Segment Disclosures - Profit (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	$ 55,105	$ 30,958
Mortgage Banking	11,802	8,742
Equity-based compensation expense	(8,063)	(16,440)
Reportable Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	57,497	45,154
Contract land deposit reserve adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	1,007	1,309
Corporate capital allocation [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	25,618	18,972
Unallocated corporate overhead [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(25,198)	(18,803)
Consolidation adjustments and other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	9,659	827
Corporate interest expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(5,415)	(61)
Reconciling items sub-total [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(2,392)	(14,196)
Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	36,539	29,086
Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	3,686	2,461
Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	1,823	960
Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	$ 3,647	$ 3,905