Note 24 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 470,139		$ 514,240	$ 286,687	$ 184,738
Property and equipment, net	58,167		26,439
Deferred tax asset, net	37,178		41,480
Assets	3,001,077		2,780,292
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	17,800		33,400
Total Liabilities	1,425,077		1,373,005
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,576,000		1,407,287	1,320,070	1,256,292
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	3,001,077		2,780,292
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	414,724		472,957	259,087
Marketable securities			49,634
Restricted cash	6,363		8,812	3,778
Trade and other receivables	52,982		53,362
Housing completed or under construction	952,436	$ 944,091	936,685
Land and land under development	1,180,558		893,051
Total inventories	2,132,994		1,829,736
Intercompany receivables
Investment in subsidiaries
Property and equipment, net	58,167	51,709	26,439
Deferred tax asset, net	37,178	40,907	41,480
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)
Prepaid and other assets	45,794	41,439	75,666
Assets	2,748,202		2,558,086
Other assets	995		1,220
Accounts payable	50,505		39,655
Accrued liabilities	196,247		166,312
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries
Revolving credit facility	15,000		15,000
Senior notes, net	987,967		986,597
Total Liabilities	1,249,719		1,207,564
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	49,052		32,471	23,822
Marketable securities	40,879		42,004
Intercompany receivables
Assets	252,875		222,206
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	149,211		138,114
Other assets	13,733	$ 13,515	9,617
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries
Total Liabilities	175,358		165,441
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	58,543		53,101
Mortgage repurchase facility	116,815		112,340
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	410,127		468,718	255,679	141,245
Assets	2,674,373		2,497,461
Total Liabilities	1,098,373		1,090,174
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,576,000		1,407,287
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,674,373		2,497,461
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	10,960		13,051	7,186	6,847
Assets	2,271,378		1,963,300
Total Liabilities	1,903,140		1,709,792
Total Stockholders' Equity	368,238		253,508
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,271,378		1,963,300
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	49,052		32,471	23,822	36,646
Assets	276,231		266,254
Total Liabilities	188,621		202,362
Total Stockholders' Equity	87,610		63,892
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	276,231		266,254
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	410,127		468,718
Marketable securities			49,634
Restricted cash
Trade and other receivables	758		8,200
Housing completed or under construction
Land and land under development
Total inventories
Intercompany receivables	1,735,342		1,578,830
Investment in subsidiaries	455,848		317,400
Property and equipment, net	23,896		24,557
Deferred tax asset, net	36,168		42,862
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)
Prepaid and other assets	12,234		7,260
Assets	2,674,373		2,497,461
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities	65,691		40,344
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	29,715		48,233
Revolving credit facility	15,000		15,000
Senior notes, net	987,967		986,597
Total Liabilities	1,098,373		1,090,174
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	4,597		4,239
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	6,363		8,812
Trade and other receivables	52,224		47,422
Housing completed or under construction	952,436		936,685
Land and land under development	1,180,558		893,051
Total inventories	2,132,994		1,829,736
Intercompany receivables	7,369		2,803
Investment in subsidiaries
Property and equipment, net	34,271		1,882
Deferred tax asset, net
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)
Prepaid and other assets	33,560		68,406
Assets	2,271,378		1,963,300
Accounts payable	50,505		39,655
Accrued liabilities	125,387		122,544
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	1,727,248		1,547,593
Revolving credit facility
Senior notes, net
Total Liabilities	1,903,140		1,709,792
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			5,291
Investment in subsidiaries
Property and equipment, net
Deferred tax asset, net
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)
Prepaid and other assets
Assets			5,291
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities			37
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	295		27,015
Revolving credit facility
Senior notes, net
Total Liabilities	295		27,052
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Intercompany receivables
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
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	49,052		32,471
Marketable securities	40,879		42,004
Intercompany receivables	22,346		40,139
Assets	276,231		260,963
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	149,211		138,114
Other assets	14,743		8,235
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	7,799		4,222
Total Liabilities	188,326		175,310
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	63,712		58,748
Mortgage repurchase facility	116,815		112,340
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Assets	(2,220,905)		(1,946,723)
Total Liabilities	(1,765,057)		(1,629,323)
Total Stockholders' Equity	(455,848)		(317,400)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(2,220,905)		(1,946,723)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Trade and other receivables			(2,260)
Housing completed or under construction
Land and land under development
Total inventories
Intercompany receivables	(1,742,711)		(1,586,924)
Investment in subsidiaries	(455,848)		(317,400)
Property and equipment, net
Deferred tax asset, net	1,010		(1,382)
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)
Prepaid and other assets
Assets	(2,197,549)		(1,907,966)
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities	5,169		3,387
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(1,757,258)		(1,622,841)
Revolving credit facility
Senior notes, net
Total Liabilities	(1,752,089)		(1,619,454)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Intercompany receivables	(22,346)		(40,139)
Assets	(23,356)		(38,757)
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net
Other assets	(1,010)		1,382
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(7,799)		(4,222)
Total Liabilities	(12,968)		(9,869)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(5,169)		(5,647)
Mortgage repurchase facility