Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Unaudited Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 425,468	$ 385,607	$ 764,709	$ 730,056
Home construction and land sales expenses	357,788	324,216	643,366	609,727
Inventory impairments and abandonments	282	1,825	282	3,181
Gross profit	67,398	59,566	121,061	117,148
Commissions	16,632	14,582	29,955	28,356
General and administrative expenses	40,100	38,898	76,488	70,567
Depreciation and amortization	3,155	3,056	5,832	6,047
Operating income	7,511	3,030	8,786	12,178
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated entities	33	(51)	55	9
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(15,563)	(1,631)	(15,563)	(2,459)
Other expense, net	(3,940)	(6,558)	(9,136)	(13,123)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(11,959)	(5,210)	(15,858)	(3,395)
Benefit from income taxes	(4,464)	(3,898)	(7,004)	(3,282)
Loss from continuing operations	(7,495)	(1,312)	(8,854)	(113)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(40)	78	(110)	(122)
Net loss and comprehensive loss	$ (7,535)	$ (1,234)	$ (8,964)	$ (235)
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic and diluted (shares)	31,969	31,808	31,931	31,783
Basic and diluted loss per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.01)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Total (in dollars per share)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.01)