Housing Inventories (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Housing Inventories
Valuation reserves related to impaired inventories	$ 134,200,000		$ 134,200,000		$ 154,800,000
Net carrying value of impaired inventories	160,000,000		160,000,000		155,900,000
Preacquisition feasibility costs written off	410,000	463,000
Summary of activity related to capitalized interest
Capitalized interest, balance at the beginning of the period			89,619,000	82,773,000
Interest capitalized			51,443,000	42,303,000
Interest amortized to cost of sales			(34,625,000)	(37,153,000)
Capitalized interest, balance at the end of the period	106,437,000	87,923,000	106,437,000	87,923,000
Interest incurred			$ 52,194,000	$ 50,874,000
Total continuing operations
Lots
LOTS OWNED	25,978		25,978		23,540
LOTS OPTIONED	14,872		14,872		14,602
TOTAL	40,850		40,850		38,142
Total continuing operations | North
Lots
LOTS OWNED	7,512		7,512		6,382
LOTS OPTIONED	6,749		6,749		7,455
TOTAL	14,261		14,261		13,837
Total continuing operations | Southeast
Lots
LOTS OWNED	8,586		8,586		8,114
LOTS OPTIONED	4,136		4,136		2,439
TOTAL	12,722		12,722		10,553
Total continuing operations | Texas
Lots
LOTS OWNED	4,156		4,156		3,886
LOTS OPTIONED	3,049		3,049		3,147
TOTAL	7,205		7,205		7,033
Total continuing operations | West
Lots
LOTS OWNED	5,724		5,724		5,158
LOTS OPTIONED	938		938		1,561
TOTAL	6,662		6,662		6,719