Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Notes Tables

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

		Fair Value
Financial Instrument	Hierarchy	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
		(Dollars in thousands)
Marketable equity securities (available-for-sale)	Level 1	$	89,422	$	103,694
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	Level 2	$	82,193	$	115,670
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party) (available-for-sale)	Level 3	$	27,277	$	25,911

Available-for-sale Securities [Table Text Block]

	March 31, 2016
	Original Cost Basis		OTTI			Net Cost Basis		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Homebuilding equity securities	$	70,666	$	(2,324	)	$	68,342	$	77,154
Financial services equity securities		12,988		-			12,988		12,268
Total marketable equity securities	$	83,654	$	(2,324	)	$	81,330	$	89,422

	December 31, 2015
	Original Cost Basis		OTTI			Net Cost Basis		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Homebuilding equity securities	$	89,738	$	(3,969	)	$	85,769	$	92,387
Financial services equity securities		12,026		-			12,026		11,307
Total marketable equity securities	$	101,764	$	(3,969	)	$	97,795	$	103,694

Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments [Table Text Block]

	March 31, 2016							December 31, 2015
	Number of Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position		Aggregate Unrealized Loss Position			Aggregate Fair Value of Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position		Number of Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position		Aggregate Unrealized Loss Position			Aggregate Fair Value of Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position
	(Dollars in thousands)
Marketable equity securities		5	$	(925	)	$	7,102		4	$	(882	)	$	6,116

Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2016			2015
	(Dollars in thousands)
Gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities
Equity securities	$	91		$	237
Debt securities		-			166
Total	$	91		$	403
Gross realized losses on sales of available-for-sale securities
Equity securities	$	(1,006	)	$	(325	)
Debt securities		-			(89	)
Total	$	(1,006	)	$	(414	)
Net realized loss on sales of available-for-sale securities	$	(915	)	$	(11	)

Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block]

	Quantitative Data					Sensitivity Analysis
Unobservable Input	Range			Weighted  Average		Movement in Fair Value from Increase in Input	Movement in Fair Value from Decrease in Input
Number of homes closed per year	0	to	113		91	Increase	Decrease
Average sales price	$418,000	to	$1,200,000		$486,000	Increase	Decrease
Discount rates	5%	to	12%		7.4%	Decrease	Increase

Schedule of Principal Amounts and Fair Values of Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2016		2015
	(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	25,911	$	18,203
Increase in fair value (recorded in other comprehensive income)		950		1,418
Change due to accretion of principal		416		357
Cash receipts		-		-
Balance at end of period	$	27,277	$	19,978

Fair Value of Senior Notes [Table Text Block]

	March 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
5⅝% Senior Notes due February 2020, net	$	246,247	$	252,592	$	246,032	$	257,813
5½% Senior Notes due January 2024, net		248,254		239,833		248,209		252,188
6% Senior Notes due January 2043, net		346,297		268,753		346,283		276,938
Total	$	840,798	$	761,178	$	840,524	$	786,939