Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information - Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 159,765	$ 59,793	$ 46,829	$ 81,208
Restricted cash	8,980	41,334
Mortgage loans held for sale	58,338	57,275
Inventory	543,871	466,772
Property and equipment - net	11,956	14,358
Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs	11,256	10,357
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	0	0
Other assets	23,126	14,596
TOTAL ASSETS	817,292	664,485
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	65,348	41,256
Customer deposits	10,976	4,181
Other liabilities	52,257	39,348
Community development district (CDD) obligations	4,988	5,983
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	6,552	2,944
Note payable bank - financial services operations	54,840	52,606
Note payable - other	10,769	5,801
Convertible Subordinated Debt	57,500	0
Senior notes	227,570	239,016
TOTAL LIABILITIES	490,800	391,135
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	326,492	273,350
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	817,292	664,485
Parent [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
Inventory	0	0
Property and equipment - net	0	0
Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	388,041	381,709
Intercompany	213,796	125,272
Other assets	9,725	5,385
TOTAL ASSETS	611,562	512,366
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	0	0
Customer deposits	0	0
Other liabilities	0	0
Community development district (CDD) obligations	0	0
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	0	0
Note payable bank - financial services operations	0	0
Note payable - other	0	0
Convertible Subordinated Debt	57,500
Senior notes	227,570	239,016
TOTAL LIABILITIES	285,070	239,016
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	326,492	273,350
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	611,562	512,366
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	140,899	43,539	32,388	71,874
Restricted cash	8,980	41,334
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
Inventory	543,871	466,772
Property and equipment - net	11,821	14,241
Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	(204,295)	(115,058)
Other assets	12,217	8,455
TOTAL ASSETS	513,493	459,283
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	64,694	40,759
Customer deposits	10,976	4,181
Other liabilities	45,875	33,589
Community development district (CDD) obligations	4,988	5,983
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	6,552	2,944
Note payable bank - financial services operations	0	0
Note payable - other	10,769	5,801
Convertible Subordinated Debt	0
Senior notes	0	0
TOTAL LIABILITIES	143,854	93,257
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	369,639	366,026
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	513,493	459,283
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	18,866	16,254	14,441	9,334
Restricted cash	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale	58,338	57,275
Inventory	0	0
Property and equipment - net	135	117
Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs	11,256	10,357
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	(9,501)	(10,214)
Other assets	1,184	756
TOTAL ASSETS	80,278	74,545
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	654	497
Customer deposits	0	0
Other liabilities	6,382	5,759
Community development district (CDD) obligations	0	0
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	0	0
Note payable bank - financial services operations	54,840	52,606
Note payable - other	0	0
Convertible Subordinated Debt	0
Senior notes	0	0
TOTAL LIABILITIES	61,876	58,862
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	18,402	15,683
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	80,278	74,545
Corporate Elimination [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
Inventory	0	0
Property and equipment - net	0	0
Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(388,041)	(381,709)
Intercompany	0	0
Other assets	0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	(388,041)	(381,709)
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	0	0
Customer deposits	0	0
Other liabilities	0	0
Community development district (CDD) obligations	0	0
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	0	0
Note payable bank - financial services operations	0	0
Note payable - other	0	0
Convertible Subordinated Debt	0
Senior notes	0	0
TOTAL LIABILITIES	0	0
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	(388,041)	(381,709)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ (388,041)	$ (381,709)