Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Cash related to a consolidated variable interest entity	$ 462	$ 358
Pre-tax charges related to impairment of contract land deposits	11,200	4,300
Pre-tax recovery of contract land deposits			6,500
Contract land deposit asset impairment valuation allowance	70,300	73,500
Impairment of excess reorganization value	0
Typical length of days loans sold into secondary market	30 to 60 days
Antidilutive stock options and restricted share units	467,367	443,565	134,405
Uncertain tax position threshold for tax benefit	50.00%
Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional or Principal Amount	126,929
Notional of open forward delivery contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional or Principal Amount	353,555
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Average	2
Office facilities and other equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum	10
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum	3
Manufacturing Facility [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum	40
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum	5
Homebuilding [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted Cash	19,119	22,889
Mortgage Banking [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted Cash	$ 1,373	$ 555