Note 21 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 377,818	$ 282,909	$ 163,458	$ 180,988
Deferred tax asset, net	64,200	74,900
Total Assets	2,566,302	2,528,589
Total Liabilities	1,175,383	1,208,519
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,390,919	1,320,070
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,566,302	2,528,589
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	351,399	259,087
Marketable securities		59,770
Restricted cash	8,723	3,778
Trade and other receivables	42,904	42,492
Housing Completed or Under Construction	969,419	874,199
Land and Land Under Development	863,002	884,615
Total inventories	1,832,421	1,758,814
Intercompany receivables
Investment in subsidiaries
Property and equipment, net	26,304	28,041
Deferred tax asset, net	64,164	74,888
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)		30,162
Prepaid and other assets	72,808	60,463
Total Assets	2,398,723	2,317,495
Other assets	1,195	1,384
Accounts payable	49,390	42,088
Accrued liabilities	151,661	144,566
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries
Revolving credit facility	15,000	15,000
Senior notes, net	842,532	841,646
Total Liabilities	1,058,583	1,043,300
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	26,419	23,822
Marketable securities	40,221	36,436
Intercompany receivables
Total Assets	167,579	211,094
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	89,804	138,774
Other assets	11,135	12,062
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries
Total Liabilities	116,800	165,219
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	51,697	50,734
Mortgage repurchase facility	65,103	114,485
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	347,217	255,679	124,730	141,245
Total Assets	2,332,478	2,226,377
Total Liabilities	941,559	906,307
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,390,919	1,320,070
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,332,478	2,226,377
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	4,182	3,408	4,548	3,097
Total Assets	1,954,255	1,865,792
Total Liabilities	1,734,474	1,623,979
Total Stockholders' Equity	219,781	241,813
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	1,954,255	1,865,792
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	26,419	23,822	34,180	36,646
Total Assets	207,478	257,194
Total Liabilities	148,374	203,793
Total Stockholders' Equity	59,104	53,401
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	207,478	257,194
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	347,217	255,679
Marketable securities		59,770
Restricted cash
Trade and other receivables	5,517	5,380
Housing Completed or Under Construction
Land and Land Under Development
Total inventories
Intercompany receivables	1,603,012	1,475,291
Investment in subsidiaries	278,885	295,214
Property and equipment, net	24,408	25,495
Deferred tax asset, net	65,284	74,119
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)		30,162
Prepaid and other assets	8,155	5,267
Total Assets	2,332,478	2,226,377
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities	40,205	1,527
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	43,822	48,134
Revolving credit facility	15,000	15,000
Senior notes, net	842,532	841,646
Total Liabilities	941,559	906,307
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	4,182	3,408
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	8,723	3,778
Trade and other receivables	39,577	39,247
Housing Completed or Under Construction	969,419	874,199
Land and Land Under Development	863,002	884,615
Total inventories	1,832,421	1,758,814
Intercompany receivables	2,803	2,803
Investment in subsidiaries
Property and equipment, net	1,896	2,546
Deferred tax asset, net
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)
Prepaid and other assets	64,653	55,196
Total Assets	1,954,255	1,865,792
Accounts payable	49,390	42,088
Accrued liabilities	112,986	136,615
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	1,572,098	1,445,276
Revolving credit facility
Senior notes, net
Total Liabilities	1,734,474	1,623,979
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Trade and other receivables
Housing Completed or Under Construction
Land and Land Under Development
Total inventories
Intercompany receivables	5,254	5,289
Investment in subsidiaries
Property and equipment, net
Deferred tax asset, net
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)
Prepaid and other assets
Total Assets	5,254	5,289
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities	98	143
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	26,802	26,266
Revolving credit facility
Senior notes, net
Total Liabilities	26,900	26,409
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Intercompany receivables
Total Assets
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net
Other assets
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries
Total Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Mortgage repurchase facility
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Intercompany receivables
Total Assets
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net
Other assets
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries
Total Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Mortgage repurchase facility
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	26,419	23,822
Marketable securities	40,221	36,436
Intercompany receivables	35,765	40,042
Total Assets	202,224	251,905
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	89,804	138,774
Other assets	10,015	12,831
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	4,112	3,749
Total Liabilities	121,474	177,384
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	52,259	59,150
Mortgage repurchase facility	65,103	114,485
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Total Assets	(1,927,909)	(1,820,774)
Total Liabilities	(1,649,024)	(1,525,560)
Total Stockholders' Equity	(278,885)	(295,214)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(1,927,909)	(1,820,774)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Trade and other receivables	(2,190)	(2,135)
Housing Completed or Under Construction
Land and Land Under Development
Total inventories
Intercompany receivables	(1,611,069)	(1,483,383)
Investment in subsidiaries	(278,885)	(295,214)
Property and equipment, net
Deferred tax asset, net	(1,120)	769
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)
Prepaid and other assets
Total Assets	(1,893,264)	(1,779,963)
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities	(1,628)	6,281
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(1,642,722)	(1,519,676)
Revolving credit facility
Senior notes, net
Total Liabilities	(1,644,350)	(1,513,395)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Intercompany receivables	(35,765)	(40,042)
Total Assets	(34,645)	(40,811)
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net
Other assets	1,120	(769)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(4,112)	(3,749)
Total Liabilities	(4,674)	(12,165)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(562)	(8,416)
Mortgage repurchase facility