Inventory - Results of Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment Charges	$ 59	$ 2,284
Continuing Operations | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment Charges	46	1,996
Continuing Operations | East Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment Charges	13	122
Continuing Operations | Southeast Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment Charges	0	118
Continuing Operations | Unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment Charges	0	48
Discontinued Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Impairment Charges	0	16
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member]
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		1
Number of lots impaired		51
Impairment Charges		1,996
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		6,377
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		1
Number of lots impaired		51
Impairment Charges		1,996
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		6,377
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		1
Number of lots impaired		51
Impairment Charges		1,996
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		6,377
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations | East Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		0
Number of lots impaired		0
Impairment Charges		0
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		0
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations | Southeast Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		0
Number of lots impaired		0
Impairment Charges		0
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		0
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations | Unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		0
Number of lots impaired		0
Impairment Charges		0
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		0
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Discontinued Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		0
Number of lots impaired		0
Impairment Charges		0
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		$ 0