Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	$ 1,841,551	$ 1,771,661
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	769,786	628,371
Model homes. by segments	129,932	136,070
Total inventories owned, by segments	2,741,269	2,536,102
Homebuilding: California [Member]
Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	812,401	819,278
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	350,031	280,875
Model homes. by segments	74,925	82,367
Total inventories owned, by segments	1,237,357	1,182,520
Homebuilding: Southwest [Member]
Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	457,257	415,910
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	194,030	159,927
Model homes. by segments	27,212	27,466
Total inventories owned, by segments	678,499	603,303
Homebuilding: Southeast [Member]
Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	571,893	536,473
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	225,725	187,569
Model homes. by segments	27,795	26,237
Total inventories owned, by segments	$ 825,413	$ 750,279

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

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- 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

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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

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