Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 188,548	$ 108,952
Home construction and land sales expenses	162,776	97,051
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	3,503	639
Gross profit	22,269	11,262
Commissions	8,371	4,990
General and administrative expenses	28,194	32,503
Depreciation and amortization	2,403	1,905
Operating loss	(16,699)	(28,136)
Equity in (loss) income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(77)	238
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(2,902)
Other expense, net	(18,273)	(18,065)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(35,049)	(48,865)
Benefit from income taxes	(35,747)	(593)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	698	(48,272)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	41	(536)
Net income (loss)	$ 739	$ (48,808)
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic	74,165	73,878
Diluted	87,106	73,878
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$ 0.01	$ (0.65)
Basic loss per share from discontinued operations		$ (0.01)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.01	$ (0.66)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$ 0.01	$ (0.65)
Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations		$ (0.01)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.01	$ (0.66)