KB Home - Shareholder/Analyst Call

Ford Motor Co. and KB Home announce that products from the Ford-led initiative MyEnergi Lifestyle(R) will be featured in the homebuilder's ZeroHouse 2.0 model home in San Marcos, Calif., and potentially in additional KB Home markets. The relationship between these two innovative leaders is intended to raise awareness of MyEnergi Lifestyle benefits and provide a showcase for electric-powered vehicles, solar power systems and smart appliances. The initiative will demonstrate how the typical American family can potentially save money while reducing their impact on the environment by combining a highly efficient home design with the latest in smart home technology and an affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle. MyEnergi Lifestyle works by leveraging technology so key energy-consuming devices in a home use less energy, while also shifting energy usage to less expensive periods. At night, for example, when energy costs are lower, a smart refrigerator can perform high-energy tasks like ice making or defrosting -- just as Ford's plug-in vehicles do with recharging. At an event in San Marcos, Ford's all-new C-MAX Energi was on display and plugged into ZeroHouse 2.0's built-in electric vehicle charge station, which is engineered to charge the vehicle during off-peak hours for maximum cost efficiency. C-MAX Energi boasts an impressive 100 MPGe combined, according to the EPA, plus unlike others in the segment returns 'real car' performance with up to 195 horsepower, engaging driving dynamics and a quiet interior. With a starting price of $29,995, C-MAX Energi is America's most affordable plug-in hybrid. ZeroHouse 2.0 continues a national rollout of the net-zero energy home options KB Home began in fall 2011. The ZeroHouse 2.0 in San Marcos pushes the envelope even more, as it's the first WaterSense-labeled home built in San Diego County, and includes both a comprehensive Schneider Electric Wiser(TM) Home Management System and all-new Whirlpool smart appliances that incorporate Whirlpool(R) 6th Sense Live(TM) technology. The Wiser Home Management System allows homeowners to monitor energy consumption, and provides automation control via a Web-based portal or mobile application. This marks the first time these innovative products have been used by a production homebuilder. Whirlpool's smart products allow homeowners to monitor and program their appliances through wireless networks, providing greater convenience and control over energy consumption. With Whirlpool 6th Sense Live, homeowners can set their appliances so their highest energy consumption activities happen at times when electricity rates are lowest. They can also receive alerts about the status of their smart appliances all from their smartphones or computers. The higher efficiency of ZeroHouse 2.0 is the result of a whole-home approach from the inside out that includes additional insulation; upgraded HVAC systems; dual-pane, low-emitting windows; and roof-mounted solar panels by SunPower. Additionally, a WaterSense-labeled home is designed to use 20% less water than a typical new home. For a family of four, that's a difference of about 50,000 gallons of water a year compared to a typical home, or enough for nearly 2,000 loads of laundry and as much as $600 in annual utility bills.

KB Home and Lewis Operating Corp. announced the closing of a land purchase agreement for lots within the master-planned community of The Preserve at Chino, located in Chino, California. KB Home acquired 63 finished lots for two new communities, Arietta and Cantata at The Preserve. Model home construction is expected to start next month, and KB Home plans to open the new communities at The Preserve this summer. KB Home plans to construct 42 single-family homes at its Arietta community, offering shoppers a choice of three two-story floor plans ranging from 2,121 to 2,480 square feet. The homes will include up to five bedrooms and three baths, and two-car garages. KB Home's Cantata community will offer two-story floor plans ranging from 2,880 to 3,097 square feet with up to five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, and two-car garages. KB homes at The Preserve at Chino will include design features like large walk-in closets, first floor bedroom options, and gourmet kitchens with islands. In addition to selecting an array of built-in features, KB Home's Built to Order process offers homebuyers a near-custom experience. Buyers are able to choose their home's community location, floor plan, and decor details, from flooring to appliances, countertops to cabinets, and nearly everything in between.