Segment Disclosures (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Profit
Total segment profit	$ 63,354	$ 118,259	$ 88,189	$ 170,990
Equity-based compensation expense	16,125	15,148	31,705	20,826
Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	45,327	77,058	71,203	114,918
Reportable Segment [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	73,017	127,106	110,577	190,140
Significant Reconciling Items [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	(9,663)	(8,847)	(22,388)	(19,150)
Homebuilding North East [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	6,676	6,173	7,799	11,928
Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	8,722	21,382	10,329	32,316
Homebuilding South East [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	5,251	9,956	7,464	11,013
Mortgage Banking [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	6,262	11,686	12,225	18,648
Mortgage Banking	7,041	12,537	13,782	19,965
Contract Land Deposit Impairment Reserve [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	(1,375)	5,510	(2,505)	7,518
Corporate Capital Allocation [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	17,897	17,953	33,320	32,433
Unallocated Corporate Overhead [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	(14,401)	(16,290)	(30,861)	(36,969)
Consolidation Adjustments And Other [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	4,448	929	9,573	2,573
Corporate Interest Expense [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	$ (107)	$ (1,801)	$ (210)	$ (3,879)