Segment Information, Nature of Operations, and Certain Concentrations (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Profit
Consolidated Income before Taxes	$ 207,576	$ 322,393	$ 298,414
Equity-based compensation expense	(64,473)	(53,136)	(46,302)
Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Profit
Consolidated Income before Taxes	148,373	209,496	185,861
Homebuilding North East [Member]
Profit
Consolidated Income before Taxes	13,463	25,090	19,572
Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Profit
Consolidated Income before Taxes	27,194	56,882	38,012
Homebuilding South East [Member]
Profit
Consolidated Income before Taxes	14,162	10,870	7,384
Mortgage Banking [Member]
Profit
Mortgage Banking	26,102	35,704	38,138
Contract Land Deposit Impairment Reserve [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	(2,878)	16,206	42,939
Corporate Capital Allocation [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	71,226	65,971	61,753
Unallocated Corporate Overhead [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	(45,355)	(55,992)	(44,103)
Consolidation Adjustments And Other [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	20,477	15,848	4,970
Corporate Interest Expense [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	(715)	(4,546)	(9,810)
Reconciling items sub-total [Member]
Profit
Total segment Profit	(21,718)	(15,649)	9,447
Reportable Segment [Member]
Profit
Consolidated Income before Taxes	$ 229,294	$ 338,042	$ 288,967