Discontinued Operations - Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses	$ 238,469,000	$ 210,614,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	31,000	204,000
Gross profit	54,670,000	36,084,000
Commissions	11,821,000	10,642,000
General and administrative expenses	28,410,000	26,328,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,907,000	2,715,000
Operating loss	11,532,000	(3,601,000)
Other (expense) income, net	(15,757,000)	(15,627,000)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	42,000	(253,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,190,000)	(1,449,000)
Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue	464,000	96,000
Home construction and land sales expenses	1,455,000	94,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0	17,000
Gross profit	(991,000)	(15,000)
General and administrative expenses	189,000	1,525,000
Operating loss	(1,180,000)	(1,540,000)
Other (expense) income, net	0	69,000
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	(1,180,000)	(1,471,000)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	$ 10,000	$ (22,000)