Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 state	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of states with active operations	16
Measurement threshold of likelihood of being realized (percent)	50.00%
Other Liabilities [Abstract]
Income tax liabilities	$ 22,225,000	$ 55,093,000
Accrued warranty expenses	15,477,000	17,916,000	25,821,000	30,100,000
Accrued interest	28,673,000	39,478,000
Accrued and deferred compensation	24,612,000	27,427,000
Customer deposits	8,830,000	5,868,000
Other	47,901,000	66,405,000
Total	147,718,000	212,187,000
Advertising costs	13,500,000	11,400,000	11,200,000
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 2,100,000	$ 4,000,000
Weighted average period to recognize remaining cost	1 year 4 months 24 days
Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Time to develop, sell, construct and close all houses in typical community	3 years
Other Liabilities [Abstract]
Estimated future warranty costs as a percentage or revenue (percent)	0.10%
Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Time to develop, sell, construct and close all houses in typical community	5 years
Other Liabilities [Abstract]
Estimated future warranty costs as a percentage or revenue (percent)	2.20%
Buildings | Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	25 years
Buildings | Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	30 years
Information systems | Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	5 years
Furniture, Fixtures, Computer and Office Equipment | Minimum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Furniture, Fixtures, Computer and Office Equipment | Maximum
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	7 years
SSARs and Stock Options
Other Liabilities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (shares)	0.4
Convertible Debt Securities
Other Liabilities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (shares)	0.4
Equity Unit Purchase Agreements
Other Liabilities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (shares)	8.1