Inventory - Inventory Impairments and Lot Option Abandonment Charges, by Reportable Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Land Held for Sale	$ 800	$ 1,400	$ 200
Continuing Operations
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Projects in progress	13,724	0	5,421
Land Held for Sale	770	1,433	260
Abandonments	788	1,676	2,626
Total impairment and abandonment charges	15,282	3,109	8,307
Continuing Operations | Corporate and unallocated
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Projects in progress	1,101	0	373
Continuing Operations | West
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Projects in progress	6,729	0	4,948
Land Held for Sale	119	0	0
Continuing Operations | East
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Projects in progress	5,894	0	100
Land Held for Sale	280	1,433	232
Abandonments	0	1,676	131
Continuing Operations | Southeast
Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve [Line Items]
Land Held for Sale	371	0	28
Abandonments	$ 788	$ 0	$ 2,495