Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) state	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) segment region state	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of states in which the entity operates | state	17		17
Number of reportable segments | segment			6
Number of geographic segments | region			4
REVENUES
Total	$ 653,635	$ 577,389	$ 1,171,034	$ 1,067,072
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	66,544	52,203	107,885	90,373
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	2,276,817		2,276,817		$ 2,045,823
OTHER ASSETS	744,929		744,929		1,006,266
TOTAL ASSETS	3,021,746		3,021,746		3,052,089
Operating Segments | Homebuilding | North
REVENUES
Total	178,477	154,111	314,131	287,675
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	17,755	14,954	29,294	25,748
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	645,227		645,227		589,427
OTHER ASSETS	61,930		61,930		47,742
TOTAL ASSETS	707,157		707,157		637,169
Operating Segments | Homebuilding | Southeast
REVENUES
Total	166,042	140,791	302,591	267,458
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	19,856	17,263	32,499	32,120
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	592,004		592,004		518,691
OTHER ASSETS	35,078		35,078		36,994
TOTAL ASSETS	627,082		627,082		555,685
Operating Segments | Homebuilding | Texas
REVENUES
Total	127,610	125,138	243,058	236,289
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	8,791	9,576	15,520	17,423
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	354,853		354,853		347,178
OTHER ASSETS	49,704		49,704		43,042
TOTAL ASSETS	404,557		404,557		390,220
Operating Segments | Homebuilding | West
REVENUES
Total	164,917	146,204	282,265	256,307
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	21,454	18,145	34,641	30,873
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	684,733		684,733		590,527
OTHER ASSETS	40,821		40,821		41,198
TOTAL ASSETS	725,554		725,554		631,725
Operating Segments | Financial services
REVENUES
Total	16,589	11,145	28,989	19,343
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	8,777	(1,909)	13,899	(3,320)
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	0		0		0
OTHER ASSETS	174,377		174,377		194,258
TOTAL ASSETS	174,377		174,377		194,258
Operating Segments | Corporate and unallocated
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES
Total	(10,089)	$ (5,826)	(17,968)	$ (12,471)
Total assets
HOUSING INVENTORIES	0		0		0
OTHER ASSETS	383,019		383,019		643,032
TOTAL ASSETS	$ 383,019		$ 383,019		$ 643,032