Note 3 - Segment Reporting - Total Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets	$ 2,787,162	$ 2,780,292
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Assets	2,567,516	2,558,086
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Assets	472,372	597,589
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, West [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	1,187,865	1,084,756
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, Mountain [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	717,796	674,057
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, East [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	189,483	201,684
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Assets	219,646	222,206
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Mortgage Operations [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	128,931	152,345
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Other Financial Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	$ 90,715	$ 69,861