CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 2,140,303,000	$ 2,127,077,000	$ 2,087,739,000
Home construction and land sales expenses	1,735,195,000	1,776,534,000	1,773,085,000
Inventory impairments and abandonments	853,000	2,903,000	148,618,000
Gross profit	404,255,000	347,640,000	166,036,000
Commissions	80,125,000	82,507,000	79,802,000
General and administrative expenses	163,285,000	170,386,000	161,371,000
Depreciation and amortization	13,976,000	15,640,000	14,759,000
Operating income (loss)	146,869,000	79,107,000	(89,896,000)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	594,000	347,000	404,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	(2,025,000)	0	(24,920,000)
Other expense, net	(1,712,000)	(8,165,000)	(2,226,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	143,726,000	71,289,000	(116,638,000)
Expense (benefit) from income taxes	21,546,000	17,973,000	(37,217,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	122,180,000	53,316,000	(79,421,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(159,000)	(1,090,000)	(99,000)
Net income (loss)	$ 122,021,000	$ 52,226,000	$ (79,520,000)
Weighted-average number of shares:
Basic (in shares)	29,954	29,704	30,617
Diluted (in shares)	30,437	29,948	30,617
Basic income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 4.08	$ 1.80	$ (2.59)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	(0.04)	(0.01)
Total (in dollars per share)	4.07	1.76	(2.60)
Diluted income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	4.01	1.78	(2.59)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	(0.04)	(0.01)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 4.01	$ 1.74	$ (2.60)