Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 State	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment State	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Information
Number of states in which the entity operates	17								17
Number of reportable segments									6
Number of geographic segments									4
REVENUES
Total	$ 696,657	$ 576,423	$ 492,995	$ 374,680	$ 440,135	$ 358,693	$ 293,769	$ 215,869	$ 2,140,755	$ 1,308,466	$ 889,531
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	75,223	53,986	44,279	22,203	30,319	10,430	6,239	(3,021)	195,691	43,967	(32,732)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization									20,517	15,399	11,312
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	1,649,783				1,077,418				1,649,783	1,077,418
OTHER ASSETS	1,130,529				854,021				1,130,529	854,021
TOTAL ASSETS	2,780,312				1,931,439				2,780,312	1,931,439
Assets associated with discontinued operations	30				2,480				30	2,480
Homebuilding | North
REVENUES
Total									617,550	393,238	299,595
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									52,440	11,602	(9,054)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization									5,819	4,710	3,527
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	464,777				378,523				464,777	378,523
OTHER ASSETS	48,314				29,818				48,314	29,818
TOTAL ASSETS	513,091				408,341				513,091	408,341
Homebuilding | Southeast
REVENUES
Total									597,933	355,621	218,672
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									65,510	18,566	(11,676)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization									5,629	4,308	3,145
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	397,237				292,288				397,237	292,288
OTHER ASSETS	24,143				22,755				24,143	22,755
TOTAL ASSETS	421,380				315,043				421,380	315,043
Homebuilding | Texas
REVENUES
Total									448,828	323,162	262,321
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									39,030	22,984	9,243
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization									3,960	2,834	2,610
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	290,018				174,153				290,018	174,153
OTHER ASSETS	37,310				22,244				37,310	22,244
TOTAL ASSETS	327,328				196,397				327,328	196,397
Homebuilding | West
REVENUES
Total									425,064	198,826	82,016
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									46,546	10,732	(5,326)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization									4,569	2,984	1,295
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	497,751				232,454				497,751	232,454
OTHER ASSETS	30,248				41,596				30,248	41,596
TOTAL ASSETS	527,999				274,050				527,999	274,050
Financial Services
REVENUES
Total									51,380	37,619	26,927
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									20,068	13,142	5,739
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization									175	78	181
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	0				0				0	0
OTHER ASSETS	193,652				157,781				193,652	157,781
TOTAL ASSETS	193,652				157,781				193,652	157,781
Corporate and unallocated
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total									(27,903)	(33,059)	(21,658)
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization									365	485	554
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	0				0				0	0
OTHER ASSETS	796,862				579,827				796,862	579,827
TOTAL ASSETS	$ 796,862				$ 579,827				$ 796,862	$ 579,827