Note 21 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	$ 88,313	$ 212,393	$ 147,539	$ 363,291
Restricted cash	40,800
Inventories:
Owned	3,624,498	3,255,204
Not owned	45,771	85,153
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	60,835	50,111
Total Assets	4,319,892	4,174,420
Homebuilding:
Senior notes payable	2,133,111	2,131,393
Total Liabilities	2,567,349	2,497,732
Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,752,543	1,676,688
Total Liabilities and Equity	4,319,892	4,174,420
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	77,088	180,428
Restricted cash	39,714	38,222
Inventories:
Owned	3,624,498	3,255,204
Not owned	45,771	85,153
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	60,835	50,111
Deferred income taxes, net	266,091	276,402
Other assets	54,424	61,597
Total Assets	4,168,421	3,947,117
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	79,719	45,085
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	225,622	223,783
Revolving credit facility	30,000
Secured project debt and other notes payable	5,927	4,689
Senior notes payable	2,133,111	2,131,393
Total Liabilities	2,474,379	2,404,950
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	11,225	31,965
Restricted cash	1,045	1,295
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	109,239	174,420
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	23,366	14,380
Inventories:
Other assets	6,596	5,243
Total Assets	151,471	227,303
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	92,970	92,782
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	2,629	3,369
Mortgage credit facilities	90,341	89,413
Parent Company [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	28,782	133,304	26,249	175,289
Inventories:
Total Assets	4,332,784	4,129,481
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	2,580,241	2,452,793
Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,752,543	1,676,688
Total Liabilities and Equity	4,332,784	4,129,481
Parent Company [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	28,782	133,304
Intercompany receivables	1,795,110	1,637,226
Inventories:
Owned	1,156,145	1,059,197
Not owned	16,691	17,360
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,632)	(1,653)
Investments in subsidiaries	1,023,496	957,933
Deferred income taxes, net	274,642	283,890
Other assets	39,550	42,224
Total Assets	4,332,784	4,129,481
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	24,049	13,856
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	213,627	206,731
Revolving credit facility	30,000
Secured project debt and other notes payable	179,454	100,813
Senior notes payable	2,133,111	2,131,393
Total Liabilities	2,580,241	2,452,793
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	20,626	1,061	792	494
Inventories:
Total Assets	1,345,953	1,275,545
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	942,713	885,124
Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	403,240	390,421
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,345,953	1,275,545
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	20,626	1,061
Inventories:
Owned	1,294,269	1,234,233
Not owned	20,478	28,520
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	(69)	497
Other assets	10,649	11,234
Total Assets	1,345,953	1,275,545
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	25,141	16,202
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	917,572	868,922
Total Liabilities	942,713	885,124
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	38,905	78,028	$ 120,498	$ 187,508
Inventories:
Total Assets	1,651,653	1,558,550
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	1,031,397	991,038
Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	620,256	567,512
Total Liabilities and Equity	1,651,653	1,558,550
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	27,680	46,063
Restricted cash	39,714	38,222
Intercompany receivables	181,691	184,772
Inventories:
Owned	1,174,084	961,774
Not owned	8,602	39,273
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	62,536	51,267
Other assets	4,225	8,139
Total Assets	1,498,532	1,329,510
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	30,529	15,027
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	887,502	783,324
Secured project debt and other notes payable	4,203	4,689
Total Liabilities	922,234	803,040
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and equivalents	11,225	31,965
Restricted cash	1,045	1,295
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	109,239	174,420
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	23,366	14,380
Inventories:
Other assets	8,246	6,980
Total Assets	153,121	229,040
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	109,163	187,998
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	18,822	18,585
Mortgage credit facilities	90,341	169,413
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Inventories:
Total Assets	(3,010,498)	(2,789,156)
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	(1,987,002)	(1,831,223)
Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	(1,023,496)	(957,933)
Total Liabilities and Equity	(3,010,498)	(2,789,156)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Intercompany receivables	(1,976,801)	(1,821,998)
Inventories:
Investments in subsidiaries	(1,023,496)	(957,933)
Deferred income taxes, net	(8,551)	(7,488)
Total Assets	(3,008,848)	(2,787,419)
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities and intercompany payables	(1,793,079)	(1,635,194)
Secured project debt and other notes payable	(177,730)	(100,813)
Total Liabilities	(1,970,809)	(1,736,007)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Inventories:
Other assets	(1,650)	(1,737)
Total Assets	(1,650)	(1,737)
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	(16,193)	(95,216)
Financial Services:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	$ (16,193)	(15,216)
Mortgage credit facilities		$ (80,000)