Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		May 03, 2012 homes	Sep. 30, 2011 homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 254,555,000		$ 172,829,000		$ 634,746,000		$ 407,497,000
Operating income/(loss)	(21,155,000)		(35,239,000)		(55,548,000)		(108,082,000)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated entities	48,000		63,000		(25,000)		372,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		95,000		(2,747,000)		(2,909,000)
Other expense, net	(16,804,000)	[1]	(17,085,000)	[1]	(53,342,000)	[1]	(46,616,000)	[1]
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(37,911,000)		(52,166,000)		(111,662,000)		(157,235,000)
Depreciation and amortization	3,743,000		2,660,000		9,336,000		6,627,000
Capital Expenditures					15,117,000		12,134,000
Assets	1,826,748,000				1,826,748,000					1,977,477,000
Previously owned rental homes, net	0				0					11,347,000
Benefit from cash reimbursement from former Chief Executive Officer			6,800,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income/(loss)	6,226,000		(4,093,000)		10,924,000		(31,617,000)
Depreciation and amortization	2,956,000		1,938,000		7,122,000		4,285,000
West Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	99,092,000		55,502,000		247,726,000		131,841,000
Operating income/(loss)	2,719,000		(2,542,000)		5,505,000		(28,567,000)
Depreciation and amortization	1,685,000		1,160,000		3,555,000		2,282,000
Capital Expenditures					2,131,000		3,197,000
Assets	639,744,000				639,744,000					649,057,000
East Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	98,930,000		77,895,000		255,940,000		186,527,000
Operating income/(loss)	197,000		1,905,000		344,000		1,462,000
Depreciation and amortization	728,000		544,000		2,038,000		1,517,000
Capital Expenditures					2,890,000		1,720,000
Assets	359,526,000				359,526,000					372,984,000
Southeast Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	56,328,000		39,288,000		129,966,000		88,985,000
Operating income/(loss)	3,339,000		(3,381,000)		5,304,000		(4,194,000)
Depreciation and amortization	486,000		222,000		1,199,000		473,000
Capital Expenditures					1,620,000		1,189,000
Assets	180,240,000				180,240,000					162,135,000
Pre-Owned Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	205,000		144,000		1,114,000		144,000
Operating income/(loss)	(29,000)		(75,000)		(229,000)		(318,000)
Depreciation and amortization	57,000		12,000		330,000		13,000
Capital Expenditures					7,932,000	[2]	4,801,000	[2]
Assets	0	[2]			0	[2]				12,315,000	[2]
Previously owned rental homes, net										11,300,000
Number of pre-owned homes owned									190	120
Corporate and unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income/(loss)	(27,381,000)	[3]	(31,146,000)	[3]	(66,472,000)	[3]	(76,465,000)	[3]
Depreciation and amortization	787,000	[3]	722,000	[3]	2,214,000	[3]	2,342,000	[3]
Capital Expenditures					544,000		1,227,000
Assets	647,238,000	[4]			647,238,000	[4]				780,986,000	[4]
Recovery related to warranty and legal expenditures	$ 11,000,000

[1] The nine months ended June 30, 2011, includes a $6.8 million benefit related to the cash reimbursement from our former CEO in connection with his consent agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

[2] Pre-owned assets included the cost of previously owned homes, net of accumulated depreciation, totaling $11.3 million (120 homes) as of September 30, 2011. Capital expenditures represent the purchase of previously owned homes through May 2, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively.

[3] Corporate and unallocated includes amortization of capitalized interest and numerous shared services functions that benefit all segments, the costs of which are not allocated to the operating segments reported above including information technology, national sourcing and purchasing, treasury, corporate finance, legal, branding and other national marketing costs. For the nine months ended June 30, 2012, corporate and unallocated also includes an $11 million recovery related to old water intrusion warranty and related legal expenditures.

[4] Primarily consists of cash and cash equivalents, consolidated inventory not owned, deferred taxes, capitalized interest and other items that are not allocated to the segments.