title (“DF Title”) and mortgage banking solutions primarily through our wholly owned mortgage banking business, Jet HomeLoans, LLC (“Jet HomeLoans” or “Jet”).
Since breaking ground on our first home on January 1, 2009, we have closed over 38,000 homes through December 31, 2024 and have been profitable every year since inception.
The following is a summary of our history:
2009 – Began homebuilding operations in the Jacksonville, Florida market
2013 – Entered the Savannah, Georgia market
2014 – Entered the Denver, Colorado market
2015 – Entered the Austin, Texas and Orlando, Florida markets
2017 – Entered the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, with a particular focus on the Northern Virginia and Maryland markets (“DC Metro”)
2019 – Entered the Hilton Head and Bluffton, South Carolina markets with our acquisition of Village Park Homes, LLC
2020 – Entered the Charlotte, Fayetteville, Raleigh, Piedmont Triad (consisting of Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem, North Carolina), Wilmington, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina markets with our acquisition of the homebuilding business of H&H Constructors of Fayetteville, LLC
January 2021 – Expanded our presence in the Orlando, Florida market with our acquisition of Century Homes Florida, LLC
October 2021 – Significantly increased our operations in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area and expanded into the Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas markets with our acquisition of McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. (“MHI”)
October 2023 – Entered the Tampa, Florida market
February 2024 – Entered the Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee markets with our acquisition of the majority of the homebuilding assets of Crescent Ventures, LLC (“Crescent Homes”)
March 2024 – Entered markets in the southeast coast of Florida
June 2024 – Entered the Phoenix, Arizona market
July 2024 – Acquired the remaining interest in our mortgage banking joint venture, Jet HomeLoans, resulting in a wholly owned subsidiary that is consolidated within our financial statements
December 2024 – Entered the southwest Florida market
January 2025 – Entered the Atlanta, Georgia market and expanded our operations in Greenville, South Carolina with our acquisition of the majority of the homebuilding assets of Liberty Communities, LLC (“Liberty Communities”)
1
Markets
We select the geographic markets in which we operate our homebuilding business through local relationships and a rigorous selection process based on our evaluation of positive population and employment growth trends, favorable migration patterns, attractive housing affordability, low state and local income taxes and desirable lifestyle and weather characteristics.
Our homebuilding operations are organized into four reportable segments: Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Financial Services. Our Southeast segment consists of the homebuilding operations in Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa, Florida, the southeast coast of Florida and southwest Florida; Savannah, Georgia; Hilton Head and Bluffton, South Carolina and our Active Adult and Custom Homes homebuilding operations in northeast Florida. Our Mid-Atlantic segment consists of our operations in DC Metro; Nashville, Tennessee; Charlotte, Fayetteville, Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina and Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Greenville, South Carolina. Our Midwest segment consists of our homebuilding operations in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Denver, Colorado and Phoenix, Arizona. Our Financial Services segment consists of our mortgage banking and title services operations, which primarily consist of Jet HomeLoans and Golden Dog Title and Trust. The operations of Liberty Communities will be included in our Southeast segment as of the date of acquisition.
Refer to Note 9, Segment Reporting to our consolidated financial statements for more information.
Asset-Light Business Strategy
We operate an asset-light and capital-efficient lot acquisition strategy to meet our growth objectives. We generally seek to avoid owning land under development on our balance sheet, which requires significant capital expenditures, and can take several years to realize returns on the investment. Our asset-light lot acquisition strategy generally enables us to purchase land in a “just-in-time” manner in both new and existing markets with reduced up-front capital commitments, and, in turn, allows us to increase our inventory turnover rate, enhance our return on equity and contributes to our growth. Our strategy is intended to avoid the financial commitments and risks associated with direct land ownership by allowing us to increase optionality and control a significant number of lots for a relatively low capital cost. We believe our asset-light business model reduces our balance sheet risk relative to homebuilders that own a higher percentage of their land supply. Refer to “—Land Acquisition and Development Process” for additional information.
Land Acquisition and Development Process
Locating and analyzing attractive land positions is a critical challenge for any homebuilder. We remain focused on controlling as many quality land positions as possible while minimizing our up-front capital outlay. Our land selection process begins with key economic drivers, such as demographic trends and employment growth. We typically pursue opportunities more aggressively in our markets that generate the greatest returns, while proceeding more cautiously in our markets where we have plans in process to improve our operational efficiencies.
While our land selection process is driven mainly by the local division and regional leadership, the land sourcing process, including final approval to move forward with a project, is a collaboration involving corporate leadership, including our President and Chief Executive Officer. Our multi-level cooperation allows us to remain flexible to react quickly to changing markets or project-specific conditions and maximize the potential of each new land opportunity. We believe our experience, top-down emphasis on relationship building with land market participants and collaborative involvement of local, regional and corporate management in the land sourcing and acquisition process enable us to identify the ideal developers and efficiently source and secure options to control and close acquisitions of lots to meet our growth needs while mitigating risk.
We primarily employ two variations of our asset-light strategy—finished lot option contracts and land bank option contracts—pursuant to which we secure the right to purchase finished lots at predetermined fixed contractual pricing from various land developers, land sellers and land bank partners. When a land seller desires to sell finished lots in bulk or does not wish to develop finished lots, we often enter into land bank option contracts with land bank partners who fund any required land acquisition and development costs and sell the finished lots to us over a period of time.
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These option contracts generally allow us, at our option, to forfeit our right to purchase the lots controlled for any reason, and our sole legal obligation and economic loss as a result of such forfeitures is limited to the amount of the deposits paid pursuant to such option contracts and, in the case of land bank option contracts, our loss is limited to the related lot option fees paid to the land bank partner, and for certain land bank option contracts, any potential performance obligations, management of the land development to completion and any cost overruns relative to the project. We provide lot deposits typically averaging 10% of the land purchase price. Lot option fees are based on the outstanding capital balance held by the land banker and often are reflective of provisions under which delays in land development and/or longer land takedown periods result in additional costs.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, our lot deposits for finished lot option and land bank option contracts were $458 million and $247 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we controlled 54,698 and 29,748 lots under finished lot option and land bank option contracts, respectively.
In the past, we have supplemented our lot option acquisition strategies by entering into joint venture agreements with external investors to acquire, develop and control lots. Due to the profit sharing requirements of the joint venture agreements, we have transitioned from these joint venture arrangements in favor of the option contract strategies described above.
Controlled Lot Pipeline
The following table presents our controlled lots through option contracts by homebuilding segment as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:
| As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Segment(1) | 2024 | 2023 | % Change | |||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | 21,362 | 13,063 | 64 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Mid-Atlantic | 17,099 | 4,795 | 257 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Midwest | 16,237 | 11,890 | 37 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total(2) | 54,698 | 29,748 | 84 | % | ||||||||||||||||
(1)Refer to Note 9, Segment Reporting to the consolidated financial statements for further explanation of our reportable segments.
(2)As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had 603 and 1,413 controlled lots under built-for-rent contracts, respectively.
DF Capital
Controlling a sufficient supply of finished lots is an important component of our asset-light strategy. Our land team routinely underwrites potential lot acquisitions that meet our capital allocation criteria. Once our land acquisition committee approves a transaction that requires financing and meets our internal model, we will seek a land bank partner. Our primary operating subsidiary, Dream Finders Homes LLC, periodically enters into land bank arrangements with DF Capital Management, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (“DF Capital”). The Company owns a 49% membership interest in DF Capital, and a non-affiliated third party owns the remaining 51% of the membership interests in DF Capital. Refer to Note 11, Related Party Transactions to the consolidated financial statements for more information.
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Sales and Backlog
A new order (“new sale”) is reported when a customer has received preliminary mortgage approval and the sales contract has been signed by the customer, approved by us and secured by a deposit. These deposits are typically nonrefundable, but each customer situation is evaluated individually. Sales to third-party investors that intend to lease the homes (“built-for-rent contracts”) are reported when the Company has received a nonrefundable deposit.
Net new orders (or “net sales”) are sales of homes during the period less cancellations of existing sales contracts during the period. Our cancellation rate for a given period is calculated as the total number of sales contracts cancelled during the period, divided by the total number of new sales contracts entered into during the period. When a cancellation occurs, we generally retain the customer deposit and resell the home to a new customer. Cancellations can occur for various reasons outside of our control, including customer credit issues or changes in other personal circumstances.
Our backlog of sold homes (“backlog”) consists of homes under contract that have not yet been delivered to a homebuyer or third-party investor. Backlog represents the number of homes in backlog from the previous period, plus net sales, minus the number of home closings during the period. Our backlog at any given time will be affected by cancellations, the number of our active communities, and changes in the percentage of spec home sales versus pre-order sales and built-for-rent contracts, which are customarily delivered over a longer period of time. Homes in backlog are generally closed within one to nine months.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, our backlog was 2,599 homes and 3,978 homes, valued at approximately $1.3 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively, based on average sales price. Homes in backlog are typically converted to closings in the subsequent year. At present, our backlog turnover is closer to one to five months, due to a higher volume of speculative inventory sales.
Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Net Sales, Backlog and Closings” for additional information.
Products, Communities and Construction
Homes, Homebuyers and Active Communities
We offer a range of single-family homes in each of our markets, placing a primary emphasis on entry-level and first-time move-up homes. We also provide second-time move-up and active adult homes as well as homes under built-for-rent contracts, which are available for sale to investors. Price points are tailored to each of these levels. Our homebuilding business is driven by our commitment to building high-quality homes at affordable prices in attractive locations while delivering excellent customer service. Our customers enjoy the flexibility of personalizing our desirable open floor plans with a wide array of finishes and upgrades to best fit their distinctive tastes and unique needs.
A community becomes active once the model is completed or the community has its fifth net new order. A community becomes inactive when it has fewer than five units remaining to sell. Active community count is an important metric to forecast future net new orders for our business. As of December 31, 2024, we had 242 active communities, an increase of 21 communities, or 10%, as compared to 221 active communities as of December 31, 2023.
Our active community count excludes communities under built-for-rent contracts, as all sales to third-party investors occur at one point in time and these communities would have no homesites remaining to sell. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had 10 communities delivering closings under built-for-rent contracts, as compared to 15 communities as of December 31, 2023.
Construction and Materials
When constructing our homes, we are dependent upon building material suppliers to provide a continuous flow of raw materials. It typically takes us between 150 and 240 days to construct a single-family home. The construction period for our custom homes is typically longer.
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We have extensive experience managing construction processes without employing subcontractors directly. Instead, we rely on local and regional builder associations to identify and contract with reputable tradespeople. This approach also eliminates the need for equipment investment, as we do not employ our own construction base. Each division is led by a construction director, manager, or vice president who oversees area managers. Communities have dedicated construction managers supervising the work performed by the subcontractors. We use enterprise resource planning and integrated scheduling software for close construction progress monitoring and timely issue identification. Our software also enables our superintendents to monitor the completion of work, which, in turn, expedites payments to the subcontractors.
Our materials procurement strategy focuses on maximizing efficiency across local, regional, and national levels through established contracts and standard products from multiple suppliers, resulting in cost savings, streamlined offerings, and pre-negotiated rebates. We leverage our national presence and volume to secure better prices with manufacturers.
Our homebuilding cost of sales includes the acquisition and finance costs of homesites or lots, municipality fees, the costs associated with obtaining building permits, materials and labor to construct the home, interest costs for construction loans, internal and external realtor commissions and other miscellaneous closing costs. Homesite costs range from 30-35% of the average cost of a home. Building materials range from 30-35% of the average cost to build the home, labor ranges from 20-25% of the average cost to build the home, and interest, commissions and closing costs range from 5-10% of the average cost to build the home.
Our materials are subject to price fluctuations. Once construction of a home begins, prices for the materials utilized in the construction of that particular home are generally locked via purchase orders, but fluctuations may occur as a result of market conditions. Price fluctuations may be caused by several factors, including seasonal variation in availability of materials, labor and supply chain disruptions, international trade disputes and resulting tariffs, and changes in demand for materials as a result of the housing market conditions where we operate. The price changes that most significantly influence our operations are price increases in commodities. Significant price increases of these materials may negatively impact our homebuilding cost of sales and, in turn, our net income.
Customer Relations, Quality Control and Warranty Program
In our construction process, we prioritize product design, material quality, and subcontractor standards to minimize deficiencies and warranty costs. We enforce work quality standards through onboarding processes, require insurance from vendors, and conduct regular inspections. Our customer service team ensures quality assurance and positive experiences for customers from pre-sale to post-closing.
We maintain professional staff dedicated to delivering excellent customer experiences, including pre-sale, construction, closing, and after-sales service. We utilize customer feedback and comprehensive home tours before closing to improve quality and satisfaction, and enhance our standards. We highly value customers' willingness to refer us, which influences our team's compensation and quality control efforts.
We provide each homeowner with product warranties covering workmanship and materials for one year from the time of home closing, and warranties covering structural systems for eight to ten years from the time of closing. Where possible, we utilize our subcontractors to repair the homes in accordance with our subcontractor agreements and as required by law. We believe our warranty program meets or exceeds terms customarily offered in the homebuilding industry.
Financial Services
By providing comprehensive mortgage and title services in markets where we operate, our Financial Services segment serves as a valuable resource to customers navigating the homebuying process and, in turn, enhances our efficiency in converting our backlog into home closings.
Our wholly owned mortgage banking subsidiary, Jet HomeLoans, offers conforming and non-conforming mortgage financing to our homebuyers. On July 1, 2024, we acquired the remaining interest in Jet HomeLoans, which is consolidated in the Company’s financial statements as of that date.
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Our wholly owned subsidiary, DF Title, is a title insurance agency licensed in multiple states that provides closing, escrow and title insurance services. DF Title primarily closes residential real estate transactions, including new home construction, resale and refinance, and commercial real estate transactions. DF Title operates in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. DF Title’s staff includes attorneys, state licensed title agents, escrow officers and experienced support staff with hundreds of years of collective closing experience. Closing, escrow and title insurance is primarily regulated at a state level, requiring that transactions be conducted by skilled attorneys and/or licensed title insurance agents. Expansion of title operations into our markets is ongoing and consideration of further expansion in our markets is driven by unit volume, average sales price for homes sold, state-level legal considerations and acquisitions.
Marketing and Sales
We seek to ensure that each customer’s experience exceeds their expectations by focusing on customer satisfaction and providing a unique buying experience. We provide attentive one-on-one customer service throughout the home buying process, empowering our customers with flexibility to personalize their homes, and actively soliciting feedback from all of our customers. The willingness of our customers to refer friends and family to us as homebuyers is a direct result of customer satisfaction, and we strive to ensure that each of our customers will make such referrals.
While we utilize a diverse marketing mix, digital marketing is the primary component of our strategy. We have maximized the results of our digital marketing efforts in recent years through the development of a dedicated online sales team. We believe these efforts have become a key strength of our business, allowing us to reach a broad range of potential homebuyers at a relatively low cost compared to traditional advertising. We strategically select digital marketing methods that target our potential customers at various stages of the purchasing cycle. These include channels such as search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, social media marketing, email marketing and display advertising.
We strategically open communities in high-visibility areas that allow us to take advantage of local traffic patterns. Model homes play a significant role in our marketing efforts by not only creating an attractive atmosphere, but also displaying options and upgrades. As the Official Home Builder of the Jacksonville Jaguars, we maintain a fully decorated model home at the team’s stadium, which attracts thousands of fans each NFL game day.
We are also the Official Home Builder of the PGA TOUR. This strategic alliance provides a national marketing footprint in regions where we operate and where high-profile, annual PGA TOUR golf tournaments are held.
We sell our homes through our own sales representatives and through independent real estate brokers. We continuously work to maintain good relationships with independent real estate brokers in our markets and offer competitive programs to reward these brokers for selling our homes. Our in-house sales force typically works from sales offices located in model homes close to or in each community. Sales representatives assist potential homebuyers by providing them with floor plans, price information, development and construction timetables, tours of model homes and the home customization options that we offer. Sales representatives are trained by us and generally have prior experience selling new homes in the local market.
We believe that every home is as important as the next, regardless of price point, and that everyone deserves the ability to purchase a home that suits their needs. Accordingly, we are able to offer a range of optionality within the homebuilding process, from move-in-ready inventory homes to homes that can be tailored with additional features, including certain structural modifications. While most of our customers opt for inventory homes, for those seeking more options, we are able to provide access to a diverse range of materials and upgrades to cater to their specific preferences. Our architectural design team continually adapts floor plans in response to customer buying trends in various markets and collaborates with our land team to secure suitable lots for these customized plans.
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Competition and Market Factors
The homebuilding industry is highly competitive and is characterized by relatively low barriers to entry. In the United States, we rank among the top 14 homebuilders based on both homebuilding revenues and closings, as published in the 2024 Builder 100 List reported by Builder Magazine. We compete for, among other things, homebuyers, desirable lots, financing, raw materials and skilled labor. Increased competition may prevent us from acquiring attractive lots on which to build homes or make such acquisitions more expensive, hinder our market share expansion or lead to pricing pressures on our homes that may adversely impact our margins and revenues. Our competitors may independently develop land and construct housing units that are superior or substantially similar to our products. Because our competitors are or may be significantly larger, have a longer operating history and/or have greater resources or lower cost of capital than us, they may be able to compete more effectively in one or more of the markets in which we operate or may operate in the future. We also compete with other homebuilders that have longstanding relationships with subcontractors and suppliers in the markets in which we operate or may operate in the future, and we compete for sales with individual resales of existing homes and with available rental housing.
The housing industry is cyclical and is affected by consumer confidence levels, prevailing economic conditions and interest rates. Other factors that affect the housing industry and the demand for new homes include: the availability and the cost of land, labor and materials; changes in consumer preferences; demographic trends; inflation; and the availability and interest rates of mortgage finance programs. Refer to “Risk Factors—Industry, Economic and Regulatory Risks” for additional information.
We are dependent upon building material suppliers for a continuous flow of raw materials. Whenever possible, we attempt to utilize standard products available from multiple sources. Such raw materials have been generally available to us in adequate supply.
Our operations in financial services generally compete with other lenders and title companies throughout the country, from small local operations to companies with nation-wide footprints, in the forms of banks, brokers, credit unions, title agencies, insurance agencies, underwriters and other financial institutions. The main competitive factors for our mortgage banking business are mortgage interest rates and efficiency in operations for our customers while the main factors for our title services include price and offered services.
Seasonality
In all of our markets, we have historically experienced similar variability in our results of operations and capital requirements from quarter to quarter due to the seasonal nature of the homebuilding industry. We generally sell more homes in the first and second quarters and close more homes in our third and fourth quarters. As a result, our revenue may fluctuate on a quarterly basis. Additionally, we generally have higher capital requirements in our second and third quarters in order to maintain our inventory levels. As a result of seasonal activity, our quarterly financial positions and results of operations are not necessarily representative of the financial position or results of operations we expect as of and for the respective full year-end. We expect this seasonal pattern to continue in the long-term.
Governmental Regulation and Environmental Matters
We are subject to numerous local, state, federal and other statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning zoning, development, building design, construction and similar matters, which 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 area. Projects that are not entitled (held by our land bank financing partners), may be subjected to periodic delays, changes in use, less intensive development or elimination of development in certain specific areas due to government regulations. Local and state governments also have broad discretion regarding the imposition of development fees for projects in their jurisdiction. Projects for which we have received land use and development entitlements or approvals may still require a variety of other governmental approvals and permits during the development process and can also be impacted adversely by unforeseen health, safety and welfare issues, which can further delay these projects or prevent their development.
We are also subject to a variety of local, state, federal and other statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the environment, health and safety. Environmental requirements that apply to any given homebuilding site vary according to the location, environmental conditions, the presence or absence of endangered plants or species or sensitive habitats and the present and former uses of the site, as well as nearby or adjoining properties.
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Our operations that provide mortgage and title services within our Financial Services segment are subject to various local, state and federal laws, statutes, ordinances, administrative rules and other regulations, including requirements for participants in programs offered by FHA, VA, USDA, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”). Our title services’ practices regarding closing, escrow and issuance of title insurance are subject to rules established, in part, by state insurance regulators and underwriter guidelines. Both industries are affected by rules mandated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, such as the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Integrated Disclosure, governing matters like loan applications, disclosures and loan materials, closing, funding and issuance of title insurance policies.
Refer to “Risk Factors” for further discussion on risks related to governmental regulation and environmental matters.
Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (“ESG”)
During 2024, under the oversight of our Nominating and Governance Committee, we continued to prioritize our ESG initiatives. Among other things, this included continuing to collect data from leadership within the Company regarding our home energy efficiency efforts, goals and achievements, providing increased incentives to promote home affordability and communicating regularly with our Board of Directors regarding ESG initiatives. We made progress toward formalizing our processes to measure, monitor and report our ESG efforts, including evaluating opportunities to leverage third-party advisory services.
Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2024, we had 1,686 full-time employees, inclusive of 251 employees related to our financial services operations. Of our full-time employees, 138 worked in our corporate office, 116 in divisional management and 370 in sales. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered under a collective bargaining agreement, and we have not experienced any strikes or work stoppages.
Our human capital resource objectives include identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating our existing and new employees. We believe that investing in finding and retaining exceptional people is the most important part of our business. We believe that our connection with our employees is positive and well-regarded. We value our employees and believe that employee loyalty and enthusiasm are key elements of our operating performance. We utilize subcontractors and tradespeople to perform the construction of our homes. We value our network of subcontractors and tradespeople and believe our relationships with them are excellent.
We offer our employees compensation and an array of company-paid benefits, which we believe are competitive relative to others in our industry. Additionally, we offer retirement savings in the form of a 401(k) plan. The 401(k) plan includes matching safe harbor contributions equal to 100% of the first two percent of eligible compensation and 50% of the next four percent of eligible compensation. The Company may also make additional discretionary contributions.
The health and safety of our employees and subcontractors is our top priority. We are committed to continuously evaluating and implementing health and safety guidelines throughout the entirety of our operations to ensure the well-being of all. We provide an easily accessible safety manual to all employees, and promote an open environment for employees to report any concerns that may impact their health or safety.
Employees of the Company are required to comply with the Standards of Conduct set forth by the Company, including policies related to anti-harassment and anti-discrimination. The Company has made an ethics hotline available to all associates of the Company where they are able to report any violations of the Standards of Conduct, including violations related to the harassment or discrimination of any associate.
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Available Information
We are a Delaware corporation incorporated on September 11, 2020. We make available, as soon as reasonably practicable, on our website, www.dreamfindershomes.com, all of our reports required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These reports can be found on the “Investor Relations” page of our website under “Financials & Filings—SEC Filings” free of charge and include our annual and quarterly reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, respectively (including related filings in XBRL format), current reports on Form 8-K, beneficial ownership reports on Forms 3, 4, and 5, proxy statements and amendments to such reports. Our SEC filings are also available to the public on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Our principal executive offices are located at 14701 Philips Highway, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, and our telephone number is (904)-644-7670.
Leadership Team and Board of Directors
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of February 25, 2025:
Name | Age | Position | ||||||
Patrick O. Zalupski | 44 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||||||
L. Anabel Ramsay | 43 | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
Patrick O. Zalupski—President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mr. Zalupski is our President and Chief Executive Officer and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 2021. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer of our primary operating subsidiary, Dream Finders Homes LLC, a Florida limited liability company (“DFH LLC”), since forming the company in December 2008, and as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of managers of DFH LLC since its formation in 2014. He is responsible for our overall operations and management and is heavily involved in the origination, underwriting and structuring of all land investment activities. Under Mr. Zalupski’s leadership, we have grown from closing 27 homes in Jacksonville, Florida during our inaugural year in 2009 to establishing operations in markets across the Southeast, Mid-West and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, and have closed over 38,000 homes since our inception through the end of 2024. Prior to founding DFH LLC, Mr. Zalupski was a Financial Auditor for FedEx Corporation’s Internal Audit Department in Memphis, Tennessee and worked in the real estate sales and construction industry as Managing Partner of Bay Street Condominiums, LLC from 2006 to 2008. He has served on the investment committee of DF Capital Management, LLC, an investment manager focused on investments in land banks and land development joint ventures to deliver finished lots to us and other homebuilders for the construction of new homes, since April 2018. Mr. Zalupski received a B.A in Finance from Stetson University.
L. Anabel Ramsay—Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Ramsay joined us in 2018, serving in the position of Vice President and Treasurer, and as a member of the Asset Management Committee. Ms. Ramsay was appointed to Interim Chief Financial Officer on October 6, 2021, and promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on April 1, 2022. Ms. Ramsay has been responsible for balance sheet management, capital allocation, cash forecasting and overall supervision of our accounting, tax and treasury functions, including overall management of our debt, compliance, and reporting for lenders, investors and shareholders.
Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Ramsay served as the Vice President of Finance for the Americas region at Macquarie Group Limited, an Australian multinational independent investment bank and financial services company, from April 2016 to May 2018, overseeing financial and internal tax reporting for over 200 U.S. legal entities in the energy, capital and credit markets space and subsequently managing the financial audit process for Macquarie Group Limited’s aircraft leasing business. Prior to joining Macquarie Group Limited, Ms. Ramsay served as the Corporate Accounting Manager at Fidelity National Financial, a provider of title insurance and settlement services to the real estate and mortgage industries, in the title insurance business from November 2014 to April 2016. Ms. Ramsay started her career at Aeroflex Incorporated, a former publicly listed aerospace and defense electronics manufacturer, where she worked from 2002 to 2014. Ms. Ramsay is a Certified Public Accountant and received a B.B.A in Accounting, Financial Economics and Economics from Lincoln Memorial University.
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Board of Directors
Patrick O. Zalupski–President and Chief Executive Officer of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
W. Radford Lovett II–Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TowerCom, Ltd, an owner and developer of broadcast communication towers, and TowerCom Development, LP, a developer of wireless communications infrastructure.
Justin W. Udelhofen–Private investor and former founder and Principal of Durant Partners, LLC, an investment fund that focuses on small-to-mid-capitalization equities.
Megha H. Parekh–Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a National Football League franchise.
Leonard M. Sturm–Retired audit partner of KPMG LLP after a thirty-seven year career conducting financial statement audits of primarily public companies and audits of internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
William W. Weatherford–Managing partner of Weatherford Capital, which he co-founded in 2015.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Discussions of our business and operations included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read together with the risk factors set forth below. These risk factors describe various material risks and uncertainties we are or may become subject to, many of which are difficult to predict or are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties, together with other factors described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, have the potential to affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies or prospects in a material and adverse manner.
The risk factors described below are those that we believe are material with regard to an investment in us, as well as certain risk factors that may be generally applicable to all business enterprises, but not all general risk factors. We are subject to the many risks that affect all or most business enterprises in the United States and our business or financial condition could be materially affected by those risks.
Industry, Economic and Regulatory Risks
Our industry is cyclical and adverse changes in general and local economic conditions could reduce the demand for homes and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our business can be substantially affected by adverse changes in general and local economic or business conditions that are outside of our control, including changes in short-term and long-term interest rates; employment levels and job and personal income growth; availability and pricing of mortgage financing for homebuyers; consumer confidence generally and the confidence of potential homebuyers in particular; consumer spending; financial system and credit market stability; private party and government mortgage loan programs (including changes in FHA, USDA, VA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conforming mortgage loan limits, credit risk/mortgage loan insurance premiums and/or other fees, down payment requirements and underwriting standards), and federal and state regulation, oversight and legal action regarding lending, appraisal, foreclosure and short sale practices; federal and state personal income tax rates and provisions, including provisions for the deduction of mortgage loan interest payments, real estate taxes, the cost of homeowners insurance and other expenses; supply of and prices for available new or resale homes (including lender-owned homes) and other housing alternatives, such as apartments, single-family rentals and other rental housing; homebuyer interest in our current or new product designs and new home community locations; general consumer interest in purchasing a home compared to choosing other housing alternatives; and interest of financial institutions or other businesses in purchasing wholesale homes. Adverse changes in these conditions may affect our business nationally or may be more prevalent or concentrated in particular submarkets in which we operate. The homebuilding industry is cyclical in nature and if we experience a significant or sustained downturn as a result of the economic factors described above or otherwise, it would materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
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The risks described above can cause demand and prices for our homes to fall or cause us to take longer and incur more costs to develop the land and build our homes. We may not be able to recover these increased costs by raising prices because of market conditions. The risks described above could also lead some homebuyers to cancel or refuse to honor their home purchase contracts altogether, which would increase our cancellation rate. If any of the risks described above develops, it could have a material adverse effect on our overall business and results of operations.
Inflation could adversely affect our business and financial results.
The United States has recently experienced inflationary conditions, which, at times, has resulted in increasing costs of land, raw materials and labor needed to operate our business. If our markets have an oversupply of homes relative to demand, we may be unable to offset any such increases in costs with corresponding higher sales prices for our homes. Inflation may continue to accompany higher interest rates, which could adversely impact potential customers’ ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, thereby further decreasing demand. If we are unable to raise the prices of our homes to offset the increasing costs of our operations, our margins could decrease. Furthermore, if we need to lower the price of our homes to create demand, the value of our land inventory may decrease. Inflation can also raise our costs of capital and decrease our purchasing power, making it more difficult and/or more expensive to maintain sufficient funds to operate our business. Our operations have previously been negatively impacted by inflation due to increasing construction costs, labor and materials, as well as land acquisition financing costs and such impacts could continue into the future. The elevated interest rate environment that persisted into late 2023 negatively impacted our construction loan financing costs, which in turn affected our gross margin. Additionally, the increased use of sales incentives to combat higher mortgage rates negatively impacted our SG&A expense. If inflationary conditions continue in future periods, it could materially adversely affect our business and financial results.
The tightening of mortgage lending standards and mortgage financing requirements, untimely or incomplete mortgage loan originations for our homebuyers and rising mortgage interest rates could adversely affect the availability of mortgage loans for potential purchasers of our homes and thereby materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Almost all of our customers finance their home purchases through lenders that provide mortgage financing. Mortgage interest rates have generally trended downward for the last several decades and reached historic lows in 2021, which —during that period— made the homes we sell more affordable. Mortgage interest rates increased substantially through December 2024 since their historic lows, which negatively impacted consumer affordability. We cannot predict future mortgage interest rates, and should these rates continue to climb or stay elevated over an extended timeframe, the financing ability of prospective homebuyers could be adversely affected. As a result, our operating results may be significantly impacted. Our homebuilding activities are dependent upon the availability of mortgage financing to homebuyers, which is expected to be impacted by continued regulatory changes and fluctuations in the risk appetites of lenders. The financial documentation, down payment amounts and income to debt ratio requirements are subject to change and could become more restrictive.
The federal government has a significant role in supporting mortgage lending through its conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both of which purchase or insure mortgage loans and mortgage loan-backed securities, and its insurance of mortgage loans through or in connection with the FHA, the VA and the USDA. FHA and VA backing of mortgage loans has been particularly important to the mortgage finance industry and to our business. Increased lending volume and losses insured by the FHA have resulted in a reduction of the FHA insurance fund. If either the FHA or VA raised their down payment requirements or lowered maximum loan amounts, our business could be materially affected. In addition, changes in governmental regulation with respect to mortgage lenders could adversely affect demand for housing.
The availability and affordability of mortgage loans, including mortgage interest rates for such loans, could also be adversely affected by a scaling back or termination of the federal government’s mortgage loan-related programs or policies.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, USDA and VA backed mortgage loans have been an important factor in marketing and selling many of our homes. Given that a majority of our customers’ mortgages conform with terms established by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and FHA, any limitations or restrictions in the availability of, or higher consumer costs for, such government-backed financing could adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. The elimination or curtailment of state bonds to assist homebuyers could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
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In addition, certain current regulations impose, and future regulations may strengthen or impose new standards and requirements relating to the origination, securitization and servicing of residential consumer mortgage loans, which could further restrict the availability and affordability of mortgage loans and the demand for such loans by financial intermediaries and, as a result, adversely affect our home sales, financial condition and results of operations. Further, if, due to credit or consumer lending market conditions, reduced liquidity, increased risk retention or minimum capital level obligations and/or regulatory restrictions related to certain regulations, laws or other factors or business decisions, these lenders refuse or are unable to provide mortgage loans to our homebuyers, or increase the costs to borrowers to obtain such loans, the number of homes we close and our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Entry-level and first-time move-up homebuyers are a significant source of demand for our new homes. Entry-level homebuyers are generally more affected by the availability of mortgage financing than other potential homebuyers and many of our potential move-up homebuyers must sell their existing homes in order to buy a home from us. A limited availability of suitable mortgage financing could prevent customers from buying our homes and could prevent buyers of our customers’ homes from obtaining mortgages they need to complete such purchases, either of which could result in potential customers’ inability to buy a home from us, which could have a material adverse effect on our sales, profitability, cash flows and ability to service our debt obligations.
Regional factors affecting the homebuilding industry in our current markets could materially and adversely affect us.
Our business strategy is focused on the acquisition of suitable land and the design, construction and sale of primarily single-family homes in residential subdivisions, including planned communities, in Florida, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, which comprises Northern Virginia and Maryland. In addition, we have lot purchase contracts for the right to purchase lots at a future point in time in all of these areas. A prolonged economic downturn in the future in one or more of these areas, or a particular industry that is fundamental to one or more of these areas, particularly within Florida and Texas, our largest markets, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, climate factors such as hurricanes, drought, excessive heat and similar items could also negatively impact the desirability of residing in certain areas, which could also negatively impact our results of operations.
To the extent the oil and gas industry, which can be very volatile, is negatively impacted by declining commodity prices, climate change, legislation or other factors, it could result in a reduction in employment or other negative economic consequences, which could adversely impact our homebuilding revenues and activities in our Texas markets.
Certain insurance companies have increased the cost of and/or restricted, curtailed or suspended the issuance of homeowners’ insurance policies on single-family homes. This has both reduced the availability of insurance, particularly in Florida and Texas, our largest markets, and increased the cost of such insurance to prospective purchasers of homes. Mortgage financing for a new home is conditioned, among other things, on the availability of adequate homeowners’ insurance. There can be no assurance that homeowners’ insurance will be available or affordable to prospective purchasers of our homes. Long-term restrictions on, or unavailability of, homeowners’ insurance in any of the markets in which we operate could have an adverse effect on the homebuilding industry in such markets in general, and on our business within such markets in particular. Additionally, the availability of permits for new homes in new and existing developments could be adversely affected by the significantly limited capacity of the schools, roads and other infrastructure in such markets.
If adverse conditions in these markets develop in the future, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, if buyer demand for new homes in these markets decreases, home prices could decline, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
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The homebuilding industry is highly competitive and, if our competitors are more successful or offer better value to our customers, our business could decline.
We operate in a very competitive environment that is characterized by competition from a number of other homebuilders and land developers in each market in which we operate. Additionally, there are relatively low barriers to entry into our business. We compete with large national and regional homebuilding companies, some of which have greater financial and operational resources than us, and with smaller local homebuilders and land developers, some of which may have lower administrative costs than us. We may be at a disadvantage with regard to certain of our large national and regional homebuilding competitors whose operations are more geographically diversified than ours, as these competitors may be better able to withstand any future regional downturns in the housing market. Furthermore, our market share in certain of our markets may be lower as compared to some of our competitors. Many of our competitors also have longer operating histories and longstanding relationships with subcontractors and suppliers in the markets in which we operate or to which we may expand. This may give our competitors an advantage in marketing their products, securing materials and labor at lower prices and allowing their homes to be delivered to customers more quickly and at more favorable prices. We compete for homebuyers, desirable land parcels, financing, raw materials, skilled management and other labor resources, among other things. Our competitors may independently develop land and construct homes that are substantially similar to our products.
Increased competition could hurt our business, as it could prevent us from acquiring attractive land parcels on which to build homes or make such acquisitions more expensive, hinder our market share expansion and cause us to increase our selling incentives and reduce our prices. An oversupply of homes available for sale or discounting of home prices could periodically adversely affect demand for our homes in certain markets and could adversely affect pricing for homes in the markets in which we operate.
If we are unable to compete effectively in our markets, our business could decline disproportionately to our competitors, and our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to continue to compete successfully in any of our markets.
Our inability to continue to compete successfully in any of our markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Natural disasters, severe weather and adverse geologic conditions may increase costs, cause project delays and reduce consumer demand for housing, all of which could materially and adversely affect us.
Our homebuilding operations are located in many areas that are subject to natural disasters, severe weather or adverse geologic conditions. These include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods, brush fires, wildfires, prolonged periods of precipitation, landslides, soil subsidence, earthquakes and other natural disasters. For example, we operate in a number of locations in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast that are periodically impacted by severe weather conditions and hurricanes. As a result, our operations in certain areas of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina could experience temporary disruptions and delays. Additionally, our corporate headquarters are located in Jacksonville, Florida, an area that is often impacted by severe weather events, and our operations may be substantially disrupted if our corporate headquarters are forced to close. The occurrence of any of these events could damage our land parcels and projects, cause delays in completion of our projects, reduce consumer demand for housing by making such regions less desirable and cause shortages and price increases in labor or raw materials, any of which could affect our sales and profitability.
In addition to directly damaging our land or projects, many of these natural events could damage roads and highways providing access to our assets or affect the desirability of our land or projects, thereby adversely affecting our ability to market and sell homes in those areas and possibly increasing the costs of homebuilding. Furthermore, the occurrence of natural disasters, severe weather and other adverse geologic conditions has increased in recent years due to climate change and may continue to increase in the future. Climate change may have the effect of making the risks described above occur more frequently and more severely, which could amplify the adverse impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
There are some risks of loss for which we may be unable to purchase insurance coverage. For example, losses associated with floods, hurricanes, landslides, prolonged periods of precipitation, earthquakes and other weather-related and geologic events may not be insurable and other losses, such as those arising from terrorism, may not be economically insurable. A sizeable uninsured loss could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
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A major health and safety incident relating to our business could be costly in terms of potential liabilities and reputational damage.
Building sites are inherently dangerous, and operating in the homebuilding and land development industry poses certain inherent health and safety risks. Due to health and safety regulatory requirements and the number of projects we work on, health and safety performance is critical to the success of all areas of our business.
Any failure in health and safety performance, whether by us or a subcontractor, may result in penalties for non-compliance with relevant regulatory requirements or litigation, and a failure that results in a major or significant health and safety incident is likely to be costly in terms of potential liabilities incurred as a result. Such a failure could generate significant negative publicity and have a corresponding impact on our reputation and our relationships with relevant regulatory agencies, governmental authorities and local communities, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Our geographic concentration could materially and adversely affect us if the homebuilding industry in our current markets should decline.
Our business strategy is focused on the design, construction and sale of single-family detached and attached homes. We do have some geographic concentration present in our operations. For instance, a significant portion of our homebuilding operations are concentrated within Florida and Texas. A prolonged economic downturn or reduction in demand for homes in one or more of the areas in which we operate, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, and a disproportionately greater impact on us than other homebuilders with larger scale and more diversified operations and geographic footprint.
Difficulties with appraisal valuations in relation to the proposed sales price of our homes could force us to reduce the price of our homes for sale.
Each of our home sales may require an appraisal of the home’s value before closing. These appraisals are professional judgments of the market value of the property and are based on a variety of market factors. If our internal valuations of the market and pricing do not line up with the appraisal valuations, and appraisals are not at or near the agreed upon sales price, we may be forced to reduce the sales price of the home to complete the sale. These appraisal issues could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
If the market value of our inventory or controlled lot position declines, our profits could decrease and we may incur losses.
Inventory risk can be substantial for homebuilders. The market value of building lots and housing inventories can fluctuate significantly as a result of changing market conditions. In addition, inventory carrying costs can be significant and can result in losses in a poorly performing community or market. We may be required to write-down the book value of our real estate assets in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), and some of those write-downs could be material. Any material write-downs of assets could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, we must continuously seek and make acquisitions of lots for expansion into new markets, as well as for replacement and expansion within our current markets, which we generally accomplish by entering into finished lot option contracts or land bank option contracts. In the event of adverse changes in economic, market or community conditions, we may cease further building activities in certain communities, restructure existing land purchase option contracts or elect not to exercise our land purchase options. Such actions would result in our forfeiture of some or all of any deposits, fees or investments paid or made in respect of such arrangements. The forfeiture of land contract deposits or inventory impairments may result in a loss that could have a material adverse effect on our profitability, stock performance, ability to service our debt obligations and future cash flows.
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We are subject to warranty and liability claims arising in the ordinary course of business that can be significant.
As a homebuilder, we are subject to construction defects, product liability and home and other warranty claims, including moisture intrusion and related claims, arising in the ordinary course of business. These claims are common to the homebuilding industry and can be costly. There can be no assurance that any developments we undertake will be free from defects once completed, and any defects attributable to us may lead to significant contractual or other liabilities. Although we provide subcontractors with detailed specifications and perform quality control procedures, subcontractors may, in some cases, use improper construction processes or defective materials. Defective products used in the construction of our homes can result in the need to perform extensive repairs.
When we discover these issues, we utilize our subcontractors to repair the homes in accordance with our subcontractor agreements, our new home warranty and as required by law. We maintain and require our subcontractors to maintain general liability insurance (including construction defect and bodily injury coverage) naming the Company as an additional insured and workers’ compensation insurance and generally seek to require our subcontractors to provide a warranty to us and to defend and indemnify us for liabilities arising from their work. Therefore, any claims relating to workmanship and materials are generally the subcontractors’ responsibility.
While these indemnities and insurance policies, subject to deductibles and other coverage limits, protect us against a portion of our risk of loss from claims related to our land development and homebuilding activities, we cannot provide assurance that these indemnities and insurance policies will be adequate to address all of our home and other warranty, product liability and construction defect claims in the future, or that any potential inadequacies will not have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. The cost of performing such repairs (not covered by subcontractor warranty or indemnities) or litigation arising out of such issues, may be significant if we are unable to recover certain costs from subcontractors, suppliers and/or insurers. Warranty and construction defect matters can also result in negative publicity, including on social media platforms, which could damage our reputation and negatively affect our ability to sell homes.
Further, the coverage offered by, and the availability of, general liability insurance for completed operations and construction defects are currently limited and costly. While the Company records an estimate of warranty expense based on historical warranty costs, we cannot provide assurance that coverage will not become costlier and/or be further restricted, increasing our risks and financial exposure to claims.
Competing effectively within the mortgage banking and title service sectors may be difficult.
The competitors of our mortgage banking business include title companies and mortgage lenders, including national, regional and local mortgage banks and other financial institutions. Some of these competitors are subject to fewer governmental regulations and have greater access to capital than we do, and some of them may operate with different criteria than we do. These competitors may offer a broader or more attractive array of financing and other products and services to potential customers than we do. For these reasons, we may not be able to compete effectively in the mortgage banking and title service businesses.
Any limitation on, or reduction or elimination of, tax benefits associated with homeownership would have an adverse effect upon the demand for homes, which could be material to our business.
While tax laws generally permit significant expenses associated with homeownership, primarily mortgage interest expense and real estate taxes, to be deducted for the purpose of calculating an individual’s federal and, in many cases, state taxable income, the ability to deduct mortgage interest expense and real estate taxes for federal income tax purposes is limited. The federal government or a state government may change its income tax laws by eliminating, limiting or substantially reducing these income tax benefits without offsetting provisions, which may increase the after-tax cost of owning a new home for many of our potential homebuyers. For example, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which became effective January 1, 2018, contained substantial changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Further changes in income tax laws by the federal government to eliminate or substantially reduce income tax benefits associated with homeownership could adversely affect demand for and sales prices of new homes.
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Federal income tax credits currently available to certain builders of energy-efficient new homes may not be extended by future legislation.
In August 2022, the U.S. Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which extended the availability of the Code Section 45L credit for energy-efficient new homes (the “Federal Energy Credits”) and provided a tax credit of $2,000 per qualifying home ($1,600 after the benefit is deducted from cost of sales as required by the IRS) to eligible homebuilders for homes delivered through December 31, 2022. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 expanded the credit to eligible homebuilders, resulting in an increase from $2,000 to either $2,500 or $5,000 per qualifying home, depending on which specified energy efficiency standards are achieved, effective January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2032.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we claimed $3 million of Federal Energy Credits. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we have estimated $12 million of Federal Energy Credits within our income tax provision. The increase in the amount of expected Federal Energy Credits in 2024 compared to the amount claimed in 2023 was primarily due to more homes delivered in 2024 that are expected to qualify for Federal Energy Credits compared to the prior year. Generally, in a given year, the Company aims to build as many energy-efficient new homes as possible.
If legislation to extend the Federal Energy Credits for periods after December 31, 2032 is not adopted, our effective income tax rates thereafter may increase and could potentially be material.
New and existing laws and regulations or other governmental actions may increase our expenses, limit the number of homes that we can build or delay completion of our projects.
We are subject to numerous local, state, federal and other statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning zoning, development, building design, construction, accessibility, anti-discrimination and other matters, which, among other things, impose restrictive zoning and density requirements, the result of which is to limit the number of homes that can be built within the boundaries of a particular area. We may encounter issues with entitlement, not identify all entitlement requirements during the pre-development review of a project site or encounter zoning changes that impact our operations. Projects for which we have not received land use and development entitlements or approvals may be subjected to periodic delays, changes in use, less intensive development or elimination of development in certain specific areas due to government regulations. We may also be subject to periodic delays or may be precluded entirely from developing in certain communities due to building moratoriums or zoning changes. Such moratoriums generally relate to insufficient water supplies, sewage facilities, delays in utility hook-ups or inadequate road capacity within specific market areas or subdivisions. Local governments also have broad discretion regarding the imposition of development fees for projects in their jurisdiction. Projects for which we have received land use and development entitlements or approvals may still require a variety of other governmental approvals and permits during the development process and can also be impacted adversely by unforeseen health, safety and welfare issues, which can further delay these projects or prevent their development. As a result of any of these statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations, the timing of our home sales could be delayed, the number of our home sales could decline and/or our costs could increase, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in U.S. trade policies and retaliatory responses from other countries may significantly increase the costs or limit supplies of building materials and products used in our homes.
The state of relationships between other countries and the U.S. with respect to trade policies, taxes, government relations and tariffs may impact our business. For example, the federal government has in the past imposed new or increased tariffs or duties on an array of imported materials and goods that are used in connection with the construction and delivery of our homes, including steel, aluminum, lumber, solar panels and washing machines, raising our costs for these items (or products made with them), which resulted in foreign governments, including China and Canada, and the European Union responding by imposing or increasing tariffs, duties and/or trade restrictions on U.S. goods, and may consider other measures. Such trading conflicts and related escalating governmental actions that result in additional tariffs, duties and/or trade restrictions could increase our construction costs further, cause disruptions or shortages in our supply chains and/or negatively impact the U.S., regional or local economies, and, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect our business and our operating results.
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We and our subcontractors are subject to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, which may increase our costs, result in liabilities, limit the areas in which we can build homes and delay completion of our projects.
We and our subcontractors are subject to a variety of local, state, federal and other environmental, health and safety laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, including those governing storm water and surface water management, discharge and releases of pollutants and hazardous materials into the environment, including air, groundwater, subsurface and soil, remediation activities, handling of hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead paint and mold, protection of wetlands, endangered plants and species and sensitive habitats and human health and safety.
The particular environmental requirements that apply to any given site vary according to multiple factors, including the site’s location and present and former uses, its environmental conditions, the presence or absence of endangered plants or species or sensitive habitats and environmental conditions at nearby or adjoining properties.
There is no guarantee that we will be able to identify all of these considerations during any pre-acquisition or pre-development review of project sites or that such factors will not develop during our development and homebuilding activities. Environmental requirements and conditions may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation and other costs and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity in certain areas, including environmentally sensitive regions or areas contaminated by others before we commenced development. In addition, in those cases where an endangered or threatened plant or species is involved and agency rulemaking and litigation are ongoing, the outcome of such rulemaking and litigation can be unpredictable and, at any time, can result in unplanned or unforeseeable restrictions on, or the prohibition of development in, identified environmentally sensitive areas. In some instances, regulators from different governmental agencies do not concur on development, remedial standards or property use restrictions for a project, and the resulting delays or additional costs can be material for a given project.
Certain environmental laws and regulations also impose strict joint and several liability on former and current owners and operators of real property and in connection with third-party sites where parties have sent waste. As a result, we may be held liable for environmental conditions we did not create on properties we currently or formerly owned or operated, including properties we have developed, or where we sent waste. In addition, due to our wide range of historic and current ownership, operation, development, homebuilding and construction activities, we could be liable for future claims for damages as a result of the past or present use of hazardous materials, including building materials or fixtures known or suspected to contain hazardous materials, such as asbestos, lead paint and mold. A mitigation plan may be implemented during the construction of a home if a cleanup does not remove all contaminants of concern or to address a naturally occurring condition such as methane or radon. Some homebuyers may not want to purchase a home that is, or that may have been, subjected to a mitigation plan. In addition, we do not maintain separate insurance policies for claims related to hazardous materials, and insurance coverage for such claims under our general commercial liability insurance may be limited or nonexistent.
Pursuant to such environmental, health and safety laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, we are generally required to obtain permits and other approvals from applicable authorities to commence and conduct our development and homebuilding activities. These permits and other approvals may contain restrictions that are costly or difficult to comply with, or may be opposed or challenged by local governments, environmental advocacy groups, neighboring property owners or other interested parties, which may result in delays, additional costs and non-approval of our activities.
From time to time, the EPA and similar federal, state or local agencies review land developers’ and homebuilders’ compliance with environmental, health and safety laws, statutes, ordinance, rules and regulations, including those relating to the control of storm water discharges during construction. Failure to comply with such laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations may result in civil and criminal fines and penalties, injunctions, suspension of our activities, remedial obligations, costs or liabilities, third-party claims for property or natural resource damages or personal injury, enforcement actions or other sanctions or additional requirements for future compliance as a result of past failures. Any such actions taken with respect to us may increase our costs and result in project delays. We expect that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on land developers and homebuilders in the future. We cannot assure you that environmental, health and safety laws will not change or become more stringent in the future in a manner that would not have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
We have provided environmental indemnities to certain lenders and other parties. These indemnities obligate us to reimburse the indemnified parties for damages related to environmental matters, and, generally, there is no term or damage limitations on these indemnities.
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Environmental laws and regulations relating to climate change and energy can have an adverse impact on our activities, operations and profitability and on the availability and price of certain raw materials, such as lumber, steel and concrete.
Government mandates, standards and regulations enacted in response to projected climate change impacts and concerns could result in restrictions on land development in certain areas, as well as increased costs for energy, transportation and raw materials. To the extent that the United States enters into geopolitical agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, a variety of new legislation may be considered or enacted at the federal, state, and local levels addressing climate change and energy. New building or other code requirements that impose stricter energy efficiency standards or requirements for building materials could significantly increase our construction costs.
Additionally, certain areas in the United States either have enacted or are considering a ban on the use of natural gas appliances and/or natural gas hookups, in new construction. Such bans, if enacted in areas in which we operate, could affect our cost to construct homes. Similarly, energy-related initiatives affect a wide variety of companies throughout the United States, and because our operations are heavily dependent on significant amounts of raw materials, such as lumber, steel and concrete, these initiatives could have an adverse impact on our operations and profitability to the extent the manufacturers and suppliers of our materials are burdened with expensive cap and trade or similar energy-related regulations or requirements.
Our mortgage banking and title services businesses may be adversely affected by changes in governmental regulation.
Changes in governmental regulation with respect to mortgage lenders and title service providers could adversely affect the financial results of this portion of our business. Our financial services businesses are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, which, among other things: prohibit discrimination and establish underwriting guidelines; provide for audits and inspections; require appraisals and/or credit reports on prospective borrowers and disclosure of certain information concerning credit and settlement costs; establish maximum loan amounts; prohibit predatory lending practices; and regulate the referral of business to affiliated entities. In addition, our title insurance operations are also subject to applicable insurance and banking laws and regulations as well as government audits, examinations and investigations, all of which may limit our ability to provide title services to potential purchasers.
The regulatory environment for mortgage lending is complex and ever changing and has led to an increase in the number of audits, examinations and investigations in the industry. Any changes or new enactments could result in more stringent compliance standards, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and the market perception of our business. Additionally, if we are unable to originate mortgages for any reason going forward, our customers may experience significant mortgage loan funding issues, which could have a material impact on our homebuilding business and our consolidated financial statements.
Operational Risks
Our inability to successfully identify, secure and control an adequate inventory of lots at reasonable prices could adversely impact our operations.
The results of our homebuilding operations depend in part upon our continuing ability to successfully identify, control and acquire an adequate number of homebuilding lots in desirable locations. There can be no assurance that an adequate supply of homebuilding lots will continue to be available to us on terms similar to those available in the past, or that we will not be required to devote a greater amount of capital to controlling homebuilding lots than we have historically. In addition, because we employ an asset-light business model, we may have access to fewer and less attractive homebuilding lots than if we owned lots outright, like some of our competitors who do not operate under an asset-light model.
An insufficient supply of homebuilding lots in one or more of our markets, an inability of our developers to deliver finished lots in a timely fashion due to their inability to finance development activities, delays in recording deeds, conveying controlled lots as a result of government shut downs, or for other reasons, or our inability to purchase or finance homebuilding lots on reasonable terms could have a material adverse effect on our sales, profitability, ability to service our debt obligations and future cash flows. Any land shortages or any decrease in the supply of suitable land at reasonable prices could limit our ability to develop new communities or result in increased lot deposit requirements or land costs. We may not be able to pass any increased land costs to our customers, which could adversely impact our revenues, earnings and margins.
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Although when the fair market value of controlled lots deviate from that of which the option contracts were originally executed, we attempt to renegotiate the terms of the option contracts to ensure that the yields are aligned with current market conditions, there is no guarantee our renegotiating efforts will be successful.
Increases in our cancellation rate could have a negative impact on our homebuilding revenues and gross margins.
Our backlog reflects sales contracts with customers for homes that have not yet been delivered. We have received a deposit from a homebuyer for most homes reflected in our backlog, and, generally, we have the right to retain the deposit if the homebuyer fails to comply with his or her obligations under the sales contract, subject to certain exceptions or contingencies, including as a result of state and local law, the homebuyer’s inability to sell his or her current home or, in certain circumstances, the homebuyer’s inability to obtain suitable financing. Cancellations negatively impact the number of closed homes, net new orders, homebuilding revenues and results of operations, as well as the backlog. In addition to the contingencies noted above, cancellations can result from declines or slow appreciation in the market value of homes, increases in the supply of homes available to be purchased, increased competition, higher mortgage interest rates, and adverse changes in economic conditions. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022 and continuing into 2023, demand further tightened in response to additional increases in mortgage rates caused by the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in response to inflationary conditions. The market's reaction to the interest rate environment negatively affected net new orders and continues to have a negative impact on the cancellation rate for the Company. Any continued increase in the level of our cancellations would have a negative impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Overview and Outlook” for more information.
Our business and results of operations are dependent on the availability, skill and performance of subcontractors.
We engage subcontractors to perform the construction of our homes and, in many cases, to obtain the raw materials used in constructing our homes. Accordingly, the timing and quality of our construction depend on the availability and skill of our subcontractors. We do not have long-term contractual commitments with any subcontractors, and we can provide no assurance that skilled subcontractors will continue to be available at reasonable rates and in our markets. In addition, as we expand into new markets, we typically must develop new relationships with subcontractors in such markets, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in a cost-effective and timely manner, or at all. The sustained labor shortage in the United States has continued to make the engagement of subcontractors difficult. The inability to contract with skilled subcontractors at reasonable rates on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
A shortage of building materials or labor, or increases in materials or labor costs, could delay or increase the cost of home construction, which could materially and adversely affect us.
The residential construction industry experiences labor and raw material shortages from time to time, including shortages in qualified subcontractors, tradespeople and supplies of insulation, drywall, cement, steel and lumber. These labor and raw material shortages can be more severe during periods of strong demand for housing, during periods following natural disasters that have a significant impact on existing residential and commercial structures or a result of broader economic disruptions. Pricing for labor and raw materials could be affected by the factors discussed above and various other national, regional, local, economic and political factors, including changes in immigration laws and trends in labor migration and tariffs.
Our success in recently entered markets or those we may choose to enter in the future depends substantially on our ability to source labor and local materials on terms that are favorable to us. Our markets may exhibit a reduced level of skilled labor relative to increased homebuilding demand in these markets. In the event of shortages in labor or raw materials in such markets, local subcontractors, tradespeople and suppliers may choose to allocate their resources to homebuilders with an established presence in the market and with whom they have longer-standing relationships. Labor and raw material shortages and price increases for labor and raw materials could cause delays in and increase our costs of home construction, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
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Investors in mortgages could require that we repurchase loans or compensate them for losses stemming from mortgages we have sold.
Our financial services segment originates mortgages primarily for our homebuilding clients. Almost all of these mortgages are promptly sold in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, nonrecourse basis, though we retain liability for certain limited representations, such as fraud, and warranties related to the sale of loans. Consequently, mortgage investors have previously and may again seek to have us repurchase loans or reimburse them for losses incurred on mortgages we have sold, asserting breaches of our limited representations or warranties. While we believe our reserves are sufficient for known losses and anticipated repurchase demands, given the mortgage industry’s volatility and the uncertainty surrounding the resolution of these claims, unforeseen repurchases or losses in handling them beyond our expectations could result in additional expenses. Future claims of this nature could impose substantial liabilities on us, potentially exceeding our reserves, and could materially impact our financial results. Furthermore, an increase in mortgage default rates could adversely affect our ability to sell mortgages or the prices we can command for their sale.
If we are unable to develop our communities successfully or within expected time-frames, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Although our preference is to acquire finished lots, from time to time, we also acquire property that requires further development before we can begin building homes. When a community requires additional developments, we devote substantial time and capital in order to obtain development approvals, acquire land and construct significant portions of project infrastructure and amenities before the community generates any revenue. In addition, our land bank option contracts often include provisions under which delays in land development and/or longer land takedown periods cause us to incur additional cost. It can take several years from the time we acquire control of an undeveloped property to the time we make our first home sale on the site. Delays in the development of communities, including delays associated with subcontractors performing the development activities or entitlements, expose us to the risk of changes in market conditions for homes. A decline in our ability to develop and market one of our new undeveloped communities successfully and to generate positive cash flow from these operations in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations and on our ability to service our debt and to meet our working capital requirements. In addition, higher than expected absorption rates in existing communities may result in lower than expected inventory levels until the development for replacement communities is completed.
We may be unable to obtain suitable bonding for the development of our communities.
We are often required to provide bonds, letters of credit or guarantees to governmental authorities and others to ensure the completion of our communities. As a result of market conditions, some municipalities and governmental authorities have been reluctant to accept surety bonds and instead require credit enhancements, such as cash deposits or letters of credit, in order to maintain existing bonds or to issue new bonds. If we are unable to obtain required bonds in the future for our communities, or if we are required to provide credit enhancements with respect to our current or future bonds or in place of bonds, our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We may suffer significant financial harm and loss of reputation if we do not comply, cannot comply or are alleged to have not complied with applicable laws, rules and regulations concerning our classification and compensation practices for independent contractors.
Each of our divisions retains various independent contractors, either directly or indirectly through third-party entities formed by these independent contractors for their business purposes, including, without limitation, some of our sales agents. With respect to these independent contractors, we are subject to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regulations and applicable state law guidelines regarding independent contractor classification. These regulations and guidelines are subject to judicial and agency interpretation, and it might be determined that the independent contractor classification is inapplicable to any sales agents, vendors or any other entity characterized as an independent contractor. Further, if legal standards for the classification of independent contractors change or appear to be changing, we may need to modify our compensation and benefits structure for such independent contractors, including by paying additional compensation or reimbursing expenses.
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There can be no assurance that legislative, judicial, administrative or regulatory (including tax) authorities will not introduce proposals or assert interpretations of existing rules and regulations that would change the independent contractor classification of any individual or vendor currently characterized as independent contractors doing business with us. Although management believes that there are no proposals currently pending that would significantly change the independent contractor classification, potential changes, if any, with respect to such classification could have a significant effect on our operating model. Further, the costs associated with any such potential changes could have a significant effect on our results of operations and financial condition if we were unable to pass through an increase in price corresponding to such increased costs to our customers. Additionally, we could incur substantial costs, penalties and damages, including back pay, unpaid benefits, taxes, expense reimbursement and attorneys’ fees in defending future challenges to our employment classification or compensation practices.
We could be adversely affected by efforts to impose joint employer liability on us for labor law violations committed by our subcontractors.
Our homes are constructed by employees of subcontractors and other third parties. We do not have the ability to control what these parties pay their employees or the rules they impose on their employees.
However, various governmental agencies have taken actions to hold parties like us responsible for violations of wage and hour laws and other labor laws by subcontractors. Governmental rulings that hold us responsible for labor practices by our subcontractors could create substantial exposures for us under our subcontractor relationships, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Poor relations with the residents of our communities could negatively impact sales, which could cause our revenues or results of operations to decline.
Residents of communities we develop rely on us to resolve issues or disputes that may arise in connection with the operation or development of their communities. Efforts made by us to resolve these issues or disputes could be deemed unsatisfactory by the affected residents, and subsequent actions by these residents could adversely affect our sales or our reputation. In addition, we could be required to make material expenditures related to the settlement of such issues or disputes or to modify our community development plans, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Strategic and Financial Risks
Our success depends upon our ability to successfully adapt our business strategy to changing home buying patterns and trends.
Future home buying patterns and trends could reduce the demand for our homes and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Part of our business strategy is to offer homes that appeal to a broad range of entry-level and move-up homebuyers based in each local market in which we operate. However, given the significant increases in average home sales prices across our markets and the anticipated increased demand for more affordable homes due to generational shifts, changing demographics and other factors, we have increased our focus on offering more affordable housing options in our markets. We believe that, due to anticipated generational shifts, changing demographics and other factors, the demand for more affordable homes will increase. If we are unable to successfully adapt our business strategy to shifts in consumer demands, our business will be materially adversely impacted.
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We cannot make any assurances that our growth or expansion strategies will be successful, and we may incur a variety of costs to engage in such strategies, including through targeted acquisitions, and the anticipated benefits may never be realized.
We continue to expand our business through selective investments in new geographic markets and by diversifying our products in certain markets. Investments in land, developed lots and home inventories can expose us to risks of economic loss and inventory impairments if housing conditions weaken or we are unsuccessful in implementing our growth strategies. Our long-term success and growth strategies depend in part upon continued availability of suitable land at acceptable prices. The availability of land, lots and home inventories for purchase at favorable prices depends on a number of factors outside of our control. We often face competition from other homebuilders and others for available land. In addition, some state and local governments in markets where we operate have approved, and others may approve, slow-growth or no-growth initiatives and other ballot measures that could negatively impact the availability of land and building opportunities within those areas. Approval of these initiatives could adversely affect our ability to build and sell homes in the affected markets and/or could require the satisfaction of additional administrative and regulatory requirements, which could result in slowing the progress or increasing the costs of our homebuilding operations in these markets. Finally, our ability to begin new projects could be negatively impacted if we elect not to purchase land under our land banking option contracts.
We intend to grow our operations in existing markets, and we intend to expand into new markets and pursue opportunistic purchases of other homebuilders on attractive terms as such opportunities arise. We may be unable to achieve the anticipated benefits of any such growth or expansion, including through targeted acquisitions or through efficiencies that we may be unable to achieve, the anticipated benefits may take longer to realize than expected, or we may incur greater costs than expected in attempting to achieve the anticipated benefits. In such cases, we will likely need to employ additional personnel or consultants that are knowledgeable about such markets. There can be no assurance that we will be able to employ or retain the necessary personnel to successfully implement a disciplined management process and culture with local management, that our expansion operations will be successful or that we will be able to successfully integrate any acquired homebuilder. This could disrupt our ongoing operations and divert management resources that would otherwise focus on developing our existing business.
We may develop more communities in which we build townhomes in addition to single-family homes or sell homes to investors or portfolio management companies under built-for-rent or other purposes. We can give no assurance that we will be able to successfully identify, acquire or implement these new strategies in the future. Accordingly, any such expansion, including through acquisitions, could expose us to significant risks beyond those associated with operating our existing business and may adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to complete or successfully integrate our recent acquisitions or any potential future acquisitions or experience challenges in realizing the expected benefits of each such acquisition.
From time-to-time, we acquire other businesses to expand our presence in new and existing geographic markets or to expand into opportunities to contribute to our long-term strategy. We may not be able to successfully integrate any businesses that we acquire into our operations and may not achieve the synergies we expected from an acquisition. Furthermore, the integration of any acquisition may divert management’s time and resources from our core business and disrupt our operations. Moreover, even if we were successful in integrating newly acquired businesses or assets, expected synergies or cost savings may not materialize, resulting in lower than expected benefits to us from such transactions. Additionally, when making acquisitions, it may not be possible for us to conduct a thorough investigation of the nature of the business or assets being acquired, for instance, due to time constraints in making the decision and other factors. We may become responsible for additional liabilities or obligations not foreseen at the time of an acquisition. To the extent we pay the purchase price of an acquisition in cash, such an acquisition would reduce our cash reserves, and, to the extent the purchase price of an acquisition is paid with our stock, such an acquisition could be dilutive to our stockholders. To the extent we pay the purchase price of an acquisition with proceeds from incurring debt, such an acquisition would increase our level of indebtedness and interest expense and could negatively affect our liquidity and restrict our operations.
Further, to the extent that a portion of the purchase price of an acquisition is paid in the form of an earn out on future financial results, the success of such an acquisition will not be fully realized by us for a period of time as it is shared with the sellers. In addition, changes to the fair value of estimated earn out payments could significantly impact our results of operations. All of the above risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
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Our joint venture investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority, our reliance on the financial condition of our joint venture partners and disputes between us and our joint venture partners.
We have in the past, and may in the future, co-invest with third parties through partnerships, joint ventures or other entities, acquiring noncontrolling interests in, or sharing responsibility for managing the affairs of, a land acquisition and/or a development. In this event, we would not be in a position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding the acquisition and/or development, and our investment may be illiquid due to our lack of control. Investments in partnerships, joint ventures or other entities may, under certain circumstances, involve incremental risks from involving a third party, including the possibility that our joint venture partners might become bankrupt, fail to fund their share of required capital contributions, make poor business decisions or block or delay necessary decisions. Our joint venture partners may have economic or other business interests or goals that are inconsistent with our business interests or goals and may be in a position to take actions contrary to our policies or objectives. Such investments may also have the potential risk of impasses on decisions, such as a sale, because neither we nor our joint venture partners would have full control over the land acquisition or development. Disputes between us and our joint venture partners may result in litigation or arbitration that would increase our expenses and prevent our officers and/or directors from focusing their time and effort on our business. In addition, we may be liable for the actions of our joint venture partners in certain circumstances.
Interest expense on debt we incur may limit our cash available to fund our growth strategies.
If our operations do not generate sufficient cash from operations at levels currently anticipated, we may seek additional capital in the form of debt financing. Our current indebtedness includes, and any additional indebtedness we subsequently incur may have, a floating rate of interest.
Higher interest rates could increase debt service requirements on our current floating rate indebtedness, and on any floating rate indebtedness we subsequently incur, and could reduce funds available for operations, future business opportunities or other purposes. If we need to repay existing indebtedness during periods of rising interest rates, we could be required to refinance our then-existing indebtedness on unfavorable terms or liquidate one or more of our assets to repay such indebtedness at times that may not permit realization of the maximum return on such assets and could result in a loss. The occurrence of either such event or both could materially and adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
Our ability to access and obtain capital in the future could be adversely affected as a result of a downgrade in any of our credit ratings.
Our ability to access and obtain financing on favorable terms is a key component of the Company’s operating capacity. If negative rating actions, including downgrades, were to occur for either the Company’s corporate credit rating or the credit ratings for our senior unsecured notes, it could impact our access to new debt or result in less-than-favorable terms for any future debt obtained, such as harsher covenants, increased cost to obtain new debt and higher interest rates. Either scenario could result in a material adverse effect on liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, which could serve to further compound negative rating actions and their effects on our business.
Our current financing arrangements contain, and our future financing arrangements likely will contain, restrictive covenants.
Our current financing agreements contain, and the financing arrangements we enter into in the future likely will contain, covenants that limit our ability to do certain things. For instance, our credit agreement requires the Company to meet certain financial ratios and comply with covenants, such as a maximum debt to capitalization ratio, minimum interest coverage ratios and minimum liquidity ratios. Furthermore, the Company issued senior unsecured notes in August 2023 which were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”). In addition to customary events of default, the Indenture contains certain restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to incur or guarantee certain indebtedness, issue certain equity interests or engage in certain capital stock transactions, and impose constraints concerning mergers, consolidations, and asset transfers.
If we fail to meet or satisfy any of these provisions, we would be in default under such financing agreement and our lenders could elect to declare outstanding amounts due and payable and terminate their commitments. A default also could significantly limit our financing alternatives, which could cause us to curtail our investment activities and/or dispose of assets when we otherwise would not choose to do so. In addition, future indebtedness we obtain may contain financial covenants limiting our ability to, for example, incur additional indebtedness, make certain investments, reduce liquidity below certain levels and pay dividends to our stockholders and otherwise affect our operating policies.
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If we default on one or more of our debt agreements, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Volatility in the credit and capital markets may impact our cost of capital and our ability to access necessary financing and the difficulty in obtaining sufficient capital could prevent us from acquiring lots for construction or increase costs and delays in the completion of our homes under construction.
If we require working capital greater than that provided by our operations and our credit facilities, we may be required to increase the amount available under the facilities or to seek alternative financing, which might not be available on terms that are favorable or acceptable or at all. If we are required to seek financing to fund our working capital requirements, volatility in credit or capital markets may restrict our flexibility to successfully obtain additional financing on terms acceptable to us, or at all. If we are at any time unsuccessful in obtaining sufficient capital to fund our planned homebuilding expenditures, we may experience a substantial delay in the completion of homes then under construction, or we may be unable to control or purchase finished lots. Any delay could result in cost increases and could have a material adverse effect on our sales, profitability, stock performance, cash flows and ability to service our debt obligations. We have access to the committed funds under our Credit Agreement, which is a senior unsecured revolving credit facility. Another source of liquidity includes our ability to use letters of credit and surety bonds. These letters of credit and surety bonds relate to certain performance-related obligations and serve as security for certain land option contracts. The majority of these letters of credit and surety bonds are in support of our land development and construction obligations to various municipalities, other government agencies and utility companies related to the construction of roads, sewers and other infrastructure. As of December 31, 2024, we had outstanding letters of credit and surety bonds totaling $21 million and $298 million, respectively. These letters of credit and surety bonds are generally subject to certain financial covenants and other limitations.
If we are unable to obtain letters of credit or surety bonds when required, or the conditions imposed by issuers increase significantly, our liquidity and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Access to financing sources may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, which could adversely affect our ability to maximize our returns.
Our access to additional third-party sources of financing will depend, in part, on:
•general market conditions;
•the current interest rates;
•the market’s perception of our growth potential;
•with respect to land acquisition and/or development financing, the market’s perception of the value of the land parcels to be acquired and/or developed;
•our current debt levels;
•our current and expected future earnings;
•our cash flow; and
•the market price per share of our Class A common stock.
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The global credit and equity markets and the overall economy can be extremely volatile, which could have a number of adverse effects on our operations and capital requirements. The domestic financial markets have in the past experienced a high degree of volatility, uncertainty and, during certain periods, tightening of liquidity in both the high yield debt and equity capital markets, resulting in certain periods when new capital has been both more difficult and more expensive to access. If we are unable to access the credit markets, we could be required to defer or eliminate important business strategies and growth opportunities in the future. In addition, if there is prolonged volatility and weakness in the capital and credit markets, potential lenders may be unwilling or unable to provide us with financing that is attractive to us or may increase collateral requirements or may charge us prohibitively high fees in order to obtain financing. Consequently, our ability to access the credit market in order to attract financing on reasonable terms may be adversely affected. Investment returns on our assets and our ability to make acquisitions could be adversely affected by our inability to secure additional financing on reasonable terms, if at all.
Depending on market conditions at the relevant time, we may have to rely more heavily on additional equity financings or on less efficient forms of debt financing that require a larger portion of our cash flow from operations, thereby reducing funds available for our operations, future business opportunities and other purposes. We may not have access to such equity or debt capital on favorable terms at the desired times, or at all.
Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure
We depend on key management personnel and other experienced employees.
Our success depends to a significant degree upon the contributions of certain key management personnel, including, but not limited to, Patrick Zalupski, our founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, National President, Doug Moran, and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Anabel Ramsay. Although we have entered into employment agreements with Mr. Zalupski, Mr. Moran and Ms. Ramsay, there is no guarantee that Mr. Zalupski, Mr. Moran or Ms. Ramsay will remain employed by us. Our ability to retain our key management personnel or to attract suitable replacements should any members of our management team leave is dependent on the competitive nature of the employment market. The loss of services from key management personnel or a limitation in their availability could materially and adversely impact our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. Further, such a loss could be negatively perceived in the capital markets. We have obtained key man life insurance that would provide us with proceeds in the event of the death or disability of the Chief Executive Officer and/or the National President.
Experienced employees in the homebuilding, land acquisition, development and construction industries are fundamental to our ability to generate, obtain and manage opportunities. In particular, local knowledge and relationships are critical to our ability to source attractive land acquisition opportunities. Experienced employees working in the homebuilding, development and construction industries are highly sought after. Failure to attract and retain such personnel or to ensure that their experience and knowledge is not lost when they leave the business through retirement, redundancy or otherwise may adversely affect the standards of our service and may have an adverse impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Mr. Zalupski owns a significant amount of our stock and his interests may conflict with those of our other stockholders.
Our common stock consists of two classes: Class A and Class B. Holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share, and holders of Class B common stock are entitled to three votes per share. Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or our certificate of incorporation. Mr. Zalupski, our founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, owns, through personal holdings and an entity that he controls, 100% of our Class B common stock (representing approximately 83% of the total combined voting power of our Class A and Class B common stock as of December 31, 2024).
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As a result, Mr. Zalupski is able to control matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election and removal of directors, changes to our organizational documents and significant corporate transactions, including any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. This concentration of ownership makes it unlikely that any holder or group of holders of our Class A common stock will be able to affect the way we are managed or the direction of our business. The interests of Mr. Zalupski with respect to matters potentially or actually involving or affecting us, such as future acquisitions, financings and other corporate opportunities and attempts to acquire us, may conflict with the interests of our other stockholders. Mr. Zalupski would have to approve any potential acquisition of us. The existence of significant stockholders may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers, delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in management or limiting the ability of our other stockholders to approve transactions that they may deem to be in our best interests. Mr. Zalupski’s concentration of stock ownership may also adversely affect the trading price of our Class A common stock to the extent investors perceive a disadvantage in owning stock of a company with significant stockholders.
Sales of shares pledged for margin loans or prepaid variable forward sales contracts by our directors and officers could cause our stock price to decrease.
Under the Dream Finders Homes, Inc. Insider Trading Policy (“our Insider Trading Policy”), our directors, officers and employees can pledge shares of our common stock as collateral for a loan or hold shares of our common stock in a margin account if the value of Company securities held in one or more margin accounts does not exceed 30% of the total value of all of the Company securities owned by the shareholder at the time such loan or loans (individually or in the aggregate) are originated and the director, officer or employee obtains pre-clearance from the designated compliance officer. As of December 31, 2024, Mr. Zalupski had 17,500,000 shares of our Class B common stock pledged as security for a margin loan.
Further, our directors, officers and employees may purchase or use financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward sales contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange-traded funds). These types of financial instruments are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of the Company’s securities and can be speculative in nature and therefore can create the appearance that the transaction is based on material nonpublic information. Accordingly, any such financial instruments must be pre-cleared by the designated compliance officer and approved by the Board of Directors (without the vote of the requesting person). As of December 31, 2024, Mr. Zalupski had 2,000,000 shares of our Class B common stock subject to prepaid variable forward sales contracts that are expected to settle starting in 2027.
In the event that such margin loan (or any other margin loan by an officer or director) were to be called and the shares of common stock were sold on the open market by the lender or if we otherwise have a large number of shares being sold on the open market by the counterparties to variable forward sale contracts, the price of our common stock could decline materially.
Certain of our directors have significant duties with, and spend significant time serving, entities that may compete with us in seeking acquisitions and business opportunities and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in pursuing business opportunities.
Certain of our directors hold positions of responsibility with other entities whose businesses are involved in certain aspects of the real estate industry with which we partner for certain land banking opportunities. These directors may become aware of business opportunities that may be appropriate for presentation to us, as well as to the other entities with which they are or may become affiliated. Due to these existing and potential future affiliations, they may present potential business opportunities to other entities prior to presenting them to us, which could cause additional conflicts of interest. They may also decide that certain opportunities are more appropriate for other entities with which they are affiliated, and, as a result, they may elect not to present those opportunities to us. These conflicts of interest may not be resolved in our favor.
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There are various potential conflicts of interest in our relationship with DF Capital and certain of its managed funds, including with certain of our executive officers and directors who are investors in certain funds managed by DF Capital, which could result in decisions that are not in the best interest of our stockholders.
Conflicts of interest may exist or could arise in the future with DF Capital and certain of its managed funds, including with certain of our executive officers and directors who are also investors in certain funds managed by DF Capital. Once a potential lot acquisition that requires a significant upfront commitment of capital is approved by our land acquisition committee, we seek a land bank partner. Historically, we have provided, and we expect to continue to provide DF Capital with the opportunity to have one of its managed funds participate in transactions that require additional funding. Such transactions may not be on terms that are as attractive as those we might be able to achieve if we sought other partners. If DF Capital does not wish to participate in and finance the transaction, we turn to other potential financing sources. Conflicts with DF Capital and certain of its managed funds may include, without limitation: conflicts arising from the enforcement of agreements between us and DF Capital and/or certain of its managed funds; conflicts in determining whether to offer DF Capital the opportunity to participate in a potential lot acquisition financing; if DF Capital does participate, conflicts in determining the terms of the financing; and conflicts in future transactions that we may pursue with DF Capital and/or one of its managed funds.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity that purchases or otherwise acquires any interest in shares of our capital stock are deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described in the preceding sentence. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholders’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and such persons.
Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Provisions in our charter documents or Delaware law, as well as Mr. Zalupski’s beneficial ownership of all of our outstanding Class B common stock, could discourage acquisition bids or merger proposals, which may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Some provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change of control would be beneficial to our stockholders, including:
•providing that the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to determine the size of our Board of Directors;
•limiting the ability of our stockholders to call special meetings;
•establishing advance notice provisions for stockholder proposals and nominations for elections to the Board of Directors to be acted upon at meetings of stockholders;
•providing that the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, or to alter or repeal, our bylaws; and
•establishing advance notice and certain information requirements for nominations for election to our Board of Directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings.
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Mr. Zalupski, through his beneficial ownership of all of our outstanding Class B common stock as of December 31, 2024, controls approximately 84% of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B common stock, which gives him the ability to prevent a potential takeover of our company. If a change of control or change in management is delayed or prevented, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline. Moreover, because each share of Class B common stock may be convertible at any time at the option of the holder into one share of Class A common stock, any exchanges that Mr. Zalupski initiates will negatively impact his total combined voting power since Class B shares are entitled to three votes per share, compared to one vote per share for Class A common stock.
In addition, some of the restrictive covenants contained in our various financing agreements may delay or prevent a change in control.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange rules, which allows us to rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
Mr. Zalupski beneficially owns a majority of our outstanding voting interests. As a result, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) corporate governance standards. Under the NYSE rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by another person or group of persons acting together is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain NYSE corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:
•a majority of such company’s board of directors consist of independent directors;
•such company have a nominating and governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors;
•such company have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors; and
•such company conduct an annual performance evaluation of the nominating and governance and compensation committees.
These requirements will not apply to us as long as we remain a controlled company. However, we have elected to not utilize any of these exemptions at this time, but may elect to in the future. Accordingly, the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements may not be afforded to our Class A common stockholders.
The dual class structure of our common stock may adversely affect the trading market for our Class A common stock.
We cannot predict whether our dual class structure, combined with the concentrated control of Mr. Zalupski, will result in a lower or more volatile market price of our Class A common stock, or in adverse publicity or other adverse consequences. In the past, some index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multiple class share structures in certain of their indices, although in some instances, those restrictions have been reversed. For example, in April 2023, S&P Down Jones Indices announced that companies with multiple share class structures will be considered eligible for certain indices.
While other indices have also reversed course on multi-class stock restrictions and/or bans, we cannot predict whether indices will reinstate or announce such policies in the future, making us ineligible for inclusion in certain indices. Given the sustained flow of investment funds into passive strategies that seek to track certain indices, exclusion from certain stock indices would likely preclude investment by many of these funds and would make our Class A common stock less attractive to other investors. As a result, the trading price and volume of our Class A common stock could be adversely affected.
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We have not declared or paid cash dividends on our Class A common stock and we cannot assure that cash dividends will be paid.
We have not declared or paid cash dividends on our Class A common stock and we cannot assure that cash dividends will be paid. Consequently, a return may only be achieved on an investment if the price of the Class A common stock appreciates and the Class A common stock is sold at a price greater than what was paid for it. There is no guarantee that the price of the Class A common stock that will prevail in the market will ever exceed the price that was paid.
If securities or industry analysts do not continue to publish research or reports about our business, they adversely change their recommendations regarding our Class A common stock or our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.
The trading market for our Class A common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline. Moreover, if one or more of the analysts who cover our company downgrades our Class A common stock, or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.
Our share buyback program that was approved by the Board in June 2023 could affect our stock price and increase its volatility, and may reduce the market liquidity for our stock. The share buyback program may also materially impact the Company’s liquidity.
Repurchases pursuant to the share buyback program entered into in June 2023, or any other share buyback program we adopt in the future, could affect our stock price and increase its volatility and may reduce the market liquidity for our stock. The existence of a share buyback program could also cause our stock price to be higher than it would be in the absence of such a program. Additionally, these repurchases will diminish our cash and may subject us to additional taxes, which could impact our ability to pursue possible future strategic opportunities and acquisitions and would result in lower overall returns on our cash balances. There can be no assurance that any future share repurchases will, in fact, occur, or, if they occur, that they will enhance stockholder value. Although share buyback programs are intended to enhance long-term stockholder value, short-term stock price fluctuations could reduce the effectiveness of these repurchases.
Our Class A and B common stock rank junior to our redeemable preferred stock with respect to dividends and amounts payable in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs.
On September 29, 2021, we sold 150,000 shares of redeemable preferred stock with an initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $150 million. Our Class A and B common stock rank junior to our redeemable preferred stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and amounts payable in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each share of redeemable preferred stock will be entitled to receive an amount per share equal to the initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, subject to adjustment, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, which dividends accrue at a rate of 9% per annum. No distribution of our assets may be made to holders of our Class A and B common stock until we have paid to holders of our redeemable preferred stock such liquidation preference. In addition, as a holding company, we are dependent on cash distributions from Dream Finders Homes Holdings, LLC (“DFH LLC”) and, thus, our ability to cover our expenses, all applicable taxes payable and dividends, if any, declared by us depends on DFH LLC’s ability first to satisfy its obligations to its creditors and make distributions to holders of the Series B preferred units of DFH LLC and then to us.
Shares of our redeemable preferred stock are convertible into shares of our Class A common stock in certain circumstances and, upon conversion, will dilute common stock shareholders’ percentage of ownership.
Subsequent to the fifth anniversary of its issuance (or earlier in the event of our non-compliance with a protective covenant), a holder can convert the redeemable preferred stock into shares of Class A common stock at a conversion price that will be based on the average of the last reported sales price of the Company’s Class A common stock for the ninety trading days immediately preceding but not including the date of the Optional Conversion Notice (as defined in the certificate of designations for the redeemable preferred stock), less 20% of the aforementioned average (increasing to 25% in the event of non-compliance with a protective covenant) and subject to a floor conversion price of $4.00. Although we intend to call the shares of redeemable preferred stock for redemption prior to their conversion, in the event the shares of redeemable preferred stock are converted into shares of Class A common stock, such issuance will cause substantial dilution to the holders of our common stock.
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Certain rights of the holders of the redeemable preferred stock could delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover or takeover attempt of us.
Certain rights of the holders of the redeemable preferred stock could make it more difficult or more expensive for a third party to acquire us. If we undergo a Change of Control (as defined in the certificate of designations for the redeemable preferred stock), we must redeem all of the shares of redeemable preferred stock for cash consideration equal to the initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, subject to adjustment, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, plus if the Change of Control occurs before the fourth anniversary of the date of issuance, a premium equal to the dividends that would have accumulated on such share from and after the date of the Change of Control and through the fourth anniversary of the date of issuance of the redeemable preferred stock.
General Risk Factors
Information system failures, cyber incidents or breaches in security could adversely affect us.
We rely on accounting, financial, operational, management and other information systems to conduct our operations. Our information systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunication failures, computer viruses, security breaches, including malware and phishing, cyberattacks, natural disasters, usage errors by our employees and other related risks. Any cyber incident or attack or other disruption or failure in these information systems, or other systems or infrastructure upon which they rely, could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, any failure or security breach of information systems or data could result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation or a loss of confidence in our security measures, which could harm our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. Although we have implemented systems and processes intended to secure our information systems, there can be no assurance that our efforts to maintain the security and integrity of our information systems will be effective or that future attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging.
Presently, we employ a limited array of both traditional and generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) solutions for specific sales, administrative, and operational functions, including aiding in research used for disclosures subject to management review. It is conceivable that we might integrate further AI solutions into our information systems in the future, potentially assuming a more critical role in our operations over time. The continuous advancement and utilization of technology, encompassing cloud-based computing and AI, introduce possibilities for the inadvertent exposure or misuse of the personal data integral to our business operations, as well as the unintentional disclosure or deliberate destruction of confidential information stored within our systems or those of our third-party providers, via portable media or storage devices. Such occurrences may lead to considerable increases in operational and security expenses, tarnished reputation, regulatory penalties, or expenses related to legal defense. AI programs can incur significant costs and demand substantial expertise for development, pose challenges in setup and management, and necessitate periodic updates.
Competitors or other entities may integrate AI into their information systems and business operations more swiftly or effectively than us, potentially impairing our competitive edge and negatively impacting our financial performance.
Furthermore, our information technology infrastructure requires sustained allocation of substantial resources for the upkeep, safeguarding, and enhancement of existing systems, as well as for the development of new systems. This ensures our ability to keep abreast of ongoing advancements in information processing technology, evolving legal and regulatory standards, the growing imperative to safeguard employee and customer data, shifts in unauthorized data access methods, and the evolving IT demands tied to our expanding product portfolio. There is no guarantee that our endeavors, encompassing system consolidation, fortification, upgrades, and expansion, along with embedding security into the architecture of our information systems, and the development of new systems to match the pace of technological evolution, including generative AI platforms, will yield the desired outcomes or prevent the emergence of additional system-related challenges in the future.
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Our business is subject to complex and evolving U.S. laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection.
As part of our normal business activities, we collect and store certain information, including information specific to homebuyers, customers, employees, vendors and suppliers. We may share some of this information with third parties who assist us with certain aspects of our business. The regulatory environment surrounding data privacy and protection is constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change. Laws and regulations governing data privacy and the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information pose increasingly complex compliance challenges and potentially elevate our costs. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with applicable data protection laws could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments and negative publicity, require us to change our business practices, increase the costs and complexity of compliance and adversely affect our business. As noted above, we are also subject to the possibility of cyber incidents or attacks, which themselves may result in a violation of these laws. Additionally, if we acquire a company that has violated or is not in compliance with applicable data protection laws, we may incur significant liabilities and penalties as a result.
Increasing attention to environmental, social and governance matters may impact our business, financial results or stock price.
In recent years, increasing attention has been given to corporate activities related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters in public discourse and in the investment community. A number of advocacy groups, both domestically and internationally, have campaigned for governmental and private action to promote change at public companies related to ESG matters, including through the investment and voting practices of investment advisers, public pension funds, universities and other members of the investing community.
These activities include increasing attention and demands for action related to climate change and promoting the use of energy saving building materials. A failure to comply with investor or customer expectations and standards, which are evolving, or if we are perceived to not have responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, could also cause reputational harm to our business and could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings systems for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. These ratings are used by some investors to assist in forming their investment and voting decisions. Unfavorable ESG ratings may lead to increased negative investor sentiment toward us and our industry and to the diversion of investment to other industries, which could have a negative impact on our stock price and our access to and costs of capital.
Negative publicity could adversely affect our reputation as well as our business, financial results and stock price.
Our business success is dependent upon the reputation of the Dream Finders brand and its association with quality and integrity. If we are unable to maintain the position of our brand, our business may be adversely affected, which could result in lower sales and earnings. Unfavorable media related to our industry, company, brands, marketing, personnel, operations, business performance or prospects may affect our stock price and the performance of our business, regardless of its accuracy or inaccuracy. The speed at which negative publicity can be disseminated has increased dramatically with the capabilities of electronic communication, including social media outlets, websites, blogs, newsletters and other digital platforms. Our success in maintaining, extending and expanding our brand image depends on our ability to adapt to this rapidly changing media environment. Adverse publicity or negative commentary from any media outlets could damage our reputation and reduce the demand for our homes, which would adversely affect our business.
Global economic and political instability and conflicts could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our business could be adversely affected by unstable economic and political conditions within the United States and foreign jurisdictions and geopolitical conflicts, including the continued conflicts between Israel and Hamas and Ukraine and Russia or other armed conflicts, civil unrest or acts of terrorism. While we do not have any customer or direct supplier relationships in either country, the current military conflict, and related sanctions, as well as export controls or actions that may be initiated by nations (e.g., potential cyberattacks, disruption of energy flows, etc.) and other potential uncertainties could adversely affect our supply chain by causing shortages or increases in costs for materials necessary to construct homes and/or increases to the price of gasoline and other fuels. In addition, such events could cause higher interest rates, inflation or general economic uncertainty, which could negatively impact our business partners, employees or customers or otherwise adversely impact our business.
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Our business could be materially and adversely disrupted by an epidemic or pandemic, or similar public threat, or fear of such an event, and the measures that federal, state and local governments and other authorities implement to address it.
An epidemic, pandemic or similar serious public health issue and the measures undertaken by governmental authorities to address it, could significantly disrupt or prevent us from operating our business in the ordinary course for an extended period, and thereby, along with any associated economic and social instability or distress, have a material adverse impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Global and U.S. agencies declared the end of the related emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2023. This health crisis had far-reaching adverse effects on the global economy, financial markets, and various stakeholders including our employees, customers, suppliers, and other business associates. There is no guarantee that a future outbreak of this or any other widespread epidemics or pandemics will not occur, or that the U.S. economy will fully recover, either of which could materially adversely affect our business.
Any future government shutdowns or slowdowns may materially adversely affect our business or financial results.
Any future government shutdowns or slowdowns may materially adversely affect our business or financial results. We can make no assurances that potential home closings affected by any such shutdown or slowdown will occur after the shutdown or slowdown has ended.
Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factor Summary
The information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking statements.” Many statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are not statements of historical fact, including statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Certain, but not necessarily all, of such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “projection,” “should” or “will” or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
•our market opportunity and the potential growth of that market;
•trends with respect to interest rates and cancellation rates;
•our strategy, expected outcomes and growth prospects;
•trends in our operations, industry and markets;
•our future profitability, indebtedness, liquidity, access to capital and financial condition; and
•our integration of companies that we have acquired into our operations.
We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events based on information available to our management at the time the statements were made. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, we cannot assure you that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. The following summary risk factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements:
•the negative impact of an increase in cancellation rates affecting our home closings, backlog and sales revenues as a result of rising interest rates, inflationary pressures or other factors;
•a shortage of building materials or labor, or increases in costs that delay or increase the cost of home construction;
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•the impact from global economic or other factors that could adversely affect demand for new homes;
•volatility and uncertainty in the credit markets and broader financial markets;
•the success of our operations in new markets and our ability to expand into additional new markets;
•our ability to continue to leverage our asset-light and capital-efficient lot acquisition strategy;
•our ability to develop our projects successfully or within expected timeframes;
•disruption in the terms or availability of mortgage financing or an increase in the number of foreclosures in our markets;
•shortages of, or increased prices for, labor, land or raw materials used in land development and housing construction, including due to changes in trade policies;
•delays in land development or home construction resulting from natural disasters, adverse weather conditions or other events outside our control;
•changes in liabilities under, or the failure or inability to comply with, governmental laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations;
•the degree and nature of our competition;
•negative publicity or poor relations with the residents of our projects;
•existing and future litigation, arbitration or other claims;
•availability of qualified personnel and third-party contractors and subcontractors;
•information system failures, cyber incidents or breaches in security;
•our ability to retain our key personnel; and
•other factors we discuss under the section entitled “Risk Factors.”
We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to the operation of our business. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risks described under “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
The Company engages third parties to perform periodic assessments of certain aspects of our cybersecurity measures, including vulnerability assessments, audits and independent reviews of our information security control environment and operating effectiveness. The results of such assessments, audits and reviews are reported to the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board of Directors, and the Company adjusts its cybersecurity policies, standards, processes and practices as necessary based on the information provided by these assessments, audits and reviews.
The VP of IT and the NVP of Finance work in coordination with the Cybersecurity Response Committee, which also includes our Chief Financial Officer and representatives from legal, internal audit and SEC reporting functions. In the event of a cyber incident, the Cybersecurity Response Committee utilizes a formal incident response plan based on the NIST Framework to assess and manage cybersecurity threats. The incident response plan encompasses the containment, eradication, recovery, and resolution processes for the incident, while also detailing the individuals and groups that need to be notified.
The VP of IT has served in various roles in information technology and information security for over 25 years, including serving as the Chief Information Security Officer of a healthcare company and a member of the cyber emergency response team at several companies. The VP of IT holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science and has attained various professional certifications in cybersecurity. The NVP of Finance and the rest of the Cybersecurity Response Committee hold undergraduate and graduate degrees in their respective fields, and have over 50 years of collective experience managing enterprise risks at the Company and at similar companies, including risks arising from cybersecurity threats.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We lease approximately 45,000 square feet of office space in Jacksonville, Florida for our corporate headquarters; this lease expires in 2033, with potential renewal options. We also lease offices in other markets where we conduct business, although none of these properties are material to the operation of our business. All facilities are in good condition, adequately utilized, and sufficient to meet our present operating needs.
Refer to “Business—Land Acquisition and Development Process” for a summary of the other properties that we controlled as of December 31, 2024.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we are a party to ongoing legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. Refer to Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies— Legal Proceedings to our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our Class A common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “DFH.” As of February 19, 2025, the closing price of our Class A common stock on the NYSE was $21.98, and we had 10 stockholders of record, including Cede & Co. as nominee of The Depository Trust Company.
Dividends
We have not previously declared or paid any cash dividends on our Class A common stock. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Company’s Board of Directors”) and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions contained in any of our financing arrangements and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
Stock Performance Graph
The performance graph below compares the cumulative total return of our Class A common stock since our initial public offering on January 21, 2021 through December 31, 2024, with the Standard and Poor’s 500 Companies Stock Index (“S&P 500 Index”) and the Standard & Poor’s Homebuilders Select Industry Index (“S&P Homebuilders Index”) for the same period. The comparison assumes that $100 was invested in DFH, the S&P 500 Index, and the S&P Homebuilders Index on January 21, 2021. The stock performance graph should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing made by us under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate the stock performance graph by reference in another filing.
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Share Buyback Program
In June 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share buyback program (the “Share Buyback Program”) under which the Company can repurchase up to $25.0 million of its Class A common stock through June 30, 2026 in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
We expect to execute any transactions under the Share Buyback Program through a combination of Rule 10b5-1 trading plans and transactions made in compliance with Rule 10b-18. The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the Share Buyback Program will depend on a number of factors, including constraints specified in any price, general business and market conditions, and alternative investment opportunities. The Share Buyback Program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares in any period, and may be expanded, extended, modified or discontinued at any time. The following table provides information with respect to repurchases of shares of Class A common stock by the Company during the three months ended December 31, 2024:
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid Per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10/1/2024 - 10/31/2024 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 18,330,034 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 11/1/2024 - 11/30/2024 | 39,232 | 29.46 | 39,232 | 17,174,229 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/1/2024 - 12/31/2024 | — | — | — | 17,174,229 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 39,232 | $ | 29.46 | 39,232 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ITEM 6. RESERVED
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements and related notes thereto. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Dream Finders,” “DFH,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is intended to help the reader understand our business, operations and present business environment and is provided as a supplement to, and should be read together with the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” and the financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. In addition, the statements in this discussion and analysis regarding outlook, our expectations regarding the performance of our business, anticipated financial results and liquidity are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in “Forward-Looking Statements” and in “Risk Factors” above. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements."
Business Overview and Outlook
We design, build and sell homes primarily in high-growth markets using our asset-light lot acquisition strategy. Our primary focus is on constructing and selling single-family homes across entry-level, first-time move-up, second-time move-up, and active adult markets as well as homes under built-for-rent contracts. To fully serve our homebuyers and capture ancillary business opportunities, we have financial services operations that offer title insurance and mortgage banking solutions.
Our markets have experienced sustained home affordability challenges and significant competition and although our net sales have increased from the prior year, the increase was below our expectations. Despite ticking down since last year, mortgage interest rates and inflationary pressures remain elevated. We believe uncertainty and interest rate volatility are keeping homebuyers on the sidelines. We have consistently used incentives, such as mortgage buydowns, to sustain demand, and we have continued to build affordable speculative inventory at higher than historical levels. Our asset-light strategy has allowed us to remain agile in these market conditions by strategically renegotiating lot option takedowns that align with our sales pace.
We continue to see the positive effects of our commitment to future growth, whether through organic efforts, acquisitions, or a combination of both, all while keeping an asset-light approach. This strategy is reflected in our homebuilding revenues and closings, which grew by 18% and 17%, respectively, when comparing 2024 to 2023. Notably, our acquisition of Crescent Homes played a significant role in these achievements. We believe this success, coupled with our increased investments in our lot pipeline, inventories and construction starts, positions us well for the future.
We are optimistic based on the limited supply of homes, both new and existing resales, at affordable price points and demographic trends that continue to support favorable demand dynamics in our markets. We believe that the current environment will continue to support faster inventory turnover and reinforce our shift towards spec sales for the foreseeable future. Our strategy has also allowed us to continue to pursue opportunities that contribute to our long-term outlook, including acquiring Jet HomeLoans in July 2024 and Liberty Communities, LLC (“Liberty Communities”) in January 2025. We anticipate future organic and acquisitive growth in the years ahead across our homebuilding and financial services operations.
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Recent Developments
Liberty Communities Acquisition
On January 23, 2025, we acquired the majority of the homebuilding assets of Liberty Communities, allowing us to enter the Atlanta, Georgia market and further expand our operations in Greenville, South Carolina. Assets acquired include over 750 lots and home sites in different stages of construction. Additionally, the Company expects to control approximately 5,000 lots as a result of the transaction. The operations of Liberty Communities will be included in our Southeast segment as of the date of acquisition. Refer to Note 15, Subsequent Events to our consolidated financial statements for more information.
Expansion in the Southeast Segment
In the fourth quarter of 2024, we expanded organically into southwest Florida. As of December 31, 2024, we controlled 42 lots in this market.
Alliant Title Acquisition
On October 18, 2024, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Colorado-based title insurance underwriter, Alliant National Title Insurance Company, Inc. and a related affiliate. The closing of this transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including insurance regulatory approvals, which are currently ongoing.
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Results of Consolidated Operations
The following table summarizes our results of operations and other financial data (in thousands, except per share amounts) for the periods indicated:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Income before taxes: | |||||||||||
| Homebuilding | $ | 434,308 | $ | 406,298 | |||||||
| Financial services | 31,959 | 19,741 | |||||||||
Other(1) | (28,413) | (21,614) | |||||||||
| Income before taxes | 437,854 | 404,425 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | (97,272) | (96,483) | |||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income | 340,582 | 307,942 | |||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (5,241) | (12,042) | |||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income attributable to Dream Finders Homes, Inc. | $ | 335,341 | $ | 295,900 | |||||||
| Other Financial Data: | |||||||||||
Basic EPS(2) | $ | 3.44 | $ | 3.03 | |||||||
Diluted EPS(2) | $ | 3.34 | $ | 2.79 | |||||||
EBITDA (in thousands)(3) | $ | 629,750 | $ | 521,495 | |||||||
EBITDA margin %(3)(4) | 14.1 | % | 13.9 | % | |||||||
Return on participating equity(5) | 29.7 | % | 36.3 | % | |||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets Data (as of period end): | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 274,384 | $ | 494,145 | |||||||
| Construction lines of credit | 701,386 | 530,384 | |||||||||
| Senior unsecured notes, net | 295,049 | 293,918 | |||||||||
| Mortgage warehouse facilities | 289,617 | — | |||||||||
| Total mezzanine equity | 169,951 | 148,500 | |||||||||
| Total Dream Finders Homes, Inc. stockholders’ equity | 1,244,922 | 924,584 | |||||||||
| Total equity | 1,250,409 | 937,650 | |||||||||
(1)Represents amounts within our corporate component (“Corporate”).
(2)Refer to Note 14, Earnings Per Share to the consolidated financial statements for disclosures related to the calculation of EPS. Diluted shares were calculated by using the treasury stock method for stock grants and the if-converted method for the redeemable preferred stock and the associated preferred dividends.
(3)EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a definition of this non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation to our most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
(4)Calculated as a percentage of total revenues.
(5)Return on participating equity is calculated as net and comprehensive income attributable to DFH, less redeemable preferred stock distributions, divided by average beginning and ending total Dream Finders Homes, Inc. stockholders’ equity (“participating equity”) for the trailing twelve months.
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Results of Homebuilding Operations
The following table sets forth our results of homebuilding operations (in thousands) for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Homebuilding revenues | $ | 4,397,877 | $ | 3,738,888 | $ | 658,989 | 18 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Homebuilding cost of sales | 3,591,483 | 3,011,813 | 579,670 | 19 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense(1) | 395,751 | 303,068 | 92,683 | 31 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Income) loss from unconsolidated entities | (433) | 12 | (445) | (3708) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration revaluation(2) | 13,939 | 46,590 | (32,651) | (70) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | (1,443) | (635) | (808) | 127 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total income before taxes related to homebuilding operations(1)(2) | $ | 398,580 | $ | 378,040 | $ | 20,540 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Other Financial and Operating Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home closings | 8,583 | 7,314 | 1,269 | 17 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Average sales price of homes closed(3) | $ | 509,249 | $ | 505,764 | $ | 3,485 | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales | 6,727 | 5,744 | 983 | 17 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cancellation rate | 16.6 | % | 18.3 | % | (1.7) | % | (9) | % | |||||||||||||||
Homebuilding gross margin (in thousands)(4) | $ | 806,394 | $ | 727,075 | $ | 79,319 | 11 | % | |||||||||||||||
Homebuilding gross margin %(4)(5) | 18.3 | % | 19.4 | % | (1.1) | % | (6) | % | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted homebuilding gross margin (in thousands)(6) | $ | 1,186,019 | $ | 1,015,624 | $ | 170,395 | 17 | % | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted homebuilding gross margin %(5)(6) | 27.0 | % | 27.2 | % | (0.2) | % | (1) | % | |||||||||||||||
Active communities as of period end(7) | 242 | 221 | 21 | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Backlog - units | 2,599 | 3,978 | (1,379) | (35) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Backlog - value (in thousands) | $ | 1,304,463 | $ | 1,887,368 | $ | (582,905) | (31) | % | |||||||||||||||
Net homebuilding debt to net capitalization(6) | 33.7 | % | 23.3 | % | 10.4 | % | 45 | % | |||||||||||||||
(1)Selling, general and administrative expense, which is comprised of homebuilding segments and Corporate expense (“SG&A”), includes $33 million and $19 million of Corporate SG&A for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Corporate amounts are included as they primarily relate to our homebuilding business.
(2)Contingent consideration revaluation, which is comprised of amounts from the homebuilding segments and Corporate, (“contingent consideration”) includes $3 million and $9 million of Corporate contingent consideration expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Corporate amounts are included as they represent contingent consideration relating to our homebuilding business that the Company does not charge to the segments.
(3)Average sales price of homes closed is calculated based on homebuilding revenues, adjusted for the impact of percentage of completion revenues, and excluding deposit forfeitures and land sales, over homes closed.
(4)Homebuilding gross margin is homebuilding revenues less homebuilding cost of sales.
(5)Calculated as a percentage of homebuilding revenues.
(6)Adjusted homebuilding gross margin and net homebuilding debt to net capitalization are non-GAAP financial measures. For definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to our most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
(7)A community becomes active once the model is completed or the community has its fifth net sale. A community becomes inactive when it has fewer than five homesites remaining to sell.
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The following tables summarize home closings and average sales price (“ASP”) of homes closed by homebuilding segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, as well as active communities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 | As of December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Segment | Home Closings | ASP | Active Communities | |||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | 2,838 | $ | 484,345 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||
| Mid-Atlantic | 2,594 | 446,667 | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
| Midwest | 3,151 | 583,198 | 116 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 8,583 | $ | 509,249 | 242 | ||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Segment | Home Closings | ASP | Active Communities | |||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | 3,170 | $ | 470,405 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||
| Mid-Atlantic | 1,597 | 396,462 | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
| Midwest | 2,547 | 618,306 | 120 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 7,314 | $ | 505,764 | 221 | ||||||||||||||||
The following tables present income before taxes (in thousands) and homebuilding gross margin (or “gross margin”) percentage by segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Segment | Income Before Taxes | Gross Margin % | Income Before Taxes | Gross Margin % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | $ | 141,465 | 19.1 | % | $ | 183,537 | 18.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-Atlantic | 130,067 | 19.6 | % | 54,646 | 17.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Midwest | 162,776 | 17.0 | % | 168,115 | 20.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total(1) | $ | 434,308 | 18.3 | % | $ | 406,298 | 19.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
(1)Total income before taxes by segment does not include $33 million and $19 million of Corporate SG&A, and $3 million and $9 million of Corporate contingent consideration expense for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These amounts are included within total income before taxes related to homebuilding operations, which is presented in the Results of Homebuilding Operations table above. Refer to footnotes (1) and (2) above for more information.
Homebuilding Revenues. The increase in homebuilding revenues was primarily attributable to 8,583 home closings for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of 1,269 homes, or 17%, from 7,314 home closings for the year ended December 31, 2023. In 2024, 877 home closings with an ASP of $534,617 were contributed by the Crescent Homes acquisition. The consolidated ASP of homes closed increased 1% when comparing the year ended December 31, 2024 to the year ended December 31, 2023. Excluding Crescent Homes, 41% of our closings were in the Midwest segment with an ASP of $583,198, which is the highest ASP of our homebuilding segments.
Homebuilding Cost of Sales and Homebuilding Gross Margin. The higher homebuilding cost of sales and homebuilding gross margin were primarily due to the increase in home closings for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in homebuilding gross margin as a percentage of homebuilding revenues when comparing the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was primarily attributable to higher land and financing costs, partially offset by direct cost reductions and changes in product mix. Additionally, amortization of purchase accounting adjustments associated with home closings from the Crescent Homes acquisition negatively impacted the year ended December 31, 2024 homebuilding gross margin percentage by approximately 12 bps.
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Southeast. Our Southeast segment homebuilding revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1.4 billion, a decrease of $135 million, or 9%, from $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. This decline in revenue was driven by a decrease in home closings of 332, or 10%, partially offset by a 3% increase in the ASP of homes closed. Homebuilding gross margin percentage was 19.1% for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing an increase of 20 bps, or 1%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in homebuilding gross margin percentage was mostly the result of direct cost reductions and, to a lesser extent, cycle time improvements, partially offset by higher land and financing costs.
Mid-Atlantic. Our Mid-Atlantic segment homebuilding revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1.2 billion, an increase of $530 million, or 84%, from $633 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This revenue growth was primarily driven by an increase in home closings of 997, or 62%, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Crescent Homes contributed $470 million in homebuilding revenues and 877 home closings with an ASP of $534,617 for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Excluding Crescent, homebuilding revenues in the Mid-Atlantic segment increased by 9% when comparing the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, primarily due to more home closings and, to a lesser degree, a higher ASP of $401,744, an increase of $5,282, or 1%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Without Crescent, homebuilding gross margin percentage was 18.5% for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing an increase of 60 bps, or 3%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The improvement in this homebuilding gross margin percentage was primarily a result of direct cost reductions and, to a lesser extent, cycle time improvements, partially offset by higher land and financing costs.
Midwest. Our Midwest segment homebuilding revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1.8 billion, an increase of $264 million, or 17%, from $1.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase was due to higher home closings of 604, or 24%, partially offset by a decrease of 6% in the ASP of homes closed. The decrease in ASP of homes closed was due to changes in the geographic mix of closings within the segment. Homebuilding gross margin percentage was 17.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of 360 bps, or 17%, when compared to year ended December 31, 2023. The reduction in homebuilding gross margin percentage was due to an increase in land costs and, to a lesser extent, higher financing costs, partially offset by direct cost reductions.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense. SG&A as a percentage of homebuilding revenues was 9.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024, a slight increase of 90 bps from 8.1% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The dollar increase in SG&A was primarily attributable to higher compensation costs of $51 million due to our growth from continued expansion, including the February 2024 acquisition of Crescent Homes and our operational expansions in Florida and Arizona. Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2024, SG&A included $50 million of spend on forward commitment programs to allow our homebuyers to access lower mortgage interest rates on home loans at the point of sale, representing a $22 million increase when compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.
Contingent Consideration Revaluation. $30 million of the decrease in contingent consideration expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 was attributable to lower fair value adjustments of future expected earnout payments related to the MHI acquisition, as actual results remained in line with forecasts when compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. As the earnout period for the MHI acquisition is nearing its completion in the third quarter of 2025, it is less susceptible to changes in long-term underlying projections. Additionally, the earnout period related to the 2020 acquisition of H&H Constructors of Fayetteville, LLC concluded in the third quarter of 2024 and the final payment for the contingent consideration agreement was made in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Income Before Taxes Related to Homebuilding Operations. The increase in income before taxes related to homebuilding operations during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily attributable to the increase in home closing volume and the reduction in contingent consideration expense, partially offset by the increase in SG&A, all explained above.
Refer to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed on February 29, 2024 for the results of operations and related discussion for December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
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Net Sales, Backlog and Closings
The following table presents information concerning our net sales, starts and closings in each of our homebuilding segments for the periods set forth below:
| Year Ended December 31, | Period Over Period Percent Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Segment | Net Sales | Starts | Closings | Net Sales | Starts | Closings | Net Sales | Starts | Closings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southeast(1)(2) | 1,754 | 2,868 | 2,838 | 1,822 | 2,693 | 3,170 | -4 | % | 6 | % | -10 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-Atlantic | 2,196 | 2,623 | 2,594 | 1,360 | 1,627 | 1,597 | 61 | % | 61 | % | 62 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midwest | 2,777 | 3,252 | 3,151 | 2,562 | 2,551 | 2,547 | 8 | % | 27 | % | 24 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 6,727 | 8,743 | 8,583 | 5,744 | 6,871 | 7,314 | 17 | % | 27 | % | 17 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Excluding net sales under built-for-rent contracts, 2024 net sales in the Southeast segment increased 9% when compared to 2023. The year ended December 31, 2024 also included a built-for-rent contract termination discussed further below.
(2)Closings under built-for-rent contracts decreased 18% when comparing the year ended December 31, 2024 to the year ended December 31, 2023.
The following table presents information concerning our backlog in number of homes, ASP and aggregate value (in thousands) for our homebuilding segments as of the dates set forth below:
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Segment | Homes(1) | ASP | Value | Homes(1) | ASP | Value | |||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | 1,150 | $ | 406,246 | $ | 467,183 | 2,234 | $ | 393,356 | $ | 878,757 | |||||||||||||
Mid-Atlantic(2) | 678 | 464,798 | 315,133 | 599 | 427,593 | 256,128 | |||||||||||||||||
| Midwest | 771 | 677,234 | 522,147 | 1,145 | 657,190 | 752,483 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 2,599 | $ | 501,910 | $ | 1,304,463 | 3,978 | $ | 474,451 | $ | 1,887,368 | |||||||||||||
(1)Represents the number of homes in backlog from the previous period, plus net sales during the period, minus the number of home closings during the current period.
(2)On February, 1 2024, backlog increased by 477 due to our Crescent Homes acquisition on that date. 235 of the homes in backlog as of December 31, 2024 are from Crescent Homes.
Backlog of sold homes as of December 31, 2024 was 2,599 homes valued at approximately $1.3 billion based on ASP, a decrease of 1,379 homes and $583 million in value, or 35% and 31%, respectively, from 3,978 homes valued at approximately $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2023. The overall decrease in backlog was mostly reflective of a continued trend toward move-in ready spec homes relative to pre-order sales, and to a lesser extent, a reduction in built-for-rent contracts in backlog. Spec homes typically result in quicker closings and turnover of the backlog within the same reporting period. Approximately 187 of the homes in our backlog are expected to be delivered in 2026 and beyond.
Southeast. Backlog for the Southeast segment as of December 31, 2024 was 1,150 homes, a decrease of 1,084 from 2,234 homes as of December 31, 2023. The decrease from prior year was primarily attributable to a continued trend toward move-in ready spec homes relative to pre-order sales and a reduction in net sales under built-for-rent contracts.
Mid-Atlantic. Backlog for the Mid-Atlantic segment as of December 31, 2024 was 678 homes, an increase of 79 from 599 homes as of December 31, 2023. The increase in backlog from prior year was attributable to the Crescent Homes acquisition and, to a lesser extent, higher net sales relative to closings, partially offset by lower net sales relative to closings under built-for-rent contracts.
Midwest. Backlog for the Midwest segment as of December 31, 2024 was 771 homes, a decrease of 374 from 1,145 homes as of December 31, 2023. The decrease from prior year was mostly a result of higher closings relative to net sales, as well as the continued trend toward more sales of move-in-ready spec homes relative to pre-order sales.
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The following table presents information concerning our cancellation rates for each of our homebuilding segments for the periods set forth below:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| Segment | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
| Southeast | 23.7 | % | 21.5 | % | |||||||
| Mid-Atlantic | 12.9 | % | 14.4 | % | |||||||
| Midwest | 14.4 | % | 17.8 | % | |||||||
Total(1) | 16.6 | % | 18.3 | % | |||||||
(1)Our cancellation rate for a given period is calculated as the total number of new sales contracts cancelled during the period, divided by the total number of new home sales contracts entered into during the period.
Our cancellation rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 16.6%, an improvement of 170 basis points when compared to the 18.3% cancellation rate for the year ended December 31, 2023. The overall improvement in cancellation rate was mostly a result of the trend toward higher spec sales relative to pre-order sales. The higher cancellation rate in the Southeast segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributable to a built-for-rent contract of 229 units that was terminated during the first quarter of 2024 based on a strategic decision to convert the controlled lots underlying the deal into future retail sales. The total cancellation rate and the Southeast cancellation rate excluding built-for-rent activity were 14.1% and 13.4%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Financial Services
Our Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing and title services primarily through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Jet HomeLoans and DF Title, respectively. The following table presents selected financial information and supplemental data for our Financial Services segment for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (dollars in thousands, unless otherwise indicated):
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Mortgage revenues | $ | 34,786 | $ | — | |||||||
| Title services revenues | 18,943 | 9,698 | |||||||||
| Total financial services revenues | 53,729 | 9,698 | |||||||||
| Financial services expense | 31,540 | 5,727 | |||||||||
| Income from unconsolidated entities | 9,770 | 15,770 | |||||||||
| Financial services income before taxes | $ | 31,959 | $ | 19,741 | |||||||
Supplemental data(1): | |||||||||||
| Total originations: | |||||||||||
| Number of loans | 4,977 | 3,189 | |||||||||
| Principal (in millions) | $ | 2,196 | $ | 1,318 | |||||||
| Capture rate | 71.9 | % | 65.5 | % | |||||||
| Average FICO score | 744 | 741 | |||||||||
| Funded origination breakdown: | |||||||||||
| Government (FHA, VA, USDA) | 40 | % | 41 | % | |||||||
| Non-agency | 60 | % | 59 | % | |||||||
(1)Supplemental data reflects operations of Jet HomeLoans prior to its consolidation in the Company’s financial statements beginning on July 1, 2024. Refer to Note 2, Acquisitions to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
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The $35 million, or 100%, increase in mortgage revenues, $21 million of the increase in financial services expense and $11 million of the increase in the financial services income before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, respectively, were all primarily due to the consolidation of Jet HomeLoans beginning July 1, 2024. The income before taxes of Jet HomeLoans prior to July 1, 2024 was included in income from unconsolidated entities in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
The $9 million, or 95%, increase in title services revenues, $5 million of the increase in financial services expense and $4 million of the increase in the financial services income before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, were primarily the result of DF Title’s expansion of operations into the Texas market. Our Texas market was previously serviced by our unconsolidated title joint ventures, which resulted in a partially offsetting impact to financial services income before taxes of $2 million.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management utilizes specific non-GAAP financial measures as supplementary tools to evaluate operating performance. These include adjusted homebuilding gross margin, EBITDA, and net homebuilding debt to net capitalization. Other companies may not calculate non-GAAP financial measures in the same manner that we do. Accordingly, these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered only as a supplement to relevant GAAP information, as reconciled for each measure below. In the future, we may incorporate additional adjustments to these non-GAAP financial measures as we find them relevant and beneficial for both management and investors.
Adjusted Homebuilding Gross Margin
We define adjusted homebuilding gross margin as homebuilding gross margin excluding the effects of capitalized interest, lot option fees, amortization included in homebuilding cost of sales (adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with acquisitions) and commission expense. Our management believes this information is meaningful because it isolates the impact that these excluded items have on homebuilding gross margin. We include internal and external commission expense in homebuilding cost of sales, not selling, general and administrative expense, and therefore commission expense is taken into account in homebuilding gross margin.
As a result, in order to provide a meaningful comparison to the public company homebuilders that include commission expense below the homebuilding gross margin line in selling, general and administrative expense, we have excluded commission expense from adjusted homebuilding gross margin. However, because adjusted homebuilding gross margin information excludes capitalized interest, lot option fees, purchase accounting amortization and commission expense, which have real economic effects and could impact our results of operations, the utility of adjusted homebuilding gross margin information as a measure of our operating performance may be limited.
The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted homebuilding gross margin to the GAAP financial measure of homebuilding gross margin for each of the periods indicated (unaudited and in thousands, except percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
Homebuilding gross margin(1) | $ | 806,394 | $ | 727,075 | $ | 612,420 | |||||||||||
Interest expense in homebuilding cost of sales(2) | 187,324 | 122,759 | 60,595 | ||||||||||||||
Amortization in homebuilding cost of sales(3) | 5,087 | — | 6,701 | ||||||||||||||
| Commission expense | 187,214 | 165,790 | 140,442 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted homebuilding gross margin | $ | 1,186,019 | $ | 1,015,624 | $ | 820,158 | |||||||||||
Homebuilding gross margin %(4) | 18.3 | % | 19.4 | % | 18.4 | % | |||||||||||
Adjusted homebuilding gross margin %(4) | 27.0 | % | 27.2 | % | 24.6 | % | |||||||||||
(1)Homebuilding gross margin is homebuilding revenues less homebuilding cost of sales.
(2)Includes interest charged to homebuilding cost of sales related to our construction lines of credit and senior unsecured notes, net, as well as lot option fees.
(3)Represents amortization of purchase accounting adjustments from our acquisitions.
(4)Calculated as a percentage of homebuilding revenues.
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EBITDA
EBITDA is not a measure of net income as determined by GAAP. EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. We define EBITDA as net income before (i) interest income, (ii) capitalized interest charged in homebuilding cost of sales, (iii) interest expense, (iv) income tax expense and (v) depreciation and amortization. Management believes EBITDA is useful because it allows management to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and compare our results of operations from period to period without regard to our financing methods or capital structure or other items that impact the comparability of financial results from period to period. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or any other measure as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our computations of EBITDA may not be comparable to EBITDA of other companies.
The following table presents a reconciliation of EBITDA to the GAAP financial measure of net income for each of the periods indicated (unaudited and in thousands, except percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income attributable to Dream Finders Homes, Inc. | $ | 335,341 | $ | 295,900 | $ | 262,313 | |||||||||||
| Interest income | (5,501) | (4,299) | (169) | ||||||||||||||
Interest charged to homebuilding cost of sales(1) | 187,324 | 122,759 | 60,595 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | — | 1 | 32 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 97,272 | 96,483 | 81,859 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization(2) | 15,314 | 10,651 | 17,952 | ||||||||||||||
| EBITDA | $ | 629,750 | $ | 521,495 | $ | 422,582 | |||||||||||
EBITDA margin %(3) | 14.1% | 13.9% | 12.6% | ||||||||||||||
(1)Includes interest charged to homebuilding cost of sales related to our construction lines of credit and senior unsecured notes, net, as well as lot option fees.
(2)Includes amortization of purchase accounting adjustments from our acquisitions.
(3)Calculated as a percentage of total revenues.
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Net Homebuilding Debt to Net Capitalization
Net homebuilding debt to net capitalization is a non-GAAP financial measure that is the sum of construction lines of credit and senior unsecured notes, net less cash and cash equivalents (“net homebuilding debt”), divided by the sum of net homebuilding debt, total mezzanine equity and total equity (“net capitalization”). Net homebuilding debt excludes borrowings under our mortgage warehouse facilities. Management believes the ratio of net homebuilding debt to net capitalization is meaningful as it is used to assess the performance of our homebuilding segments, as well as to establish targets for performance-based compensation. We also use this ratio as a measure of overall leverage.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net homebuilding debt to net capitalization to the GAAP financial measure of total debt to total capitalization for each of the periods indicated (unaudited and in thousands, except percentages):
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Total debt | $ | 1,286,052 | $ | 824,302 | |||||||
| Total mezzanine equity | 169,951 | 148,500 | |||||||||
| Total equity | 1,250,409 | 937,650 | |||||||||
| Total capitalization | $ | 2,706,412 | $ | 1,910,452 | |||||||
| Total debt to total capitalization | 47.5 | % | 43.1 | % | |||||||
| Total debt | $ | 1,286,052 | $ | 824,302 | |||||||
| Less: Mortgage warehouse facilities | 289,617 | — | |||||||||
| Less: Cash and cash equivalents | 274,384 | 494,145 | |||||||||
| Net homebuilding debt | $ | 722,051 | $ | 330,157 | |||||||
| Total mezzanine equity | 169,951 | 148,500 | |||||||||
| Total equity | 1,250,409 | 937,650 | |||||||||
| Net capitalization | $ | 2,142,411 | $ | 1,416,307 | |||||||
| Net homebuilding debt to net capitalization | 33.7 | % | 23.3 | % | |||||||
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
We generate cash from the sale of our homes and from providing ancillary financial services. We intend to re-deploy our generated net cash to acquire and control land and further grow our operations year over year. We believe that our sources of liquidity are sufficient to satisfy our current commitments. We finance our operations through a variety of sources, including cash, borrowings under a revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”), net proceeds from the senior unsecured notes (“2028 Notes”) and mortgage warehouse facilities used in our mortgage banking operations.
Our principal uses of capital are for lot deposits, lot purchases just-in-time for construction, vertical home construction, operating expenses, the payment of routine liabilities, business acquisitions and the origination of mortgage loans. Cash allocated to 2024 business acquisitions was approximately $220 million as of December 31, 2024 and none as of December 31, 2023. There was no acquisition activity in 2023. Refer to Note 2, Acquisitions to the consolidated financial statements for more information.
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As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, our cash and total liquidity were as follows (in thousands):
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
Borrowing base(1) | $ | 1,254,094 | $ | 864,272 | |||||||
| Outstanding balance under Credit Agreement | (700,000) | (530,000) | |||||||||
Letters of credit outstanding(2) | (12,449) | — | |||||||||
| Availability under Credit Agreement | $ | 541,645 | $ | 334,272 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents(3) | 274,384 | 494,145 | |||||||||
| Total liquidity | $ | 816,029 | $ | 828,417 | |||||||
(1)As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement was reduced by the principal amount of the senior unsecured notes of $300 million.
(2)The availability under the Credit Agreement is reduced by outstanding letters of credit that are not fully cash collateralized.
(3)Includes cash and cash equivalents reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets related to financial services operations, which are not subject to restrictions and are regularly remitted to Corporate.
As of December 31, 2024, the Credit Agreement had an aggregate commitment of up to $1.4 billion. The Credit Agreement will mature on June 4, 2027. Certain of our subsidiaries guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement and the 2028 Notes. As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with the covenants set forth for all of our debt obligations. Refer to Note 3, Debt, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on the Credit Agreement, 2028 Notes and the mortgage warehouse facilities.
Cash flows generated by our homebuilding projects can differ materially from our results of operations, as these depend upon the stage in the life cycle of each project. The majority of our projects begin at the land acquisition and development stage when we enter into finished lot option and land bank option contracts by placing a deposit with a land seller, developer or land banker. Our lot deposits are an asset on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Early stages in our communities require material cash outflows relating to finished lot purchases from option contracts, entitlements and permitting, construction and furnishing of model homes, roads, utilities, general landscaping and other amenities, as well as ongoing association fees and property taxes. Except for furnishings of model homes, these costs are capitalized within our inventories and are not recognized as an expense until a home sale closes. As such, we incur significant cash outflows prior to the recognition of revenues and the related cost of sales.
In later stages of the life cycle of a community, cash inflows could significantly exceed our results of operations, as the cash outflows associated with land purchase and home construction and other expenses were previously incurred.
We actively enter into finished lot option contracts by placing deposits with land sellers or land bankers based on the aggregate purchase price of the finished lots. When entering into these contracts, we also agree to purchase finished lots at predetermined prices, time frames, and quantities that match our expected selling pace in the communities. We also enter into land development arrangements with land sellers, land developers and land bankers. Furthermore, to satisfy performance-related obligations in connection with certain land option agreements, we enter into surety bonds and letters of credit arrangements. Refer to “—Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” for additional information.
Our lot deposits are generally 100% applicable to the lot purchase price. In these transactions, we also incur lot option fees on the outstanding capital balance held by the land banker. The initial investment and lot option fees require us to have the ability to allocate liquidity resources to projects that will not generate cash inflows or operating income in the near term.
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The above cash and land-light strategies allow us to maintain an adequate lot supply in our existing markets and support ongoing growth and profitability. We continue to operate in geographic regions with consistent increases in demand for new homes and constrained lot and inventory supply compared to population and job growth trends. We intend to continue to reinvest our earnings into our business and focus on expanding our operations. In addition, as the opportunity to purchase finished lots in desired locations becomes increasingly more limited and competitive, we are committed to allocating additional liquidity to land bank deposits on land development projects, as this strategy mitigates the risks associated with holding undeveloped land on our balance sheet, while allowing us to control adequate lot supply in our key markets to support forecasted growth. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, our lot deposits related to finished lot option contracts and land bank option contracts were $458 million and $247 million, respectively.
We continue to evaluate our overall capital structure and explore options to strengthen our balance sheet. We will remain opportunistic while assessing available capital in the debt and equity markets.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities | $ | (256,648) | $ | 374,234 | $ | (27,623) | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (221,672) | (4,484) | (5,524) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | 269,689 | (216,424) | 146,955 | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities was $257 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $374 million of net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023. The change in net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities was primarily driven by higher lot deposits of $240 million, the $189 million increase of mortgage loans held for sale resulting from the Jet HomeLoans acquisition on July 1, 2024, higher increases in inventories in 2024 of $86 million as a result of higher construction starts and lot purchases and lower customer deposit activity in 2024. All of these changes are inclusive of the impact of acquisitions related to Crescent Homes and Jet HomeLoans.
Net cash used in investing activities was $222 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $4 million of net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily attributable to the acquisition of Crescent Homes on February 1, 2024 for a purchase price of $210 million, of which $188 million was paid during the year ended December 31, 2024, partially offset by net cash acquired of $10 million from the Jet HomeLoans acquisition, which was in excess of $9 million of cash consideration paid for the transaction. To a lesser extent, the change was also driven by $14 million in cash paid for the purchase of an aircraft for corporate use and $11 million in deposits placed for our pending acquisitions.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $270 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $216 million of net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023. The change in net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities was primarily attributable to net proceeds from our homebuilding debt of $171 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 used to release housing starts and purchase lots for our homebuilding operations, compared to $136 million of net homebuilding debt repayments during the year ended December 31, 2023. Additionally, there were $180 million of net proceeds from the mortgage warehouse facilities during the year ended December 31, 2024 resulting from the Jet HomeLoans acquisition.
Refer to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed on February 29, 2024 for the cash flows and related discussion for December 31, 2023 compared to year ended December 31, 2022.
Senior Unsecured Notes
On August 22, 2023, the Company issued $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.25% senior unsecured notes due August 15, 2028, which were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”). Interest on the 2028 Notes is payable in arrears semiannually on each February 15 and August 15. The 2028 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries.
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The Company received net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the 2028 Notes of $294 million after unamortized debt issuance costs of $7 million, which reduce the carrying value of the 2028 Notes reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net proceeds from the 2028 Notes were used to repay a portion of the then outstanding balance under the Company’s Credit Agreement.
The 2028 Notes are redeemable by the Company prior to August 15, 2025 through the payment of the principal amount due, which can be accomplished through the issuance of certain restricted equity offerings for specified portions of principal notes outstanding, plus specified rates and accrued and unpaid interest, and a make-whole premium in the event 100% of the principal amount is redeemed. On or after August 15, 2025, the 2028 Notes are redeemable at specified rates equal to 104.1% of the principal balance, plus accrued and unpaid interest, and periodically decrease to 100% on August 15, 2027. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture), the holders of the 2028 Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 2028 Notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
The Indenture includes customary events of default. Subject to specified exceptions, the Indenture contains certain restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to incur or guarantee certain indebtedness, issue certain equity interests or engage in certain capital stock transactions. In addition, the Indenture contains certain limitations related to mergers, consolidations, and transfers of assets.
Credit Agreement
On June 6, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to its existing revolving credit facility (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”). The amendment, among other things, (i) provides for an increase in the aggregate commitments under the revolving credit facility to $1.4 billion, subject to a borrowing base; (ii) extends the maturity date from July 17, 2026 to June 4, 2027 for certain new and existing lenders comprising $1.3 billion of the $1.4 billion of aggregate commitments under the Credit Agreement; and (iii) provides the Company with the ability to incur certain additional unsecured debt. Certain of our subsidiaries guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement includes an accordion feature that allows the aggregate commitments to increase to up to $2.0 billion, subject to a borrowing base.
Under the Credit Agreement, the Company has the ability to draw “Term SOFR Rate Loans” or “Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans”. Term SOFR Rate Loans bear interest based on Term SOFR rates for one or three-month interest periods and include a SOFR adjustment of 10 basis points for each interest period. Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans bear interest based on Daily Simple SOFR rates and include a SOFR adjustment of 10 basis points. Interest under Term SOFR Rate Loans and Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans also include an “applicable rate margin” determined based on the Company’s net debt to capitalization ratio, equivalent to credit spreads of 2.00% to 2.95%.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement was $700 million and $530 million, respectively. Under the Credit Agreement, the funds available are unsecured and availability under the borrowing base is calculated based on specific advance rates for each of finished lots, construction in process homes, and finished homes inventory on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and reduced for any outstanding unsecured indebtedness permitted under the Credit Agreement, including the 2028 Notes.
The Company had capitalized debt issuance costs related to construction lines of credit, net of amortization, of $10 million and $7 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which were included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Debt issuance costs related to the 2028 Notes and the Credit Agreement that are recorded to capitalized interest are expensed in cost of sales as the homes close.
The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company expects to remain in compliance with all debt covenants over the next 12 months. Refer to Note 3, Debt, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on covenants in the Credit Agreement.
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Contingent Consideration
Based on the terms of the purchase agreement, at the time of an acquisition, the Company may record a contingent consideration liability based on the expected fair value of any future earn out payments due to the acquiree for a typical period of up to five years post-acquisition. This liability is remeasured to fair value quarterly and the adjustment is recorded in contingent consideration revaluation in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. As of December 31, 2024, the contingent consideration liability totaled $68 million, with the entire amount expected to be payable within 12 months. Further information regarding our contingent consideration liability is provided in Note 1, Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements.
Leases
The Company has operating leases primarily associated with office space that is used by divisions outside of the Jacksonville area, model home sale-leasebacks and a corporate office building sale-leaseback. The Company also has finance leases for corporate office furniture. As of December 31, 2024, the future minimum lease payments required under these leases totaled $21 million, with $6 million payable within 12 months. Further information regarding our leases is provided in Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements.
Series B Preferred Units
On August 31, 2023, the Company redeemed all of its previously outstanding Series B preferred units. The Company made an aggregate cash payment to the Series B holders of $11 million, which included $7 million in principal plus cumulative undistributed earnings, less a negotiated discount on that date. Following the redemption, no Series B preferred units remain outstanding. Refer to Note 12, Equity to the consolidated financial statements for disclosure related to the redemption.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Based on the terms of the purchase agreement, at the time of an acquisition, we may issue redeemable noncontrolling interest. Redeemable noncontrolling interest is reported within mezzanine equity on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at the greater of the initial carrying amount (its fair value on the acquisition date) adjusted for the noncontrolling interest’s share of net income (loss) or its redemption value. After achieving the minimum earnings threshold, the amount of net and comprehensive income that is attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest will be presented within net and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. As of December 31, 2024, the redeemable noncontrolling interest totaled $21 million, of which no amount was redeemable within 12 months. Refer to Note 1, Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements for more information.
Redeemable Preferred Stock
On September 29, 2021, we sold 150,000 shares of newly-created redeemable preferred stock with an initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share and a par value $0.01 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $150 million. We used the proceeds from the sale of the redeemable preferred stock to partially fund the MHI acquisition and for general corporate purposes. Pursuant to the Certificate of Designations, the redeemable preferred stock ranks senior to the Class A and B common stock with respect to dividends and distributions on liquidation, winding-up and dissolution. Accordingly, upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, each share of redeemable preferred stock is entitled to receive the initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, subject to adjustment, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon.
Refer to Note 12, Equity to the consolidated financial statements for additional terms of the redeemable preferred stock.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Asset-Light Lot Acquisition Strategy
We operate an asset-light and capital-efficient lot acquisition strategy primarily through finished lot option contracts and land bank option contracts. Refer to “Item 1. Business—Land Acquisition and Development Process” for more information.
Surety Bonds, Letters of Credit and Financial Guarantees
We enter into surety bonds and letters of credit arrangements with local municipalities, government agencies and land developers. These arrangements relate to certain performance-related obligations and serve as security for certain land option agreements.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had outstanding surety bonds of $298 million and $195 million, respectively, and outstanding letters of credit of $21 million and $1 million, respectively. We believe we will fulfill our obligations under the related arrangements and do not anticipate any material losses under these surety bonds and letters of credit.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Our critical accounting policies are those that we believe have the most significant impact to the presentation of our financial position and results of operations and that require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP without the need for the application of judgment.
In certain circumstances, however, the preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1, Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements, we believe the following topics reflect our critical accounting policies and our more significant judgment and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize homebuilding revenue in two ways in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606. This includes revenues from home sales with respect to homes that we construct on homesites to which we own title that are recorded at the time each home sale is closed and title and possession are transferred to the buyer, or upon delivery of homes sold to third-party investors intending to lease the homes, as well as revenues from home sales in which the buyer or third-party investor retains title to the homesites while we build the homes that are recognized based on the percentage of completion of the home construction, which is measured on a quarterly basis. We determine the percentage of completion based on the number of days of construction completed to the total estimated number of days to construct the home.
Inventories and Homebuilding Cost of Sales
Inventories include the cost of direct land acquisition, land development, construction, capitalized interest, lot option fees, real estate taxes and direct overhead costs incurred related to land acquisition and development and home construction. Indirect overhead costs are charged to selling, general and administrative expense as incurred.
Land and development costs are typically allocated to individual residential lots on a pro rata basis based on the number of lots in the development, and the costs of residential lots are transferred to construction work in progress when home construction begins. The carry cost for land and development, recognized in homebuilding cost of sales as homes close, is impacted by our ability to estimate the timing to completion for land development deals and expected sales pace.
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Sold units are expensed on a specific identification basis as homebuilding cost of sales. Homebuilding cost of sales for homes closed includes the specific construction costs of each home and all applicable land acquisition, land development and related costs allocated to each residential lot.
Inventories are carried at the lower of accumulated cost or net realizable value. We periodically review the performance and outlook of our inventories for indicators of potential impairment.
Business Combinations and Valuation of Contingent Consideration
The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method. Under ASC Topic 805 a business combination occurs when an entity obtains control of a “business.” The Company determines whether or not the gross assets acquired meet the definition of a business. If they meet this criteria, the Company accounts for the transaction as a stock purchase. If they do not meet this criteria the transaction is accounted for as an asset purchase. The consideration transferred in the acquisition is generally measured at fair value, as are the identifiable net assets acquired. Any goodwill that arises is tested annually for impairment. Any gain on a bargain purchase is recognized in profit or loss immediately. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred, except if related to the issuance of debt or equity securities. Any contingent consideration is measured at fair value at the date of acquisition and is based on expected cash flows of the acquisition target discounted over time using an observable market discount rate. The Company generally utilizes outside valuation experts to determine the amount of contingent consideration. Contingent consideration is remeasured at fair value at each reporting date and subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration are recognized in other income or other expense in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 1, Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our operations are interest-rate sensitive. As overall housing demand is adversely affected by increases in interest rates, a significant increase in interest rates may negatively affect the ability of homebuyers to secure adequate financing. Higher interest rates would adversely affect our revenues, gross margins and net income.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Interest Rate Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. Our market risk arises from interest rate risk inherent in our financial instruments and debt obligations. Interest rate risk results from the possibility that changes in interest rates will cause unfavorable changes in net income or in the value of interest rate sensitive assets, liabilities and commitments. Lower interest rates tend to increase demand for mortgage loans for home purchasers, while higher interest rates make it more difficult for potential borrowers to purchase residential properties and to qualify for mortgage loans. We have no market rate-sensitive instruments held for speculative or trading purposes.
Under the Credit Agreement, the Company has the ability to draw “Term SOFR Rate Loans” or “Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans”. Term SOFR Rate Loans bear interest based on Term SOFR rates for one or three-month interest periods and include a SOFR adjustment of 10 basis points for each interest period. Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans bear interest based on Daily Simple SOFR rates and include a SOFR adjustment of 10 basis points. Interest under Term SOFR Rate Loans and Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans also include an “applicable rate margin” determined based on the Company’s net debt to capitalization ratio, equivalent to credit spreads of 2.00% to 2.95%.
Interest on Base Rate or Daily Simple SOFR Rate advances borrowed under the Credit Agreement are payable in arrears on a monthly basis. Interest on Term SOFR rate advances borrowed under the Credit Agreement are payable in arrears at the end of the interest period applicable to such advance, or, if less than such interest period, three months after the beginning of such interest period. The Company pays the lenders a commitment fee on the amount of the unused commitments on a quarterly basis at a rate per annum that will vary from 0.20% to 0.30% depending on the Company’s net debt to capitalization ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement.
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Outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement are subject to, among other things, a borrowing base. The borrowing base includes, among other things, (a) 90% of the net book value of presold housing units, (b) 85% of the net book value of model housing units, (c) 85% of the net book value of speculative housing units, (d) 70% of the net book value of finished lots, (e) 85% of the net book value of certain built-for-rent units, and (f) 75% of the net book value of other built-for-rent units, in each case subject to certain exceptions and limitations set forth in the Credit Agreement. The borrowing base availability is reduced dollar-for-dollar for any outstanding unsecured indebtedness permitted under the Credit Agreement.
Our wholly owned mortgage banking business, Jet HomeLoans, is exposed to interest rate risk as it relates to its lending activities. Jet HomeLoans underwrites and originates mortgage loans, which are sold through either optional or mandatory forward delivery contracts into the secondary markets. The loan portfolio of Jet HomeLoans is held for sale and subject to forward sale commitments. The Company enters into interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) when originating mortgage loans with customers who have applied for a loan and meet certain credit and underwriting criteria. The fair value of IRLCs change based on changes in market and interest rate risk. Jet HomeLoans also sells all of its mortgages held for sale on a servicing released basis.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Index
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Dream Finders Homes, Inc.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
As described in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management has excluded Crescent Ventures, LLC (Crescent Homes) and Jet HomeLoans, LLC (Jet HomeLoans) from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, because they were acquired by the Company in 2024. We have also excluded Crescent Homes and Jet HomeLoans from our audit of internal control over financial reporting. Crescent Homes and Jet HomeLoans are wholly-owned subsidiaries whose total assets and total revenues excluded from management’s assessment and our audit of internal control over financial reporting represent approximately 9% and 10% of total assets, respectively and approximately 11% and 1% of total revenues, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
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principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Valuation of Contingent Consideration related to the McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. Acquisition
As described in Notes 1 and 2, in connection with applicable business combinations, the Company records the fair value of contingent consideration as a liability as of the acquisition date as prescribed by the underlying agreement. The initial measurement of contingent consideration is based on projected cash flows such as revenues, homebuilding gross margin, overhead expenses and pre-tax income of the acquired business and is discounted to present value using the discounted cash flow method. The remaining estimated contingent consideration payments are subsequently remeasured to fair value as of each reporting date based on actual pre-tax income results achieved, estimated future earnings of the acquired entities and the re-assessment of risk-adjusted discount rates that reflect current market conditions. As of December 31, 2024, the Company remeasured the fair value of contingent consideration related to the 2021 acquisition of McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. (“MHI”) and adjusted the liability to $68.0 million based on actual results achieved, revised pre-tax income forecasts and revised discount rates as of the balance sheet date and from accretion of the liability.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of contingent consideration related to the McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. acquisition is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value estimate of the contingent consideration relating to the McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. acquisition in connection with the December 31, 2024 remeasurement and (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to projected revenues, homebuilding gross margin, overhead expenses, and pre-tax income.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s valuation of the contingent consideration, including controls over the projected revenues, homebuilding gross margin, overhead expenses and pre-tax income applied in the McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. contingent consideration valuation calculation. These procedures also included, among others, (i) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of contingent consideration in connection with the December 31, 2024 remeasurement, (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow method, (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of data used in the discounted cash flow method, and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of management’s significant assumptions related to projected revenues, homebuilding gross margin, overhead expenses, and pre-tax income, which involved considering the past performance of the acquired business, as well as economic and industry forecasts.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
February 25, 2025
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019, which includes periods before the Company became subject to SEC reporting requirements.
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DREAM FINDERS HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share and share amounts)
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Restricted cash | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Lot deposits | |||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| Investments in unconsolidated entities | |||||||||||
| Mortgage loans held for sale | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | |||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses | |||||||||||
| Customer deposits | |||||||||||
| Construction lines of credit | |||||||||||
| Senior unsecured notes, net | |||||||||||
| Mortgage warehouse facilities | |||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7) | |||||||||||
| Mezzanine Equity | |||||||||||
| Redeemable preferred stock | |||||||||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||
| Equity | |||||||||||
Class A common stock, $ | |||||||||||
Class B common stock, $ | |||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
| Retained earnings | |||||||||||
Treasury stock, at cost, | ( | ||||||||||
| Total Dream Finders Homes, Inc. stockholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | |||||||||||
| Total equity | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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DREAM FINDERS HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands, except per share and share amounts)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
| Homebuilding | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Financial services | |||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | |||||||||||||||||
| Homebuilding cost of sales | |||||||||||||||||
| Financial services expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Income from unconsolidated entities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration revaluation | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Income before taxes | |||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income | |||||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income attributable to Dream Finders Homes, Inc. | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Earnings per share | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of shares | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | |||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | |||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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DREAM FINDERS HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(In thousands, except share amounts)
| Dream Finders Homes, Inc. Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock - Class A | Common Stock - Class B | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Treasury Stock | Noncontrolling Interests | Total Equity | Redeemable Preferred Stock | Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares Outstanding | Amount | Shares Outstanding | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock dividends declared | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vesting of stock-based compensation | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withholding of common stock for taxes | ( | — | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption of Series B preferred units | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ( | ( | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock dividends declared | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vesting of stock-based compensation | — | — | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withholding of common stock for taxes | ( | ( | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class B common stock exchanged for Class A common stock | ( | ( | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | ( | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock dividends declared | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest issued in business combination | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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DREAM FINDERS HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net and comprehensive income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of lease right-of-use assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax benefit | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration revaluation | |||||||||||||||||
| Payments of contingent consideration | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
Other, net | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisition | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Inventories | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Lot deposits | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Other assets | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loans held for sale | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Customer deposits | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment | |||||||||||||||||
| Investments in unconsolidated entities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Return of investments from unconsolidated entities | |||||||||||||||||
| Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Deposits on pending acquisitions | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from senior unsecured notes | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from construction lines of credit | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayments on construction lines of credit | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from mortgage warehouse facilities | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayments on mortgage warehouse facilities | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Payments of debt issuance costs | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Redemption of Series B preferred units | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Payments of preferred stock dividends | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Payments for common stock withheld for taxes | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to noncontrolling interests | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Payments of contingent consideration | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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DREAM FINDERS HOMES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(In thousands)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Restricted cash | |||||||||||||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental disclosures of cash payments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds(1) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental disclosures of noncash activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Noncash investing activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest issued in business combination | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Accrued cash consideration for business combination | |||||||||||||||||
| Noncash financing activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Total noncash investing and financing activities | $ | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||
(1)Includes purchased tax credits of $12 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Subsequently, in January 2025, the Company purchased approximately $37 million in tax credits related to 2024 income tax expense.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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DREAM FINDERS HOMES, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Business
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior period consolidated financial statements to conform to 2024 presentation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Concentration Risk
Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid instruments, with original maturities of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents include cash proceeds from home closings in-transit from or held by third-party title company escrow accounts for the benefit of the Company, typically for less than five days.
At various times throughout the year, the Company may have cash deposited with financial institutions that exceed the federally insured deposit amount. The Company has entered into insured cash sweep account agreements that protect material deposit balances with certain financial institutions. In addition, management reviews the financial viability of these financial institutions on a periodic basis and does not anticipate that any potential nonperformance by the financial institutions would have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows.
Restricted Cash
Inventories and Homebuilding Cost of Sales
Inventories include the costs of direct land acquisition, land development, construction, capitalized interest on qualifying assets, lot option fees, real estate taxes and direct overhead costs incurred related to land acquisition and development, home construction, and sales commissions. Indirect overhead costs are charged to selling, general, and administrative expense (“SG&A”) on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income as incurred.
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Land and development costs are typically allocated to individual residential lots on a pro rata basis based on the number of lots in the development. Homebuilding cost of sales for homes closed includes the specific construction costs of each home and all applicable land acquisition, land development and related costs allocated to each residential lot, as well as interest and sales commissions.
The costs of residential lots are transferred to construction in process when home construction begins and are either expensed on a specific identification basis when the home is delivered or are expensed over time, depending on the applicable revenue recognition scenario. Refer to “— Homebuilding Revenue Recognition” for more information.
Lot Deposits
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale and Financial Services Revenue Recognition
Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at fair value under the fair value option, with changes in fair value recorded in financial services revenues on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. Management believes that carrying the mortgage loans held for sale at fair value and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them enhances financial reporting by reducing volatility in reported earnings. The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is determined by forward sale commitments with investors that are entered into simultaneously when the loan is locked with the borrower. Mortgage loans held for sale are generally sold within 30 -60 days of origination. Net gains and losses from the sale of mortgage loans held for sale are recognized based upon the difference between the sales proceeds and carrying value of the related loans and are recorded in financial services revenues on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.
The Company enters into interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) when originating mortgage loans with customers who have applied for a loan and meet certain credit and underwriting criteria. The IRLCs, which may either be derivative assets or derivative liabilities based on changes in market and interest rate risk, are carried at fair value within other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in fair value of these instruments, as well as any gains or losses upon settlement, are reflected in financial services revenues on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.
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Variable Interest Entities and Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
The Company holds investments in certain limited liability companies and similar entities that conduct land acquisition, land development and/or other homebuilding activities in various markets where its homebuilding operations are located, which are considered variable interests. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into option contracts with third-party land bank entities and certain unconsolidated entities for the ability to acquire rights to finished lots for the construction of homes. Pursuant to ASC Topic 810 and subtopics related to the consolidation of variable interest entities (“VIEs”), management analyzes the Company’s investments in these entities first under the variable interest model to determine if they are VIEs and, if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary. Management determines whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time it becomes involved with a VIE and reconsiders that conclusion if changes to the Company’s involvement arise. To make this determination, management considers factors such as whether the Company could direct finance, determine or limit the scope of the entity, sell or transfer property, direct development or direct other operating decisions. The primary beneficiary is defined as the entity having both of the following characteristics: (1) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses and rights to receive the returns from the VIE that would be potentially significant to the VIE. Management consolidates the entity if the Company is the primary beneficiary or if a standalone primary beneficiary does not exist and the Company and its related parties collectively meet the definition of a primary beneficiary. If the investment does not qualify as a VIE under the variable interest model, management then evaluates the entity under the voting interest model to assess if consolidation is appropriate.
Investments for which the Company is not identified as the primary beneficiary, but the Company has significant influence, are accounted for under the equity method. Investments for which the Company does not have significant or any influence are recorded at cost. Equity method investments and investments recorded at cost are classified as investments in unconsolidated entities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Earnings (losses) from the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities are reported net on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. For equity method investments, the Company shares in the earnings (losses) of these unconsolidated entities generally in accordance with its respective equity interests. The Company evaluates its investments in unconsolidated entities for impairment when indicators suggest that the carrying value of the investment is impaired for more than a temporary period.
For distributions received from its investments, the Company has elected to use the cumulative earnings approach for the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Distributions up to the amount of cumulative equity in earnings recognized are treated as returns on investment within operating cash flows and those in excess of that amount represent returns of investments included within investing cash flows. When applicable dividends are declared for the Company’s investments at cost, the Company records them as income from unconsolidated entities on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
The carrying amounts of the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities, other than the lot option contracts discussed below, were $11.5 million and $15.4 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss is limited to its investment in the entities because the Company is not obligated to provide them with any additional capital and does not guarantee any of their debt or other liabilities.
Under the aforementioned lot option contracts, the Company typically makes a specified earnest money deposit in consideration for the right to purchase finished lots in the future, usually at a predetermined price. The Company concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of the land bank entities with which it enters into lot option contracts and therefore the Company does not consolidate any of these entities. The Company’s risk of loss related to finished lot option and land bank option deposits and related fees was $551.9 million and $328.0 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of the assets acquired less the liabilities assumed in a business combination. Refer to Note 2, Acquisitions, for details on recent acquisitions. The Company tests for impairment at least annually as of October 1, but the Company tests for impairment more frequently if a triggering event occurs. This test assesses qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting units is less than their carrying value. These qualitative factors include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall performance of the reporting unit and other entity and reporting unit specific events. If the qualitative assessment indicates a stable fair value, no further testing is required. However, if the qualitative assessment indicates that the fair value of a reporting unit has declined past its carrying value, the Company will then calculate the fair value of the reporting unit based on discounted future cash flows. An impairment loss is recorded if this assessment concludes that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its measurement date carrying value. The Company completed its most recent goodwill impairment test as of October 1, 2024 and determined that the fair value of each of the reporting units was not less than carrying value. No
Intangible Assets
The Company has intangible assets that consist of trade names that are recorded in connection with acquisitions at their fair value based on the results of valuation analyses. Trademarks acquired in business combinations are generally valued using the relief-from-royalty method, which is a Level 3-type measurement. Trademarks with finite lives are amortized over no more than five-year periods. Intangible assets are subject to impairment testing whenever events or conditions suggest that the asset's carrying amount may not be recoverable.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred and betterments are capitalized. When items of property and equipment are sold or otherwise disposed, the asset and related accumulated depreciation accounts are eliminated and any gain or loss is included in operations. Depreciation expense is included within SG&A on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Depreciation of property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
| Asset Class | Useful Life Years | |||||||
| Furniture and fixtures | ||||||||
| Office equipment and software | ||||||||
| Aircraft and other vehicles | ||||||||
| Buildings | ||||||||
Business Combinations, Contingent Consideration and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Business combinations are evaluated and accounted for in accordance with guidance set forth in ASC Topic 805. Once a business combination has been identified, all material assets and liabilities of the business are recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date. Any residual amount remaining of the purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net assets is recognized as goodwill.
In connection with applicable business combinations, the Company records the fair value of contingent consideration as a liability as of the acquisition date as prescribed by the underlying agreement. The initial measurement of contingent consideration is based on projected cash flows such as revenues, homebuilding gross margin, overhead expenses and pre-tax income of the acquired business and is discounted to present value using the discounted cash flow method. The remaining estimated contingent consideration payments are subsequently remeasured to fair value as of each reporting date based on actual pre-tax income results achieved, estimated future earnings of the acquired entities and the re-assessment of risk-adjusted discount rates that reflect current market conditions. The adjustments made as a result of the remeasurements at each reporting date are included in contingent consideration revaluation on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
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Contingent consideration payments are included within cash flows from financing on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the extent these payments do not exceed the initial liability recorded at the acquisition date for each arrangement. Payments exceeding the initial contingent consideration liability estimated at acquisition are classified as cash used in operating activities.
Maximum potential exposure for the contingent consideration payments is not estimable based on the contractual terms, as the contingent consideration arrangements allow a percentage payout based on a potentially unlimited range of pre-tax net income.
For certain business combinations, the agreements may include certain put and call options that, upon the occurrence of certain events, are not solely in the control of the Company. As a result, a noncontrolling interest is redeemable and reported within mezzanine equity on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at the greater of the initial carrying amount (its fair value on the acquisition date) adjusted for the noncontrolling interest’s share of net income (loss) or its redemption value. After achieving the minimum earnings threshold, the amount of net and comprehensive income that is attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest will be presented within net and comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Warranty Reserves
The Company provides a limited warranty for its homes for a period of one year . The Company’s standard warranty requires the Company or its subcontractors to repair or replace defective construction during such warranty period at no cost to the homebuyer. The Company also provides warranties covering structural systems for to ten years from the time of closing. The Company establishes warranty reserves to provide for estimated future expenses as a result of construction and product defects, product recalls and litigation incidental to its homebuilding business.
At the time a home is sold, the Company records an estimate of warranty expense based on historical warranty costs and the most likely current cost of corrective action. An analysis of the warranty reserve is performed quarterly to ensure adequacy of the reserve. With the assistance of an actuary, the Company also estimates reserves for the structural warranty based on the number of homes under warranty, historical data and geographic trends. The warranty reserve is classified on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as an accrued expense. Refer to Note 6, Warranty Reserves for additional information.
Debt Issuance Costs
Homebuilding Revenue Recognition
Homebuilding revenues consist primarily of home sales recognized in accordance with ASC Topic 606. Home sale transactions are made pursuant to contracts under which the Company typically has a single performance obligation to deliver a completed home to the homebuyer when closing conditions are met. The Company generally determines the selling price per home based on the expected cost-plus margin. The Company has performed an assessment and its contracts do not contain significant financing terms. A large portion of the Company’s contracts with customers and the related performance obligations have an original expected duration of one year or less. For the majority of contracts, performance obligations are satisfied and revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the asset is transferred to the customer, which is generally when title to and possession of the home and the risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to the homebuyer on the closing date.
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Under home sale contracts, the Company typically receives an initial cash deposit from the homebuyer, known as as customer deposit, at the time the sales contract is executed and receives the remaining consideration to which the Company is entitled, through an escrow agent, at closing. When the cash is received, customer deposits are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, representing a contract liability. Customer deposits are applied against the final settlement due at the home closing. In the event of contract cancellation, the customer deposit is contractually forfeited and recognized as homebuilding revenue. Sales incentives in the form of price concessions on the selling price of a home are recorded as a reduction of revenues. The cost of sales incentives in the form of free or discounted products or services provided to homebuyers, including option upgrades, are reflected in homebuilding cost of sales because such incentives are identified in home sale contracts with homebuyers as an intrinsic part of the Company’s single performance obligation to deliver and transfer title to the home for the transaction price stated in the contracts.
In certain contracts, the customer controls the underlying land upon which the home is constructed. For these specific contracts, the performance obligation is satisfied over time, as the Company’s performance creates or enhances an asset that the customer controls. The Company recognizes revenue for these contracts based on the percentage of completion of the project, determined by the number of days of construction completed compared to the total estimated number of days to construct the home. Typically, the Company has two types of percentage of completion contracts. The first type is with individual customers for which the Company acts as a general contractor on land owned by the homebuyer. The second is with institutional buyers for which the Company acts as a general contractor on land owned by the institution. Individual customers generally have construction-to-permanent loans that are taken out by the customer. During the underwriting process for individual and institutional customers, a draw schedule is agreed upon by the bank, the customer, and the Company. Funds are disbursed for labor and materials that have been completed or installed. These both result in a contract asset as work is being completed prior to receiving funds. A contract liability would be recorded in cases where funds are received in excess of costs incurred. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the contract asset related to percentage of completion contracts was $5.2 million and $13.7 million, respectively, and is included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the contract liability related to percentage of completion contracts was $0.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Refer to Note 9, Segment Reporting for a more detailed disaggregation of revenues by reportable segments.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company records expense for restricted stock granted to employees in return for employee service. The cost for these awards is measured on the grant date and recognized as stock-based compensation on a straight-line basis over the employee service period, which is normally the vesting period. Forfeitures of these awards are recognized as a reduction to stock-based compensation in the period in which they occur. Stock-based compensation is included within SG&A on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Income Taxes
Our deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the asset and liability method and financial statement amounts that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. The Company computes deferred income tax balances based on enacted tax laws and applicable rates for the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. A valuation allowance is recognized for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies and results of recent operations. If it’s determined that the deferred tax assets will be realized for which a valuation allowance had been recorded, then the deferred tax asset allowance will be adjusted, which reduces the provision for income taxes. The Company evaluates the tax positions taken on income tax returns that remain open and positions expected to be taken on the current year tax returns to identify uncertain tax positions. Unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions are recorded on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) it is determined whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized is recognized. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recorded in income tax expense on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU Number 2024-03, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures” (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03 requires disclosure of certain costs and expenses on an interim and annual basis in the notes to the financial statements. Annual disclosure requirements under ASU 2024-03 will become effective for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2027, and interim disclosure requirements will become effective beginning in the first quarter of 2028. The Company is currently evaluating the adoption of ASU 2024-03 on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued its final rules aimed at standardizing climate-related disclosures. These rules require the disclosure of material climate-related risks, strategies to mitigate or adapt to these risks, governance practices overseeing such risks and the disclosure of substantial greenhouse gas emissions stemming from operations owned and controlled and/or indirectly influenced through purchased energy consumed in operations. Furthermore, the final rules require disclosures within financial statement notes concerning the impacts of severe weather events and other natural circumstances, contingent upon specified thresholds of materiality. Subsequent to the issuance of the final rules, on March 15, 2024, a federal appellate court imposed a temporary stay pending judicial review of these regulations, followed by a voluntary stay by the SEC on April 4, 2024, pending the conclusion of this review process. The initial annual disclosure requirements may require compliance as early as the year ending December 31, 2025 depending on filing status. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these final rules on the consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU Number 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires more disaggregated income tax disclosures, including additional information in the rate reconciliation and additional disclosures about income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 will become effective for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. Early adoption is permitted, and guidance should be applied prospectively, with an option to apply guidance retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2023-09 and does not expect it to have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
2. Acquisitions
Crescent Homes
On February 1, 2024, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities, comprising the majority of the homebuilding business of Crescent Ventures, LLC (“Crescent Homes” or “Crescent”) through wholly-owned DFH subsidiaries, Dream Finders Holdings, LLC, and DFH Crescent, LLC (“DFH Crescent”). This acquisition allowed the Company to expand into the markets of Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee. The cash consideration for the Crescent acquisition was $210.4 million. Payments through December 31, 2024 were made with cash on hand and proceeds from borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility. Additionally, as part of the consideration, the former owner of Crescent Homes received a redeemable noncontrolling interest in DFH Crescent and contractual rights to a portion of its future earnings upon exceeding a minimum earnings threshold. The purchase agreement includes put and call options relating to the noncontrolling interest that, upon the occurrence of certain events, are not solely in the control of the Company.
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The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under ASC Topic 805. In determining the purchase price allocation, the Company evaluated Crescent Homes’ assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of February 1, 2024. Goodwill was recorded as the residual amount by which the purchase price plus the fair value of the noncontrolling interest exceeded the provisional fair value of the net assets acquired and is expected to be fully deductible for tax purposes. Goodwill consists primarily of expected synergies of combining operations, the acquired workforce, and growth opportunities, none of which qualify as separately identifiable intangible assets. The fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest, inclusive of put and call options, was determined using an income-based approach, coupled with Monte Carlo simulations, which were impacted by various inputs including projected future cash flows, discount rates and market volatility.
The consideration for the total purchase price and related purchase price allocation as of December 31, 2024 was as follows (in thousands):
| Cash consideration | $ | |||||||
| Fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest as of the acquisition date | ||||||||
| Total consideration | $ | |||||||
| As Originally Reported on March 31, 2024 | Measurement Period Adjustments(1) | Acquired Value | ||||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Property and equipment | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Customer deposits | ( | — | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Accrued expenses | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Net assets acquired | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total purchase price | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||
(1)The above measurement period adjustments were recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2024. These adjustments were related to and reflect the most current provisional valuation of the post-closing balances of the acquired net assets. The purchase price was finalized on February 1, 2025.
Jet HomeLoans
On July 1, 2024, the Company acquired the remaining 40 % equity interest in the previously unconsolidated mortgage banking joint venture Jet HomeLoans, which was consolidated as of that date on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Cash consideration was $9.3 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The majority of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed on July 1, 2024 included mortgage loans held for sale of $114.7 million and mortgage warehouse facilities of $109.1 million, which were reported within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of that date. The acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition under ASC Topic 805.
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Unaudited Pro Forma Information
The following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations are provided for illustrative purposes only and have been presented as if the Crescent and Jet HomeLoans acquisitions had occurred on January 1, 2023 (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
Unaudited Pro Forma(1) | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income attributable to Dream Finders Homes, Inc. | $ | $ | |||||||||
(1)This unaudited pro forma information should not be relied upon as being indicative of the historical results that would have been obtained if the acquisition had occurred on that date, nor of the results that may be obtained in the future.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Crescent Homes contributed $469.7 million in homebuilding revenues and $67.2 million in net and comprehensive income, all of which is attributable to the Company. Crescent Homes operations are included in the Mid-Atlantic segment from the date of acquisition. Refer to Note 9, Segment Reporting for information.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Jet HomeLoans contributed $34.8 million in financial services revenues and $21.7 million in net and comprehensive income. Following the acquisition on July 1, 2024, Jet HomeLoans’ operations continue to be included within the Financial Services segment. Refer to Note 9, Segment Reporting for information.
Contingent Consideration from Previous Business Combinations
The earnout period related to the 2020 acquisition of H&H Constructors of Fayetteville, LLC concluded in the third quarter of 2024 and final payment for the contingent consideration agreement was made in the fourth quarter of 2024 resulting in no liability or future obligations relating to this arrangement as of December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the Company remeasured the fair value of contingent consideration and adjusted the liability to $11.7 million based on actual results achieved, revised pre-tax income forecasts and revised discount rates as of the balance sheet date and from accretion of the liability. The Company recorded contingent consideration adjustments resulting in $0.9 million and $2.9 million of expense and $2.0 million of income for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company remeasured the fair value of contingent consideration related to the 2021 acquisition of McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. (“MHI”) and adjusted the liability to $68.0 million and $105.1 million, respectively, based on actual results achieved, revised pre-tax income forecasts and revised discount rates as of the balance sheet date and from accretion of the liability. The Company recorded contingent consideration adjustments resulting in expense of $13.0 million, $43.3 million and $12.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, there were 9 months remaining under the contingent consideration agreement.
Refer to Note 10, Fair Value Disclosures for the fair value measurement of contingent consideration.
3. Debt
Senior Unsecured Notes
On August 22, 2023, the Company issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.25 % senior unsecured notes due August 15, 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), which were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”). Interest on the 2028 Notes is payable in arrears semiannually on each February 15 and August 15, beginning February 15, 2024. The 2028 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries.
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The Company received net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the 2028 Notes of $293.5 million after unamortized debt issuance costs of $6.5 million, which reduce the carrying value of the 2028 Notes reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net proceeds from the 2028 Notes were used to repay a portion of the then outstanding balance under the existing revolving credit facility. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, unamortized debt issuance costs were $5.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively.
The 2028 Notes are redeemable by the Company prior to August 15, 2025 through the payment of the principal amount due, which can be accomplished through the issuance of certain restricted equity offerings for specified portions of principal notes outstanding, plus specified rates and accrued and unpaid interest, and a make-whole premium in the event 100 % of the principal amount is redeemed. On or after August 15, 2025, the 2028 Notes are redeemable at specified rates equal to 104.1 % of the principal balance, plus accrued and unpaid interest, which periodically decrease to 100 % on August 15, 2027. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture), the holders of the 2028 Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 2028 Notes at a price equal to 101 % of the aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
The Indenture includes customary events of default. Subject to specified exceptions, the Indenture contains certain restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability to incur or guarantee certain indebtedness, issue certain equity interests or engage in certain capital stock transactions. In addition, the Indenture contains certain limitations related to mergers, consolidations, and transfers of assets.
Credit Agreement
On June 6, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to its existing revolving credit facility (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”). The amendment, among other things, (i) provides for an increase in the aggregate commitments under the revolving credit facility to $1.4 billion, subject to a borrowing base; (ii) extends the maturity date from July 17, 2026 to June 4, 2027 for certain new and existing lenders comprising $1.3 billion of the $1.4 billion of aggregate commitments under the Credit Agreement; and (iii) provides the Company with the ability to incur certain additional unsecured debt. Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement. The amendments also updated the Company’s minimum tangible net worth covenant, which resulted in an increase to the base component of such covenant from $607.0 million to $739.0 million. The Credit Agreement includes an accordion feature that allows the aggregate commitments to increase to up to $2.0 billion, subject to a borrowing base.
Under the Credit Agreement, the Company has the ability to draw “Term SOFR Rate Loans” or “Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans”. Term SOFR Rate Loans bear interest based on Term SOFR rates for one or three-month interest periods and include a SOFR adjustment of 10 basis points for each interest period. Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans bear interest based on Daily Simple SOFR rates and include a SOFR adjustment of 10 basis points. Interest under Term SOFR Rate Loans and Daily Simple SOFR Rate Loans also include an “applicable rate margin” determined based on the Company’s net debt to capitalization ratio, equivalent to credit spreads of 2.00 % to 2.95 %.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement was $700.0 million and $530.0 million, respectively. Under the Credit Agreement, the funds available are unsecured and availability under the borrowing base is calculated based on specific advance rates for finished lots, construction in process homes, and finished homes inventory on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and reduced for any outstanding unsecured indebtedness permitted under the Credit Agreement, including the 2028 Notes. The Company had capitalized debt issuance costs related to construction lines of credit, net of amortization, of $10.3 million and $7.0 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which were included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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The Credit Agreement contains covenants that, among other things, require that we (i) maintain a maximum debt to capitalization ratio, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, of 60.0 %; (ii) maintain an interest coverage ratio, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, of not less than 2.0 to 1.0; (iii) maintain a liquidity ratio, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, of not less than 1.0 to 1.0; (iv) maintain tangible net worth of not less than the sum of (A) $739.0 million, (B) 50.0 % of net income earned in each fiscal quarter after March 31, 2024 and (C) 50.0 % of the aggregate increases in shareholders’ equity of the consolidated group after March 31, 2024 by reason of the issuance and sale of equity interests of the members of the consolidated group; (v) maintain a risk assets ratio (defined as (A) the sum of the GAAP net book value for all finished lots, lots under development and land held for future development or disposition to (B) tangible net worth), as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, of no more than 1.0 to 1.0; (vi) not allow aggregate investments in unconsolidated affiliates to exceed 15.0 % of tangible net worth, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter; and (vii) not incur indebtedness other than, among other things, (A) the obligations under the Credit Agreement, (B) non-recourse indebtedness in an amount not to exceed 15.0 % of tangible net worth, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, (C) operating lease liabilities, finance lease liabilities and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate, (D) indebtedness of financial services subsidiaries and variable interest entities, (E) indebtedness under hedge contracts entered into for purposes other than for speculative purposes, and (F) permitted unsecured indebtedness (including the 2028 Notes).
Mortgage Warehouse Facilities
As a result of the acquisition of Jet HomeLoans discussed in Note 2, Acquisitions, the Company has the following mortgage warehouse lines of credit and repurchase agreements with various financial institutions as of December 31, 2024. Amounts outstanding under the mortgage warehouse facilities are not guaranteed by DFH, Inc. or any of its other subsidiaries and the agreements contain various affirmative and negative covenants applicable solely to Jet HomeLoans that are customary for arrangements of this type. All of the outstanding balances for the borrowings as of December 31, 2024 below were collateralized by the mortgage loans held for sale reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (dollars presented in thousands):
Facility(1) | Outstanding Balance | Facility Amount | Interest Rate | |||||||||||||||||
| Warehouse A | $ | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Warehouse B | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Warehouse C | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Warehouse D | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
(1)As of December 31, 2024, the warehouse facilities had various expiry dates ranging from November 12, 2025 through February 15, 2026. For Warehouses A, B and C, the facility renewal amounts will be $120.0 million, $100.0 million and $150.0 million, respectively, subject to final negotiations.
4. Inventories
Inventories consist of construction in process (“CIP”) and finished homes, including capitalized interest costs incurred under certain of our debt obligations discussed in Note 3, owned land and lots and pre-acquisition land costs. CIP represents homes under construction or completed, including sold, speculative (“spec”) and model homes. CIP includes the cost of finished lots and all direct costs incurred to build homes. The cost of homes is expensed on a specific identification basis when the home is delivered to the customer. Finished lots are generally purchased just-in-time for construction, whether for spec or sold homes, and are included within owned land and lots until construction begins when the finished lot cost is transferred to CIP. Costs related to finished lots or land under development held by third-party land bank partners incurred prior to the Company’s purchase of the land, including lot option fees, property taxes and due diligence costs are capitalized into pre-acquisition land costs.
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Inventories consisted of the following as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Construction in process and finished homes | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Owned land and lots | |||||||||||
| Pre-acquisition land costs | |||||||||||
| Inventories | $ | $ | |||||||||
Capitalized interest activity related to the Company’s construction lines of credit and senior unsecured notes, net is summarized in the table below for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Capitalized interest as of beginning of the period | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Interest incurred | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expensed | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Interest charged to homebuilding cost of sales | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Capitalized interest as of end of the period | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
5. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Furniture and fixtures | $ | $ | |||||||||
Aircraft and other vehicles(1) | |||||||||||
| Office equipment and software | |||||||||||
| Buildings and land | |||||||||||
| Total property and equipment | |||||||||||
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
(1)In September of 2024, the Company purchased an aircraft for corporate use with cash on hand at a purchase price of $13.5 million.
Depreciation expense was $6.4 million, $4.8 million and $5.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
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6. Warranty Reserves
The table below presents the activity related to warranty reserves as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
| As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
Warranty reserves as of beginning of the period | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Additions to reserve from home closings | ||||||||||||||
Warranty expenditures | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
Adjustments to pre-existing reserves | ||||||||||||||
Warranty reserves as of end of the period | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
7. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
The Company is party to legal matters from time to time that typically are derived from the Company’s general business practices, primarily related to the construction of homes. The Company believes that if a claim has merit, parties other than the Company would be, at least in part, liable for the claim, and the eventual outcome of the claim would not have a material adverse effect upon the consolidated financial statements. When it is believed that a loss is probable and estimable, the Company records the estimated contingency loss in SG&A on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
The Company does not believe that any future outcomes of any claims or lawsuits currently outstanding will have a material adverse effect upon the consolidated financial statements.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease at inception. Leases are recognized when the contract provides the right to use an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases are included in right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, while lease liabilities reflect the obligation to make lease payments. Both are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments. In the absence of an explicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis. The practical expedient is applied to combine lease and non-lease components. Variable lease costs are expensed as incurred. Leases with terms of 12 months or less are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company has operating leases primarily associated with office space that is used by its homebuilding divisions, model home sale-leasebacks and a corporate office building sale-leaseback in Jacksonville, Florida. This corporate office building lease has a remaining lease term of 10 years with potential renewal options. There are no significant operating or finance leases that have not yet commenced as of December 31, 2024. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, operating lease costs for these leases were $14.1 million, $12.4 million and $11.5 million, respectively, and were recorded within SG&A on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating leases were $3.9 million, $3.4 million and $10.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the weighted average remaining lease term was 6 5.8 % and 6.3 %, respectively.
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The following table shows the maturities of our lease liabilities as of December 31, 2024 (in thousands):
| Maturity of Lease Liabilities | Operating Leases | |||||||
| 2025 | $ | |||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
| 2029 | ||||||||
| Thereafter | ||||||||
| Total lease payments | ||||||||
| Less: Interest | ||||||||
| Present value of lease liabilities | $ | |||||||
Surety Bonds and Letters of Credit
In the ordinary course of business, we obtain surety bonds and letters of credit to cover our land development performance obligations with local municipalities. While substantial development and construction work may already be complete concerning the improvements at these sites, the letters of credit and surety bonds are typically not fully released until all development and construction activities have been completed. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had outstanding surety bonds of $298 million and $195 million, respectively, and outstanding letters of credit of $21 million and $1 million, respectively, which are not included within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
8. Income Taxes
The Company is a corporation subject to U.S. federal income taxes, in addition to state and local income taxes.
Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, consists of the following (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Current: | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| State | |||||||||||||||||
| Total current | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred: | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| State | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Total deferred | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
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The following table reconciles the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Income taxes at federal statutory rate | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| State and local income taxes, net of federal tax | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal tax credits | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Non-deductible executive compensation | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Effective tax rate | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
The significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities presented net within other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, consist of the following (in thousands):
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Incentive compensation plans | |||||||||||
| Lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Total deferred tax asset | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Other | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax asset | $ | $ | |||||||||
Management believes that the Company will have sufficient future taxable income to make it more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized.
9. Segment Reporting
The Company predominately operates in the homebuilding business and is organized and reported primarily by region. The Company’s four reportable segments include the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Financial Services, which are comprised of the following:
•Southeast (Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa, Florida, the southeast coast of Florida and southwest Florida; Savannah, Georgia; Hilton Head and Bluffton, South Carolina; Active Adult and Custom Homes operations in northeast Florida)
•Mid-Atlantic (DC Metro; Nashville, Tennessee; Charlotte, Fayetteville, Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina; Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Greenville, South Carolina)
•Midwest (Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Denver, Colorado and Phoenix, Arizona)
•Financial Services (primarily Jet HomeLoans and Golden Dog Title and Trust)
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The corporate component, which is not considered an operating segment, is reported separately as “Corporate”.
In accordance with ASC Topic 280, operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision-makers, which include the Chief Executive Officer and the National President (“CODM”), in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM primarily evaluate performance of the homebuilding segments based on the number of homes sold and closed, average sales price, and gross margin. For the Financial Services segment, mortgage banking is assessed based on funded loan volume and profitability, as well as capture rate. Segment profitability, a component of performance, is primarily measured by income before taxes. The CODM compares actual segment income before taxes to historical results and projections to assess segment profitability. As part of the Company’s budgeting and forecasting process, the CODM uses forecasted income before taxes to allocate resources during the annual budget process, and then on a recurring basis during their review of budget to actual amounts.
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The following table summarizes revenues, significant expenses and income before taxes by segment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
| Southeast | Mid-Atlantic | Midwest | Financial Services | Corporate(1) | Reconciling Items(2) | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homebuilding cost of sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial services expense(3) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration revaluation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other segment items(4) | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before taxes | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homebuilding cost of sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial services expense(3) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration revaluation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other segment items(4) | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before taxes | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homebuilding cost of sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial services expense(3) | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration revaluation | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other segment items(4) | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before taxes | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Corporate includes operations of the corporate component, including certain contingent consideration, that the Company does not charge to the segments.
(2)As of result of the Jet HomeLoans acquisition on July 1, 2024, represents reconciling items related to Jet HomeLoans prior to its consolidation. Refer to Note 2, Acquisitions for more information.
(3)Financial services expense primarily consists of salaries, commissions, and benefits.
(4)Other segment items primarily consist of income from unconsolidated entities.
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The following table summarizes total assets and goodwill by segment as of December 31, 2024, and 2023 (in thousands):
| Assets: | Goodwill: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, | As of December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southeast | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-Atlantic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midwest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciling items from equity method investments(2) | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Corporate assets are comprised of, but are not limited to, operating and restricted cash, deferred tax assets, and prepaids and other assets not directly attributable to a reportable segment.
(2)As a result of the Jet HomeLoans acquisition on July 1, 2024, represents reconciling items related to Jet HomeLoans prior to its consolidation. Refer to Note 2, Acquisitions for more information.
10. Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value represents the amount that would be received for selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair values are determined using a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value. The Company applies the fair value hierarchy to certain assets and liabilities remeasured or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis, including mortgage loans held for sale, derivative assets and liabilities, senior unsecured notes, net and contingent consideration liabilities related to the acquisition of businesses.
The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale are based on either investor commitments or quoted secondary-market prices. Derivative assets and liabilities are associated with IRLCs, whose fair values are derived from forward sale commitment prices, as well as certain unobservable inputs such as estimated costs to originate the loans and the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the IRLC (the “pull-through rate”). Mortgage loans in process for IRLCs totaled approximately $24.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and carried a weighted average interest rate of approximately 6.2 %. The estimated fair value of the 2028 Notes is based on recent trades or quoted market prices for debt of similar terms, including maturity, to achieve comparable yields. Refer to Note 2, Acquisitions for discussion of contingent consideration remeasurement.
The fair value of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, customer deposits and mortgage warehouse facilities, approximate their carrying amounts due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of the construction lines of credit approximates their carrying amounts since they are subject to short-term floating interest rates that reflect current market rates. Fair value measurements may also be utilized on a nonrecurring basis, such as for the accounting for acquisitions or the impairment of long-lived assets and inventory.
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The following table outlines the carrying value and fair value of certain of the Company’s financial instruments (in thousands) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hierarchy | Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage loans held for sale | Level 2 | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior unsecured notes, net | Level 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | Level 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents a summary of the changes in fair value measurement of contingent consideration (in thousands):
| Beginning balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | ||||
| Contingent consideration payments | ( | ||||
| Ending balance, December 31, 2024 | $ | ||||
11. Related Party Transactions
The Company generally enters into related party transactions to secure finished lots for the construction of new homes.
DF Capital Funds
DF Capital Management, LLC (“DF Capital”) organizes real estate investment funds to acquire land and develop and sell finished lots. DF Capital is the investment manager of the funds. The Company owns a 49.0 % membership interest in DF Capital and periodically enters into land bank arrangements with DF Capital. DF Capital and its funds are controlled by unaffiliated parties and the Company is not the primary beneficiary of DF Capital and its funds. The Company holds limited partnership interests in certain of the funds as well as indirect ownership through membership interests in the general partners of the respective funds. From time to time, executive officers and directors may invest as limited partners in the funds as well. Amounts due to and from the funds are based on the timing and amount of capital calls as well as distributions of capital and earnings, all of which, as applicable, are made on a periodic basis over several years consistent with the typical lifecycle of any land bank financing project.
DF Residential II, LP (DF Capital’s “Fund II”) has an exclusive right of first offer on any land bank financing projects that meet its investment criteria and are undertaken by the Company during Fund II’s investment period. The Company, its executive officers and certain directors have investments in Fund II. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had $37.0 million and $48.5 million, respectively, in outstanding lot deposits related to Fund II, controlling 3,271 lots and 4,028 lots, respectively.
On July 30, 2024, DF Capital initiated its first close on DF Residential III, LP (“Fund III”), which included $54.5 million in investments from the Company’s executive officers and a director. The Company’s investment in Fund III will be determined as part of the final closing. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $47.0 million in outstanding lot deposits related to Fund III, controlling 3,417 lots.
Aircraft Agreement
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12. Equity
Series B Preferred Units
On August 31, 2023, the Company redeemed the 7,143 previously outstanding Series B preferred units. The Company made an aggregate cash payment to the Series B holders of $11.1 million, which included $7.1 million in principal plus cumulative undistributed earnings, less a negotiated discount on that date. Following the redemption, no Series B preferred units remain outstanding.
Share Buyback Program
In June 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a share buyback program under which the Company can repurchase up to $25.0 million of its Class A common stock through June 30, 2026 in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the share buyback program will depend on a number of factors, including constraints specified in any Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, price, general business and market conditions, and alternative investment opportunities. The share buyback program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares in any period and may be expanded, extended, modified or discontinued at any time.
The Company accounts for share repurchases of Class A common stock as treasury stock. Treasury stock is recorded as a reduction of stockholders’ equity based on the amount paid to repurchase shares, including associated costs. Treasury stock is not considered outstanding.
As of December 31, 2024, approximately $17.2 million in shares remain available for purchase under the share buyback program. During the year ended December 31, 2024, under the share buyback program, the Company repurchased 291,229 shares of Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $7.8 million. There were no shares repurchases during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Redeemable Preferred Stock
On September 29, 2021, the Company filed a Certificate of Designations with the State of Delaware establishing 150,000 shares of Series A redeemable preferred stock with an initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share and a par value $0.01 per share (the “redeemable preferred stock”) and sold 150,000 shares of redeemable preferred stock for an aggregate purchase price of $150.0 million. The redeemable preferred stock is non-voting and accumulates cumulative dividends at a rate per annum equal to 9 % payable quarterly in arrears. Upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, each share of redeemable preferred stock will be entitled to receive the initial liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, subject to adjustment, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon.
The redeemable preferred stock is perpetual with call and conversion rights. The Company can call the outstanding redeemable preferred stock at any time for one-hundred and two percent (102 %) of its liquidation preference during the fourth year following its issuance and for one-hundred and one percent (101 %) of its liquidation preference during the fifth year following its issuance, plus accrued but unpaid dividends, if any. Subsequent to the fifth anniversary of its issuance, a Purchaser can convert the redeemable preferred stock into Class A common stock of the Company. The conversion price will be based on the average closing price of Class A common stock for the 90 trading days immediately preceding the conversion date, less 20 % of the average and subject to a floor conversion price.
The redeemable preferred stock will be redeemed, contingent upon and concurrently with the consummation of a change of control of the Company. Shares of redeemable preferred stock will be redeemed in a change of control of the Company at a price, in cash, equal to the liquidation preference, subject to adjustment, plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends, plus, if the change of control occurs before the fourth anniversary of the date of issuance of the redeemable preferred stock, a premium equal to the dividends that would have accumulated on such share of redeemable preferred stock from and after the change of control redemption date and through the fourth anniversary of the issuance of the redeemable preferred stock.
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13. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company is authorized to grant up to an aggregate of 9.1 million of Class A common stock under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Company grants restricted stock to certain executives, directors and members of management, primarily as incentive awards. These stock grants typically vest over a period of to five years of continuous service, commencing on the date of the grant and vesting ratably in approximately one, one-third or one-fifth increments at the end of each year of the term. The fair value of these grants is derived by using the closing stock price on the date of the grant.
Expense, net of forfeitures related to stock-based compensation under the 2021 Plan was $18.8 million, $14.1 million and $6.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation under the 2021 Plan was $33.3 million and $20.3 million, respectively. The unrecognized stock-based compensation will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2 years.
The Company’s restricted stock units as of December 31, 2024 and changes during the year then ended are presented below (in thousands, except share amounts):
| Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | ||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | ||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||
| Vested | ( | $ | |||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | ||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | $ | ||||||||||
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14. Earnings Per Share
The following weighted-average shares and share equivalents were used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands, except share amounts):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Numerator | |||||||||||||||||
| Net and comprehensive income attributable to Dream Finders Homes, Inc. | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Less: Preferred dividends, net | |||||||||||||||||
Net and comprehensive income available to common stockholders(1) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Denominator | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic | |||||||||||||||||
Add: Common stock equivalent shares(2) | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted | |||||||||||||||||
(1)For the diluted earnings per share calculation, $13.5 million, $13.2 million and $13.7 million in preferred dividends associated with redeemable preferred stock that are assumed to be converted have been added back to the numerator for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2)Since the conversion price of the Company’s redeemable preferred stock is based on an average of the closing price of Class A common stock for the 90 trading days immediately preceding the end of the current period, changes in the price of the Class A common stock may significantly affect the number of additional assumed common shares outstanding under the if-converted method for diluted EPS, while the number of redeemable preferred stock shares outstanding is unchanged. Stock-based compensation awards are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS in the event they are antidilutive. There were 0.4 million, 0.6 million and 0.8 million common stock equivalent shares considered antidilutive that were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
15. Subsequent Events
Liberty Communities Acquisition
On January 23, 2025, DFH acquired the majority of the homebuilding assets of privately held homebuilder, Liberty Communities, LLC (“Liberty Communities” or “Liberty”) through DFH subsidiaries, Dream Finders Holdings LLC, and DFH Liberty (“DFH Liberty”), a newly formed entity for purposes of consummating this transaction. The consideration given for the Liberty Communities acquisition was cash in the amount of $112 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments, of which $8 million was paid as of December 31, 2024. DFH funded the transaction with cash on hand and borrowings under its existing senior unsecured revolving credit facility, and simultaneously paid off Liberty’s vertical lines of credit associated with the assets acquired. As part of the transaction, the former owner of Liberty Communities received a redeemable noncontrolling interest in DFH Liberty and contractual rights to a portion of its future earnings according to the terms of the agreement. The Company has not yet completed its evaluation and determination of consideration paid and certain assets and liabilities acquired in accordance with ASC 805. The operations of Liberty Communities, which are located in Atlanta, Georgia and Greenville, South Carolina, will be included in our Southeast segment as of the date of acquisition.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), management evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of December 31, 2024. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024 were effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files, furnishes, submits or otherwise provides the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in reports filed by the Company under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, in such a manner as to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosure.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control and effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Additionally, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024. The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report that appears in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Crescent Homes
The Crescent Homes acquisition was completed on February 1, 2024, which is discussed in detail in Note 2, Acquisitions to the consolidated financial statements. Our evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures did not encompass that of Crescent Homes. This decision aligns with the general guidance from the SEC Staff, allowing the exclusion of an assessment of a recently acquired business from management’s scope for an internal controls audit for up to one year post-acquisition. Crescent Homes contributed approximately 11% to our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the total assets of the acquired business represented about 9% of total consolidated assets, mainly comprising inventory and goodwill. As of February 1, 2025, internal controls over significant processes have been implemented at Crescent Homes, which the Company considers appropriate and necessary given the integration level.
Jet HomeLoans
The Company acquired the remaining equity interest in Jet HomeLoans on July 1, 2024, which is discussed in detail in Note 2, Acquisitions to the consolidated financial statements. Our evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures did not encompass that of Jet HomeLoans. This decision aligns with the general guidance from the SEC Staff, allowing the exclusion of an assessment of a recently acquired business from management’s scope for an internal controls audit for up to one year post-acquisition. Jet HomeLoans contributed approximately 1% to our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the total assets of the acquired business represented about 10% of total consolidated assets, mainly comprising mortgage loans held for sale.
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With the completion of the Jet HomeLoans acquisition, the Company is in the process of implementing internal controls over significant processes at Jet HomeLoans, which the Company considers appropriate and necessary given the integration level. As the integration progresses, the Company will continuously evaluate Jet HomeLoans’ internal controls and processes, further integrating them with those of the Company within a year of the acquisition.
There have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2024.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans and Insider Trading Policies and Procedures
Insider Adoption, Modification or Termination of Trading Arrangements
During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, neither the Company nor any director or officer of the Company adopted terminated
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
Not applicable.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information called for by Item 10, to the extent not set forth in “Business—Executive Officers” in Item 1, will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (the “2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders”) pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A. Such definitive proxy statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 10 are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
All of our employees, officers and directors, including those responsible for financial reporting, operate under a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. All employees are required, upon their initial employment with the Company and annually thereafter, to affirm in writing their receipt and review of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and their compliance with its provisions. Additionally, the Corporate Governance Guidelines prohibit directors and executive officers from entering into any form of hedging or other monetization transaction involving shares of our common stock.
The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics was adopted in January 2021 and can be accessed under the “Investor Relations—Governance” link on our website at www.dreamfindershomes.com. We intend to satisfy any disclosure requirements pursuant to Item 5.05 of Form 8-K and the NYSE rules regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, certain provisions of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting such information on our website.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information called for by Item 11 will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A. Such definitive proxy statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 11 are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information called for by Item 12 will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A. Such definitive proxy statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 12 are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information called for by Item 13 will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A. Such definitive proxy statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 13 are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information called for by Item 14 will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A. Such definitive proxy statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 14 are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(1)The following consolidated financial statements as set forth in Item 8 of this report are filed herein.
Dream Finders Homes, Inc.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)Financial Statement Schedules.
All schedules are omitted because the required information is not applicable, not material, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto.
(3)Exhibits.
The exhibits filed or furnished as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are listed in the Index to Exhibits, which Index includes the management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K by Item 601(b)(10)(iii) of Regulation S-K and is incorporated in this Item by reference.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 25, 2021). | ||||||||
| Amended and Restated Bylaws of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 25, 2021). | ||||||||
| Certificate of Designations of Dream Finders Homes, Inc., dated September 29, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on October 5, 2021). | ||||||||
| Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (incorporated by reference hereto Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2022). | ||||||||
| Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 25, 2021, by and among Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and certain stockholders party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 25, 2021). | ||||||||
Indenture, dated as of August 22, 2023, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on August 22, 2023). | ||||||||
| Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2022, among Dream Finders Homes, Inc., Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and issuing bank, and the lenders named therein as parties thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on June 8, 2022). | ||||||||
89
| Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2023, among Dream Finders Homes, Inc., Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and issuing bank, and the lenders named therein as parties thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on November 2, 2023). | ||||||||
| Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2023, among Dream Finders Homes, Inc., Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and issuing bank, and the lenders named therein as parties thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on November 2, 2023). | ||||||||
Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2024, among Dream Finders Homes, Inc., Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent, and issuing ban, and the lenders named therein as parties there to (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed on June 11, 2024) | ||||||||
| Dream Finders Homes, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 25, 2021). | ||||||||
| Form of Restricted Stock Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-251612) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 11, 2021). | ||||||||
| Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-251612) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 14, 2021). | ||||||||
| Form of Director and Employee Indemnification Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-251612) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 11, 2021). | ||||||||
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of November 1, 2023, by and between Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and Patrick Zalupski (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on November 2, 2023). | ||||||||
| Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of November 1, 2023, by and between Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and L. Anabel Ramsay (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on November 2, 2023). | ||||||||
| Form of Restricted Stock Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement, by and between Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and Patrick Zalupski (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-251612) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on January 14, 2021). | ||||||||
| Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 29, 2021, by and among Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and the Purchasers listed thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on October 5, 2021). | ||||||||
| Subscription Agreement, dated September 8, 2021, by and between Dream Finders Homes, Inc. and the Purchasers listed thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on September 13, 2021). | ||||||||
| Dream Finders Homes, Inc. Insider Trading Policy | ||||||||
90
| List of Subsidiaries of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. | ||||||||
| Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | ||||||||
| CEO Certification, Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||||||||
| CFO Certification, Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||||||||
| Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||||||||
| Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||||||||
Dream Finders Homes, Inc. Compensation Recovery Policy (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to Form 10-K (File No. 001-39916) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024). | ||||||||
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | |||||||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | |||||||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | |||||||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. | |||||||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). | |||||||
* Filed or furnished herewith.
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.
+ Certain schedules and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
91
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
| Dream Finders Homes, Inc. | ||||||||
| Date: | February 25, 2025 | /s/ Patrick O. Zalupski | ||||||
| Patrick O. Zalupski | ||||||||
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ Patrick O. Zalupski | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Patrick O. Zalupski | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||||
/s/ L. Anabel Ramsay | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
L. Anabel Ramsay | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||||||||||||
| /s/ W. Radford Lovett II | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| W. Radford Lovett II | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Justin W. Udelhofen | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Justin W. Udelhofen | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Megha H. Parekh | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Megha H. Parekh | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Leonard M. Sturm | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Leonard M. Sturm | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ William W. Weatherford | Director | February 25, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| William W. Weatherford | ||||||||||||||
92
EXHIBIT 19.1
DREAM FINDERS HOMES, INC.
INSIDER TRADING POLICY
Updated Effective July 31, 2024
Background and Purpose
Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (the "Company") has adopted this Insider Trading Policy (this "Policy") for our directors, officers, employees and consultants with respect to the trading of the Company's securities, as well as the securities of publicly traded companies with whom we have a business relationship. Securities include Class A common stock, Class B common stock, preferred stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance-based stock units, debt securities and any other type of securities or equity interests that the Company may issue, as well as derivative securities that are not issued by the Company, such as exchange-traded put or call options or swaps relating to the Company's securities. For purposes of this Policy, "securities" and "stock" may be used interchangeably.
Federal and state securities laws prohibit the purchase or sale of a company's securities by persons who are aware of material information about the company that is not generally known or available to the public. These laws also prohibit persons who are aware of such material nonpublic information from disclosing this information to others who may trade. Companies and their controlling persons are also subject to liability if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent insider trading by company personnel.
The Company's Board of Directors has adopted this Policy to promote compliance with federal and state securities laws that prohibit certain persons who are aware of material nonpublic information about a company from: (i) trading in the securities of that company; or (ii) providing material nonpublic information to other persons who may trade on the basis of that information.
It is important that you understand the breadth of activities that constitute illegal insider trading and the consequences, which can be severe. Both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") investigate and are very effective at detecting insider trading. The SEC, together with the U.S. Attorneys, vigorously pursue insider trading violations. Cases have been successfully prosecuted against trading by employees through foreign accounts, trading by family members and friends, and trading involving only a small number of shares.
This Policy is designed to prevent insider trading or allegations of insider trading, and to protect the Company's reputation for integrity and ethical conduct. This Policy serves to prevent both actual insider trading and the appearance of possible insider trading. It is your obligation to understand and comply with this Policy. Should you have any questions regarding this Policy, contact the Compliance Officer (as defined below).
Administration of this Policy
The General Counsel shall serve as the compliance officer for the purposes of this Policy, and in his/her absence, the Chief Executive Officer or another employee designated by the General Counsel shall be responsible for administration of this Policy (the "Compliance Officer"). All determinations and interpretations by the Compliance Officer shall be final and not subject to further review.
Penalties for Noncompliance
Potential penalties for insider trading violations include hefty fines and imprisonment. In addition, the Company can be fined for failing to prevent insider trading.
1
Scope of Policy
Persons Covered. This Policy applies to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company or its subsidiaries. The same restrictions that apply to you apply to your family members who reside with you, anyone else who lives in your household and any family members who do not live in your household but whose transactions in Company securities are directed by you or are subject to your influence or control (such as parents or children who consult with you before they trade in Company securities). This Policy also applies to any entities that you influence or control, including any corporations, partnerships or trusts (collectively referred to as "Controlled Entities"), and transactions by these Controlled Entities should be treated for the purposes of this Policy and applicable securities laws as if they were for your own account. You are responsible for making sure that the purchase or sale of any security covered by this Policy by any such person or entity complies with this Policy.
Companies Covered. The prohibition on insider trading in this Policy includes trading in the securities of other firms, such as customers or suppliers of the Company and those with which the Company may be negotiating major transactions, such as an acquisition, investment or sale. Information that is not material to the Company may nevertheless be material to one of those other firms.
Transactions Covered. Trading includes purchases and sales of capital stock, derivative securities such as put and call options, convertible debentures or preferred stock, debt securities (debentures, bonds and notes) and any other type of securities or equity interests that a company may issue. The trading restrictions also apply to any sale of the underlying stock or to a cashless exercise of the option through a broker, as this entails selling a portion of the underlying stock to cover the costs of exercise.
401(k) Plan. This Policy's trading restrictions do not apply to purchases of Company securities in a 401(k) plan resulting from periodic contributions of money to such 401(k) plan pursuant to payroll deduction elections. The trading restrictions do apply, however, to elections you may make under the 401(k) plan to (a) increase or decrease the percentage of your periodic contributions that will be allocated to Company securities, (b) make an intra-plan transfer of all or any portion of an existing balance into or out of Company securities, (c) borrow money against your 401(k) plan account if the loan will result in a liquidation of some or all of your Company securities balance, and (d) prepay a 401(k) plan loan if the prepayment will result in allocation of all or any portion of the loan proceeds to Company securities.
Other Plans. If the Company were to establish an employee stock purchase plan, dividend reinvestment plan or other investment or savings plan in the future, then this Policy's trading restrictions would apply in a manner similar to that described above for a 401(k) plan. Planned purchases of securities through periodic payroll contributions under elections made at a time of enrollment or reinvestment of dividends pursuant to the applicable plan would not be subject to the trading restrictions, but changes in elections, voluntary additional contributions or increases in your level of participation and sales of Company securities purchased under the plan would be restricted by this Policy.
Generally Prohibited Activities
The Company considers it improper and inappropriate for those employed by or associated with the Company to engage in short-term or speculative transactions in the Company's securities or in other transactions in the Company's securities that may lead to inadvertent violations of the insider trading laws.
Trading on Inside Information. You may not trade in the securities of the Company, directly or through family members or other persons or entities, if you are aware of material nonpublic information relating to the Company. Similarly, you may not trade in the securities of any other company if you are aware of material nonpublic information about that company which you obtained in the course of your employment with the Company.
Tipping. You may not pass material nonpublic information on to others or recommend to anyone the purchase or sale of any securities when you are aware of such information. This practice, known as "tipping," also violates the securities laws and can result in the same civil and criminal penalties that apply to insider trading, even though you did not trade and did not gain any benefit from another's trading.
Misappropriation. You may not disclose material nonpublic information to persons within the Company whose jobs do not require them to have that information, or outside of the Company to other persons, including, but not limited to, family, friends, business associates, investors and expert consulting firms, unless any such disclosure is made in accordance with the Company's policies regarding the protection or authorized external disclosure of information regarding the Company.
2
Hedging. Hedging or monetization transactions with respect to the Company's securities, including, but not limited to, through the use of financial instruments such as exchange-traded funds, prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, puts, calls, collars, forwards and other derivative instruments, or through the establishment of a short position in the Company's securities can be speculative in nature and therefore can create the appearance that the transaction is based on material nonpublic information. Accordingly, any hedging arrangement must be pre-cleared by the Compliance Officer and approved by the Board of Directors (without the vote of the requesting person). See the Pre-Clearance Procedures described below under the heading "Additional Provisions for Insiders."
Short Sales. You may not engage in short sales of the Company's securities (sales of securities that are not then owned), including a "sale against the box" (a sale with delayed delivery).
Publicly Traded Options. You may not engage in transactions in publicly traded options, such as puts, calls or other derivative or speculative securities, on an exchange or in any other organized market.
Financial Instruments. Purchasing or using financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange-traded funds) that are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of the Company's securities can be speculative in nature and therefore can create the appearance that the transaction is based on material nonpublic information. Accordingly, any such financial instruments must be pre-cleared by the Compliance Officer and approved by the Board of Directors (without the vote of the requesting person).
Standing Orders. Standing orders should be used only for a very brief period of time. A standing order placed with a broker to sell or purchase stock at a specified price leaves you with no control over the timing of the transaction. A standing order transaction executed by the broker when you are aware of material nonpublic information may result in unlawful insider trading.
Margin Accounts and Pledges. Securities held in a margin account or pledged as collateral for a loan may be sold without your consent by the broker if you fail to meet a margin call or by the lender in foreclosure if you default on the loan. A margin or foreclosure sale may occur at a time when you are aware of material nonpublic information or otherwise are not permitted to trade in Company securities. Accordingly, in order for a director, officer, employee or consultant to hold Company securities in a margin account or to pledge Company securities as collateral for a loan, (1)(a) the value of Company securities held in one or more margin accounts that can be borrowed against may not exceed 30% of the total value of all of the Company securities owned by the shareholder at the time such loan or loans (individually or in the aggregate) are originated, all or a portion of which may be Company securities (e.g., if an individual subject to this Policy owns $1,000,000 of Company securities on January 3, the value of Company securities that can be borrowed against in one or more margin accounts may not exceed $300,000 even if the value of the Company securities subsequently decreases after January 3), or (b) the value of Company securities pledged as collateral for such loan or loans (individually or in the aggregate) at the time such loan or loans are originated may not exceed 30% of the total value of all of the Company securities owned or controlled by you (e.g., if an individual subject to this Policy owns $1,000,000 of Company securities on January 3, the value of Company securities that can be borrowed against for one or more loans secured by such Company securities on January 3 may not exceed $300,000 even if the value of the Company securities subsequently decreases after January 3), as the case may be, and (2) the director, officer, employee or consultant must obtain preclearance from the Compliance Officer for such margin account or pledge. See the Pre-Clearance Procedures described below under the heading "Additional Provisions for Insiders." For the avoidance of doubt, and not by any way of limitation, an individual subject to this Policy shall not be in violation or breach of this Policy in the event such individual obtains a loan or loans originated on a certain date pursuant to, and in satisfaction of, (1)(a) or (1)(b) in the immediately preceding sentence, and subsequent to the date of such loan or loans origination, the value of Company securities held or pledged for such loan or loans decreases.
Required Notices; Suspension of Company Stock Buyback. With respect to any margin account or other loan secured by a pledge of Company securities referenced in the immediately preceding section, a director, officer, employee or consultant shall provide written notice to the Board of Directors and General Counsel of the Company within two (2) business days after receipt of a written notice of default of such loan or margin call under such margin account, which written notice to the Board of Directors and General Counsel of the Company shall include reasonable detail of the substance and/or terms of the default or margin call. In addition, upon receipt of such notice, the Company shall immediately suspend the purchase or repurchase of any Company securities under any approved stock buyback plan initiated from time to time. The Company may resume such purchase or repurchase of shares under any approved stock buyback plan upon written notice and confirmation that any default has been cured or withdrawn.
3
Definition of Material Non-Public Information
Inside information has two important elements – materiality and public availability.
Material Information. Information is material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in deciding whether to buy, hold or sell a security. Any information that could reasonably be expected to affect the price of the security is material. Common examples of material information are:
•Projections of future sales, earnings or losses or other earnings guidance.
•Earnings that are inconsistent with the consensus expectations of the investment community.
•Private confirmation or rejection of public rumors.
•Changes in control and significant mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, joint ventures or acquisitions or dispositions of significant assets.
•A change in management and other senior personnel.
•Events regarding the Company's securities, including defaults on securities, calls of securities for redemption, repurchase plans, declaration of a stock split, changes in dividends, changes in the rights of security holders or the public or private offering of additional securities.
•Bankruptcies, receiverships or severe financial liquidity problems.
•A change in auditors or auditor notification that the Company may no longer rely on an auditor's audit report.
•A cyberattack or any other cyber incident involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
•Actual or threatened major litigation, or the resolution of such litigation.
•Significant developments regarding customers, suppliers or finance sources.
•Significant new products or discoveries.
The above list is not exhaustive. Both positive and negative information can be material. Because trading that receives scrutiny will be evaluated after the fact with the benefit of hindsight, questions concerning the materiality of particular information should be resolved in favor of materiality, and trading should be avoided.
Nonpublic Information. Nonpublic information is information that is not generally known or available to the public. One common misconception is that material information loses its nonpublic status as soon as a press release is issued disclosing the information. In fact, information is considered to be available to the public only when it has been released broadly to the marketplace (such as by a press release or an SEC filing) and the investing public has had time to absorb the information fully. As a general rule, information is considered nonpublic until the second full trading day after the information is released. For example, if the Company announces financial earnings before trading begins on a Tuesday, the first time you can buy or sell Company securities is the opening of the market on Thursday (assuming you are not aware of other material nonpublic information at that time). However, if the Company announces earnings after trading begins on that Tuesday, the first time you can buy or sell Company securities is the opening of the market on Friday.
Exceptions
Gift Exception. Bona fide gifts are not transactions subject to this Policy, unless the person making the gift has reason to believe at the time the gift is made that (i) the recipient intends to sell the Company's securities while the officer, employee or director is aware of material nonpublic information, or (ii) the person making the gift is subject to the trading restrictions specified below under the heading "Additional Provisions for Insiders" and, at the time the gift is made, the sales by the recipient of the Company's securities is reasonably expected to occur during a blackout period.
Post-Termination Transactions
This Policy continues to apply to your transactions in Company securities even after you have terminated employment or your service relationship has ended if you are aware of material nonpublic information when your employment or service relationship with the Company or its subsidiaries terminates or ends. In such case, you may not trade in the Company's securities until that information has become public or is no longer material.
Unauthorized Disclosure
Maintaining the confidentiality of Company information is essential for competitive, security and other business reasons, as well as to comply with securities laws. You should treat all information you learn about the Company or its business plans
4
in connection with your employment as confidential and proprietary to the Company. Inadvertent disclosure of confidential or inside information may expose the Company and you to significant risk of investigation and litigation.
The timing and nature of the Company's disclosure of material information to outsiders is subject to legal rules, the breach of which could result in substantial liability to you, the Company and its management. Accordingly, it is important that responses to inquiries about the Company by the press, investment analysts or others in the financial community be made on the Company's behalf only through authorized individuals.
You should remember that the ultimate responsibility for adhering to this Policy and avoiding improper trading rests with you. If you violate this Policy, the Company may take disciplinary action against you, including dismissal for cause, whether or not your failure to comply with this Policy results in a violation of law. This includes violations made by your Controlled Entities or individuals over which you have or may be deemed to have control.
Company Assistance
Your compliance with this Policy is of the utmost importance both for you and for the Company. If you have any questions about this Policy or its application to any proposed transaction, contact the Compliance Officer.
Policy Subject to Revision
The Company may change or otherwise revise the terms of this Policy from time to time to respond to developments in law and practice. The Company will take steps to inform all affected persons of any material changes or revisions to this Policy.
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR INSIDERS
In addition to the rules above, directors, executive officers, and employees designated in the attached Schedule I (collectively "Insiders"), are subject to blackout and trading pre-clearance procedures. Family members who reside with any Insider and other members of the Insider's household, must follow the pre-clearance procedures set out below before engaging in any transaction involving the Company's securities (including a stock plan transaction such as an option exercise, or a gift loan, pledge or hedge, contribution to a trust or any other transfer). Family members include any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law.
Pre-Clearance Procedures
A request for pre-clearance should be submitted to the Compliance Officer at least two trading days before the requested transaction. Clearance of a transaction is only valid for the period designated on the pre-clearance form. If the transaction does not take place within the approved trading period, clearance must be re-requested. The Compliance Officer is under no obligation to approve a trade submitted for pre-clearance, and may determine not to permit the trade. The Compliance Officer himself or herself may not trade in Company securities unless the Chief Executive Officer has approved the trade(s) in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Policy.
Blackout Procedures
All Insiders are subject to the following blackout periods.
Quarterly Blackout Periods. The Company's announcement of its quarterly and annual financial results almost always has the potential to have a material effect on the market for the Company's securities. Therefore, you may not trade in the Company's securities during the period beginning on the 10th day prior to the end of the quarter and ending after the second full trading day following the release of the Company's earnings for that quarter. Persons subject to these quarterly blackout periods include the persons currently listed on the attached Schedule I and all other persons who are informed by the Compliance Officer that they are subject to the quarterly blackout periods.
Interim Earnings Guidance and Event-Specific Blackouts. The Company may on occasion issue interim earnings guidance or other potentially material information by means of a press release, SEC filing on Form 8-K or other means designed to achieve widespread dissemination of the information. You should anticipate that trading will be blacked out while the Company is in the process of assembling the information to be released and until the information has been released and fully absorbed by the market.
5
From time to time, an event may occur that is material to the Company and is known by only a few directors or executives. So long as the event remains material and nonpublic, the persons who are aware of the event, as well as other persons covered by the quarterly earnings blackout procedures, may not trade in the Company's securities, as follows. The existence of an event- specific blackout will not be announced, other than to those who are aware of the event giving rise to the blackout. If, however, a person whose trades are subject to pre-clearance requests permission to trade in the Company's securities during an event-specific blackout, the Compliance Officer will inform the requesting person of the existence of a blackout period, without disclosing the reason for the blackout. Any person made aware of the existence of an event-specific blackout should not disclose the existence of the blackout to any other person. The failure of the Compliance Officer to designate a person as being subject to an event-specific blackout will not relieve that person of the obligation not to trade while aware of material nonpublic information. Even if a blackout period is not in effect, at no time may you trade in Company securities if you are aware of material nonpublic information about the Company.
Open Trading Window. Trading is permitted during open trading windows. In general, the Company's trading window opens after the close of trading on the second full trading day following the Company's public announcement of quarterly earnings, and remains open through the 10th day prior to the end of the quarter.
Hardship Exception. An Insider who has an unexpected and urgent need to sell Company securities in order to generate cash may, in appropriate circumstances, be permitted to sell Company securities even during the quarterly blackout period. Hardship exceptions may be granted only by the Compliance Officer and must be requested at least three trading days before the requested transaction. A hardship exception may be granted only if the Compliance Officer concludes that the Insider is not in possession of material nonpublic information at the time of the transaction.
10b5-1 Plan Exception. Insiders who execute trades in the Company's securities pursuant to an approved 10b5-l plan are not subject to the prohibition on trading provided that the 10b5-1 plan is set up in accordance with this Policy.
A 10b5-l plan must be entered into at a time when you are not aware of material non-public information. If you are not aware of any material non-public information at the time of adoption of such plan, subsequent trades in the Company's securities may occur pursuant to the plan. Such trades may occur regardless of whether you are aware of material non-public information at the time of the trade, unless the plan was entered into as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions on insider trading. The plan must either specify (including by formula) the amount, pricing and timing of transactions in advance or delegate discretion on those matters to an independent third party. Once the plan is adopted, you must not exercise any influence over the number of securities to be traded, the price at which they are to be traded or the date of the trade.
The Company requires that all 10b5-l plans be approved in writing in advance by the Compliance Officer. 10b5-l plans generally may not be adopted during a blackout period and may only be adopted at a time when the person adopting the plan is not aware of material nonpublic information. In addition, the first transactions under the 10b5-1 plan may not be made until the next open window.
6
Schedule 1 - Insiders
7
EXHIBIT 21.1
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024
| Company Name | State of Incorporation | ||||
| ANT JV Owner, LLC | Delaware | ||||
| ARGENTA DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| BASELINE DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Century Homes Florida, LLC | Florida | ||||
| CHF Construction, LLC | Florida | ||||
| COTTAGE CORNER DEVELOPMENT, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DF CONSTRUCTION AZ, LLC | Arizona | ||||
| DF Looking Glass 2A, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DF Looking Glass 2B, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DF Title, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFC Amelia Concourse Phase III, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFC Grand Landings, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFC Sterling Ranch, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFC Wilford, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH 2/2 Potomac Station, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH 2/2 WAXPOOL CROSSING, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH BASELINE WEST TH, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Blue Ridge, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Capitol Division, LLC | Delaware | ||||
| DFH Capitol, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH CASCADES, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH CLOVER BASIN RANCH, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Colorado Realty, LLC | Colorado | ||||
| DFH Corona, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Coventry, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Crescent, LLC | Delaware | ||||
| DFH GLENMONT, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Goose Creek, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH GREEN RIVER, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Greenville Liberty Assets, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Greyhawk, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH HARMONY TH, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH HOMECO GP, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH IH Partnership Holdco, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH INSPIRATION LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH IP USA, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH JET GP, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Johns Landing, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Land, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH LIBERTY, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Magnolia, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Mandarin, LLC | Florida | ||||
1
| Company Name | State of Incorporation | ||||
| DFH MC, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH MOUNTAIN BROOK, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH NORTHFIELD TH, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH OFFICE, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Panels Southeast, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH PARKSIDE WEST TH, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Prominence Jacksonville, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Prominence, LP | Florida | ||||
| DFH Realty Georgia, LLC | Georgia | ||||
| DFH REALTY TENNESSEE, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Realty Texas, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH RESTON, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Savannah, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Sonoma TX, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Staybull, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH STERLING RANCH 3B TH, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH TALLYN RIDGE, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH WATERFIELD TH, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH Wildwood, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFH-ANT, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFRC - Hamlin, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DFRC, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Dream Captive Insurer, Inc. | North Carolina | ||||
| DREAM FIBER, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Dream Finders Holdings, LLC | Florida | ||||
| DREAM FINDERS HOMES ARIZONA, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Dream Finders Homes Foundation, Inc. | Florida | ||||
| Dream Finders Homes, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Dream Finders Realty, LLC | Florida | ||||
| FARMSTEAD DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| FIRELIGHT PARK DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Fish Haul Road Holdco, LLC | Florida | ||||
| FMR IP, LLC | Texas | ||||
| GEOS Development Colorado, LLC | Florida | ||||
| H&H Constructors of Fayetteville, LLC | North Carolina | ||||
| H&H Homes Realty, LLC | North Carolina | ||||
| Harmony Land Development Colorado, LLC | Florida | ||||
| HDP CREEKSIDE, LLC | Delaware | ||||
| Hilton Head Custom Homes, LLC | South Carolina | ||||
| HM-7 JV Owner, LLC | Delaware | ||||
| Homeco Purchasing Company, Ltd. | Texas | ||||
| JAX DC REAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC | Florida | ||||
| JAX National Aircraft, LLC | Florida | ||||
| JET HOME LOANS VENTURES, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Jet HomeLoans, LP | Florida | ||||
2
| Company Name | State of Incorporation | ||||
| Millennium Title of Texas, L.C. | Texas | ||||
| MOUNTAIN BROOK DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| MOUNTAIN BROOK TH, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Northfield TH Development Colorado, LLC | Florida | ||||
| PARKSIDE WEST DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Pine Ridge Insurance, LLC | Florida | ||||
| PSJ JV Owners, LLC | Delaware | ||||
| PURVIS FARM DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| STERLING RANCH 3B DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Uplands Development Colorado A2, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Uplands Development Colorado A3, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Uplands Development Colorado A4, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Uplands Development Colorado A7, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Uplands Development Colorado B1, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Uplands Development Colorado D1, LLC | Florida | ||||
| UPLANDS DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Village Park Homes, LLC | South Carolina | ||||
| WATERFIELD DEVELOPMENT COLORADO, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Waxpool Crossing 22, LLC | Florida | ||||
| Westminster Neighborhood Mixed Use, LLC | Florida | ||||
3
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-252525 and No. 333-270234) and Form S-3 (No. 333-263603) of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. of our report dated February 25, 2025 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Jacksonville, Florida
February 25, 2025
EXHIBIT 31.1
CEO CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES - OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Patrick O. Zalupski, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (the “Registrant”);
2. Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual Report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Registrant and have:
a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Annual Report is being prepared;
b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Annual Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report based on such evaluation; and
d. Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 25, 2025
| By: | /s/ Patrick O. Zalupski | |||||||
| Patrick O. Zalupski | ||||||||
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||||||||
EXHIBIT 31.2
CFO CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES - OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, L. Anabel Ramsay, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (the “Registrant”);
2. Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual Report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Registrant and have:
a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Annual Report is being prepared;
b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Annual Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report based on such evaluation; and
d. Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 25, 2025
| By: | /s/ L. Anabel Ramsay | |||||||
| L. Anabel Ramsay | ||||||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Patrick O. Zalupski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| February 25, 2025 | /s/ Patrick O. Zalupski | ||||
| Patrick O. Zalupski | |||||
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors | |||||
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, L. Anabel Ramsay, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| February 25, 2025 | /s/ L. Anabel Ramsay | ||||
| L. Anabel Ramsay | |||||
| Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||