real estate sales

ASC 360-20 formerly contained the specialized U.S. GAAP for recognizing profit on sales of real estate (the old FASB Statement No. 66 model with full accrual, installment, cost recovery, deposit, and percentage-of-completion methods, plus sale-leaseback and continuing-involvement rules). Every paragraph in the subtopic has been superseded — mostly by ASU 2014-09 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) and ASU 2016-02 (Leases). Sales of real estate are now accounted for under ASC 606 if the counterparty is a customer, or under ASC 610-20 for sales of nonfinancial assets to noncustomers, with sale-leaseback transactions governed by ASC 842-40.

ASC 605-970 formerly provided the legacy revenue recognition guidance for real estate—general transactions (including profit recognition and measurement on real estate sales). Every paragraph in the subtopic — Sections 05, 15, 25, 30, 35, and 55 — was superseded by ASU 2014-09 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers). No substantive guidance remains; entities apply ASC 606 (and ASC 610-20 for sales of nonfinancial assets to noncustomers) instead.

ASC 605-976 formerly contained the industry-specific revenue recognition guidance for retail land sales (sales of lots in subdivided developments, typically on installment contracts with refund/cancellation periods), including the percentage-of-completion and installment methods for such sales. Every paragraph in the subtopic — Sections 05, 15, 25, 30, 35, and 55 — was superseded by Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers). The subtopic therefore contains no remaining operative guidance; retail land sales are now accounted for under ASC 606 (and ASC 610-20 for sales of nonfinancial assets to noncustomers).

ASC 605-978 formerly contained the specialized revenue recognition guidance for real estate time-sharing transactions (interval sales, vacation clubs), including profit recognition tests, buyer's commitment and continuing investment thresholds, relative sales value accounting, and reload/upgrade transactions. Every paragraph in every section of the subtopic was superseded by Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09. Time-sharing revenue is now accounted for under ASC 606, with transfers of real estate outside a customer contract addressed in ASC 610-20.