Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Inventory impairments	$ (200)	$ (550)		$ (4,850)	$ (750)	$ (4,850)
Pretax income (loss)	76,616		51,894		127,148	88,254
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(12,717)		(18,023)		(24,485)	(32,134)
Net income	63,899		33,871		102,663	56,120
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax			1,944			3,930
Comprehensive income	63,899		35,815		102,663	60,050
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			(100)			(200)
Provision for income taxes	(12,717)		(18,023)		(24,485)	(32,134)
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Revenues	749,608		648,971		1,357,296	1,212,697
Cost of sales	(606,403)		(540,279)		(1,103,035)	1,009,432
Inventory impairments	(200)				(750)	(4,850)
Gross margin	143,005		108,692		253,511	198,415
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(81,571)		(70,709)		(152,912)	(137,007)
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	1,774		2,847		3,633	5,174
Other expense	(871)		(666)		(1,434)	(1,017)
Pretax income (loss)	62,337		40,163		102,798	65,514
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			(1)			(51)
Home and land cost of sales	606,403		540,279		1,103,035	(1,009,432)
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Revenues	21,372		19,073		40,407	37,052
Pretax income (loss)	14,279		11,731		24,350	22,740
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			(80)			(131)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	60,513		30,215		96,654	48,485
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	3,386		3,656		6,009	7,635
Net income	63,899		33,871		102,663	56,120
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax			1,944			3,930
Comprehensive income	63,899		35,815		102,663	60,050
Provision for income taxes	3,386		3,656		6,009	7,635
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	77,689		50,400		129,614	86,717
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(12,867)		(17,479)		(24,959)	(31,574)
Net income	64,822		32,921		104,655	55,143
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax
Comprehensive income	64,822		32,921		104,655	55,143
Provision for income taxes	(12,867)		(17,479)		(24,959)	(31,574)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	13,755		11,388		23,390	22,192
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(3,236)		(4,200)		(5,535)	(8,195)
Net income	10,519		7,188		17,855	13,997
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax			456			1,290
Comprehensive income	10,519		7,644		17,855	15,287
Provision for income taxes	(3,236)		(4,200)		(5,535)	(8,195)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Revenues
Cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(16,619)		(12,233)		(29,427)	(24,628)
Equity income of subsidiaries	75,341		40,109		122,510	69,140
Interest and other income	1,783		2,332		3,556	4,008
Other expense	8		8		15	16
Pretax income (loss)	60,513		30,215		96,654	48,485
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			(1)			(51)
Home and land cost of sales
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues	749,608		648,971		1,357,296	1,212,697
Cost of sales	(606,403)		(540,279)		(1,103,035)	1,009,432
Inventory impairments	(200)				(750)	(4,850)
Gross margin	143,005		108,692		253,511	198,415
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(64,729)		(58,284)		(123,058)	(112,005)
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	292		666		610	1,340
Other expense	(879)		(674)		(1,449)	(1,033)
Pretax income (loss)	77,689		50,400		129,614	86,717
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Home and land cost of sales	606,403		540,279		1,103,035	(1,009,432)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues
Cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	2		3		4	4
Other expense
Pretax income (loss)	2		3		4	4
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Home and land cost of sales
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Pretax income (loss)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Pretax income (loss)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	13,753		11,385		23,386	22,188
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	(75,341)		(40,109)		(122,510)	(69,140)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes
Net income	(75,341)		(40,109)		(122,510)	(69,140)
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax			(456)			(1,290)
Comprehensive income	(75,341)		(40,565)		(122,510)	(70,430)
Provision for income taxes
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Revenues
Cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(223)		(192)		(427)	(374)
Equity income of subsidiaries	(75,341)		(40,109)		(122,510)	(69,140)
Interest and other income	(303)		(154)		(537)	(178)
Other expense
Pretax income (loss)	(75,867)		(40,455)		(123,474)	(69,692)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Home and land cost of sales
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	$ 526		$ 346		$ 964	$ 552