Note 3 - Segment Reporting - Segment Financial Information Relating to Homebuilding Assets and Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets	$ 8,866,796	$ 8,709,044
Homebuilding [Member]
Assets	8,599,017	8,356,645
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	125,768	127,127
Homebuilding [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Assets	600,776	578,780
Homebuilding [Member] | North [Member]
Assets	1,279,502	1,181,544
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,726	5,691
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Assets	2,342,138	2,253,289
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	162	334
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Assets	1,839,474	1,842,869
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,393	6,085
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Assets	2,537,127	2,500,163
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 114,487	$ 115,017