Note 19 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
MDC Holdings [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ (5,918)	$ 19,057
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	26,166	(21,669)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments	(36,763)	(36,646)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(36,763)	(35,981)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(16,515)	(38,593)
Beginning of period	141,245	119,951
End of period	124,730	81,358
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		665
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(17,581)	(73,657)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,252)	(402)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	20,284	75,084
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	20,284	75,084
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,451	1,025
Beginning of period	3,097	2,691
End of period	4,548	3,716
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	14,596	28,114
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(9,797)	3,260
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	(10,665)	(7,569)
Mortgage repurchase facility	3,400	(17,067)
Dividend payments
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(7,265)	(24,636)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2,466)	6,738
Beginning of period	36,646	31,183
End of period	34,180	37,921
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	9,619	67,515
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	(9,619)	(67,515)
Mortgage repurchase facility
Dividend payments
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(9,619)	(67,515)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period
End of period
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(8,903)	(26,486)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	24,736	48,704
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries
Mortgage repurchase facility	3,400	(17,067)
Dividend payments	(36,763)	(36,646)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(33,363)	(53,048)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(17,530)	(30,830)
Beginning of period	180,988	153,825
End of period	163,458	122,995
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		$ 665