Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating revenue
Home sales									$ 1,795,074	$ 1,402,203	$ 1,078,928
Construction services — Note 1									1,454	3,837	25,124
Operating revenue	$ 623,283	$ 490,304	$ 422,633	$ 258,854	$ 473,221	$ 342,628	$ 325,059	$ 261,295	1,796,528	1,406,040	1,104,052
Operating costs
Cost of sales — homes									(1,478,549)	(1,162,337)	(878,995)
Construction services — Note 1									(1,317)	(3,485)	(21,181)
Sales and marketing									(86,226)	(72,509)	(61,539)
General and administrative									(90,206)	(73,398)	(59,161)
Amortization of intangible assets — Note 7									0	0	(957)
Other									(2,274)	(343)	(1,972)
Operating costs									(1,658,572)	(1,312,072)	(1,023,805)
Operating income									137,956	93,968	80,247
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									3,661	5,606	3,239
Other income, net									895	3,243	3,581
Income before extinguishment of debt									142,512	102,817	87,067
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(21,828)	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes									120,684	102,817	87,067
Provision for income taxes — Note 11									(62,933)	(34,850)	(26,806)
Net income	16,736	30,060	20,251	(9,296)	26,426	16,514	15,086	9,941	57,751	67,967	60,261
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(9,616)	(8,271)	(2,925)
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 11,763	$ 27,418	$ 18,954	$ (10,000)	$ 23,052	$ 13,069	$ 14,561	$ 9,014	$ 48,135	$ 59,696	$ 57,336
Income per common share:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.74	$ 0.51	$ (0.27)	$ 0.63	$ 0.36	$ 0.40	$ 0.25	$ 1.30	$ 1.62	$ 1.57
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.71	$ 0.49	$ (0.27)	$ 0.60	$ 0.34	$ 0.38	$ 0.24	$ 1.24	$ 1.55	$ 1.48
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)									37,040,137	36,764,799	36,546,227
Diluted (in shares)									38,663,667	38,474,900	38,767,556