Note 21 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Detail) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Homebuilding:
Revenues	$ 357,721	$ 223,702
Cost of sales	(283,195)	(178,961)
Gross margin	74,526	44,741
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(46,294)	(37,692)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,134	(1,522)
Interest expense		(2,530)
Other income (expense)	3,570	4,284
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	32,936	7,281
Financial Services:
Financial services pretax income (loss)	2,457	1,429
Income (loss) before income taxes	35,393	8,710
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(13,569)	(187)
Net income (loss)	21,824	8,523
Parent Company [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues	175,235	74,255
Cost of sales	(137,086)	(57,955)
Gross margin	38,149	16,300
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(21,030)	(17,222)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,135	(682)
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	5,280	1,855
Interest expense	5,003	3,356
Other income (expense)	3,507	4,013
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	32,044	7,620
Financial Services:
Income (loss) before income taxes	32,044	7,620
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(10,220)	903
Net income (loss)	21,824	8,523
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues	151,389	124,889
Cost of sales	(120,400)	(100,303)
Gross margin	30,989	24,586
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(22,046)	(17,989)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(72)	(28)
Interest expense	(3,602)	(4,241)
Other income (expense)	(16)	49
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	5,253	2,377
Financial Services:
Income (loss) before income taxes	5,253	2,377
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(2,405)	(757)
Net income (loss)	2,848	1,620
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues	31,097	24,558
Cost of sales	(25,709)	(20,703)
Gross margin	5,388	3,855
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(3,218)	(2,481)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	71	(812)
Interest expense	(1,401)	(1,645)
Other income (expense)	79	222
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	919	(861)
Financial Services:
Financial services pretax income (loss)	2,457	1,429
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,376	568
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(944)	(333)
Net income (loss)	2,432	235
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding:
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	(5,280)	(1,855)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	(5,280)	(1,855)
Financial Services:
Income (loss) before income taxes	(5,280)	(1,855)
Net income (loss)	$ (5,280)	$ (1,855)