Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 429,438	$ 354,671	$ 994,561	$ 917,862
Home construction and land sales expenses	353,081	283,857	829,073	739,295
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	249	2,010	249	2,921
Gross profit	76,108	68,804	165,239	175,646
Commissions	17,246	14,322	40,141	37,239
General and administrative expenses	37,669	35,994	101,837	97,032
Depreciation and amortization	3,497	3,400	8,619	9,138
Operating income	17,696	15,088	14,642	32,237
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated entities	153	(81)	377	221
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(19,764)	0	(19,917)
Other expense, net	(5,763)	(10,205)	(23,670)	(39,689)
(Loss) income before income taxes	12,086	(14,962)	(8,651)	(27,148)
Benefit from income taxes	(135)	(1,769)	(726)	(1,783)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	12,221	(13,193)	(7,925)	(25,365)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(46)	838	(4,236)	(99)
Net income (loss)	$ 12,175	$ (12,355)	$ (12,161)	$ (25,464)
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic (shares)	26,482	26,421	26,473	25,582
Diluted (shares)	31,800	26,421	26,473	25,582
Basic income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46	$ (0.50)	$ (0.30)	$ (0.99)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.03	(0.16)	(0.01)
Total (in dollars per share)	0.46	(0.47)	(0.46)	(1.00)
Diluted income (loss) per share
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.38	(0.50)	(0.30)	(0.99)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.03	0	(0.01)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ (0.47)	$ (0.46)	$ (1.00)
Change in unrealized loss related to available-for-sale securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,276	$ 0
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 12,175	$ (12,355)	$ (10,885)	$ (25,464)