Inventory - Inventory Impairments and Lot Option Abandonment Charges, by Reportable Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Land Held for Sale:	$ 1,400	$ 200	$ 2,100
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	3,109	8,307	2,650
Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Held for Development	0	5,421	59
Land Held for Sale:	1,433	260	2,129
Lot Option Abandonments:	1,676	2,626	445
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	3,109	8,307	2,633
Continuing Operations | West
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Held for Development	0	4,948	46
Land Held for Sale:	0	0	228
Lot Option Abandonments:	0	0	104
Continuing Operations | East
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Held for Development	0	100	13
Land Held for Sale:	1,433	232	123
Lot Option Abandonments:	1,676	131	20
Continuing Operations | Southeast
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Land Held for Sale:	0	28	1,778
Lot Option Abandonments:	0	2,495	321
Continuing Operations | Corporate and unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Held for Development	0	373	0
Discontinued Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	$ 0	$ 0	$ 17