Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 25,206	$ 35,173	$ 25,545
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	325	286	865
Share-based compensation	2,571	1,284	474
Deferred income taxes, net	36,299	13,147	8,352
Equity in income of unconsolidated entity	(2,746)	0	0
Cash distributions of income from unconsolidated entity	974	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	843	866	(2,566)
Increase in inventory	(95,418)	(74,281)	(58,728)
Increase in earnest money deposits	(3,895)	(298)	(11,169)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(1,746)	1,341	(1,887)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	7,241	1,583	(21)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses	4,175	8,571	(3,465)
Increase (decrease) in customer and builder deposits	7,359	7,150	(2,814)
Net cash used in operating activities	(18,812)	(5,178)	(45,414)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of investment in direct financing leases	0	0	2,768
Acquisition of investment in unconsolidated entity	286	0	0
Acquisition of property and equipment	(149)	(458)	(307)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(435)	(458)	2,461
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings from lines of credit	88,500	63,000	86,000
Proceeds from notes payable	0	2,660	3,206
Repayments of lines of credit	(56,500)	(35,500)	(52,561)
Repayments of notes payable	(1,022)	(1,870)	(5,199)
Repayment of term loan facility	0	0	(150,000)
Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs	0	0	169,942
Withholdings of taxes from vesting of restricted stock awards	586	0	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	438	2,928	87
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(10,896)	(9,755)	(7,723)
Net cash provided by financing activities	19,934	21,463	43,752
Net increase in cash and restricted cash	687	15,827	799
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period	39,602	23,775	22,976
Cash and restricted cash at end of period	40,289	39,602	23,775
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest	0	0	2,764
Cash paid for taxes	2,941	1,503	1,339
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Decrease (increase) in land not owned under option contracts	0	6,921	(8,935)
Accrued debt issuance costs	0	0	52
Out-of-period equity adjustment	0	0	1,933
Equity issuance related to investment in unconsolidated entity	$ 14,622	$ 0	$ 0