Segment Information - Summary of Financial Information Relating to Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,141,274	$ 748,395	$ 698,714	$ 494,632	$ 1,132,697	$ 775,071	$ 771,303	$ 583,676	$ 3,083,015	$ 3,262,747	$ 2,810,272
Income (loss) before taxes									271,087	362,065	339,818
Real estate inventories	3,065,436				3,216,059				3,065,436	3,216,059
Total assets	3,858,690				3,884,203				3,858,690	3,884,203
All HomeBuilding Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real estate inventories	3,065,436				3,216,059				3,065,436	3,216,059
Total assets	3,830,267				3,864,318				3,830,267	3,864,318
Operating segments | Maracay
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes									21,040	23,281	23,987
Real estate inventories	338,259				293,217				338,259	293,217
Total assets	382,262				318,703				382,262	318,703
Operating segments | Pardee Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes									198,463	191,793	198,738
Real estate inventories	1,218,384				1,286,877				1,218,384	1,286,877
Total assets	1,300,047				1,391,503				1,300,047	1,391,503
Operating segments | Quadrant Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes									3,951	38,366	32,671
Real estate inventories	264,437				279,486				264,437	279,486
Total assets	331,187				313,947				331,187	313,947
Operating segments | Trendmaker Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes									17,133	25,228	16,764
Real estate inventories	268,759				271,061				268,759	271,061
Total assets	353,610				325,943				353,610	325,943
Operating segments | TRI Pointe Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes									49,721	115,632	89,811
Real estate inventories	737,662				812,799				737,662	812,799
Total assets	930,348				987,610				930,348	987,610
Operating segments | Winchester Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes									11,243	23,981	15,472
Real estate inventories	237,935				272,619				237,935	272,619
Total assets	291,456				298,602				291,456	298,602
Operating segments | Financial services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	28,423				19,885				28,423	19,885
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes									(40,887)	(65,889)	(45,091)
Total assets	$ 241,357				$ 228,010				241,357	228,010
Homebuilding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									3,079,021	3,261,009	2,808,901
Homebuilding | All HomeBuilding Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									3,079,021	3,261,009	2,808,901
Income (loss) before taxes									260,664	352,392	332,352
Homebuilding | Operating segments | Maracay
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									272,723	263,321	296,768
Homebuilding | Operating segments | Pardee Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									1,101,580	999,710	826,033
Homebuilding | Operating segments | Quadrant Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									242,174	307,706	247,939
Homebuilding | Operating segments | Trendmaker Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									413,090	310,730	253,825
Homebuilding | Operating segments | TRI Pointe Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									796,958	1,073,592	927,247
Homebuilding | Operating segments | Winchester Homes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									252,496	305,950	257,089
Financial services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									3,994	1,738	1,371
Financial services | Operating segments | Financial services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before taxes									$ 10,423	$ 9,673	$ 7,466