Note 20 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 91,758	$ (27,622)
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	(18,909)	(4,191)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	6,471	99
Loan to parent and subsidiaries
Other investing activities	(1,921)	1,142
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(14,359)	(2,950)
Change in restricted cash	(1,517)	1,267
Borrowings from revolving credit facility	109,550	386,400
Principal payments on revolving credit facility	(109,550)	(120,400)
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable	(179)	(1,781)
Loan from subsidiary
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facility	(92,960)	(138,479)
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries
Repurchases of common stock		(87,050)
Common stock dividend payments	(4,584)	(4,792)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of tax withholdings	(4,167)	2,055
Other financing activities	(126)	(23)
Intercompany advances, net
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(103,533)	37,197
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(26,134)	6,625
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	208,127	186,594
Cash and equivalents at end of period	181,993	193,219
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	91,758	(27,622)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures
Loan to parent and subsidiaries	43,664	(71,000)
Other investing activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	43,664	(71,000)
Change in restricted cash
Borrowings from revolving credit facility
Principal payments on revolving credit facility
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable
Loan from subsidiary	(43,664)	71,000
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facility
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries
Repurchases of common stock
Common stock dividend payments
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of tax withholdings
Other financing activities
Intercompany advances, net
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(43,664)	71,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and equivalents at end of period
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Parent Company [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(14,708)	(43,214)
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	(96)	(135)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	500
Loan to parent and subsidiaries
Other investing activities	(531)	488
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(127)	353
Change in restricted cash
Borrowings from revolving credit facility	109,550	386,400
Principal payments on revolving credit facility	(109,550)	(120,400)
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable		(1,724)
Loan from subsidiary	43,664	(71,000)
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facility
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries	1,000	(700)
Repurchases of common stock		(87,050)
Common stock dividend payments	(4,584)	(4,792)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of tax withholdings	(4,167)	2,055
Other financing activities	(126)
Intercompany advances, net	(30,257)	20,643
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	5,530	123,432
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(9,305)	80,571
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	105,261	6,387
Cash and equivalents at end of period	95,956	86,958
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(14,708)	(43,214)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(37,052)	(42,551)
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	(41)	(45)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	350
Loan to parent and subsidiaries
Other investing activities	(446)	(199)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(137)	(244)
Change in restricted cash
Borrowings from revolving credit facility
Principal payments on revolving credit facility
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable
Loan from subsidiary
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facility
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries
Repurchases of common stock
Common stock dividend payments
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of tax withholdings
Other financing activities		(23)
Intercompany advances, net	23,131	(34,059)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	23,131	(34,082)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(14,058)	(76,877)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	38,211	112,852
Cash and equivalents at end of period	24,153	35,975
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(37,052)	(42,551)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	143,518	58,143
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	(18,772)	(4,011)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	5,621	99
Loan to parent and subsidiaries	(43,664)	71,000
Other investing activities	(944)	853
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(57,759)	67,941
Change in restricted cash	(1,517)	1,267
Borrowings from revolving credit facility
Principal payments on revolving credit facility
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable	(179)	(57)
Loan from subsidiary
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facility	(92,960)	(138,479)
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries	(1,000)	700
Repurchases of common stock
Common stock dividend payments
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of tax withholdings
Other financing activities
Intercompany advances, net	7,126	13,416
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(88,530)	(123,153)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(2,771)	2,931
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	64,655	67,355
Cash and equivalents at end of period	61,884	70,286
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 143,518	$ 58,143