Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 State Segment	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 State Segment	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Information
Number of states in which the entity operates	13								13
Number of reportable segments	6								6
Number of geographic segments	4								4
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									$ 862,604	$ 969,818	$ 1,144,225
Financial services revenue									28,129	32,134	41,902
Total	261,752	248,967	212,241	167,773	215,070	202,477	346,714	237,691	890,733	1,001,952	1,186,127
(LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES
Total	814	(3,908)	(9,801)	(19,837)	(17,015)	(28,577)	(21,395)	(13,510)	(32,732)	(80,497)	(240,542)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									11,312	16,399	23,211
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	1,579,144				1,652,703				1,579,144	1,652,703
Segment total
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	1,543,820				1,602,039				1,543,820	1,602,039
Homebuilding | North
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									299,595	344,154	437,924
(LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES
Total									(9,054)	(15,842)	(100,223)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									3,527	4,773	5,547
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	367,096				374,918				367,096	374,918
Homebuilding | Southeast
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									218,672	259,357	283,295
(LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES
Total									(11,676)	(16,446)	(83,050)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									3,145	4,116	5,566
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	198,196				186,515				198,196	186,515
Homebuilding | Texas
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									262,321	242,691	266,453
(LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES
Total									9,243	(2,492)	(3,905)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									2,610	2,429	4,173
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	161,779				154,593				161,779	154,593
Homebuilding | West
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									82,016	123,616	156,553
(LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES
Total									(5,326)	(7,903)	(39,032)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									1,295	4,354	6,933
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	160,004				119,138				160,004	119,138
Financial Services
REVENUES
Financial services revenue									28,129	32,134	41,902
(LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES
Total									5,739	845	(309)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									181	254	305
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	144,652				74,180				144,652	74,180
Corporate and unallocated
(LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES
Total									(21,658)	(38,659)	(14,023)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									554	473	687
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	$ 512,093				$ 692,695				$ 512,093	$ 692,695