Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 state		Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2014 segment state		Mar. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of homebuilding segments					3
Number of states in which home building segments operate	16				16
Total revenue	$ 270,021		$ 287,902		$ 563,191		$ 534,804
Total operating income (loss)	5,617		311		17,149		(3,290)
Depreciation and amortization	2,831		3,093		5,738		5,808
Capital Expenditures					6,641		3,869
Assets	1,951,384				1,951,384				1,986,789
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income (loss)	21,494		22,408		51,119		39,284
Depreciation and amortization	2,218		2,424		4,683		4,447
West Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	121,886		118,996		244,462		229,122
Total operating income (loss)	14,338		10,045		30,100		18,403
Depreciation and amortization	1,304		1,185		2,686		2,207
Capital Expenditures					2,661		1,866
Assets	709,167				709,167				680,346
East Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	83,366		117,129		190,955		213,668
Total operating income (loss)	2,994		10,313		11,229		16,501
Depreciation and amortization	556		900		1,248		1,583
Capital Expenditures					1,546		611
Assets	428,398				428,398				369,937
Southeast Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	64,769		51,777		127,774		92,014
Total operating income (loss)	4,162		2,050		9,790		4,380
Depreciation and amortization	358		339		749		657
Capital Expenditures					1,022		482
Assets	283,985				283,985				228,814
Corporate and unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating income (loss)	(15,877)	[1]	(22,097)	[1]	(33,970)	[1]	(42,574)	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	613	[1]	669	[1]	1,055	[1]	1,361	[1]
Capital Expenditures					1,412		910
Assets	$ 529,834	[2]			$ 529,834	[2]			$ 707,692	[2]

[1] 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.

[2] 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.