Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 state		Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2013 segment state		Mar. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of homebuilding segments					3
Number of states in which home building segments operate	16				16
Revenue	$ 287,902,000		$ 191,643,000		$ 534,804,000		$ 380,191,000
Operating income/(loss)	311,000		(17,694,000)		(3,290,000)		(34,393,000)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated entities	68,000		4,000		104,000		(73,000)
Other expense, net	(16,195,000)		(18,265,000)		(31,822,000)		(36,538,000)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(19,454,000)		(38,702,000)		(38,646,000)		(73,751,000)
Depreciation and amortization	3,093,000		3,190,000		5,808,000		5,593,000
Capital Expenditures					3,869,000		12,488,000
Assets	1,946,710,000				1,946,710,000				1,982,218,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income/(loss)	22,408,000		3,836,000		39,284,000		4,698,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,424,000		2,423,000		4,447,000		4,166,000
West Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	118,996,000		77,857,000		229,122,000		148,634,000
Operating income/(loss)	10,045,000		3,377,000		18,403,000		2,786,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,185,000		1,090,000		2,207,000		1,870,000
Capital Expenditures					1,866,000		1,415,000
Assets	633,065,000				633,065,000				618,805,000
East Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	117,129,000		75,192,000		213,668,000		157,010,000
Operating income/(loss)	10,313,000		(659,000)		16,501,000		147,000
Depreciation and amortization	900,000		805,000		1,583,000		1,310,000
Capital Expenditures					611,000		1,883,000
Assets	300,748,000				300,748,000				320,404,000
Southeast Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	51,777,000		38,070,000		92,014,000		73,638,000
Operating income/(loss)	2,050,000		1,180,000		4,380,000		1,965,000
Depreciation and amortization	339,000		374,000		657,000		713,000
Capital Expenditures					482,000		1,078,000
Assets	193,122,000				193,122,000				160,868,000
Pre-Owned Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0		524,000		0		909,000
Operating income/(loss)	0		(62,000)		0		(200,000)
Depreciation and amortization	0		154,000		0		273,000
Capital Expenditures					910,000	[1]	7,906,000	[1]
Corporate and unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Recovery Related Warranty and Legal Expenditures							11,000,000
Operating income/(loss)	(22,097,000)	[2]	(21,530,000)	[2]	(42,574,000)	[2]	(39,091,000)	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	669,000	[2]	767,000	[2]	1,361,000	[2]	1,427,000	[2]
Capital Expenditures					0		206,000
Assets	$ 819,775,000	[3]			$ 819,775,000	[3]			$ 882,141,000	[3]

[1] Capital expenditures represent the purchase of previously owned homes during the six months ended March 31, 2012.

[2] Corporate and unallocated includes amortization of capitalized interest and numerous shared services functions that benefit all segments, the costs of which are not allocated to the operating segments reported above including information technology, national sourcing and purchasing, treasury, corporate finance, legal, branding and other national marketing costs.

[3] Primarily consists of cash and cash equivalents, consolidated inventory not owned, deferred taxes, capitalized interest and other items that are not allocated to the segments.