Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 299,359us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 270,021us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 565,123us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	$ 563,191us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Home construction and land sales expenses	245,446us-gaap_HomeBuildingCosts	216,969us-gaap_HomeBuildingCosts	475,992us-gaap_HomeBuildingCosts	455,438us-gaap_HomeBuildingCosts
Inventory impairments and option contract abandonments	0us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown	880us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown	0us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown	911us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown
Gross profit	53,913us-gaap_GrossProfit	52,172us-gaap_GrossProfit	89,131us-gaap_GrossProfit	106,842us-gaap_GrossProfit
Commissions	11,969us-gaap_SalesCommissionsAndFees	11,096us-gaap_SalesCommissionsAndFees	22,895us-gaap_SalesCommissionsAndFees	22,917us-gaap_SalesCommissionsAndFees
General and administrative expenses	32,727us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	32,628us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	64,168us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	61,038us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Depreciation and amortization	2,781us-gaap_Depreciation	2,831us-gaap_Depreciation	5,122us-gaap_Depreciation	5,738us-gaap_Depreciation
Operating income (loss)	6,436us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	5,617us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(3,054)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	17,149us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated entities	82	(17)	224	302
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(153)	0	(153)
Other expense, net	(8,473)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(13,727)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(17,907)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(29,484)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
(Loss) income before income taxes	(1,955)	(8,280)	(20,737)	(12,186)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	105us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(56)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(591)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(14)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Loss from continuing operations	(2,060)	(8,224)	(20,146)	(12,172)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	64	253	(4,190)	(937)
Net loss	(1,996)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(7,971)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(24,336)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(13,109)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic and Diluted (shares)	26,480	25,320	26,469	25,163
Basic and Diluted (loss) income per share:
Continuing operations (in US dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.32)	$ (0.76)	$ (0.48)
Discontinuing operations (in US dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ (0.16)	$ (0.04)
Total (in US dollars per share)	$ (0.08)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ (0.31)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ (0.92)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ (0.52)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted
Change in unrealized loss related to available-for-sale securities	1,070	0	1,276	0
Comprehensive loss	$ (926)	$ (7,971)	$ (23,060)	$ (13,109)

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or loss for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent. Also defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests.

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The amount of net income (loss) from continuing operations per each basic and diluted share of common stock or unit when the per share amount is the same for both basic and diluted shares.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

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The aggregate revenue from real estate operations during the reporting period.

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Primarily represents commissions incurred in the period based upon the sale by commissioned employees or third parties of the entity's goods or services, and fees for sales assistance or product enhancements performed by third parties (such as a distributor or value added reseller).

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Average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS).

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