Note 19 - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
MDC Holdings [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 12,225	$ 17,605
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	$ (45,433)	$ (27,027)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments	$ (12,252)	$ (12,213)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(12,252)	(12,213)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(45,460)	(21,635)
Beginning of period	141,245	119,951
End of period	95,785	98,316
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(62,160)	(25,582)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(528)	(258)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	$ 62,837	$ 26,159
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ 62,837	$ 26,159
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	149	319
Beginning of period	3,097	2,691
End of period	3,246	3,010
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	34,950	23,403
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(976)	(3,026)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	(2,726)	(2,186)
Mortgage repurchase facility	$ (28,390)	$ (20,785)
Dividend payments
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ (31,116)	$ (22,971)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,858	(2,594)
Beginning of period	36,646	31,183
End of period	$ 39,504	$ 28,589
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	$ 60,111	$ 23,973
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	$ (60,111)	$ (23,973)
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ (60,111)	$ (23,973)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period
End of period
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ (14,985)	$ 15,426
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	$ 13,174	$ (6,338)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries
Mortgage repurchase facility	$ (28,390)	$ (20,785)
Dividend payments	(12,252)	(12,213)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(40,642)	(32,998)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(42,453)	(23,910)
Beginning of period	180,988	153,825
End of period	$ 138,535	$ 129,915