Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 years	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jul. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2008
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity marketable securities sold				$ 100,000,000
Blanket security bonds	2,500,000	4,500,000
Restricted cash relating to deposits	700,000	400,000
Asset impairments, net	14,901,000	21,647,000	30,986,000
Impaired communities			60
Property and equipment useful life, minimum, in years	2
Property and equipment useful life, maximum, in years	20
Accumulated depreciation and amortization expense	6,371,000	5,759,000	5,402,000
Computer software, estimated useful life, in years	5
Computer software, depreciation expense	4,600,000	2,500,000	1,800,000
Deferred tax asset, valuation allowance	281,172,000	231,379,000
Income tax examination deposit					35,600,000
Other operating expenses	5,209,000	3,162,000	6,661,000
Goodwill assets acquisition	6,300,000
Cash deposits	7,000,000
Letters of credit obligated to forfeit relating to option contracts	4,300,000
Right to acquire lots under options contracts	1,721
On going payment	(7,925,000)	(8,793,000)	(9,701,000)
Reduction of warranty reserve	8,900,000
Warranty reserves released for construction defect claims			5,600,000
Warranty reserve increase associated with warranty related issues	3,400,000
Warranty reserve adjustments	(5,478,000)	(20,845,000)	(27,783,000)
Insurance reserve adjustment	2,798,000	4,144,000	(5,123,000)
Gain on sale of mortgage loans, net	17,800,000	21,800,000	20,300,000
Land development and home construction accruals	10,619,000	12,450,000
Forward sales of mortgage-backed securities	12,500,000
Advertising expense	9,200,000	10,900,000	8,000,000
Deferred tax assets, tax deferred expense, reserves and accruals, impairment losses	31,137,000	46,118,000
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated discounted cash flows rate	18.00%	18.00%	18.00%
Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated discounted cash flows rate	13.00%	13.00%	13.00%
Warranty Reserves [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
On going payment			22,600,000
Warranty reserve adjustments		20,800,000	27,800,000
Liability For Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, tax deferred expense, reserves and accruals, impairment losses	3,300,000	55,900,000
Property And Equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accumulated depreciation and amortization expense	6,100,000	5,600,000	5,200,000
Land Option Deposits And Pre-Acquisition Costs [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other operating expenses	7,000,000	3,100,000	2,900,000
Stock Options [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common stock equivalents excluded from diluted EPS computation	0.3	0.4
StarAmerican And Allegiant [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Insurance adjustment			5,100,000
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Interest rate lock commitments	$ 22,900,000