Contingencies - Litigation and Other Matters (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 loans homes	Sep. 30, 2011 homes	Sep. 30, 2012 Damages from Product Defects [Member] homes	Sep. 30, 2012 Performance Bonds	Sep. 30, 2012 Letter of Credit	Sep. 30, 2011 Letter of Credit	Sep. 30, 2011 South Edge Settlement Agreement	Sep. 30, 2006 First Order New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Violation of Permit	Sep. 30, 2006 Second Order New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Violation of Permit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Company's Liability Under Deferred Prosecution Agreement, Percentage of Company's Adjusted EBITDA	4.00%
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum	$ 55,000,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Paid, Value	16,000,000
Minimum standard product warranty period	1 year
Maximum standard product warranty period	2 years
Number of homes that have not accepted Company's offer to repair	174	334	2
Amount demanded per the complaint to recover purported losses	5,000,000							630,000	678,000
Number of loans involved in lawsuit	57,000
Accrued amounts for litigation and other contingent liabilities	19,400,000	30,400,000					15,700,000
Letters of credit secured using cash collateral					24,700,000	28,900,000
Cash collateral in restricted accounts securing letters of credit				$ 157,000,000