Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	$ 103,598	$ 212,393	$ 205,112	$ 363,291
Restricted cash	40,500
Owned	3,480,777	3,255,204
Not owned	50,856	85,153
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	51,362	50,111
Total Assets	4,192,149	4,174,420
Senior notes payable	2,132,229	2,131,393
Total Liabilities	2,503,794	2,497,732
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,688,355	1,676,688
Total Liabilities and Equity	4,192,149	4,174,420
Homebuilding [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Trade, intercompany and other receivables	(1,943,373)	(1,821,998)
Investments in subsidiaries	(971,327)	(957,933)
Deferred income taxes, net	(7,838)	(7,488)
Total Assets	(2,922,538)	(2,787,419)
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	(1,765,760)	(1,635,194)
Secured project debt and other notes payable	(171,622)	(100,813)
Total Liabilities	(1,937,382)	(1,736,007)
Homebuilding [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	47,277	133,304
Trade, intercompany and other receivables	1,773,943	1,645,356
Owned	1,094,011	1,059,197
Not owned	19,678	17,360
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,628)	(1,653)
Investments in subsidiaries	971,327	957,933
Deferred income taxes, net	281,516	283,890
Other assets	31,582	34,094
Total Assets	4,217,706	4,129,481
Accounts payable	17,669	13,856
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	192,831	206,731
Revolving credit facility	15,000
Secured project debt and other notes payable	171,622	100,813
Senior notes payable	2,132,229	2,131,393
Total Liabilities	2,529,351	2,452,793
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	783	1,061
Trade, intercompany and other receivables	10,318	4,379
Owned	1,302,428	1,234,233
Not owned	22,031	28,520
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	523	497
Other assets	6,910	6,855
Total Assets	1,342,993	1,275,545
Accounts payable	22,451	16,202
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	924,316	868,922
Total Liabilities	946,767	885,124
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	32,866	46,063
Restricted cash	39,241	38,222
Trade, intercompany and other receivables	185,082	191,268
Owned	1,084,338	961,774
Not owned	9,147	39,273
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	52,467	51,267
Other assets	1,380	1,643
Total Assets	1,404,521	1,329,510
Accounts payable	18,444	15,027
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	848,459	783,324
Secured project debt and other notes payable	4,378	4,689
Total Liabilities	871,281	803,040
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	80,926	180,428
Restricted cash	39,241	38,222
Trade, intercompany and other receivables	25,970	19,005
Owned	3,480,777	3,255,204
Not owned	50,856	85,153
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	51,362	50,111
Deferred income taxes, net	273,678	276,402
Other assets	39,872	42,592
Total Assets	4,042,682	3,947,117
Accounts payable	58,564	45,085
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	199,846	223,783
Revolving credit facility	15,000
Secured project debt and other notes payable	4,378	4,689
Senior notes payable	2,132,229	2,131,393
Total Liabilities	2,410,017	2,404,950
Financial Services [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Other assets	(1,606)	(1,737)
Total Assets	(1,606)	(1,737)
Total Liabilities	(15,435)	(95,216)
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(15,435)	(15,216)
Mortgage credit facilities		(80,000)
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	22,672	31,965
Restricted cash	1,295	1,295
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	98,692	174,420
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	18,518	14,380
Other assets	9,896	6,980
Total Assets	151,073	229,040
Total Liabilities	109,212	187,998
Accounts payable and other liabilities	17,675	18,585
Mortgage credit facilities	91,537	169,413
Financial Services [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	22,672	31,965
Restricted cash	1,295	1,295
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	98,692	174,420
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	18,518	14,380
Other assets	8,290	5,243
Total Assets	149,467	227,303
Total Liabilities	93,777	92,782
Accounts payable and other liabilities	2,240	3,369
Mortgage credit facilities	91,537	89,413
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Total Assets	(2,924,144)	(2,789,156)
Total Liabilities	(1,952,817)	(1,831,223)
Total Stockholders' Equity	(971,327)	(957,933)
Total Liabilities and Equity	(2,924,144)	(2,789,156)
Parent Company [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	47,277	133,304	34,049	175,289
Total Assets	4,217,706	4,129,481
Total Liabilities	2,529,351	2,452,793
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,688,355	1,676,688
Total Liabilities and Equity	4,217,706	4,129,481
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	783	1,061	686	494
Total Assets	1,342,993	1,275,545
Total Liabilities	946,767	885,124
Total Stockholders' Equity	396,226	390,421
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,342,993	1,275,545
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	55,538	78,028	170,377	187,508
Total Assets	1,555,594	1,558,550
Total Liabilities	980,493	991,038
Total Stockholders' Equity	575,101	567,512
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,555,594	$ 1,558,550