Segment Disclosures - Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	$ 2,382,063	$ 2,486,148
Consolidated variable interest entity	6,802	7,268
Cash and cash equivalents	553,705	866,253	778,424	1,153,507
Contract land deposit reserve	(55,869)	(59,761)
Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	2,170,198	2,225,380
Consolidated variable interest entity	6,802	7,268
Cash and cash equivalents	538,940	844,274
Intangible assets and goodwill	6,055	6,747
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	1,614,327	1,427,205
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	944,257	810,270
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	95,993	84,958
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	223,559	172,167
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	146,000	106,389
Operating Segments [Member] | Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	204,518	253,421
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated variable interest entity	6,802	7,268
Deferred taxes	166,695	162,378
Intangible assets and goodwill	54,982	55,674
Contract land deposit reserve	(55,869)	(59,761)
Reconciling items sub-total	767,736	1,058,943
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	538,940	844,274
Corporate Non-Segment Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidation adjustments and other	$ 56,186	$ 49,110