Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 Segment State Venture Loan Y M D	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Y Score Segment State Venture Loan M D	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Information
Number of states in which the entity operates (in states)	13		13
Number of reportable segments (in segments)	6		6
Number of geographical segments (in segments)	4		4
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues	$ 241,339	$ 196,194	$ 607,692	$ 760,775
Financial services revenue	7,628	6,283	21,289	26,107
TOTAL	248,967	202,477	628,981	786,882
EARNINGS/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	(3,908)	(28,577)	(33,546)	(63,482)
Segment total
REVENUES
TOTAL	248,967	202,477	628,981	786,882
EARNINGS/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	(3,908)	(28,577)	(33,546)	(63,482)
Homebuilding | North
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues	85,348	67,272	215,882	260,662
EARNINGS/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	614	(7,928)	(9,612)	(12,100)
Homebuilding | Southeast
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues	59,837	51,663	150,675	208,169
EARNINGS/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	(924)	(6,337)	(13,550)	(9,664)
Homebuilding | Texas
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues	73,423	54,078	187,951	189,416
EARNINGS/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	3,479	(7,035)	5,256	(3,747)
Homebuilding | West
REVENUES
Homebuilding revenues	22,731	23,181	53,184	102,528
EARNINGS/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	(2,259)	(2,519)	(5,936)	(2,363)
Financial Services
REVENUES
Financial services revenue	7,628	6,283	21,289	26,107
EARNINGS/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	2,029	(661)	5,302	(823)
Corporate and unallocated
REVENUES
EARNINGS/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXES	$ (6,847)	$ (4,097)	$ (15,006)	$ (34,785)