Discontinued Operations - Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses	$ 216,969,000		$ 241,992,000		$ 455,438,000		$ 452,606,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	880,000		2,025,000		911,000		2,229,000
Gross (loss) profit	52,172,000		43,885,000		106,842,000		79,969,000
General and administrative expenses	32,628,000		28,795,000		61,038,000		55,123,000
Operating income (loss)	5,617,000		311,000		17,149,000		(3,290,000)
Other (expense) income, net	(13,727,000)		(16,195,000)		(29,484,000)		(31,822,000)
Benefit from income taxes	(56,000)		(343,000)		(14,000)		(596,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	253,000		(529,000)		(937,000)		(1,978,000)
Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from Legal Settlements					1,900,000
Total revenue	0		192,000		464,000		288,000
Home construction and land sales expenses	1,497,000		(160,000)		2,952,000		(66,000)
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0		0		0		17,000
Gross (loss) profit	(1,497,000)		352,000		(2,488,000)		337,000
General and administrative expenses	(1,750,000)	[1]	890,000	[1]	(1,561,000)	[1]	2,415,000	[1]
Operating income (loss)	253,000		(538,000)		(927,000)		(2,078,000)
Other (expense) income, net	0		0		0		69,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	253,000		(538,000)		(927,000)		(2,009,000)
Benefit from income taxes	0		(9,000)		10,000		(31,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 253,000		$ (529,000)		$ (937,000)		$ (1,978,000)

[1] The three and six months ended March 31, 2014 includes approximately $1.9 million of recoveries received for legal fees related to outstanding matters in Denver, Colorado.