Segment Information, Nature of Operations, and Certain Concentrations - Expenditures for Property and Equipment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	$ 22,369	$ 18,277	$ 31,672
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	20,608	16,299	24,392
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	8,838	8,287	9,047
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | North East [Member]
Segment Reporting Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	3,423	2,220	2,311
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	4,027	3,774	6,982
Operating Segments [Member] | Homebuilding [Member] | South East [Member]
Segment Reporting Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	3,594	1,753	3,472
Operating Segments [Member] | Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	726	265	2,580
Consolidation adjustments and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated expenditures for property and equipment	$ 1,761	$ 1,978	$ 7,280