Inventory - Total Owned Inventory by Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	$ 721,881	$ 794,782
Land held for future development	367,102	384,761
Land held for sale	10,149	12,837
Total owned inventory	1,099,132	1,192,380
West Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	261,239	294,208
Land held for future development	318,351	318,732
Land held for sale	2,553	2,681
Total owned inventory	582,143	615,621
East Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	279,954	304,648
Land held for future development	25,130	41,993
Land held for sale	3,204	5,056
Total owned inventory	308,288	351,697
Southeast Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	118,853	122,126
Land held for future development	23,621	24,036
Land held for sale	1,675	75
Total owned inventory	144,149	146,237
Unallocated & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	61,835	73,800
Land held for future development	0	0
Land held for sale	2,717	5,025
Total owned inventory	$ 64,552	$ 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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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

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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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