Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Segment State	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Segment State	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Information
Number of states in which the entity operates	14								14
Number of reportable segments	6								6
Number of geographic segments	4								4
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									$ 1,270,847	$ 862,604	$ 969,818
Financial services revenue									37,619	26,927	31,007
Total	440,135	358,693	293,769	215,869	261,445	248,566	211,848	167,672	1,308,466	889,531	1,000,825
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	30,319	10,430	6,239	(3,021)	814	(3,908)	(9,801)	(19,837)	43,967	(32,732)	(80,497)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									15,399	11,312	16,399
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	1,933,919				1,579,144				1,933,919	1,579,144
Segment total
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	1,931,439				1,543,820				1,931,439	1,543,820
Homebuilding | North
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									393,238	299,595	344,154
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									11,602	(9,054)	(15,842)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									4,710	3,527	4,773
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	408,341				367,096				408,341	367,096
Homebuilding | Southeast
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									355,621	218,672	259,357
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									18,566	(11,676)	(16,446)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									4,308	3,145	4,116
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	315,043				198,196				315,043	198,196
Homebuilding | Texas
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									323,162	262,321	242,691
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									22,984	9,243	(2,492)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									2,834	2,610	2,429
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	196,397				161,779				196,397	161,779
Homebuilding | West
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues									198,826	82,016	123,616
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									10,732	(5,326)	(7,903)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									2,984	1,295	4,354
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	274,050				160,004				274,050	160,004
Financial Services
REVENUES
Financial services revenue									37,619	26,927	31,007
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									13,142	5,739	845
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									78	181	254
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	157,781				144,652				157,781	144,652
Corporate and unallocated
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									(33,059)	(21,658)	(38,659)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Total									485	554	473
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Total	$ 579,827				$ 512,093				$ 579,827	$ 512,093