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<TITLE>Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance</TITLE>
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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to
Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): September 3, 2008</B>

<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES,
INC.<BR>
</B><FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter) </FONT>
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>1-8551</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>22-1851059</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>110 West Front
Street<BR>
P.O. Box 500<BR>
Red Bank, New Jersey <BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>07701</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number,
including area code: <B>(732) 747-7800</B>
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" width="30%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="100%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>Not
Applicable<BR>
</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions:

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>


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</DIV>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">1
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Item&nbsp;2.02. <U>Results of
Operations and Financial Condition</U>.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">On September&nbsp;3,
2008, Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. issued a press release announcing its
preliminary financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended July&nbsp;31,
2008. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">The information in
this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto is being
furnished and shall not be deemed &#8220;filed&#8221; for purposes of
Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
&#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), or otherwise subject to the liability of that
section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be
expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">The Earnings Press
Release contains information about EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are
non-GAAP financial measures. The most directly comparable GAAP financial
measure is net income (loss). A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to
net income (loss)&nbsp;is contained in the Earnings Press Release. The Earnings
Press Release contains information about (Loss) Income Before Income Taxes
Excluding Land Related Charges and Intangible Impairments, which is a non-GAAP
financial measure. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Loss
Before Income Taxes. A reconciliation of (Loss) Income Before Income Taxes
Excluding Land Related Charges and Intangible Impairments to Loss Before Income
Taxes is contained in the Earnings Press Release.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">Management believes
EBITDA to be relevant and useful information as EBITDA is a standard measure
commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors and others to measure
our financial performance and our ability to service our debt obligations.
EBITDA is also one of several metrics used by our management to measure the
cash generated from our operations. EBITDA does not take into account
substantial costs of doing business, such as income taxes and interest expense.
While many in the financial community consider EBITDA to be an important
measure of comparative operating performance, it should be considered in
addition to, but not as a substitute for, income before income taxes, net
income, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of
financial performance prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States that are presented on the financial
statements included in the Company&#8217;s reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Additionally, our calculation of EBITDA may be
different than the calculation used by other companies, and, therefore,
comparability may be affected.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">Management believes
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Land Related Charges and Intangible
Impairments to be relevant and useful information because it provides a better
metric of the Company&#8217;s operating performance. (Loss) Income Before
Income Taxes Excluding Land Related Charges and Intangible Impairments should
be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, income before income
taxes, net income and other measures of financial performance prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
that are presented on the financial statements included in the Company&#8217;s
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, our
calculation of (Loss) Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Land Related Charges
and Intangible Impairments may be different than the calculation used by other
companies, and, therefore, comparability may be affected.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">The Earnings Press
Release also contains information about Cash Flow, which is a non-GAAP
financial measure.&nbsp; The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is
Net Cash provided by (or used in) Operating Activities. As discussed in the
Earnings Press Release, the Company uses cash flow to mean the amount of Net
Cash provided by (or used in) Operating Activities for the period, as reported
on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, excluding changes in mortgage
notes receivable at the mortgage company, plus (or minus) the amount of Net
Cash provided (or used in) Investing Activities. Management believes the amount
of Cash Flow in any period is relevant and useful information as Cash Flow is a
standard measure commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors and
others to measure our financial performance and our ability to service and
repay our debt obligations. Cash Flow is also one of several metrics used by
our management to measure the cash generated from (our used in) our operations
and to gauge our ability to service and repay our debt
obligations.&nbsp;&nbsp;For our Company, the change in the balance of mortgage
notes receivable held at the mortgage company, which is included in

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">2

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;



<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">2
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Operating Activities, is added back to
the calculation because it is generally offset by a similar amount of change in
the amount outstanding under the mortgage warehouse line of credit (included as
a Financing Activity), and would inaccurately distort the amount of Cash Flow
reported if it were included.&nbsp;&nbsp;Unlike EBITDA, Cash Flow takes into
account the&nbsp;payment of&nbsp;current income taxes and interest costs that
are due and payable in the period.&nbsp; Cash Flow should be considered in
addition to, but not as a substitute for, EBITDA, income before income taxes,
net income, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of
financial performance prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States that are presented on the financial
statements included in the Company&#8217;s reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. &nbsp;Additionally, our calculation of Cash Flow may
be different than the calculation used by other companies, and, therefore,
comparability may be affected.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Item&nbsp;9.01. <U>Financial Statements
and Exhibits</U>.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">(d)&nbsp;<I>Exhibits.</I>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Exhibit&nbsp;99&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Earnings Press Release
&#8211;Third Fiscal Quarter Ended July&nbsp;31, 2008.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">3


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">3
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><U>SIGNATURES</U>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
<DIV align="center">
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border="0">
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  <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
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<!-- Begin Table Body -->
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left" colspan="2">HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.</TD>
 </TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD colspan="2" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">(Registrant) </DIV></TD>
 </TR>

<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">By:&nbsp; </DIV></TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ J. Larry Sorsby</TD>
 </TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Name: J. Larry Sorsby</TD>
 </TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</TD>
 </TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Date: September&nbsp;3, 2008

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">4



<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;



<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">4
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<DIV
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><U>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</U>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"
border="0">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD width="14%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="81%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit
Number</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap
align="center"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
 </TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top">
<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">Exhibit&nbsp;99 </DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Earnings Press Release &#8211; Third Fiscal
Quarter Ended July&nbsp;31, 2008.</TD>
 </TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">5


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">5
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</BODY>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES INC", "cik": "0000357294", "assigned-sic": "1531", "irs-number": "221851059", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1031"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-08551", "film-number": "081054384"}, "business-address": {"street1": "10 HWY 35", "street2": "PO BOX 500", "city": "RED BANK", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07701", "phone": "7327477800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "10 HWY 35 PO BOX 500", "street2": "10 HWY 35 PO BOX 500", "city": "RED BANK", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07701"}}
Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to
Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): September 3, 2008
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES,
INC.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
Delaware
1-8551
22-1851059
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
110 West Front
Street
P.O. Box 500
Red Bank, New Jersey
07701
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:
(732) 747-7800
Not
Applicable
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02.
Results of
Operations and Financial Condition
.
On September 3,
2008, Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. issued a press release announcing its
preliminary financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended July 31,
2008. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.
The information in
this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto is being
furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liability of that
section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be
expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
The Earnings Press
Release contains information about EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are
non-GAAP financial measures. The most directly comparable GAAP financial
measure is net income (loss). A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to
net income (loss) is contained in the Earnings Press Release. The Earnings
Press Release contains information about (Loss) Income Before Income Taxes
Excluding Land Related Charges and Intangible Impairments, which is a non-GAAP
financial measure. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is Loss
Before Income Taxes. A reconciliation of (Loss) Income Before Income Taxes
Excluding Land Related Charges and Intangible Impairments to Loss Before Income
Taxes is contained in the Earnings Press Release.
Management believes
EBITDA to be relevant and useful information as EBITDA is a standard measure
commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors and others to measure
our financial performance and our ability to service our debt obligations.
EBITDA is also one of several metrics used by our management to measure the
cash generated from our operations. EBITDA does not take into account
substantial costs of doing business, such as income taxes and interest expense.
While many in the financial community consider EBITDA to be an important
measure of comparative operating performance, it should be considered in
addition to, but not as a substitute for, income before income taxes, net
income, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of
financial performance prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States that are presented on the financial
statements included in the Company's reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Additionally, our calculation of EBITDA may be
different than the calculation used by other companies, and, therefore,
comparability may be affected.
Management believes
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Land Related Charges and Intangible
Impairments to be relevant and useful information because it provides a better
metric of the Company's operating performance. (Loss) Income Before
Income Taxes Excluding Land Related Charges and Intangible Impairments should
be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, income before income
taxes, net income and other measures of financial performance prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
that are presented on the financial statements included in the Company's
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, our
calculation of (Loss) Income Before Income Taxes Excluding Land Related Charges
and Intangible Impairments may be different than the calculation used by other
companies, and, therefore, comparability may be affected.
The Earnings Press
Release also contains information about Cash Flow, which is a non-GAAP
financial measure.  The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is
Net Cash provided by (or used in) Operating Activities. As discussed in the
Earnings Press Release, the Company uses cash flow to mean the amount of Net
Cash provided by (or used in) Operating Activities for the period, as reported
on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, excluding changes in mortgage
notes receivable at the mortgage company, plus (or minus) the amount of Net
Cash provided (or used in) Investing Activities. Management believes the amount
of Cash Flow in any period is relevant and useful information as Cash Flow is a
standard measure commonly reported and widely used by analysts, investors and
others to measure our financial performance and our ability to service and
repay our debt obligations. Cash Flow is also one of several metrics used by
our management to measure the cash generated from (our used in) our operations
and to gauge our ability to service and repay our debt
obligations.  For our Company, the change in the balance of mortgage
notes receivable held at the mortgage company, which is included in
2
Operating Activities, is added back to
the calculation because it is generally offset by a similar amount of change in
the amount outstanding under the mortgage warehouse line of credit (included as
a Financing Activity), and would inaccurately distort the amount of Cash Flow
reported if it were included.  Unlike EBITDA, Cash Flow takes into
account the payment of current income taxes and interest costs that
are due and payable in the period.  Cash Flow should be considered in
addition to, but not as a substitute for, EBITDA, income before income taxes,
net income, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of
financial performance prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States that are presented on the financial
statements included in the Company's reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.  Additionally, our calculation of Cash Flow may
be different than the calculation used by other companies, and, therefore,
comparability may be affected.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements
and Exhibits
.
(d)
Exhibits.
Exhibit 99        Earnings Press Release
–Third Fiscal Quarter Ended July 31, 2008.
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/ J. Larry Sorsby
Name: J. Larry Sorsby
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: September 3, 2008
4
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
Exhibit 99
Earnings Press Release – Third Fiscal
Quarter Ended July 31, 2008.
5