Note 3 - Segment Reporting - Segment Financial Information Relating to Homebuilding Assets and Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets	$ 8,693,770	$ 8,709,044
Homebuilding [Member]
Assets	8,430,623	8,356,645
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	120,364	127,127
Homebuilding [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Assets	587,527	578,780
Homebuilding [Member] | North [Member]
Assets	1,227,859	1,181,544
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,547	5,691
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Assets	2,300,549	2,253,289
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	334	334
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Assets	1,866,350	1,842,869
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,931	6,085
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Assets	2,448,338	2,500,163
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 108,552	$ 115,017