Note 3 - Segment Reporting - Segment Financial Information Relating to Homebuilding Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets	$ 9,079,034	$ 8,709,044
Homebuilding [Member]
Assets	8,809,903	8,356,645
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	130,692	127,127
Homebuilding [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Assets	485,221	578,780
Homebuilding [Member] | North [Member]
Assets	1,347,835	1,181,544
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,829	5,691
Homebuilding [Member] | Southeast [Member]
Assets	2,375,363	2,253,289
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	162	334
Homebuilding [Member] | Southwest [Member]
Assets	1,895,329	1,842,869
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	4,855	6,085
Homebuilding [Member] | West [Member]
Assets	2,706,155	2,500,163
Homebuilding investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 119,846	$ 115,017