Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
Revenues	$ 867,805	$ 680,192	$ 577,389	$ 489,683	$ 696,657	$ 576,423	$ 492,995	$ 374,680	$ 2,615,069	$ 2,140,755	$ 1,308,466
Homebuilding gross profit	192,373	148,345	120,053	101,486	150,265	115,832	97,917	71,165
Income from continuing operations before taxes	115,149	78,942	52,203	38,170	75,223	53,986	44,279	22,203	284,464	195,691	43,967
Tax expense (benefit)	43,447	30,414	20,161	14,643	2,917	428	(186,952)	199	108,665	(183,408)	1,585
NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	71,702	48,528	32,042	23,527	72,306	53,558	231,231	22,004	175,799	379,099	42,382
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	0	0	(61)	91	(37)	113		106	(2,000)
NET INCOME	$ 71,702	$ 48,528	$ 32,042	$ 23,527	$ 72,245	$ 53,649	$ 231,194	$ 22,117	$ 175,799	$ 379,205	$ 40,382
Basic
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55	$ 1.04	$ 0.68	$ 0.50	$ 1.56	$ 1.16	$ 5.01	$ 0.48	$ 3.77	$ 8.22	$ 0.93
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55	$ 1.04	$ 0.68	$ 0.50	$ 1.56	$ 1.16	$ 5.01	$ 0.48	$ 3.77	$ 8.22	$ 0.89
Diluted
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.26	$ 0.85	$ 0.57	$ 0.42	$ 1.27	$ 0.95	$ 4.16	$ 0.43	$ 3.09	$ 6.79	$ 0.88
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 1.26	$ 0.85	$ 0.57	$ 0.42	$ 1.27	$ 0.95	$ 4.16	$ 0.43	$ 3.09	$ 6.79	$ 0.84
AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic (in shares)	46,209,000	46,613,000	46,915,000	46,579,000	46,216,000	46,175,000	46,036,000	45,435,000	46,579,641	45,966,307	44,761,178
Diluted (in shares)	57,784,000	58,212,000	58,431,000	58,127,000	57,807,000	57,679,000	55,690,000	53,362,000	58,218,165	56,219,939	49,655,321