Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 103,211	$ 65,791	$ 63,143
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Losses on early extinguishments of debt			18,153
Stock-based compensation expense	7,477	10,066	5,978
Depreciation and amortization	5,132	4,069	3,928
Inventory impairments	10,173	9,993	1,760
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	1,443	3,969	4,293
Net realized loss (gain) on sale of marketable securities	(1,074)	911	(7,310)
Amortization of discount / premiums on marketable debt securities		100	566
Deferred income tax expense	16,145	33,333	34,226
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation			(26)
Net changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(28)	(934)	(621)
Trade and other receivables	(20,424)	5,247	(6,638)
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	(23,104)	(27,278)	4,186
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,036)	(7,648)	(11,873)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	21,905	7,535	(16,013)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	115,917	215	(163,647)
Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable securities	(48,050)	(53,822)	(428,709)
Maturities of marketable securities		1,510	167,339
Sales of marketable securities	61,736	101,165	687,692
Purchases of property and equipment	(4,468)	(1,491)	(3,242)
Net cash provided by investing activities	9,218	47,362	423,080
Financing Activities:
Advances (payments) on mortgage repurchase facility, net	25,874	27,789	(2,252)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			248,375
Repayment of senior notes			(517,650)
Advances on revolving credit facility, net			15,000
Dividend payments	(49,088)	(48,868)	(48,820)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation			26
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		665	375
Net cash used in financing activities	(23,214)	(20,414)	(304,946)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	101,921	27,163	(45,513)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of year	180,988	153,825	199,338
End of year	282,909	180,988	153,825
Housing Completed or Under Construction [Member]
Net changes in assets and liabilities:
Housing completed or under construction	(128,525)	(15,551)	(96,936)
Land and Land Under Development [Member]
Net changes in assets and liabilities:
Housing completed or under construction	$ 124,622	$ (89,388)	$ (160,463)