Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 129,420	$ 206,005	$ 192,180
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	6,672	7,263	9,713
Excess income tax benefit from equity-based compensation	(22,835)	(63,558)	(66,448)
Equity-based compensation expense	64,473	53,136	46,302
Contract land deposit impairments (recoveries)	11,241	4,264	(6,464)
Gain on sale of loans	(34,632)	(46,225)	(46,960)
Gain on sale of fixed assets	(217)	(167)	(358)
Deferred tax expense	23,732	13,558	21,905
Mortgage loans closed	(1,754,655)	(2,109,505)	(1,943,074)
Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans	1,716,966	2,011,765	2,018,151
Principal payments on mortgage loans held for sale	4,271	2,554	2,072
Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,347	1,307
Net change in assets and liabilities:
Increase in inventory	(99,527)	(8,783)	(18,148)
Increase in contract land deposits	(42,385)	(53,866)	(14,848)
Decrease in receivables	465	1,532	3,682
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and customer deposits	(2,977)	56,752	82,578
Other, net	(896)	(20,644)	(38,641)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,463	55,388	241,642
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities		(150,000)	(858,362)
Redemption of marketable securities at maturity		369,535	638,827
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	(61,600)	(2,000)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	10,653	1,193
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(11,444)	(6,943)	(3,044)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	525	655	962
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(61,866)	212,440	(221,617)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of treasury stock	(689,302)	(417,079)
Net (repayments) borrowings under note payable and credit lines	(90,476)	77,579	(32,559)
Repayments under non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity	(7,958)	(4,167)
Borrowings under non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity	5,349	11,759
Redemption of senior notes		(133,370)	(29,950)
Excess income tax benefit from equity-based compensation	22,835	63,558	66,448
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	106,999	77,492	78,543
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(652,553)	(324,228)	82,482
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(712,956)	(56,400)	102,507
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,193,750	1,250,150	1,147,643
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	480,794	1,193,750	1,250,150
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid during the year, net of interest capitalized	2,000	5,805	10,010
Income taxes paid during the year, net of refunds	49,763	40,669	(28,807)
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities:
Investment in newly formed consolidated joint venture		(25,214)
Change in net consolidated variable interest entities			$ (976)