Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 425,262	$ 382,927	$ 281,630
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	22,269	21,534	17,614
Excess income tax benefit from equity-based compensation	(13,661)	(23,311)	(9,437)
Equity-based compensation expense	43,598	54,091	63,227
Contract land deposit recoveries, net	(4,269)	(11,058)	(225)
Gain on sale of loans, net	(85,535)	(67,891)	(47,791)
Deferred tax (benefit) expense	(10,024)	1,902	(4,176)
Mortgage loans closed	(3,660,269)	(3,111,413)	(2,469,876)
Mortgage loans sold and principal payments on mortgage loans held for sale	3,710,250	3,059,889	2,525,706
Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	9,094	15,511	8,431
Net change in assets and liabilities:
Increase in inventory	(85,194)	(134,803)	(127,729)
Increase in contract land deposits	(32,280)	(37,561)	(57,566)
Increase in receivables	(9,083)	(1,527)	(533)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	58,532	55,404	60
Increase in customer deposits	11,271	4,210	5,733
Other, net	4,504	(4,513)	(519)
Net cash provided by operating activities	384,465	203,391	184,549
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	(653)	(1,917)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	12,594	18,489	11,569
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(22,369)	(18,277)	(31,672)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	1,000	683	1,021
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,428)	(1,022)	(19,082)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of treasury stock	(455,351)	(431,367)	(567,544)
Net repayments under note payable and credit lines			(115)
Repayments under non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity		(64)	(3,301)
Distributions to partner in consolidated variable interest entity	(150)	(300)	(931)
Excess income tax benefit from equity-based compensation	13,661	23,311	9,437
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	38,106	85,948	76,153
Net cash used in financing activities	(403,734)	(322,472)	(486,301)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(28,697)	(120,103)	(320,834)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year	425,316	545,419	866,253
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year	396,619	425,316	545,419
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid during the year, net of interest capitalized	20,922	24,546	24,464
Income taxes paid during the year, net of refunds	$ 218,984	$ 194,670	$ 181,840