Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) state region	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) state region segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) state region
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of states with active operations | state	13								13			13
Number of regions in which entity operates | region	3								3			3
Number of homebuilding segments | segment									3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 632,121	$ 459,937	$ 385,607	$ 344,449	$ 632,852	$ 429,438	$ 299,359	$ 265,764	$ 1,822,114	$ 1,627,413	$ 1,463,767
Operating income	30,838	$ 16,309	$ 3,030	$ 9,148	36,945	$ 17,696	$ 6,436	$ (9,490)	59,325	51,587	55,689
Depreciation and amortization									13,794	13,338	13,279
Excess insurance recovery									3,600
Reduction in home construction expenses									59,300	18,900		$ 78,200
Capital Expenditures									12,219	15,964	14,553
Total Capital Expenditure, cash and noncash									12,219	16,638	14,553
Assets	2,213,158				2,409,295				2,213,158	2,409,295		2,213,158
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									191,290	156,866	145,423
Depreciation and amortization									11,710	11,411	11,244
Corporate and unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									(131,965)	(105,279)	(89,734)
Depreciation and amortization									2,084	1,927	2,035
Capital Expenditures									461	2,219	1,864
Assets	756,238				812,090				756,238	812,090		756,238
West
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									827,907	607,515	556,741
West | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									99,835	67,236	65,442
Depreciation and amortization									6,086	5,544	5,722
Capital Expenditures									6,570	7,348	6,660
Assets	778,521				843,564				778,521	843,564		778,521
East
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									526,949	576,560	552,082
East | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									42,205	52,516	48,127
Depreciation and amortization									3,173	3,091	3,447
Capital Expenditures									2,441	3,692	3,050
Assets	344,898				436,346				344,898	436,346		344,898
Southeast
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									467,258	443,338	354,944
Southeast | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									49,250	37,114	31,854
Depreciation and amortization									2,451	2,776	2,075
Capital Expenditures									2,747	3,379	$ 2,979
Assets	$ 333,501				$ 317,295				$ 333,501	$ 317,295		$ 333,501