Notes Payable (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End	2.90%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Senior Note Seven [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	$ 157.7
Date Issued	Feb. 01, 2005
Date Due	Feb. 15, 2015
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	5.40%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Senior Note Eight [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	170.2
Date Issued	Dec. 01, 2004
Date Due	Jan. 15, 2016
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	5.80%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Senior Note Nine [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	372.7
Date Issued	Apr. 01, 2006
Date Due	Apr. 15, 2016
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	6.60%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Senior Note Twenty Four [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	350.0
Date Issued	May 01, 2012
Date Due	May 15, 2017
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	5.00%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Senior Note Twenty Six [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	400.0
Date Issued	Feb. 01, 2013
Date Due	Feb. 15, 2018
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	3.80%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Senior Note Twenty Nine [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	500.0
Date Issued	Feb. 01, 2014
Date Due	Mar. 01, 2019
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	3.90%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Senior Note Member Twenty Five [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	350.0
Date Issued	Sep. 01, 2012
Date Due	Sep. 15, 2022
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	4.50%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Senior Note Twenty Seven [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	300.0
Date Issued	Feb. 01, 2013
Date Due	Feb. 15, 2023
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	4.90%	[1]
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | SeniorNoteTwentyEight [Member]
Summary of unsecured homebuilding notes payable outstanding
Principal Amount	$ 400.0
Date Issued	Aug. 01, 2013
Date Due	Aug. 15, 2023
Redeemable Prior to Maturity	Yes	[2]
Effective Interest Rate	5.90%	[1]

[1] Interest is payable semi-annually on each of the series of senior notes. The annual effective interest rate is calculated after giving effect to the amortization of the financing costs and any discount associated with the note issuance.

[2] The Company may redeem the notes in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of their principal amount or the present value of the remaining scheduled payments on the redemption date, plus accrued interest.