Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 385,607	$ 299,359	$ 730,056	$ 565,123
Home construction and land sales expenses	324,216	245,446	609,727	475,992
Inventory impairments and abandonments	1,825	0	3,181	0
Gross profit	59,566	53,913	117,148	89,131
Commissions	14,582	11,969	28,356	22,895
General and administrative expenses	38,898	32,727	70,567	64,168
Depreciation and amortization	3,056	2,781	6,047	5,122
Operating income (loss)	3,030	6,436	12,178	(3,054)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated entities	(51)	82	9	224
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,631)	0	(2,459)	0
Other expense, net	(6,558)	(8,473)	(13,123)	(17,907)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(5,210)	(1,955)	(3,395)	(20,737)
Expense (benefit) from income taxes	(3,898)	105	(3,282)	(591)
Loss from continuing operations	(1,312)	(2,060)	(113)	(20,146)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	78	64	(122)	(4,190)
Net income (loss)	$ (1,234)	$ (1,996)	$ (235)	$ (24,336)
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic (shares)	31,808	26,480	31,783	26,469
Diluted (shares)	31,808	26,480	31,783	26,469
Basic income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.76)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	(0.16)
Total (in dollars per share)	(0.04)	(0.08)	(0.01)	(0.92)
Diluted income (loss) per share
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(0.04)	(0.08)	(0.01)	(0.76)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0	(0.16)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.92)
Change in unrealized loss related to available-for-sale securities	$ 0	$ 1,070	$ 0	$ 1,276
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (1,234)	$ (926)	$ (235)	$ (23,060)