Inventory - Results of Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012 lot Community
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				2
Number of lots impaired				76
Impairment Charges				$ 3,151
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				9,669
Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				2
Number of lots impaired				76
Impairment Charges	0	849	59	3,133
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				9,669
Continuing Operations | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				1
Number of lots impaired				51
Impairment Charges	0	202	46	2,198
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				6,377
Continuing Operations | East Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				1
Number of lots impaired				25
Impairment Charges	0	565	13	687
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				3,292
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	46	0	164
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				0
Continuing Operations | Unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				0
Number of lots impaired				0
Impairment Charges	0	36	0	84
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				0
Discontinued Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				0
Number of lots impaired				0
Impairment Charges	0	2	0	18
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				0
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member]
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		1
Number of lots impaired		25
Impairment Charges		851
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		3,292
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		1
Number of lots impaired		25
Impairment Charges		849
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		3,292
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		0
Number of lots impaired		0
Impairment Charges		202
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		0
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations | East Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		1
Number of lots impaired		25
Impairment Charges		565
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		3,292
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		46
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		36
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		2
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		$ 0