Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 180,588	$ 129,420	$ 206,005
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,100	6,672	7,263
Excess income tax benefit from equity-based compensation	(14,319)	(22,835)	(63,558)
Equity-based compensation expense	64,841	64,473	53,136
Contract land deposit (recoveries) impairments	(2,003)	11,241	4,264
Gain on sale of loans	(47,019)	(34,632)	(46,225)
Gain on sale of fixed assets	(31)	(217)	(167)
Deferred tax expense	11,843	23,732	13,558
Mortgage loans closed	(2,016,084)	(1,754,655)	(2,109,505)
Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans	2,122,749	1,716,966	2,011,765
Principal payments on mortgage loans held for sale	2,690	4,271	2,554
Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	4,232	2,347	1,307
Net change in assets and liabilities:
Increase in inventory	(97,750)	(99,527)	(8,783)
Increase in contract land deposits	(53,942)	(42,385)	(53,866)
(Increase) decrease in receivables	(2,522)	465	1,532
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and customer deposits	110,396	(2,977)	56,752
Other, net	(7,385)	(896)	(20,644)
Net cash provided by operating activities	264,384	1,463	55,388
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities			(150,000)
Redemption of marketable securities at maturity			369,535
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,000)	(61,600)	(2,000)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	4,692	10,653	1,193
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(12,365)	(11,444)	(6,943)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	319	525	655
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	(14,257)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(22,611)	(61,866)	212,440
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of treasury stock	(227,281)	(689,302)	(417,079)
Net (repayments) borrowings under note payable and credit lines	(856)	(90,476)	77,579
Repayments on loans assumed in acquisition	(21,910)
Repayments under non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity	(6,566)	(7,958)	(4,167)
Borrowings under non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity	6,157	5,349	11,759
Excess income tax benefit from equity-based compensation	14,319	22,835	63,558
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes due 2022	598,962
Debt issuance costs for Senior Notes due 2022	(5,096)
Redemption of Senior Notes due 2010			(133,370)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	73,211	106,999	77,492
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	430,940	(652,553)	(324,228)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	672,713	(712,956)	(56,400)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year	480,794	1,193,750	1,250,150
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year	1,153,507	480,794	1,193,750
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid during the year, net of interest capitalized	1,041	2,000	5,805
Income taxes paid during the year, net of refunds	59,604	49,763	40,669
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities:
Increase in assets in connection with acquisition	55,759
Increase in liabilities in connection with acquisition	41,502
Investment in newly formed consolidated joint venture			$ (25,214)