Segment Disclosures - Profit before Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	$ 144,720	$ 148,684	$ 248,032	$ 211,047
Equity-based compensation expense			(21,378)	(26,303)
Corporate interest expense	(4,814)	(5,956)	(9,902)	(11,874)
Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	131,528	137,248	225,182	193,832
Corporate interest expense	(4,554)	(5,817)	(9,396)	(11,599)
Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	13,192	11,436	22,850	17,215
Corporate interest expense	(260)	(139)	(506)	(275)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	129,162	138,139	225,730	211,193
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	63,730	85,041	110,339	129,607
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	5,578	12,631	9,643	18,615
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	30,056	15,586	52,789	22,649
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	15,825	12,625	28,611	21,441
Operating Segments [Member] | Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	13,973	12,256	24,348	18,881
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Profit before taxes	15,558	10,545	22,302	(146)
Contract land deposit reserve adjustment	1,307	5,903	2,636	6,806
Equity-based compensation expense	(10,829)	(12,904)	(21,378)	(26,303)
Corporate capital allocation	46,259	41,398	90,574	78,341
Unallocated corporate overhead	(26,517)	(19,764)	(56,026)	(49,748)
Consolidation adjustments and other	9,877	1,681	15,862	2,330
Corporate interest expense	(4,539)	(5,769)	(9,366)	(11,572)
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	28,766	26,258	55,951	49,667
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	4,447	3,805	9,400	7,115
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	7,458	6,672	14,157	12,607
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	$ 5,588	$ 4,663	$ 11,066	$ 8,952