Capitalized interest in connection with the abandonment of a project.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Capitalized interest transferred from investments in unconsolidated joint ventures to inventories owned.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Accrual as of the balance sheet date for the estimate of insurance and litigation liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reserves established for probable loan indemnification or repurchase obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Reserve for probable loan indemnification or repurchase obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Number of remaining shares outstanding under the share lending facility returned to the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Non cash interest related to Term Loan B swap termination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified fixed maturity real estate loans as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of that loan portfolio.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 310

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6873192&loc=d3e21338-158488

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9)

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 9

-Article 9

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- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (d)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959

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- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 11, 2012
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments	3us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Number of Remaining Shares Outstanding Under the Share Lending Facility Returned to the Company (in Shares)				3.9
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 39,500,000
MortgageLoanLossExpenseProvision	500,000spf_MortgageLoanLossExpenseProvision	0spf_MortgageLoanLossExpenseProvision	1,000,000spf_MortgageLoanLossExpenseProvision
Mortgage Loan Repurchase Reserve	2,200,000spf_MortgageLoanRepurchaseReserve	2,200,000spf_MortgageLoanRepurchaseReserve
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Real Estate	1,500,000	2,300,000
Interest Expense			6,396,000us-gaap_InterestExpense
Term Loan B Non Cash Interest Amortization		3,600,000	10,400,000
Capitalized Interest Transferred From Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures To Inventories Owned	6,000,000	4,400,000	7,600,000
Insurance and Litigation Accruals	62,800,000spf_InsuranceAndLitigationAccruals	64,800,000spf_InsuranceAndLitigationAccruals
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax		2,228,000	6,419,000
Other Expense [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Capitalized Interest In Connection With Abandonment Project		800,000
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	38,222,000	21,460,000
Financial Services [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 1,295,000	$ 1,295,000
6% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due October 2012 [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			6.00%