Note 7 - Inventories (Detail) - Inventories Owned (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Homebuilding: California [Member]
Land and land under development	$ 583,684	$ 614,668
Homes completed and under construction	247,259	205,515
Model homes	83,690	70,117
Total inventories owned	914,633	890,300
Homebuilding: Southwest [Member]
Land and land under development	255,519	221,481
Homes completed and under construction	67,510	67,200
Model homes	14,196	14,005
Total inventories owned	337,225	302,686
Homebuilding: Southeast [Member]
Land and land under development	248,006	200,680
Homes completed and under construction	88,131	67,134
Model homes	17,143	16,439
Total inventories owned	353,280	284,253
Homebuilding [Member]
Land and land under development	1,087,209	1,036,829
Homes completed and under construction	402,900	339,849
Model homes	115,029	100,561
Total inventories owned	$ 1,605,138	$ 1,477,239

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of homes that have been finished and are ready for sale, net of valuation allowance and impairment loss and of capitalized construction costs of homes for future sale.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The net carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the sum of the various components of an operative builder's inventory, including finished homes. Operative builders primarily consist of entities that develop land, construct residential homes and commercial and industrial buildings thereon, and sell them to home buyers and operators of the commercial and industrial properties.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of all of a real estate developer's inventories that are either not otherwise specified in the taxonomy or are not separately reported by the entity.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, net of valuation allowances and impairment losses, of costs of land expected to be developed in the near term plus capitalized costs of development, for purposes of selling completed units to home buyers or commercial or industrial entities..

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 67

-Paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7

-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.

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