Discontinued Operations - Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses	$ 241,992,000	$ 170,283,000	$ 452,606,000	$ 333,059,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	2,025,000	1,170,000	2,229,000	4,673,000
Gross profit	43,885,000	20,190,000	79,969,000	42,459,000
Commissions	11,686,000	8,375,000	22,328,000	16,746,000
General and administrative expenses	28,795,000	26,319,000	55,123,000	54,513,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,093,000	3,190,000	5,808,000	5,593,000
Operating loss	311,000	(17,694,000)	(3,290,000)	(34,393,000)
Other (expense) income, net	(16,195,000)	(18,265,000)	(31,822,000)	(36,538,000)
Benefit from income taxes	(343,000)	(836,000)	(596,000)	(36,583,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(529,000)	(2,082,000)	(1,978,000)	(2,041,000)
Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue	192,000	278,000	288,000	3,474,000
Home construction and land sales expenses	(160,000)	147,000	(66,000)	2,935,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0	2,000	17,000	34,000
Gross profit	352,000	129,000	337,000	505,000
Commissions	0	13,000	0	171,000
General and administrative expenses	890,000	2,200,000	2,415,000	2,717,000
Depreciation and amortization	0	4,000	0	25,000
Operating loss	(538,000)	(2,088,000)	(2,078,000)	(2,408,000)
Other (expense) income, net	0	(8,000)	69,000	(46,000)
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	(538,000)	(2,096,000)	(2,009,000)	(2,454,000)
Benefit from income taxes	$ (9,000)	$ (14,000)	$ (31,000)	$ (413,000)