Inventory - Total Owned Inventory by Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	$ 912,469	$ 721,881
Land held for future development	341,995	367,102
Land held for sale	10,648	10,149
Total owned inventory	1,265,112	1,099,132
West Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	335,239	261,239
Land held for future development	292,881	318,351
Land held for sale	3,639	2,553
Total owned inventory	631,759	582,143
East Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	325,765	279,954
Land held for future development	25,493	25,130
Land held for sale	2,195	3,204
Total owned inventory	353,453	308,288
Southeast Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	173,784	118,853
Land held for future development	23,621	23,621
Land held for sale	2,096	1,675
Total owned inventory	199,501	144,149
Unallocated & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	77,681	61,835
Land held for future development	0	0
Land held for sale	2,718	2,717
Total owned inventory	$ 80,399	$ 64,552

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of project in progress

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of parcels of land held for sale, and on which the entity has no intention or no further intention to perform construction activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Section A

-Paragraph 9

-Chapter 3

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The net carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the sum of the various components of an operative builder's inventory, including finished homes. Operative builders primarily consist of entities that develop land, construct residential homes and commercial and industrial buildings thereon, and sell them to home buyers and operators of the commercial and industrial properties.

+ References

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- Definition

Carrying amount of land available for development.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph d

-Article 7

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