Inventory - Inventory Impairments and Lot Option Abandonment Charges, by Reportable Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)				$ 3,151,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	2,025,000	1,170,000	2,229,000	4,673,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	2,025,000	1,172,000	2,246,000	4,707,000
Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	849,000	59,000	3,133,000
Land Held for Sale	1,778,000	0	1,778,000	208,000
Lot option abandonments	247,000	321,000	392,000	1,332,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	2,025,000	1,170,000	2,229,000	4,673,000
Continuing Operations | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	202,000	46,000	2,198,000
Land Held for Sale	0	0	0	0
Lot option abandonments	30,000	170,000	104,000	172,000
Continuing Operations | East Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	565,000	13,000	687,000
Land Held for Sale	0	0	0	0
Lot option abandonments	(2,000)	90,000	20,000	564,000
Continuing Operations | Southeast Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	46,000	0	164,000
Land Held for Sale	1,778,000	0	1,778,000	208,000
Lot option abandonments	219,000	60,000	268,000	594,000
Continuing Operations | Unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	36,000	0	84,000
Lot option abandonments	0	1,000	0	2,000
Discontinued Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	2,000	0	18,000
Land Held for Sale	0	0	17,000	0
Lot option abandonments	0	0	0	16,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	$ 0	$ 2,000	$ 17,000	$ 34,000