Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Unaudited Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 478,588	$ 459,937	$ 1,243,297	$ 1,189,993
Home construction and land sales expenses	399,675	370,367	1,043,041	980,094
Inventory impairments and abandonments	470	11,917	752	15,098
Gross profit	78,443	77,653	199,504	194,801
Commissions	18,773	17,500	48,728	45,856
General and administrative expenses	40,794	40,457	117,282	111,024
Depreciation and amortization	3,307	3,387	9,139	9,434
Operating income	15,569	16,309	24,355	28,487
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	158	62	213	71
Gain on extinguishment of debt	0	429	(15,563)	(2,030)
Other expense, net	(2,871)	(5,344)	(12,007)	(18,467)
Income (loss) before income taxes	12,856	11,456	(3,002)	8,061
Expense (benefit) from income taxes	5,742	5,349	(1,262)	2,067
Income (loss) from continuing operations	7,114	6,107	(1,740)	5,994
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	9	(325)	(101)	(447)
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)	$ 7,123	$ 5,782	$ (1,841)	$ 5,547
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic (in shares)	31,971	31,813	31,944	31,793
Diluted (in shares)	32,375	31,820	31,944	31,797
Basic income (loss) per share:
Continuing Operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.19	$ (0.05)	$ 0.19
Discontinued Operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	(0.01)	0.00	(0.01)
Total (in dollars per shares)	0.22	0.18	(0.05)	0.18
Diluted income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.22	0.19	(0.05)	0.19
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	(0.01)	0	(0.01)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.18	$ (0.05)	$ 0.18