Land and Other Inventories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Homes completed or under construction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Homes completed or under construction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Homes completed or under construction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Homes completed or under construction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Land developed and or held for future developement or sale [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Land developed and or held for future developement or sale [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Land developed and or held for future developement or sale [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Land developed and or held for future developement or sale [Member]
Land and Other Inventories [Abstract]
Discount rate used in the determination of fair value minimum (in hundredths)		15.00%
Discount rate used in the determination of fair value maximum (in hundredths)		28.00%
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment charges	$ 95,174		$ 109,271		$ 807	$ 486	$ 1,540	$ 1,483	$ 2,977	$ 94,688	$ 5,824	$ 107,778
Undiscounted cash flows limitations related to carry values (in hundredths)		25.00%
Build-out of our active adult and primary residential communities backlog minimum		5 years
Land developed and in process of development		82,903		91,964
Land held for future development or sale		68,859		64,773
Homes completed or under construction		28,555		23,134
Other		0		196
Total Land and other inventories		$ 180,317		$ 180,067