Inventory - Total Owned Inventory by Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	$ 789,612	$ 794,782
Land held for future development	386,353	384,761
Land held for sale	10,852	12,837
Total owned inventory	1,186,817	1,192,380
West Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	284,805	294,208
Land held for future development	318,349	318,732
Land held for sale	2,592	2,681
Total owned inventory	605,746	615,621
East Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	295,985	304,648
Land held for future development	44,692	41,993
Land held for sale	3,505	5,056
Total owned inventory	344,182	351,697
Southeast Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	136,965	122,126
Land held for future development	23,312	24,036
Land held for sale	1,675	75
Total owned inventory	161,952	146,237
Unallocated & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	71,857	73,800
Land held for future development	0	0
Land held for sale	3,080	5,025
Total owned inventory	$ 74,937	$ 78,825

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of project in progress

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of parcels of land held for sale, and on which the entity has no intention or no further intention to perform construction activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Section A

-Paragraph 9

-Chapter 3

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The net carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the sum of the various components of an operative builder's inventory, including finished homes. Operative builders primarily consist of entities that develop land, construct residential homes and commercial and industrial buildings thereon, and sell them to home buyers and operators of the commercial and industrial properties.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount of land available for development.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph d

-Article 7

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