CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
REVENUES
Homebuilding	$ 1,270,847	$ 862,604	$ 969,818
Financial services	37,619	26,927	31,007
TOTAL REVENUES	1,308,466	889,531	1,000,825
EXPENSES
Cost of sales	1,027,472	726,956	844,364
Selling, general and administrative	189,500	158,045	168,873
Financial services	24,477	21,188	30,162
Interest	16,118	18,348	24,389
TOTAL EXPENSES	1,257,567	924,537	1,067,788
OTHER (LOSS) INCOME
Gain from marketable securities, net	2,214	3,882	5,774
Loss related to early retirement of debt, net	(9,146)	(1,608)	(19,308)
TOTAL OTHER (LOSS) INCOME	(6,932)	2,274	(13,534)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	43,967	(32,732)	(80,497)
Tax expense (benefit)	1,585	(2,865)	195
NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	42,382	(29,867)	(80,692)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(2,000)	(20,883)	(4,447)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ 40,382	$ (50,750)	$ (85,139)
Basic
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ (0.67)	$ (1.83)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.47)	$ (0.10)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.89	$ (1.14)	$ (1.93)
Diluted
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.88	$ (0.67)	$ (1.83)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.47)	$ (0.10)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ (1.14)	$ (1.93)
AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic (in shares)	44,761,178	44,357,470	44,050,013
Diluted (in shares)	49,655,321	44,357,470	44,050,013
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12