Segment Disclosures - Profit (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	$ 80,181	$ 63,955	$ 135,286	$ 94,913
Equity-based compensation expense			(18,652)	(33,173)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	78,953	72,113	136,450	117,267
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	48,727	44,579	85,266	73,665
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	6,397	5,632	10,083	8,093
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	9,412	9,644	11,235	10,604
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	5,101	4,379	8,748	8,284
Operating Segments [Member] | Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Mortgage Banking	9,316	7,879	21,118	16,621
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	1,228	(8,158)	(1,164)	(22,354)
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Contract Land Deposit Reserve Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	2,845	41	3,852	1,350
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Equity-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense	(10,589)	(16,733)	(18,652)	(33,173)
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Corporate Capital Allocation [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	29,673	22,555	55,291	41,527
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Unallocated Corporate Overhead [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(20,972)	(15,209)	(46,170)	(34,012)
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Consolidation Adjustments and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	5,479	1,249	15,138	2,076
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Corporate Interest Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	$ (5,208)	$ (61)	$ (10,623)	$ (122)