Note 7 - Inventories - Inventory Impairments (Details) - Homebuilding Segment [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Inventory Impairments	$ 4,850
Reportable Segment, West [Member] \| Housing Completed or Under Construction [Member]
Inventory Impairments	4,100
Reportable Segment, Mountain [Member] \| Housing Completed or Under Construction [Member]
Inventory Impairments
Reportable Segment, East [Member] \| Housing Completed or Under Construction [Member]
Inventory Impairments	$ 750

Amount of loss from reductions in inventory due to subsequent measurement adjustments, including, but not limited to, physical deterioration, obsolescence, or changes in price levels.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 330
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66092785&loc=d3e4542-108314

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 330
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1C
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68049868&loc=SL66093883-108312

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 330
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68049868&loc=SL66093879-108312

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