Inventory - Inventory Impairments and Lot Option Abandonment Charges, by Reportable Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	$ 2,010	$ 0	$ 2,921	$ 2,229
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	2,010	0	2,921	2,246
Continuing Operations [Member]
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	0	0	59
Land Held for Sale	201	0	260	1,778
Lot Option Abandonments	1,809	0	2,661	392
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	2,010	0	2,921	2,229
Continuing Operations [Member] | Unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	0	0	0
Lot Option Abandonments	0	0	0	0
Continuing Operations [Member] | West Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	0	0	46
Land Held for Sale	0	0	0	0
Lot Option Abandonments	0	0	0	104
Continuing Operations [Member] | East Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	0	0	13
Land Held for Sale	201	0	232	0
Lot Option Abandonments	156	0	156	20
Continuing Operations [Member] | Southeast Segment
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	0	0	0
Land Held for Sale	0	0	28	1,778
Lot Option Abandonments	1,653	0	2,505	268
Discontinued Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Development projects and homes in process (Held for Development)	0	0	0	0
Land Held for Sale	0	0	0	17
Lot Option Abandonments	0	0	0	0
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 17