Note 19 - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
MDC Holdings [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 17,988	$ 35,266
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(6,756)	13,810
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments	(24,504)	(24,425)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		612
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(24,504)	(23,813)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(13,272)	25,263
Beginning of period	141,245	119,951
End of period	127,973	145,214
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(45,748)	(895)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,132)	(265)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	47,816	1,481
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	47,816	1,481
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	936	321
Beginning of period	3,097	2,691
End of period	4,033	3,012
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	5,674	10,138
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,967)	698
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	(4,739)	865
Mortgage repurchase facility	4,686	(10,822)
Dividend payments
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(53)	(9,957)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,654	879
Beginning of period	36,646	31,183
End of period	39,300	32,062
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	43,077	2,346
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	(43,077)	(2,346)
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(43,077)	(2,346)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period
End of period
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(22,086)	44,509
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	32,222	16,589
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries
Mortgage repurchase facility	4,686	(10,822)
Dividend payments	(24,504)	(24,425)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		612
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(19,818)	(34,635)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(9,682)	26,463
Beginning of period	180,988	153,825
End of period	$ 171,306	$ 180,288