Discontinued Operations - Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses	$ 283,857,000		$ 260,324,000		$ 739,295,000		$ 712,930,000
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	2,010,000		0		2,921,000		2,229,000
Gross profit	68,804,000		54,115,000		175,646,000		134,084,000
General and administrative expenses	35,994,000		29,612,000		97,032,000		84,735,000
Operating income	15,088,000		8,472,000		32,237,000		5,182,000
Other (expense) income, net	(10,205,000)		(14,036,000)		(39,689,000)		(45,858,000)
Benefit from income taxes	(1,769,000)		(432,000)		(1,783,000)		(1,028,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	838,000		(346,000)		(99,000)		(2,324,000)
Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Litigation settlement cost	1,600,000
Proceeds from Legal Settlements					1,900,000
Total revenue	0		0		464,000		288,000
Home construction and land sales expenses	(1,343,000)	[1]	37,000	[1]	1,609,000	[1]	(29,000)	[1]
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0		0		0		17,000
Gross profit	1,343,000		(37,000)		(1,145,000)		300,000
General and administrative expenses	397,000	[2]	346,000	[2]	(1,164,000)	[2]	2,761,000	[2]
Operating income	946,000		(383,000)		19,000		(2,461,000)
Other (expense) income, net	0		(1,000)		0		68,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	946,000		(384,000)		19,000		(2,393,000)
Benefit from income taxes	108,000		(38,000)		118,000		(69,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 838,000		$ (346,000)		$ (99,000)		$ (2,324,000)

[1] The three months ended June 30, 2014 includes a $1.6 million settlement recovery of a legal case related to construction defects in Denver, Colorado.

[2] The nine months ended June 30, 2014 includes approximately $1.9 million of recoveries received for legal fees related to outstanding matters in Denver, Colorado.