Note 6 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Detail) (USD $)											1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Homebuilding [Member] Letter of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Homebuilding [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Homebuilding [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 10.75% Senior Notes due September 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 8.375% Senior Notes due May 2018 [Member]	May 31, 2010 8.375% Senior Notes due May 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 8.375% Senior Notes due January 2021 [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due August 2032 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Committed Letter of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Uncommitted Letter of Credit [Member]	Oct. 19, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity												$ 11,000,000	$ 30,000,000	$ 350,000,000	$ 210,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount												7,200,000	18,900,000
Cash Collateral Deposits				26,500,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							280,000,000	275,000,000	300,000,000	400,000,000	253,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							10.75%		8.375%	8.375%	1.25%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage							12.50%	7.964%		8.50%
Cash and Cash Equivalents in Unrestricted Subsidiaries	175,000,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio											123.7662
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Principal Amount Used In Conversion Rate Calculation											1,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price (in Dollars per share)											$ 8.08
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Redemption Price Percentage											100.00%
Secured Debt					11,516,000	3,531,000
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	7.60%	8.90%	8.90%
Aggregate Borrowing Commitment														550,000,000
Amount of Borrowing Commitment Whose Maturity Date Is Extended														320,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity														$ 283,300,000