Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Real Estate Inventory, Capitalized Interest Costs [Roll Forward]
Capitalized interest in inventory, beginning of period	$ 87,619	$ 52,562	$ 38,190
Interest incurred	121,754	126,906	115,076
Capitalized interest impaired	0	(245)	0
Interest expense not qualified for capitalization and included as other expense (a)	(29,752)	(50,784)	(59,458)
Capitalized interest amortized to house construction and land sales expenses (b)	(56,164)	(40,820)	(41,246)
Capitalized interest in inventory, end of period	$ 123,457	$ 87,619	$ 52,562