Segment Disclosures - Revenues (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Mortgage Banking	$ 16,241	$ 10,496	$ 45,031	$ 35,474
Total consolidated revenues	870,637	707,476	2,240,912	1,917,861
Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	509,487	417,742	1,324,802	1,134,935
Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	80,525	55,214	203,926	162,122
Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	174,645	160,585	432,948	402,118
Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 89,739	$ 63,439	$ 234,205	$ 183,212

The noninterest income derived from mortgage banking activities (fees and commissions), excluding fees earned from servicing third-party assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 13

-Article 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13 (d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

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- Definition

Revenue related to the sale of homes and home building activities including design, development, general contracting, and renovation services for residential buildings, including single-family houses, multifamily housing, townhouses, apartments, and modular housing.

+ References

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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