Segment Information, Nature of Operations, and Certain Concentrations - Profit (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated Income before Taxes	$ 275,077	$ 207,576	$ 322,393
Mortgage Banking	38,135	26,102	35,704
Equity-based compensation expense	(64,841)	(64,473)	(53,136)
Reportable Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated Income before Taxes	309,274	229,294	338,042
Contract land deposit reserve adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	5,333	(2,878)	16,206
Corporate capital allocation [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	91,507	71,226	65,971
Unallocated corporate overhead [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(70,258)	(45,355)	(55,992)
Consolidation adjustments and other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	10,858	20,477	15,848
Corporate interest expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(6,796)	(715)	(4,546)
Reconciling items sub-total [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(34,197)	(21,718)	(15,649)
Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated Income before Taxes	189,089	148,373	209,496
Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated Income before Taxes	21,529	13,463	25,090
Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated Income before Taxes	39,847	27,194	56,882
Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated Income before Taxes	$ 20,674	$ 14,162	$ 10,870