Senior Notes, Secured, and Unsecured Indebtedness - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			$ (138,931)	$ (184,996)
Investing activities
Investment in (advances to) unconsolidated joint ventures			0
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(4,575)	(475,221)
Purchases of property and equipment			(1,511)	(7,500)
Investments in subsidiaries			0
Net cash used in investing activities			(6,086)	(482,721)
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable			108,933	151,551
Principal payments on notes payable			(122,971)	(82,971)
Proceeds from borrowings on revolver			537,000	407,446
Payments on revolver			(432,000)	(187,446)
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Notes Payable			109,035
Payment of principal portion of finance lease liabilities	$ (56)	$ 0	(1,264)	0
Payment of deferred loan costs			(5,787)	(10,757)
Proceeds from stock options exercised			(12)	0
Shares remitted to, or withheld by the Company for employee tax withholding			(2,356)	(4,954)
Cash contributions from members of consolidated entities			2,854	126,088
Payments to repurchase common stock			0	(11,234)
Cash distributions to members of consolidated entities			(36,485)	(51,934)
Advances to affiliates			0	0
Intercompany receivables/payables			0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities			153,356	535,789
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			8,339	(131,928)
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period			33,779	182,710
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period	42,118	50,782	42,118	50,782
5 3/4% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			0	(150,000)
7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			(300,000)	0
6.625% Senior Notes Due 2027
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			300,000	0
6% Senior Notes due September 1, 2023
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			0	350,000
8 1/2% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes				350,000
5.875% Senior Notes due January 31, 2025
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			(3,591)	0
Payments on revolver				(187,446)
Reporting Entities
Investing activities
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired				0
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable				0
Reporting Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			22,505	17,046
Investing activities
Investment in (advances to) unconsolidated joint ventures			150
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			0	(475,221)
Purchases of property and equipment			(1,494)	(4,013)
Investments in subsidiaries			(6,257)	486,571
Net cash used in investing activities			(7,601)	7,337
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable			138	234
Principal payments on notes payable			(117)	(1,113)
Proceeds from borrowings on revolver			0	0
Payments on revolver			0
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Notes Payable			0
Payment of principal portion of finance lease liabilities			0
Payment of deferred loan costs			0	0
Proceeds from stock options exercised			0
Shares remitted to, or withheld by the Company for employee tax withholding			0	0
Cash contributions from members of consolidated entities			0	0
Payments to repurchase common stock				0
Cash distributions to members of consolidated entities			0	0
Advances to affiliates			(730)	(10,856)
Intercompany receivables/payables			(14,521)	(11,880)
Net cash provided by financing activities			(15,230)	(23,615)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(326)	768
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period			2,888	156
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period	2,562	924	2,562	924
Reporting Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries | 5 3/4% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes				0
Reporting Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries | 7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			0
Reporting Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries | 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2027
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			0
Reporting Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries | 8 1/2% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes				0
Reporting Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries | 5.875% Senior Notes due January 31, 2025
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			0
Payments on revolver				0
Reporting Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(67,784)	(189,404)
Investing activities
Investment in (advances to) unconsolidated joint ventures			(2,000)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(4,575)	0
Purchases of property and equipment			(17)	15
Investments in subsidiaries			0	0
Net cash used in investing activities			(6,592)	15
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable			108,795	151,317
Principal payments on notes payable			(122,854)	(81,858)
Proceeds from borrowings on revolver			0	0
Payments on revolver			0
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Notes Payable			109,035
Payment of principal portion of finance lease liabilities			(1,264)
Payment of deferred loan costs			0	0
Proceeds from stock options exercised			0
Shares remitted to, or withheld by the Company for employee tax withholding			0	0
Cash contributions from members of consolidated entities			2,854	126,088
Payments to repurchase common stock				0
Cash distributions to members of consolidated entities			(36,485)	(51,934)
Advances to affiliates			(9,223)	27,784
Intercompany receivables/payables			31,495	20,641
Net cash provided by financing activities			82,353	192,038
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			7,977	2,649
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period			9,441	11,120
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period	17,418	13,769	17,418	13,769
Reporting Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | 5 3/4% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes				0
Reporting Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | 7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			0
Reporting Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2027
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			0
Reporting Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | 8 1/2% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes				0
Reporting Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | 5.875% Senior Notes due January 31, 2025
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			0
Payments on revolver				0
Reporting Entities | Delaware Lyon
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(4,593)	8,595
Investing activities
Investment in (advances to) unconsolidated joint ventures			0
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			0
Purchases of property and equipment			0	0
Investments in subsidiaries			0	0
Net cash used in investing activities			0	0
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable			0
Principal payments on notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from borrowings on revolver			0	0
Payments on revolver			0
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Notes Payable			0
Payment of principal portion of finance lease liabilities			0
Payment of deferred loan costs			0	0
Proceeds from stock options exercised			0
Shares remitted to, or withheld by the Company for employee tax withholding			0	0
Cash contributions from members of consolidated entities			0	0
Payments to repurchase common stock				0
Cash distributions to members of consolidated entities			0	0
Advances to affiliates			4,593	0
Intercompany receivables/payables			0	(8,595)
Net cash provided by financing activities			4,593	(8,595)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period	0	0	0	0
Reporting Entities | Delaware Lyon | 5 3/4% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes				0
Reporting Entities | Delaware Lyon | 7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			0
Reporting Entities | Delaware Lyon | 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2027
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			0
Reporting Entities | Delaware Lyon | 8 1/2% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes				0
Reporting Entities | Delaware Lyon | 5.875% Senior Notes due January 31, 2025
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			0
Payments on revolver				0
Reporting Entities | California Lyon
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(75,133)	4,151
Investing activities
Investment in (advances to) unconsolidated joint ventures			1,850
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			0
Purchases of property and equipment			0	(3,502)
Investments in subsidiaries			(2,116)	(28,905)
Net cash used in investing activities			(266)	(32,407)
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable			0
Principal payments on notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from borrowings on revolver			537,000	407,446
Payments on revolver			(432,000)
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Notes Payable			0
Payment of principal portion of finance lease liabilities			0
Payment of deferred loan costs			(5,787)	(10,757)
Proceeds from stock options exercised			(12)
Shares remitted to, or withheld by the Company for employee tax withholding			(2,356)	(4,954)
Cash contributions from members of consolidated entities			0	0
Payments to repurchase common stock				(11,234)
Cash distributions to members of consolidated entities			0	0
Advances to affiliates			0	0
Intercompany receivables/payables			(17,167)	(500,144)
Net cash provided by financing activities			76,087	(107,089)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			688	(135,345)
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period			21,450	171,434
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period	22,138	36,089	22,138	36,089
Reporting Entities | California Lyon | 5 3/4% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes				(150,000)
Reporting Entities | California Lyon | 7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			(300,000)
Reporting Entities | California Lyon | 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2027
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			300,000
Reporting Entities | California Lyon | 8 1/2% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes				350,000
Reporting Entities | California Lyon | 5.875% Senior Notes due January 31, 2025
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			(3,591)
Payments on revolver				(187,446)
Eliminating Entries
Operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(13,926)	(25,384)
Investing activities
Investment in (advances to) unconsolidated joint ventures			0
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			0	0
Purchases of property and equipment			0	0
Investments in subsidiaries			8,373	(457,666)
Net cash used in investing activities			8,373	(457,666)
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on notes payable			0	0
Principal payments on notes payable			0	0
Proceeds from borrowings on revolver			0	0
Payments on revolver			0
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Notes Payable			0
Payment of principal portion of finance lease liabilities			0
Payment of deferred loan costs			0	0
Proceeds from stock options exercised			0
Shares remitted to, or withheld by the Company for employee tax withholding			0	0
Cash contributions from members of consolidated entities			0	0
Payments to repurchase common stock				0
Cash distributions to members of consolidated entities			0	0
Advances to affiliates			5,360	(16,928)
Intercompany receivables/payables			193	499,978
Net cash provided by financing activities			5,553	483,050
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period	$ 0	$ 0	0	0
Eliminating Entries | 5 3/4% Senior Notes due April 15, 2019
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes				0
Eliminating Entries | 7% Senior Notes due August 15, 2022
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			0
Eliminating Entries | 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2027
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			0
Eliminating Entries | 8 1/2% Senior Notes due November 15, 2020
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes				0
Eliminating Entries | 5.875% Senior Notes due January 31, 2025
Financing activities
Principal payments of Senior Notes			$ 0
Payments on revolver				$ 0