Note 14 - Results of Quarterly Operations (Unaudited) (Detail) - Results of Quarterly Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
2012:
Revenues, by quarter	$ 1,258,258	[1]	$ 893,900	[1]
Homebuilding gross margin, by quarter	243,674	[1]	162,197	[1]	201,844
Net income (loss), by quarter	531,421	[1]	(16,417)	[1]	(11,724)
Basic income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.52	[1]	$ (0.05)	[1]	$ (0.05)
Diluted income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.44	[1]	$ (0.05)	[1]	$ (0.05)
First Quarter [Member]
2012:
Revenues, by quarter	227,328		144,759
Homebuilding gross margin, by quarter	44,741		29,387
Net income (loss), by quarter	8,523		(14,797)
Basic income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.02		$ (0.04)
Diluted income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.02		$ (0.04)
Second Quarter [Member]
2012:
Revenues, by quarter	280,277		206,880
Homebuilding gross margin, by quarter	56,286		34,798
Net income (loss), by quarter	14,263		(10,519)
Basic income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.04		$ (0.03)
Diluted income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.04		$ (0.03)
Third Quarter [Member]
2012:
Revenues, by quarter	323,759		245,322
Homebuilding gross margin, by quarter	64,105		38,246
Net income (loss), by quarter	21,710		(6,434)
Basic income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.06		$ (0.02)
Diluted income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.05		$ (0.02)
Fourth Quarter [Member]
2012:
Revenues, by quarter	426,894		296,939
Homebuilding gross margin, by quarter	78,542		59,766
Net income (loss), by quarter	$ 486,925		$ 15,333
Basic income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.35		$ 0.04
Diluted income (loss) per common share, by quarter (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.22		$ 0.04

[1] Some amounts do not add across due to rounding differences in quarterly amounts and due to the impact of differences between the quarterly and annual weighted average share calculations.