SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended																	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 25, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Land and Other Inventory [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Homes Completed or Under Construction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Homes Completed or Under Construction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Homes Completed or Under Construction [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Homes Completed or Under Construction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Homes Completed or Under Construction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Homes Completed or Under Construction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Land Developed and or Held for Future Development or Sale [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Land Developed and or Held for Future Development or Sale [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Land Developed and or Held for Future Development or Sale [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Land Developed and or Held for Future Development or Sale [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Land Developed and or Held for Future Development or Sale [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Land Improvements [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Building and Building Improvements [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Machinery, Equipment and Fixtures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Land Improvements [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Building and Building Improvements [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Machinery, Equipment and Fixtures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Wells Fargo Deposit Account [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Land Escrow [Member]	Oct. 25, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member]	Oct. 25, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member] Arizona [Member] CantaMia [Member] Recreationcenters Houses Lots Acquisitionphases Unitsacquired	Dec. 31, 2011 JEN Transaction [Member] Arizona [Member] CantaMia [Member] Phase II [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member] Arizona [Member] CantaMia [Member] Phase III [Member]	Oct. 25, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member] Arizona [Member] Various Arizona Properties [Member] Lots Houses	Oct. 25, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member] Florida [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 JEN Transaction [Member] Florida [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member] Florida [Member]	Oct. 25, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member] Florida [Member] Note 1 [Member]	Oct. 25, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member] Florida [Member] Note 2 [Member]	Oct. 25, 2010 JEN Transaction [Member] Florida [Member] Sharpe Properties [Member] Lots Multifamilytracts Salescenters acre Commercialsites
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price																														$ 62,000
Contingent consideration, maximum earn-out																														8,000
Reimbursed expenditures																														3,600
Number of units acquired																															1,767
Number of acquisition phases																															3
Number of partially or fully developed lots																															593			16
Number of houses completed or under construction																															29			15
Number of recreation centers																															1
Number of sales centers																																								1
Number of undeveloped lots available under option																															1,138
Option purchase price																																6,000	3,600
Option purchase price paid																																	1,000
Number of developed lots available under option																																		99
Number of acres																																								445
Number of partially developed single-family and townhome lots																																								839
Number of multifamily tracts																																								1
Number of commercial sites																																								1
Size of commercial site (in acres)																																								2
Acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred																																			69,085
Consideration transferred, cash paid																																			33,600
Consideration transferred, restricted common stock																																			19,698
Consideration transferred, restricted common stock (in shares)																																			1,050,572
Term of Lock-up Agreement																																			2 years
Consideration transferred, notes																																			12,000
Note maturity term																																						1 year	2 years
Contingent consideration (earn-out)																																			4,149
Contingent consideration, maximum common stock earn-out (in shares)																																			420,168
Increase in earn-out liability																																					4,388
Fair value of earn-out																																				0
Legal and accounting expense incurred for the JEN Transaction																																					1,800
Estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed [Abstract]
Land and other inventories							57,824
Less: Net liabilities assumed							(5,954)
Net identifiable assets acquired							51,870
Goodwill							17,215
Net assets acquired							69,085
Revenues from operations related to the assets and properties acquired in the JEN Transaction																																				4,408
Losses from operations related to the assets and properties acquired in the JEN Transaction																																				1,025
Business combination, pro forma information [Abstract]
Total revenues						66,112
Net Loss						37,619
Percentage of indirect limited partnership interest owned by Chairman and BOD member in acquired affiliate																																					1.50%
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Closing proceeds from house closings held by the title insurance agency	554			554
Restricted cash and cash equivalents items [Line Items]
Restricted cash	4,682			4,682	7,872																							3,613
Escrow funds																													477
Income Tax Receivable [Abstract]
Income Taxes Receivable	1,293			1,293	1,293
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Discount rate used in the determination of fair value minimum (in hundredths)																				15.00%				28.00%
Impairment charges	51,679	3,784	3,428	59,043	129,947	660			95	807	152	581	1,635	1,527	43,925	2,977	2,847	49,749	107,981
Undiscounted cash flows limitations related to carry values (in hundredths)								25.00%
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives																					10 years	8 years	3 years		25 years	39 years	7 years
Impairment expense related to amenities due to sale	$ 0			$ 0	$ 0