Segment Disclosures - Profit (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	$ 108,824	$ 80,181	$ 158,531	$ 135,286
Equity-based compensation expense			(26,641)	(18,652)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	102,183	78,953	159,138	136,450
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	67,347	48,727	108,358	85,266
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	8,398	6,397	14,705	10,083
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	11,116	9,412	10,867	11,235
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated income before taxes	7,895	5,101	15,941	8,748
Operating Segments [Member] | Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Mortgage Banking	7,427	9,316	9,267	21,118
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	6,641	1,228	(607)	(1,164)
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	1,672	2,845	3,655	3,852
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Equity-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense	(15,938)	(10,589)	(26,641)	(18,652)
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Corporate Capital Allocation [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	34,511	29,673	63,477	55,291
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Unallocated Corporate Overhead [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	(15,513)	(20,972)	(41,473)	(46,170)
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Consolidation Adjustments and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	7,488	5,479	11,629	15,138
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Corporate Interest Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Profit Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment reporting reconciling item for operating profit	$ (5,579)	$ (5,208)	$ (11,254)	$ (10,623)