Segment Information, Nature of Operations, and Certain Concentrations - Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Items (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Interest Income:
Interest income	$ 4,504	$ 5,702	$ 5,411
Other unallocated interest income	1,388	3,202	5,301
Consolidated interest income	5,892	8,904	10,712
Interest Expense:
Consolidated interest expense	7,529	1,892	6,029
Depreciation and Amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	8,100	6,672	7,263
Expenditures for Property and Equipment:
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	12,365	11,444	6,943
Corporate capital allocation	91,507	71,226	65,971
Mortgage Banking [Member]
Interest Income:
Interest income	4,504	5,702	5,411
Interest Expense:
Consolidated interest expense	546	875	1,126
Depreciation and Amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	397	295	362
Expenditures for Property and Equipment:
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	1,169	1,049	883
Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Interest Expense:
Consolidated interest expense	59,310	48,971	45,082
Depreciation and Amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	3,886	3,353	3,369
Expenditures for Property and Equipment:
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	3,595	3,784	2,165
Corporate capital allocation	59,144	48,697	44,758
Homebuilding North East [Member]
Interest Expense:
Consolidated interest expense	8,196	5,776	5,936
Depreciation and Amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	631	409	515
Expenditures for Property and Equipment:
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	1,703	424	440
Corporate capital allocation	8,187	5,763	5,926
Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Interest Expense:
Consolidated interest expense	15,043	11,080	9,669
Depreciation and Amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	1,473	1,398	1,224
Expenditures for Property and Equipment:
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	1,886	5,611	2,247
Corporate capital allocation	15,039	11,074	9,657
Homebuilding South East [Member]
Interest Expense:
Consolidated interest expense	9,145	5,701	5,641
Depreciation and Amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	808	729	758
Expenditures for Property and Equipment:
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	1,260	369	583
Corporate capital allocation	9,137	5,692	5,630
Reportable Segment [Member]
Interest Expense:
Consolidated interest expense	92,240	72,403	67,454
Depreciation and Amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	7,195	6,184	6,228
Expenditures for Property and Equipment:
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	9,613	11,237	6,318
Corporate capital allocation [Member]
Interest Expense:
Consolidated other interest expense	91,507	71,226	65,971
Senior Notes And Other Interest [Member]
Interest Expense:
Consolidated other interest expense	6,796	715	4,546
Unallocated corporate overhead [Member]
Depreciation and Amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	905	488	1,035
Expenditures for Property and Equipment:
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	$ 2,752	$ 207	$ 625