Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 265,764us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 293,170us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Home construction and land sales expenses	230,546us-gaap_HomeBuildingCosts	238,469us-gaap_HomeBuildingCosts
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown	31us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown
Gross profit	35,218us-gaap_GrossProfit	54,670us-gaap_GrossProfit
Commissions	10,926us-gaap_SalesCommissionsAndFees	11,821us-gaap_SalesCommissionsAndFees
General and administrative expenses	31,441us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	28,410us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Depreciation and amortization	2,341us-gaap_Depreciation	2,907us-gaap_Depreciation
Operating (loss) income	(9,490)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	11,532us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	142	319
Other expense, net	(9,434)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(15,757)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
(Loss) income before income taxes	(18,782)	(3,906)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(696)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	42us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Loss from continuing operations	(18,086)	(3,948)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(4,254)	(1,190)
Net loss	(22,340)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(5,138)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic and Diluted (shares)	26,457	25,009
Basic and Diluted loss per share:
Continuing operations (in US dollars per share)	$ (0.68)	$ (0.16)
Discontinuing operations (in US dollars per share)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.05)
Total (in US dollars per share)	$ (0.84)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ (0.21)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted
Unrealized gain related to available-for-sale securities	206	0
Comprehensive loss	$ (22,134)	$ (5,138)

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or loss for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

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The aggregate costs related to design, development, general contracting, remodeling, and renovation services for residential buildings, including single-family houses, multifamily housing, townhomes, apartments, and modular housing.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent. Also defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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The amount of net income (loss) from continuing operations per each basic and diluted share of common stock or unit when the per share amount is the same for both basic and diluted shares.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Per basic and diluted share amount, after tax, of income (loss) from the day-to-day business activities of the discontinued operation and gain (loss) from the disposal of the discontinued operation, when the per share amount is the same.

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This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

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Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Charge to cost of goods sold that represents the reduction of the carrying amount of inventory, generally attributable to obsolescence or market conditions.

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The aggregate net change in the difference between the fair value and the carrying value, or in the comparative fair values, of marketable securities categorized as trading held at each balance sheet date, that was included in earnings for the period, which may have arisen from (a) securities classified as trading, (b) the unrealized holding gain (loss) on held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category, and (c) the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) on available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period.

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

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The aggregate revenue from real estate operations during the reporting period.

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Primarily represents commissions incurred in the period based upon the sale by commissioned employees or third parties of the entity's goods or services, and fees for sales assistance or product enhancements performed by third parties (such as a distributor or value added reseller).

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Average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS).

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