Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 score	Dec. 31, 2011 score	Dec. 31, 2010 score	Dec. 31, 2009 score	Dec. 31, 2008 score	Dec. 31, 2007 score
Commitments and Contingencies
Mortgage loan types originated (as a percent)	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Average FICO credit score	731	726	723	717	711	713
Average combined loan-to-value ratio (as a percent)	90.10%	90.30%	90.80%	91.40%	90.10%	88.40%
Company's rent expense
Total rent expense	$ 5,933,000	$ 7,087,000	$ 11,210,000
Income from subleases	(385,000)	(456,000)	(1,431,000)
Net rent expense	5,548,000	6,631,000	9,779,000
Future minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases
2013	4,501,000
2014	4,623,000
2015	4,087,000
2016	2,868,000
2017	1,751,000
Thereafter	2,621,000
Income from subleases	(226,000)
Total lease commitments	20,225,000
Discontinued operations
Company's rent expense
Net rent expense	556,000	365,000	306,000
Mortgage interest rate lock commitments ("IRLCs")
Commitments and Contingencies
Average number of days of interest rate commitment before closing	180 days
Notional amount	137,700,000	114,600,000
Development bonds
Commitments and Contingencies
Guarantee obligations estimated exposure pertaining to land development and improvements	108,400,000	93,900,000
Performance-related cash deposits and letters of credit
Commitments and Contingencies
Guarantee obligations estimated exposure pertaining to land development and improvements	52,000,000	37,200,000
Prime
Commitments and Contingencies
Mortgage loan types originated (as a percent)	48.60%	42.20%	34.90%	32.90%	51.80%	67.70%
Government (FHA/VA/USDA)
Commitments and Contingencies
Mortgage loan types originated (as a percent)	51.40%	57.80%	65.10%	67.10%	48.20%	13.80%
Alt A
Commitments and Contingencies
Mortgage loan types originated (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	16.50%
Subprime
Commitments and Contingencies
Mortgage loan types originated (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	2.00%
Lot option purchase contracts
Commitments and Contingencies
Cash deposits and/or letters of credit	53,100,000	51,900,000
Aggregate purchase price	589,600,000	407,600,000
Purchase commitments, specific performance	$ 492,000	$ 1,000,000