Segment Disclosures (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Profit
Total segment profit	$ 68,942	$ 64,890	$ 157,131	$ 235,880
Equity-based compensation expense	(16,261)	(19,924)	(47,966)	(40,750)
Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	42,389	47,192	113,592	162,110
Reportable Segment [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	63,973	73,364	174,550	263,504
Significant Reconciling Items [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	4,969	(8,474)	(17,419)	(27,624)
Homebuilding North East [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	3,981	8,512	11,780	20,440
Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	9,716	9,103	20,045	41,418
Homebuilding South East [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	2,851	1,042	10,315	12,056
Mortgage Banking [Member]
Profit
Total segment profit	4,257	6,471	16,482	25,119
Mortgage Banking	5,036	7,515	18,818	27,480
Contract Land Deposit Impairment Reserve [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	133	545	(2,372)	8,063
Corporate Capital Allocation [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	19,182	16,239	52,502	48,672
Unallocated Corporate Overhead [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	(4,355)	(10,422)	(35,216)	(47,391)
Consolidation Adjustments And Other [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	6,365	5,492	15,938	8,065
Corporate Interest Expense [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	$ (95)	$ (404)	$ (305)	$ (4,283)