Note 19 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 122,995	$ 153,825	$ 83,119	$ 199,338
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	821,667	732,692
Land and land under development	957,695	935,268
Total inventories	1,779,362	1,667,960
Deferred tax asset	128,400	153,500
Prepaid and other assets	72,448	67,996
Total Assets	2,350,868	2,358,438
Homebuilding:
Revolving credit facility	15,000
Total Liabilities	1,108,258	1,130,102
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	1,242,610	1,228,336
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	2,350,868	2,358,438
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	85,074	122,642
Marketable securities	89,479	140,878
Restricted cash	4,800	2,816
Trade Receivables	28,588	28,555
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	821,667	732,692
Land and land under development	957,695	935,268
Total inventories	1,779,362	1,667,960
Property and equipment, net	28,499	30,491
Deferred tax asset	115,145	140,486
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)	24,074	18,203
Prepaid and other assets	72,448	67,996
Total Assets	2,227,469	2,220,027
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	41,514	35,445
Accrued liabilities	106,918	115,117
Revolving credit facility	15,000	15,000
Senior notes, net	846,907	846,450
Total Liabilities	1,010,339	1,012,012
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	37,921	31,183
Marketable securities	10,939	15,262
Inventories:
Total Assets	123,399	138,411
Financial Services:
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	68,633	88,392
Other assets	5,906	3,574
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	97,919	118,090
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	54,164	57,268
Mortgage repurchase facility	43,755	60,822
MDC Holdings [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	81,358	119,951	53,732	145,180
Inventories:
Prepaid and other assets		11,252
Total Assets	2,158,798	2,144,456
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	916,188	916,120
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	1,242,610	1,228,336
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	2,158,798	2,144,456
MDC Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	81,358	119,951
Marketable securities	89,479	140,878
Trade Receivables	5,335	6,573
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	1,566,356	1,418,705
Investment in subsidiaries	240,112	260,874
Property and equipment, net	28,499	30,491
Deferred tax asset	112,756	137,529
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)	24,074	18,203
Prepaid and other assets	10,829
Total Assets	2,158,798	2,144,456
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities	7,111	7,007
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	47,170	47,663
Revolving credit facility	15,000	15,000
Senior notes, net	846,907	846,450
Total Liabilities	916,188	916,120
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,716	2,691	2,771	3,454
Inventories:
Prepaid and other assets		56,744
Total Assets	1,877,920	1,757,514
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	1,677,092	1,533,085
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	200,828	224,429
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	1,877,920	1,757,514
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,716	2,691
Restricted cash	4,800	2,816
Trade Receivables	25,568	24,449
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	821,667	732,692
Land and land under development	957,695	935,268
Total inventories	1,779,362	1,667,960
Intercompany receivables	2,855	2,854
Prepaid and other assets	61,619
Total Assets	1,877,920	1,757,514
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	41,514	35,445
Accrued liabilities	97,356	105,529
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	1,538,222	1,392,111
Total Liabilities	1,677,092	1,533,085
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	37,921	31,183	$ 26,616	$ 50,704
Inventories:
Total Assets	170,103	186,176
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	130,819	149,731
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	39,284	36,445
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	170,103	186,176
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	5,469	5,295
Total Assets	5,469	5,295
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities	96	67
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	25,443	23,809
Total Liabilities	25,539	23,876
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	37,921	31,183
Marketable securities	10,939	15,262
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	38,846	39,513
Total Assets	164,634	180,881
Financial Services:
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	68,633	88,392
Other assets	8,295	6,531
Homebuilding:
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	2,691	2,784
Total Liabilities	105,280	125,855
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	58,834	62,249
Mortgage repurchase facility	43,755	60,822
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Inventories:
Total Assets	(1,855,953)	(1,729,708)
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	(1,615,841)	(1,468,834)
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	(240,112)	(260,874)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	(1,855,953)	(1,729,708)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Trade Receivables	(2,315)	(2,467)
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(1,574,680)	(1,426,854)
Investment in subsidiaries	(240,112)	(260,874)
Deferred tax asset	2,389	2,957
Total Assets	(1,814,718)	(1,687,238)
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities	2,355	2,514
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(1,610,835)	(1,463,583)
Total Liabilities	(1,608,480)	(1,461,069)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(38,846)	(39,513)
Total Assets	(41,235)	(42,470)
Financial Services:
Other assets	(2,389)	(2,957)
Homebuilding:
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(2,691)	(2,784)
Total Liabilities	(7,361)	(7,765)
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	$ (4,670)	$ (4,981)