Note 21 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	$ 129,667	$ 208,127	$ 214,274	$ 186,594
Inventories:
Total assets	9,079,034	8,709,044
Cash and equivalents	129,667	208,127	214,274	186,594
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	4,735,931	4,501,458
Stockholders' Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	4,329,211	4,207,586
Noncontrolling Interest	13,892
Total Equity	4,343,103	4,207,586
Total Liabilities and Equity	9,079,034	8,709,044
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	25,694	105,261	118,170	6,387
Inventories:
Total assets	8,994,314	8,438,528
Cash and equivalents	25,694	105,261	118,170	6,387
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	4,665,103	4,230,942
Stockholders' Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	4,329,211
Noncontrolling Interest
Total Equity	4,329,211	4,207,586
Total Liabilities and Equity	8,994,314	8,438,528
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	31,465	38,211	30,931	112,852
Inventories:
Total assets	2,395,103	2,390,295
Cash and equivalents	31,465	38,211	30,931	112,852
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	1,318,712	1,380,957
Stockholders' Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,076,391
Noncontrolling Interest
Total Equity	1,076,391	1,009,338
Total Liabilities and Equity	2,395,103	2,390,295
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	72,508	64,655	65,173	67,355
Inventories:
Total assets	2,350,253	2,223,782
Cash and equivalents	72,508	64,655	65,173	67,355
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	1,280,782	1,278,702
Stockholders' Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	1,055,579
Noncontrolling Interest	13,892
Total Equity	1,069,471	945,080
Total Liabilities and Equity	2,350,253	2,223,782
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents
Inventories:
Total assets	(4,660,636)	(4,343,561)
Cash and equivalents
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	(2,528,666)	(2,389,143)
Stockholders' Equity:
Total Stockholders' Equity	(2,131,970)
Noncontrolling Interest
Total Equity	(2,131,970)	(1,954,418)
Total Liabilities and Equity	(4,660,636)	(4,343,561)
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	83,310	191,086
Restricted cash	29,620	28,321
Intercompany receivables
Inventories:
Owned	6,946,766	6,438,792
Not owned	91,944	66,267
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	130,692	127,127
Investments in subsidiaries
Deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance of $1,925 and $2,456 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	307,251	330,378
Goodwill	985,185	970,185
Other assets	235,135	204,489
Total assets	8,809,903	8,356,645
Cash and equivalents	83,310	191,086
Restricted cash	29,620	28,321
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	177,752	211,780
Accrued liabilities	562,424	599,905
Revolving credit facility	295,600
Secured project debt and other notes payable	43,150	27,579
Senior notes payable	3,483,388	3,392,208
Total liabilities	4,562,314	4,231,472
Homebuilding [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	25,694	105,261
Restricted cash
Intercompany receivables	2,121,692	2,045,773
Inventories:
Owned	3,208,403	2,825,234
Not owned	44,285	30,953
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,895	4,469
Investments in subsidiaries	2,131,970	1,954,418
Deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance of $1,925 and $2,456 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	313,894	337,021
Goodwill	970,185	970,185
Other assets	172,296	165,214
Total assets	8,994,314	8,438,528
Cash and equivalents	25,694	105,261
Restricted cash
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	95,533	92,611
Accrued liabilities	365,920	387,098
Revolving credit facility	295,600
Secured project debt and other notes payable	424,662	359,025
Senior notes payable	3,483,388	3,392,208
Total liabilities	4,665,103	4,230,942
Homebuilding [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	31,465	38,211
Restricted cash
Intercompany receivables
Inventories:
Owned	2,279,408	2,277,840
Not owned	37,100	32,596
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	3,750	4,923
Investments in subsidiaries
Deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance of $1,925 and $2,456 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively
Goodwill
Other assets	43,380	36,725
Total assets	2,395,103	2,390,295
Cash and equivalents	31,465	38,211
Restricted cash
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	58,196	78,729
Accrued liabilities	1,260,516	1,302,228
Revolving credit facility
Secured project debt and other notes payable
Senior notes payable
Total liabilities	1,318,712	1,380,957
Homebuilding [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	26,151	47,614
Restricted cash	29,620	28,321
Intercompany receivables	398,530	334,926
Inventories:
Owned	1,458,955	1,335,718
Not owned	10,559	2,718
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	121,047	117,735
Investments in subsidiaries
Deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance of $1,925 and $2,456 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively
Goodwill	15,000
Other assets	19,459	2,550
Total assets	2,079,321	1,869,582
Cash and equivalents	26,151	47,614
Restricted cash	29,620	28,321
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	24,023	40,440
Accrued liabilities	1,066,124	964,796
Revolving credit facility
Secured project debt and other notes payable	17,018	3,480
Senior notes payable
Total liabilities	1,107,165	1,008,716
Homebuilding [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents
Restricted cash
Intercompany receivables	(2,520,222)	(2,380,699)
Inventories:
Owned
Not owned
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
Investments in subsidiaries	(2,131,970)	(1,954,418)
Deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance of $1,925 and $2,456 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	(6,643)	(6,643)
Goodwill
Other assets
Total assets	(4,658,835)	(4,341,760)
Cash and equivalents
Restricted cash
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities	(2,130,136)	(2,054,217)
Revolving credit facility
Secured project debt and other notes payable	(398,530)	(334,926)
Senior notes payable
Total liabilities	(2,528,666)	(2,389,143)
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	46,357	17,041
Restricted cash	21,205	21,710
Inventories:
Other assets	15,991	26,666
Total assets	269,131	352,399
Cash and equivalents	46,357	17,041
Restricted cash	21,205	21,710
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	160,068	262,058
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	25,510	24,924
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	173,617	269,986
Accounts payable and other liabilities	20,831	22,559
Mortgage credit facility	152,786	247,427
Financial Services [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents
Restricted cash
Inventories:
Other assets
Total assets
Cash and equivalents
Restricted cash
Mortgage loans held for sale, net
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities
Accounts payable and other liabilities
Mortgage credit facility
Financial Services [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents
Restricted cash
Inventories:
Other assets
Total assets
Cash and equivalents
Restricted cash
Mortgage loans held for sale, net
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities
Accounts payable and other liabilities
Mortgage credit facility
Financial Services [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	46,357	17,041
Restricted cash	21,205	21,710
Inventories:
Other assets	17,792	28,467
Total assets	270,932	354,200
Cash and equivalents	46,357	17,041
Restricted cash	21,205	21,710
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	160,068	262,058
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	25,510	24,924
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	173,617	269,986
Accounts payable and other liabilities	20,831	22,559
Mortgage credit facility	152,786	247,427
Financial Services [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents
Restricted cash
Inventories:
Other assets	(1,801)	(1,801)
Total assets	(1,801)	(1,801)
Cash and equivalents
Restricted cash
Mortgage loans held for sale, net
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities
Accounts payable and other liabilities
Mortgage credit facility