Inventory - Results of Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012 lot Community
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				5
Number of lots impaired				246
Impairment Charges				$ 8,924
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				20,857
Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				5
Number of lots impaired				246
Impairment Charges	0	5,731	59	8,864
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				20,857
Continuing Operations | Unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				0
Number of lots impaired				0
Impairment Charges	0	389	0	473
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				0
Continuing Operations | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				2
Number of lots impaired				116
Impairment Charges	0	1,590	46	3,788
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				11,058
Continuing Operations | East Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				2
Number of lots impaired				93
Impairment Charges	0	3,122	13	3,809
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				7,342
Continuing Operations | Southeast Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				1
Number of lots impaired				37
Impairment Charges	0	630	0	794
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				2,457
Discontinued Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired				0
Number of lots impaired				0
Impairment Charges	0	42	0	60
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory				0
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member]
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		3
Number of lots impaired		170
Impairment Charges		5,773
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		11,187
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		3
Number of lots impaired		170
Impairment Charges		5,731
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		11,187
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		389
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		0
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		1
Number of lots impaired		65
Impairment Charges		1,590
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		4,680
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		68
Impairment Charges		3,122
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		4,050
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis [Member] | Continuing Operations | Southeast Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Number of communities impaired		1
Number of lots impaired		37
Impairment Charges		630
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		2,457
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		42
Estimated fair value of impaired inventory		$ 0