Note 21 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Detail) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenues	$ 274,872	$ 204,345	$ 498,574	$ 348,044
Cost of sales	(218,586)	(169,547)	(397,547)	(283,859)
Gross margin	56,286	34,798	101,027	64,185
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(41,952)	(38,443)	(79,644)	(70,704)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,146)	(379)	(2,668)	(636)
Interest expense	(1,617)	(7,444)	(4,147)	(17,959)
Other income (expense)	307	977	4,591	1,269
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	11,878	(10,491)	19,159	(23,845)
Financial services pretax income (loss)	2,574	147	4,003	(1,196)
Income (loss) before income taxes	14,452	(10,344)	23,162	(25,041)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(189)	(175)	(376)	(275)
Net income (loss)	14,263	(10,519)	22,786	(25,316)
Parent Company [Member]
Revenues	113,416	82,010	187,671	144,700
Cost of sales	(88,545)	(66,305)	(146,500)	(113,408)
Gross margin	24,871	15,705	41,171	31,292
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(19,145)	(20,145)	(36,367)	(37,755)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(276)	92	(958)	70
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	2,867	(3,296)	4,785	(8,282)
Interest expense	4,383	(1,779)	7,739	(6,907)
Other income (expense)	(205)	477	3,808	394
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	12,495	(8,946)	20,178	(21,188)
Financial services pretax income (loss)	(84)	(41)	(147)	(56)
Income (loss) before income taxes	12,411	(8,987)	20,031	(21,244)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	1,852	(1,532)	2,755	(4,072)
Net income (loss)	14,263	(10,519)	22,786	(25,316)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues	141,476	110,863	266,365	185,895
Cost of sales	(113,620)	(93,676)	(213,923)	(156,780)
Gross margin	27,856	17,187	52,442	29,115
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(20,533)	(17,309)	(38,522)	(31,339)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(91)	(10)	(119)	(36)
Interest expense	(4,343)	(5,151)	(8,584)	(10,032)
Other income (expense)	251	52	300	22
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	3,140	(5,231)	5,517	(12,270)
Financial services pretax income (loss)	84	41	147	56
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,224	(5,190)	5,664	(12,214)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(1,225)	1,230	(1,982)	3,252
Net income (loss)	1,999	(3,960)	3,682	(8,962)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues	19,980	11,472	44,538	17,449
Cost of sales	(16,421)	(9,566)	(37,124)	(13,671)
Gross margin	3,559	1,906	7,414	3,778
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(2,274)	(989)	(4,755)	(1,610)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(779)	(461)	(1,591)	(670)
Interest expense	(1,657)	(514)	(3,302)	(1,020)
Other income (expense)	261	448	483	853
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	(890)	390	(1,751)	1,331
Financial services pretax income (loss)	2,574	147	4,003	(1,196)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,684	537	2,252	135
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(816)	127	(1,149)	545
Net income (loss)	868	664	1,103	680
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	(2,867)	3,296	(4,785)	8,282
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	(2,867)	3,296	(4,785)	8,282
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,867)	3,296	(4,785)	8,282
Net income (loss)	$ (2,867)	$ 3,296	$ (4,785)	$ 8,282