Note 3 - Segment Reporting - Total Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets	$ 2,847,629	$ 2,780,292
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Assets	2,633,393	2,558,086
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Assets	445,530	597,589
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, West [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	1,268,004	1,084,756
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, Mountain [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	740,414	674,057
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, East [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	179,445	201,684
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Assets	214,236	222,206
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Mortgage Operations [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	121,692	152,345
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Other Financial Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets	$ 92,544	$ 69,861