Note 5 - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Reclassifications out of AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Interest and other income	$ 555	$ (620)	$ 817	$ (495)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(215)	(2,176)	(934)	(2,176)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Interest and other income	94	31	94	368
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(111)		(111)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Income before income taxes	323	(2,765)	(134)	(2,303)
Provision for income taxes	(122)	1,051	51	875
Net income	201	(1,714)	(83)	(1,428)
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Interest and other income	1,869	838	5,358	5,412
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(215)	(2,176)	(934)	(2,176)
Income before income taxes	27,675	15,396	67,737	46,959
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(111)		(111)
Income before income taxes	10,377	8,262	25,046	21,907
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(300)	(2,200)	(1,045)	(2,176)
Income before income taxes	38,052	23,658	92,783	68,866
Provision for income taxes	(11,693)	(8,880)	(29,948)	(25,670)
Net income	$ 26,359	$ 14,778	$ 62,835	$ 43,196