Segment Disclosures - Revenues (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenues	$ 1,188,967	$ 870,637	$ 2,969,115	$ 2,240,912
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	685,822	509,487	1,712,592	1,324,802
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	88,451	80,525	233,322	203,926
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	266,598	174,645	650,817	432,948
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	126,724	89,739	313,942	234,205
Operating Segments [Member] \| Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Mortgage Banking	$ 21,372	$ 16,241	$ 58,442	$ 45,031

The noninterest income derived from mortgage banking activities (fees and commissions), excluding fees earned from servicing third-party assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 13

-Article 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13 (d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

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- Definition

Revenue related to the sale of homes and home building activities including design, development, general contracting, and renovation services for residential buildings, including single-family houses, multifamily housing, townhouses, apartments, and modular housing.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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