Housing Inventories (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Housing Inventories
Discount rate, low end of the range (as a percent)	19.00%
Discount rate, high end of the range (as a percent)	30.00%
Valuation reserves related to impaired inventories	$ 342,400,000		$ 361,400,000
Carrying value of impaired inventories	234,400,000		236,300,000
Summary of activity related to capitalized interest
Capitalized interest, balance at the beginning of the period	79,911,000	89,828,000
Interest capitalized	19,253,000	15,705,000
Interest amortized to cost of sales	(14,073,000)	(26,588,000)
Capitalized interest, balance at the end of the period	$ 85,091,000	$ 78,945,000
Segment total
Lots
LOTS OWNED	16,762		16,556
LOTS OPTIONED	6,744		6,659
TOTAL	23,506		23,215
North
Lots
LOTS OWNED	5,004		4,997
LOTS OPTIONED	3,303		3,782
TOTAL	8,307		8,779
Southeast
Lots
LOTS OWNED	6,111		6,175
LOTS OPTIONED	1,238		771
TOTAL	7,349		6,946
Texas
Lots
LOTS OWNED	3,717		3,402
LOTS OPTIONED	1,412		1,538
TOTAL	5,129		4,940
West
Lots
LOTS OWNED	1,930		1,982
LOTS OPTIONED	791		568
TOTAL	2,721		2,550

The high end of the range of the discount rate that is used in the computation of discounted cash flows to determine fair value and new cost basis. The discount rate is dependent on market risk, the size or life of a community and development risk.

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The low end of the range of the discount rate that is used in the computation of discounted cash flows to determine fair value and new cost basis. The discount rate is dependent on market risk, the size or life of a community and development risk.

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- Definition

The net carrying value of impaired inventory.

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- Definition

The total number of lots owned and lots controlled under option agreements.

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- Definition

The number of real estate lots owned as of the balance sheet date.

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The number of lots that are controlled under real estate option agreements as of the balance sheet date. A real estate option contract is a legal agreement between the potential buyer of a real estate property and the owner of that property. The real estate option contract gives the potential buyer the exclusive right to buy the property at a specific price within a specific time period. The potential buyer typically pays the property owner a deposit for the right granted in the option contract.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of interest costs that were capitalized to properties under development during the land development and construction period of a project, and which are included in inventory.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 34
-Paragraph 21
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

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The amount of interest costs that had been capitalized to inventory which were charged to cost of sales during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 34
-Paragraph 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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The amount of interest capitalized to an operative builder's inventory during the period.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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The valuation allowance loss on real estate owned or any impairment losses taken against real estate investments held for use or resale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-DEP
-Chapter 11
-Paragraph 6, 20
-IssueDate 2006-05-01
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 43
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6390298&loc=d3e1739-110224

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 7, 34
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph 4
-Article 9

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher OTS
-Name Federal Regulation (FR)
-Number Title 12
-Chapter V
-Section 563c.102
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph b
-Subsection I
-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Section 35
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6390298&loc=d3e1424-110224

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