Discontinued Operations - Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses	$ 888,379		$ 661,851		$ 857,957
Inventory impairments and lot option abandonments	12,210		32,459		49,566
Gross profit	105,088		48,095		83,629
Commissions	43,585		32,711		43,279
General and administrative expenses	110,051		137,376		141,115
Depreciation and amortization	13,510		10,253		12,669
Operating loss	(62,058)		(132,245)		(113,434)
Other (loss) income, net	(69,119)	[1]	(62,224)	[1]	(69,585)	[1]
(Benefit from) provisions for income taxes	(40,347)		3,366		(118,355)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(9,703)		(4,675)		(4,479)
Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue	6,029		42,806		51,856
Home construction and land sales expenses	6,057		38,157		43,374
Inventory impairments and lot option abandonments	579		2,906		2,273
Gross profit	(607)		1,743		6,209
Commissions	217		1,167		2,219
General and administrative expenses	9,206	[2]	4,270	[2]	7,460	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	35		455		736
Operating loss	(10,065)		(4,149)		(4,206)
Equity in loss of unconsolidated entities	(37)		(518)		(15,543)
Other (loss) income, net	(1)		55		437
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	(10,103)		(4,612)		(19,312)
(Benefit from) provisions for income taxes	(400)		63		(14,833)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ (9,703)		$ (4,675)		$ (4,479)

[1] The fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, includes an $8.3 million benefit related to the cash reimbursements from our former CEO and former CFO in connection with their consent agreements with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

[2] General and administrative expenses for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 primarily includes expense for the wind-down of our NW Florida operations, legal fees and potential liability related to outstanding litigation and other matters in Denver, Colorado and legal fees and other expenses related to BMC's settlement agreements related to our prior mortgage operations (see Note 9 for additional information).