Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 123,546	$ 30,496	$ 45,874	$ 44,058
Restricted cash	424	585
Contracts and accounts receivable	23,224	27,833
Intercompany Receivables	0	0
Due from affiliates	1,060	1,138
Real estate inventories	416,143	286,928
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	55,824	50,857
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other assets	24,291	21,299
Total assets	644,512	419,136
Accounts payable	23,722	33,094
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	38,054	23,418
Intercompany Payables	0	0
Due to Affiliate	0	0
Senior notes, net	318,656	0
Unsecured revolving credit facility	0	118,000
Total liabilities	380,432	174,512
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	263,990	244,523
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	90	101
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	264,080	244,624	221,697	150,426
Total liabilities and equity	644,512	419,136
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Contracts and accounts receivable	(1,024)	(1,971)
Intercompany Receivables	(129,414)	(73,972)
Due from affiliates	0	0
Real estate inventories	0	0
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(356,443)	(268,411)
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	(486,881)	(344,354)
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(1,014)	(1,942)
Intercompany Payables	(129,414)	(73,972)
Due to Affiliate	(10)	(29)
Senior notes, net	0
Unsecured revolving credit facility		0
Total liabilities	(130,438)	(75,943)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	(356,443)	(268,411)
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	0	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(356,443)	(268,411)
Total liabilities and equity	(486,881)	(344,354)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	188	269	605	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Contracts and accounts receivable	0	0
Intercompany Receivables	0	0
Due from affiliates	0	0
Real estate inventories	0	0
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	188	269
Accounts payable	6	27
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	80	108
Intercompany Payables	0	0
Due to Affiliate	0	0
Senior notes, net	0
Unsecured revolving credit facility		0
Total liabilities	86	135
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	12	33
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	90	101
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	102	134
Total liabilities and equity	188	269
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	23,772	13,842	27,140	18,254
Restricted cash	424	585
Contracts and accounts receivable	24,238	29,774
Intercompany Receivables	0	0
Due from affiliates	1,060	1,138
Real estate inventories	416,143	286,928
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	55,824	50,857
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other assets	15,827	11,918
Total assets	537,288	395,042
Accounts payable	23,479	32,900
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	27,954	19,763
Intercompany Payables	129,414	73,972
Due to Affiliate	10	29
Senior notes, net	0
Unsecured revolving credit facility		0
Total liabilities	180,857	126,664
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	356,431	268,378
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	0	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	356,431	268,378
Total liabilities and equity	537,288	395,042
Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	99,586	16,385	$ 18,129	$ 25,804
Restricted cash	0	0
Contracts and accounts receivable	10	30
Intercompany Receivables	129,414	73,972
Due from affiliates	0	0
Real estate inventories	0	0
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	356,443	268,411
Other assets	8,464	9,381
Total assets	593,917	368,179
Accounts payable	237	167
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	11,034	5,489
Intercompany Payables	0	0
Due to Affiliate	0	0
Senior notes, net	318,656
Unsecured revolving credit facility		118,000
Total liabilities	329,927	123,656
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	263,990	244,523
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	0	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	263,990	244,523
Total liabilities and equity	$ 593,917	$ 368,179