Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 266,477	$ 180,588	$ 129,420
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	13,391	8,100	6,672
Excess income tax benefit from equity-based compensation	(20,636)	(14,319)	(22,835)
Equity-based compensation expense	34,296	64,841	64,473
Contract land deposit (recoveries) impairments	(5,313)	(2,003)	11,241
Gain on sale of loans	(56,528)	(47,019)	(34,632)
Loss (gain) on sale of fixed assets	269	(31)	(217)
Deferred tax (benefit) expense	(16,848)	11,843	23,732
Mortgage loans closed	(2,307,796)	(2,016,084)	(1,754,655)
Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans	2,335,726	2,122,749	1,716,966
Principal payments on mortgage loans held for sale	2,975	2,690	4,271
Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	5,676	4,232	2,347
Net change in assets and liabilities:
Increase in inventory	(52,861)	(97,750)	(99,527)
Increase in contract land deposits	(40,034)	(53,942)	(42,385)
(Increase) decrease in receivables	(260)	(1,818)	465
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and customer deposits	114,456	110,396	(2,977)
Other, net	(2,768)	(8,089)	(896)
Net cash provided by operating activities	270,222	264,384	1,463
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(22,850)	(1,000)	(61,600)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	6,782	4,692	10,653
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(19,016)	(12,365)	(11,444)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	607	319	525
Acquisition, net of cash acquired		(14,257)
Net cash used in investing activities	(34,477)	(22,611)	(61,866)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of treasury stock	(554,491)	(227,281)	(689,302)
Net repayments under note payable and credit lines	(642)	(856)	(90,476)
Repayments on loans assumed in acquisition		(21,910)
Repayments under non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity	(4,314)	(6,566)	(7,958)
Borrowings under non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity	3,105	6,157	5,349
Distributions to partner in consolidated variable interest entity	(1,250)
Excess income tax benefit from equity-based compensation	20,636	14,319	22,835
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes due 2022		598,962
Debt issuance costs for Senior Notes due 2022		(5,096)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	13,957	73,211	106,999
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(522,999)	430,940	(652,553)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(287,254)	672,713	(712,956)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year	1,153,507	480,794	1,193,750
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year	866,253	1,153,507	480,794
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid during the year, net of interest capitalized	24,876	1,041	2,000
Income taxes paid during the year, net of refunds	113,224	59,604	49,763
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities:
Increase in assets in connection with acquisition		55,759
Increase in liabilities in connection with acquisition		$ 41,502