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From an annual perspective, the team delivered another really solid year. All of the following results are absolute Company records. Annual closings were up 17% to 8,583. Pre-tax income was $438 million, up 8% from $404 million. Homebuilding revenues of $4.4 billion were up 18% annually and we continue to focus on our ability to grow the business while also producing excellent shareholder returns. Return on equity for the year was 29.7%.

We had an active year on the M&A front, completing acquisitions of Crescent Homes and Jet HomeLoans, while also announcing definitive purchase agreements of Liberty Communities (closed in January 2025) and Alliant Title Insurance (currently pending regulatory approval). We believe all four of these acquisitions are highly accretive and will contribute materially to DFH's future earnings growth.

While we are gratified regarding our results from the quarter and 2024 year, we want to be quick to acknowledge these achievements and shift our focus to 2025. We are always oriented toward the future and continuing to grow our earnings and produce above-average shareholder returns. We have set the foundation to continue to scale, drive sustainable growth and generate long-term value. We initiate our 2025 full year guidance of approximately 9,250 expected home closings."

Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

Homebuilding revenues in the fourth quarter of 2024 increased 35% to $1.5 billion, compared to $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. Home closings increased 40% to 3,008, compared to 2,153 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Average sales price ("ASP") of homes closed for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $507,477, a decrease of 3% compared to the prior year quarter ASP of $520,940. The growth in homebuilding revenues was primarily due to the increase in home closings, largely attributable to the February 2024 acquisition of Crescent Homes, which contributed 381 closings to the fourth quarter of 2024 with an ASP of $571,768. Our Midwest segment, which had the highest ASP among our homebuilding segments at $582,309, delivered 1,118 homes during the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 327 closings compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The increased use of sales incentives during the fourth quarter of 2024 had a partially offsetting impact on our homebuilding revenue growth.

Homebuilding gross margin percentage in the fourth quarter of 2024 was 17.7%, a decrease of 280 bps, compared to 20.5% in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease in homebuilding gross margin percentage for the fourth quarter of 2024 was mostly the result of higher land and financing costs and changes in product mix, partially offset by direct cost reductions.

Adjusted homebuilding gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2024 was 26.9%, a decrease of 120 bps from the fourth quarter 2023 adjusted homebuilding gross margin of 28.1%. Adjusted homebuilding gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

Selling, general and administrative expense ("SG&A") in the fourth quarter of 2024 increased 26% to $117 million, compared to $93 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily attributable to the costs of our forward mortgage commitment programs, which allow our homebuyers to lock in their mortgage interest rates at the time of sale, as well as higher compensation costs as we continue to grow our business. SG&A as a percentage of homebuilding revenues in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased 60 bps to 7.6%, compared to 8.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023. This decrease was largely a function of seasonality as higher fourth quarter closings materialized and our SG&A as a percentage of homebuilding revenues normalized for the year.

Consolidated net income attributable to DFH in the fourth quarter of 2024 increased 27% to $129 million, or $1.35 per basic share, from $102 million, or $1.06 per basic share in the fourth quarter of 2023. Aside from the operational results discussed above and the impact of income tax expense, which was consistent with the prior year quarter, the increase was mostly driven by a $14 million reduction in contingent consideration expense in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year quarter, as our earnout for the MHI acquisition is nearing completion and is less susceptible to changes in long-term underlying projections. Additionally, income from our Financial Services segment increased $6 million, or 94%, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the consolidation of Jet HomeLoans, which began July 1, 2024.

Net new orders in the fourth quarter of 2024 were 1,611, an increase of 46% compared to 1,106 net new orders for the fourth quarter of 2023. The cancellation rate in the fourth quarter of 2024 was 18.8%, an improvement of 410 bps compared with the fourth quarter of 2023 cancellation rate of 22.9%. We believe the increase in net new orders and our lower cancellation rate are reflective of our successful sales incentives and availability of quick, move-in-ready homes in our communities.

Our total available liquidity as of December 31, 2024 was $816 million, including $274 million of unrestricted operating cash. In addition, net homebuilding debt to net capitalization as of December 31, 2024 was 33.7%. Net homebuilding debt to net capitalization is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we released a significant number of housing starts, purchased additional lots for production, and secured additional land under option, increasing inventory and lot deposits by $275 million and $211 million, respectively, since December 31, 2023. Our net homebuilding debt to net capitalization ratio and liquidity reflect these investments we made as we prepared to deliver homes in 2025 and replenish our active pipeline of quick, move-in-ready homes.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Backlog

As of December 31, 2024, DFH had a backlog of 2,599 homes, valued at $1.3 billion, compared to the backlog of 3,996 homes, valued at $2.0 billion as of September 30, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the ASP in backlog was $501,910 compared to $501,524 as of September 30, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 2,412 of the homes in backlog are expected to be delivered in 2025 and 187 of homes are expected to be delivered in 2026 and beyond.

The following table shows the backlog units and ASP as of December 31, 2024 by homebuilding segment:

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"). The consideration given for the Liberty Communities acquisition was cash in the amount of $112 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. DFH funded the transaction with cash on hand and borrowings under its existing senior unsecured revolving credit facility. Simultaneously with the acquisition closing, DFH paid off Liberty’s vertical lines of credit associated with the assets acquired. This acquisition allows the Company to enter the Atlanta, Georgia market and further expand its 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.

Full Year 2025 Outlook

Dream Finders Homes expects approximately 9,250 home closings for the full year 2025, inclusive of those from the Liberty Communities acquisition.

About Dream Finders Homes, Inc.

Dream Finders Homes (NYSE: DFH) is a homebuilder based in Jacksonville, Florida. Dream Finders Homes builds single-family homes throughout the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, including Florida, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, which comprises Northern Virginia and Maryland. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, DFH also provides mortgage financing as well as title services to homebuyers. Dream Finders Homes achieves its industry-leading growth and returns by maintaining an asset-light homebuilding model. For more information, please visit www.dreamfindershomes.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding future events which include, but are not limited to, projected 2025 home closings and market conditions, possible or assumed future results of operations, benefits of the Liberty Communities and Alliant acquisitions and statements regarding the Company’s strategies and expectations as they relate to market opportunities and growth. All forward-looking statements are based on Dream Finders Homes’ beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Dream Finders Homes. These statements reflect Dream Finders Homes’ current views with respect to future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions are discussed in Dream Finders Homes’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Dream Finders Homes undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as may be required by applicable law.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management utilizes specific non-GAAP financial measures as supplementary tools to evaluate operating performance. These include adjusted homebuilding gross margin 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

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):

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.

Net Homebuilding Debt to Net Capitalization

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):

We define net homebuilding debt to net capitalization as 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 net homebuilding debt to net capitalization is meaningful as it is used to assess our consolidated performance and 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.

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Contacts

Investor Contact: investors@dreamfindershomes.com
Media Contact: mediainquiries@dreamfindershomes.com