Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 537,521	$ 425,262	$ 382,927
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	22,667	22,269	21,534
Equity-based compensation expense	44,562	43,598	54,091
Contract land deposit impairments (recoveries), net	1,238	(4,269)	(11,058)
Gain on sale of loans, net	(99,132)	(85,535)	(67,891)
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	61,290	(10,024)	1,902
Mortgage loans closed	(4,077,372)	(3,660,269)	(3,111,413)
Mortgage loans sold and principal payments on mortgage loans held for sale	4,182,220	3,710,250	3,059,889
Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	5,614	9,094	15,511
Net change in assets and liabilities:
Increase in inventory	(154,099)	(85,194)	(134,803)
Decrease (increase) in contract land deposits	8,177	(32,280)	(37,561)
Increase in receivables	(502)	(9,083)	(1,527)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	10,789	58,532	55,404
Increase in customer deposits	27,797	11,271	4,210
Other, net	(1,866)	4,504	(4,513)
Net cash provided by operating activities	568,904	398,126	226,702
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(3,800)	(653)	(1,917)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	7,203	12,594	18,489
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(20,269)	(22,369)	(18,277)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	847	1,000	683
Net cash used in investing activities	(16,019)	(9,428)	(1,022)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of treasury stock	(422,166)	(455,351)	(431,367)
Repayments under non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity	0	0	(64)
Distributions to partner in consolidated variable interest entity	0	(150)	(300)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	140,525	38,106	85,948
Net cash used in financing activities	(281,641)	(417,395)	(345,783)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	271,244	(28,697)	(120,103)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year	396,619	425,316	545,419
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year	667,863	396,619	425,316
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid during the year, net of interest capitalized	23,251	20,922	24,546
Income taxes paid during the year, net of refunds	$ 260,232	$ 218,984	$ 194,670