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Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt premium.

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Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

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Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of all types of notes payable, as of the balance sheet date, with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Number of Land Acquisitions Using Seller Financing

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Senior Notes, Secured, and Unsecured Indebtedness - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 land_acquisition	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 11, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Nov. 08, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt		$ 0	$ 0	$ (21,828)	$ 0
Deferred loan costs		12,500		12,500
Notes payable		$ 161,011		$ 161,011			$ 155,768
Number of land acquisitions using seller financing \| land_acquisition	1
8 1/2% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		8.50%		8.50%			8.50%
7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		7.00%		7.00%			7.00%
5 3/4% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.75%		5.75%			5.75%
Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty Five [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.875%		5.875%
Senior notes \| 8 1/2% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		8.50%		8.50%			8.50%			8.50%
Senior notes \| 7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		7.00%		7.00%			7.00%	7.00%
Unamortized premium		$ 800		$ 800
Deferred loan costs		$ 4,200		$ 4,200
Senior notes \| 5 3/4% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.75%		5.75%			5.75%		5.75%
Deferred loan costs		$ 800		$ 800
Senior notes \| Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty Five [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.875%		5.875%		5.875%
Deferred loan costs		$ 7,500		$ 7,500
Seller financing
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable		$ 5,226		$ 5,226			$ 24,692
Seller financing \| Note Payable Maturing in August 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		7.00%		7.00%
Seller financing \| Note Payable Maturing in June 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		7.00%		7.00%