Discontinued Operations - Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses	$ 260,324,000	$ 227,505,000	$ 712,930,000	$ 560,564,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0	5,819,000	2,229,000	10,492,000
Gross profit	54,115,000	21,231,000	134,084,000	63,690,000
Commissions	13,078,000	10,776,000	35,406,000	27,522,000
General and administrative expenses	29,612,000	27,867,000	84,735,000	82,380,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,953,000	3,743,000	8,761,000	9,336,000
Operating loss	8,472,000	(21,155,000)	5,182,000	(55,548,000)
Other (expense) income, net	(14,036,000)	(16,804,000)	(45,858,000)	(53,342,000)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(432,000)	145,000	(1,028,000)	(36,438,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(346,000)	(1,828,000)	(2,324,000)	(3,869,000)
Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue	0	2,207,000	288,000	5,681,000
Home construction and land sales expenses	37,000	2,509,000	(29,000)	5,444,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0	545,000	17,000	579,000
Gross profit	(37,000)	(847,000)	300,000	(342,000)
Commissions	0	46,000	0	217,000
General and administrative expenses	346,000	919,000	2,761,000	3,636,000
Depreciation and amortization	0	10,000	0	35,000
Operating loss	(383,000)	(1,822,000)	(2,461,000)	(4,230,000)
Other (expense) income, net	(1,000)	(1,000)	68,000	(47,000)
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	(384,000)	(1,823,000)	(2,393,000)	(4,277,000)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	$ (38,000)	$ 5,000	$ (69,000)	$ (408,000)