Note 24 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 199,338	$ 160,095	[1]	$ 343,361	$ 572,225
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	636,700	512,949
Land and land under development	774,961	489,572
Total inventories	1,411,661	1,002,521
Deferred tax asset	176,262
Total Assets	2,595,449	1,945,441
Financial Services:
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	25,900	11,700
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	1,382,200	1,064,544
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	55,639	51,864
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	1,213,249	880,897
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	2,595,449	1,945,441
Homebuilding [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding:
Trade Receivables	(5,459)
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(1,148,767)	(815,320)
Investment in subsidiaries	(335,870)	(198,465)
Deferred tax asset	3,287
Total Assets	(1,486,809)	(1,013,785)
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities	(1,207)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(1,156,941)	(825,062)
Total Liabilities	(1,158,148)	(825,062)
Homebuilding [Member] | MDC Holdings [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	145,180	125,904
Marketable securities	569,021	519,465
Trade Receivables	915	6,563
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	1,144,292	812,731
Investment in subsidiaries	335,870	198,465
Deferred tax asset	172,975
Other assets, net	53,933	40,565
Total Assets	2,422,186	1,703,693
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	13
Accrued liabilities	97,612	63,886
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	15,692	14,068
Senior notes, net	1,095,620	744,842
Total Liabilities	1,208,937	822,796
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,454	3,631
Restricted cash	2,195	1,859
Trade Receivables	27,951	21,600
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	636,700	512,949
Land and land under development	774,961	489,572
Total inventories	1,411,661	1,002,521
Intercompany receivables	2,576	2,589
Other assets, net	43,569	37,337
Total Assets	1,491,406	1,069,537
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	15,033	73,055
Accrued liabilities	56,334	48,980
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	1,121,581	794,179
Total Liabilities	1,192,948	916,214
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	1,899
Total Assets	1,899
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities	82	5,590
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	19,668	16,815
Total Liabilities	19,750	22,405
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	148,634	129,535
Marketable securities	569,021	519,465
Restricted cash	2,195	1,859
Trade Receivables	23,407	28,163
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	636,700	512,949
Land and land under development	774,961	489,572
Total inventories	1,411,661	1,002,521
Deferred tax asset	176,262
Other assets, net	97,502	77,902
Total Assets	2,428,682	1,759,445
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	15,046	73,055
Accrued liabilities	152,821	118,456
Senior notes, net	1,095,620	744,842
Total Liabilities	1,263,487	936,353
Financial Services [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(11,216)	(9,779)
Other assets, net	(3,287)	(1,700)
Total Assets	(14,503)	(11,479)
Homebuilding:
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries		(1,737)
Total Liabilities	(7,294)	(1,737)
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(4,252)
Intercompany payables	(3,042)
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	50,704	30,560
Marketable securities	19,046	32,473
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	11,216	9,779
Other assets, net	7,726	4,710
Total Assets	181,270	197,475
Financial Services:
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	92,578	119,953
Homebuilding:
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries		1,737
Total Liabilities	126,007	129,928
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	59,891	51,864
Intercompany payables	3,042
Mortgage repurchase facility	63,074	76,327
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	50,704	30,560
Marketable securities	19,046	32,473
Inventories:
Other assets, net	4,439	3,010
Total Assets	166,767	185,996
Financial Services:
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	92,578	119,953
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	118,713	128,191
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	55,639	51,864
Mortgage repurchase facility	63,074	76,327
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents			[1]
Inventories:
Total Assets	(1,501,312)	(1,025,264)
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	(1,165,442)	(826,799)
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	(335,870)	(198,465)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	(1,501,312)	(1,025,264)
MDC Holdings [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	145,180	125,904	[1]	313,566	535,035
Inventories:
Total Assets	2,422,186	1,703,693
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	1,208,937	822,796
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	1,213,249	880,897
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	2,422,186	1,703,693
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,454	3,631	[1]	2,852	4,287
Inventories:
Total Assets	1,491,406	1,069,537
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	1,192,948	916,214
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	298,458	153,323
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	1,491,406	1,069,537
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	50,704	30,560	[1]	26,943	32,903
Inventories:
Total Assets	183,169	197,475
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	145,757	152,333
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	37,412	45,142
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$ 183,169	$ 197,475

[1] As a result of our Richmond American Homes of Washington, Inc. subsidiary becoming a guarantor subsidiary in 2013, cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of 2013 in the guarantor and non-guarantor columns will not equal the cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2012 in the Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet.