Segment Disclosures - Profit (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	$ 49,707	$ 55,105
Equity-based compensation expense	(10,703)	(8,063)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	56,955	57,497
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	41,012	36,539
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	6,306	3,686
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	(249)	1,823
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	8,046	3,647
Operating Segments [Member] | Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Mortgage Banking	1,840	11,802
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(7,248)	(2,392)
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	1,983	1,007
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Equity-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense	(10,703)	(8,063)
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Corporate Capital Allocation [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	28,966	25,618
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Unallocated Corporate Overhead [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(25,960)	(25,198)
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Consolidation Adjustments and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	4,141	9,659
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Corporate Interest Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	$ (5,675)	$ (5,415)