Segment Disclosures (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Profit
Consolidated income before taxes	$ 63,955	$ 63,354	$ 94,913	$ 88,189
Mortgage Banking	7,879	7,041	16,621	13,782
Equity-based compensation expense	(16,733)	(16,125)	(33,173)	(31,705)
Reportable segment [Member]
Profit
Consolidated income before taxes	72,113	73,017	117,267	110,577
Contract land deposit reserve adjustment [Member]
Profit
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	41	(1,375)	1,350	(2,505)
Corporate capital allocation [Member]
Profit
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	22,555	17,897	41,527	33,320
Unallocated corporate overhead [Member]
Profit
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(15,209)	(14,401)	(34,012)	(30,861)
Consolidation adjustments and other [Member]
Profit
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	1,249	4,448	2,076	9,573
Corporate interest expense [Member]
Profit
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(61)	(107)	(122)	(210)
Reconciling items sub-total [Member]
Profit
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(8,158)	(9,663)	(22,354)	(22,388)
Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Profit
Consolidated income before taxes	44,579	45,327	73,665	71,203
Homebuilding North East [Member]
Profit
Consolidated income before taxes	5,632	6,676	8,093	7,799
Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Profit
Consolidated income before taxes	9,644	8,722	10,604	10,329
Homebuilding South East [Member]
Profit
Consolidated income before taxes	$ 4,379	$ 5,251	$ 8,284	$ 7,464