Segment Disclosures - Profit before Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	$ 103,312	$ 62,363
Equity-based compensation expense	(10,549)	(13,399)
Corporate interest expense	(5,088)	(5,918)
Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	93,654	56,584
Corporate interest expense	(4,842)	(5,782)
Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	9,658	5,779
Corporate interest expense	(246)	(136)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	96,568	73,052
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	46,609	44,566
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | North East [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	4,065	5,983
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	22,733	7,063
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | South East [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	12,786	8,815
Operating Segments [Member] | Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	10,375	6,625
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	6,744	(10,689)
Contract land deposit reserve adjustment	1,329	903
Equity-based compensation expense	(10,549)	(13,399)
Corporate capital allocation	44,315	36,945
Unallocated corporate overhead	(29,509)	(29,984)
Consolidation adjustments and other	5,985	649
Corporate interest expense	(4,827)	(5,803)
Reconciling Items [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Corporate capital allocation	27,186	23,411
Reconciling Items [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | North East [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Corporate capital allocation	4,953	3,310
Reconciling Items [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Corporate capital allocation	6,699	5,935
Reconciling Items [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | South East [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Corporate capital allocation	$ 5,477	$ 4,289