Income Taxes (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011
Effective tax rate for income taxes from continuing operations
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	$ (79,759)	$ (109,185)	$ 196,327
Net gain on change in control of interests	6,766	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated entities, net of impairment	44,631	(61,039)	(30,194)
Less: Noncontrolling interests	1,506	(2,240)	(19,320)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, including noncontrolling interest, before income taxes	(26,856)	(172,464)	146,813
Income taxes computed at the statutory rate	(9,400)	(60,362)	51,385
Increase (decrease) in tax resulting from:
State taxes, net of federal benefit	(4,969)	(6,517)	4,997
State net operating loss, net of federal benefit	1,667	2,474	466
General Business Credits	(947)	446	(1,556)
Valuation allowance	(2,048)	(6,414)	(86)
Charitable contributions	2,628	2,204	4,040
Permanent adjustments	3,037	38	390
Conversion/Exchange of senior debt	0	3,780	10,274
Other items	(1,172)	665	(1,045)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(11,204)	(63,686)	68,865
Effective tax rate	41.72%	36.93%	46.91%
The components of the deferred income tax expense (benefit) for continuing operations are as follows:
Excess of tax over financial statement depreciation and amortization	20,442	17,227	8,169
Costs on land and rental properties under development expensed for tax purposes	11,048	34,333	29,629
Revenues and expenses recognized in different periods for tax and financial statement purposes	50,214	(51,013)	30,679
Difference between tax and financial statements related to unconsolidated entities	207	(18,674)	(13,339)
Impairment of real estate and land held for divestiture	(16,178)	(40,346)	(1,133)
Deferred state taxes, net of federal benefit	986	(3,703)	1,556
Utilization of (addition to) tax loss carryforward excluding effect of stock options	(16,230)	10,974	13,066
Valuation allowance	(2,048)	(6,414)	(86)
General Business Credits	(947)	446	(1,556)
Alternative Minimum Tax credits	96	3,400	1,177
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	$ 47,590	$ (53,770)	$ 68,162