Inventory - Total Owned Inventory by Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	$ 976,551	$ 931,377
Land held for future development	338,512	341,986
Land held for sale	59,924	31,331
Total owned inventory	1,374,987	1,304,694
West Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	351,217	339,319
Land held for future development	292,835	292,875
Land held for sale	19,791	16,572
Total owned inventory	663,843	648,766
East Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	320,416	331,894
Land held for future development	25,491	25,491
Land held for sale	29,337	3,833
Total owned inventory	375,244	361,218
Southeast Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	212,435	178,624
Land held for future development	20,186	23,620
Land held for sale	8,501	8,208
Total owned inventory	241,122	210,452
Unallocated & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Projects in progress	92,483	81,540
Land held for future development	0	0
Land held for sale	2,295	2,718
Total owned inventory	$ 94,778	$ 84,258

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

No definition available.

Name:	bzh_InventoryProjectsInProgress
Namespace Prefix:	bzh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryLandHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryOperativeBuilders
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LandAvailableForDevelopment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration