Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Detail) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			48 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		48 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Homebuilding [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Homebuilding [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Deferred Income Taxes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Employee Severance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Contract Termination [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Restructuring [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 6% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due October 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Term Loan B [Member]
Number of Reportable Segments	3
Product Warranty Expense		$ 2,900,000	$ 2,000,000
Restructuring Charges				48,700,000							30,700,000	13,700,000	4,300,000
Restructuring Reserve	400,000	2,100,000		2,100,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage														6.00%
Number of Remaining Shares Outstanding Under the Share Lending Facility Returned to the Company (in Shares)	3.9
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	29,300,000				26,900,000	31,372,000	2,420,000	1,295,000
MortgageLoanLossExpenseProvision	1,000,000	4,300,000	2,300,000
Mortgage Loan Repurchase Reserve	3,000,000	2,900,000		2,900,000
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Real Estate	2,800,000	4,400,000		4,400,000
Interest Expense	6,396,000	25,168,000	40,174,000
Term Loan B Non Cash Interest Amortization	10,400,000	10,300,000	200,000
Capitalized Interest Transferred From Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures To Inventories Owned	7,600,000	1,200,000	400,000
Insurance and Litigation Accruals	57,200,000	55,800,000		55,800,000
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Derivatives	250,000,000
Payments for Loans															225,000,000
Payment to Terminate Interest Rate Swap Agreement															24,500,000
Amortization Period of Deferred Gain (Loss) on Discontinuation of Interest Rate Fair Value Hedge	2 years 109 days
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges, Pretax, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	10,400,000	10,300,000							2,200,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Other	366,000	563,000		563,000						1,400,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	$ 6,419,000	$ 6,402,000	$ 247,000