Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses									$ 1,351,860	$ 1,192,001	$ 1,070,814
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	$ 2,860	$ 249	$ 0	$ 0	$ 5,386	$ 2,010	$ 880	$ 31	3,109	8,307	2,633
Gross profit	107,205	76,108	53,913	35,218	87,813	68,804	52,172	54,670	272,444	263,459	214,130
General and administrative expenses									142,496	136,463	121,163
Operating income	$ 36,945	$ 17,696	$ 6,436	$ (9,490)	$ 23,452	$ 15,088	$ 5,617	$ 11,532	51,587	55,689	27,261
Other expense, net									(30,013)	(49,191)	(58,165)
Benefit from income taxes									(324,569)	(41,797)	(3,489)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(2,505)	(540)	(1,704)
Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue									1,030	3,864	288
Home construction and land sales expenses									4,518	4,768	(319)
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments									0	0	17
Gross profit									(3,488)	(904)	590
General and administrative expenses									380	(351)	2,566
Operating income									(3,868)	(553)	(1,976)
Other expense, net									5	8	77
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes									(3,863)	(545)	(1,899)
Benefit from income taxes									(1,358)	(5)	(195)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(2,505)	$ (540)	$ (1,704)
Discontinued Operations | COLORADO
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses									3,700
General and administrative expenses									$ 1,900