Inventory - Inventory Impairments and Lot Option Abandonment Charges, by Reportable Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)				$ 8,924,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0	5,819,000	2,229,000	10,492,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0	6,364,000	2,246,000	11,071,000
Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	5,731,000	59,000	8,864,000
Land Held for Sale	0	0	1,778,000	208,000
Lot option abandonments	0	88,000	392,000	1,420,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0	5,819,000	2,229,000	10,492,000
Continuing Operations | Unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	389,000	0	473,000
Lot option abandonments	0	0	0	2,000
Continuing Operations | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	1,590,000	46,000	3,788,000
Land Held for Sale	0	0	0	0
Lot option abandonments	0	19,000	104,000	191,000
Continuing Operations | East Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	3,122,000	13,000	3,809,000
Land Held for Sale	0	0	0	0
Lot option abandonments	0	10,000	20,000	574,000
Continuing Operations | Southeast Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	630,000	0	794,000
Land Held for Sale	0	0	1,778,000	208,000
Lot option abandonments	0	59,000	268,000	653,000
Discontinued Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	42,000	0	60,000
Land Held for Sale	0	503,000	17,000	503,000
Lot option abandonments	0	0	0	16,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	$ 0	$ 545,000	$ 17,000	$ 579,000