Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Blanket security bonds	$ 2,500,000	$ 2,500,000
Restricted cash relating to deposits	1,900,000	667,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization expense	23,391,000	18,962,000
Valuation allowance against deferred tax assets (net of deferred tax liabilities)	248,306,000	281,178,000
Deferred tax assets, tax deferred expense, reserves and accruals, impairment losses	800,000	3,300,000
Gain on sale of mortgage loans, net	21,700,000	10,000,000	16,100,000
Land development and home construction accruals	9,500,000	10,600,000
Vesting period, expiration, years	7 years
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Derivative notional amount	50.8	24.4
Average interest rate on interest rate lock commitments	326.00%	393.00%
Property And Equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accumulated depreciation and amortization expense	$ 4,400,000	$ 6,100,000	$ 5,600,000
Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated discounted cash flows rate	13.00%
Property and equipment useful life in years	2 years
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated discounted cash flows rate	18.00%
Property and equipment useful life in years	29 years