Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 state		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013 segment state		Jun. 30, 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	$ 314,439,000		$ 254,555,000		$ 849,243,000		$ 634,746,000
Total operating income (loss)	8,472,000		(21,155,000)		5,182,000		(55,548,000)
Equity in (loss) income of unconsolidated entities	(310,000)		48,000		(206,000)		(25,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		0		(3,638,000)		(2,747,000)
Other expense, net	(14,036,000)		(16,804,000)		(45,858,000)		(53,342,000)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(5,874,000)		(37,911,000)		(44,520,000)		(111,662,000)
Depreciation and amortization	2,953,000		3,743,000		8,761,000		9,336,000
Capital Expenditures					6,572,000		15,117,000
Assets	1,942,917,000				1,942,917,000				1,982,218,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income (loss)	30,671,000		6,226,000		69,955,000		10,924,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,424,000		2,956,000		6,871,000		7,122,000
West Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	133,519,000		99,092,000		362,641,000		247,726,000
Total operating income (loss)	15,313,000		2,719,000		33,716,000		5,505,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,263,000		1,685,000		3,470,000		3,555,000
Capital Expenditures					2,979,000		2,131,000
Assets	663,865,000				663,865,000				618,805,000
East Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	111,556,000		98,930,000		325,224,000		255,940,000
Total operating income (loss)	7,714,000		197,000		24,215,000		344,000
Depreciation and amortization	750,000		728,000		2,333,000		2,038,000
Capital Expenditures					881,000		2,890,000
Assets	364,753,000				364,753,000				320,404,000
Southeast Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	69,364,000		56,328,000		161,378,000		129,966,000
Total operating income (loss)	7,644,000		3,339,000		12,024,000		5,304,000
Depreciation and amortization	411,000		486,000		1,068,000		1,199,000
Capital Expenditures					1,087,000		1,620,000
Assets	212,340,000				212,340,000				160,868,000
Pre-Owned Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0		205,000		0		1,114,000
Total operating income (loss)	0		(29,000)		0		(229,000)
Depreciation and amortization	0		57,000		0		330,000
Capital Expenditures					0	[1]	7,932,000	[1]
Corporate and unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Recovery Related Warranty and Legal Expenditures							11,000,000
Total operating income (loss)	(22,199,000)	[2]	(27,381,000)	[2]	(64,773,000)	[2]	(66,472,000)	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	529,000	[2]	787,000	[2]	1,890,000	[2]	2,214,000	[2]
Capital Expenditures					1,625,000		544,000
Assets	$ 701,959,000	[3]			$ 701,959,000	[3]			$ 882,141,000	[3]

[1] Capital expenditures represent the purchase of previously owned homes during the nine months ended June 30, 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.