Property, Plant and Equipment, net (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Property under capital leases [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	$ 495	$ 681
Homebuilding:
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	68,883	62,473
Less: accumulated depreciation	(45,640)	(42,950)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	23,243	19,523
Homebuilding: \| Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	16,950	16,545
Homebuilding: \| Office facilities and other equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	14,584	13,554
Homebuilding: \| Manufacturing Facility [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	33,373	28,398
Homebuilding: \| Property under capital leases [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,976	3,976
Mortgage Banking:
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,139)	(3,138)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,694	950
Mortgage Banking: \| Office facilities and other equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 4,833	$ 4,088

The cumulative amount of depreciation, depletion and amortization (related to property, plant and equipment, but not including land) that has been recognized in the income statement.

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Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, of long-lived physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. This can include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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- Definition

Tangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year; net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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