Note 7 - Inventories (Detail) - Inventories Owned (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Homebuilding: California [Member]
Land and land under development	$ 752,155	$ 778,419
Homes completed and under construction	267,433	240,236
Model homes	67,697	67,504
Total inventories owned	1,087,285	1,086,159
Homebuilding: Southwest [Member]
Land and land under development	376,589	352,705
Homes completed and under construction	109,036	93,265
Model homes	18,766	15,231
Total inventories owned	504,391	461,201
Homebuilding: Southeast [Member]
Land and land under development	322,218	313,037
Homes completed and under construction	118,641	93,695
Model homes	17,167	17,326
Total inventories owned	458,026	424,058
Homebuilding [Member]
Land and land under development	1,450,962	1,444,161
Homes completed and under construction	495,110	427,196
Model homes	103,630	100,061
Total inventories owned	$ 2,049,702	$ 1,971,418

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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