Segment Information - Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	$ 203,560	$ 201,194	$ 355,568	$ 356,742
Expenses
Real estate expenses	168,368	166,346	294,820	294,523
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	28,718	27,014	54,233	49,385
Segment operating income (loss)	4,043	1,469	962	5,637
Unallocated income (expenses):
Interest income and other	581	253	850	258
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(2,933)	0	(2,933)
Interest expense	(3,012)	(3,685)	(6,403)	(4,522)
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,043	1,469	962	5,637
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,044)	(822)	(306)	(2,551)
Net income (loss)	2,999	647	656	3,086
Operating Segments
Expenses
Segment operating income (loss)	11,483	12,820	16,268	22,499
Unallocated income (expenses):
Income (loss) before income taxes	11,483	12,820	16,268	22,499
Corporate, Non-Segment
Unallocated income (expenses):
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(5,009)	(4,986)	(9,753)	(9,665)
Homebuilding
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	198,656	196,884	343,801	345,544
Expenses
Real estate expenses	164,055	162,600	285,032	285,465
Amenity and other
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	4,289	4,125	9,107	8,762
Expenses
Real estate expenses	4,106	3,566	9,350	7,896
Land sales
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	615	185	2,660	2,436
Expenses
Real estate expenses	207	180	438	1,162
Florida | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	79,044	83,237	144,010	159,830
Expenses
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	9,313	9,106	18,415	18,404
Segment operating income (loss)	6,896	7,943	12,230	14,741
Unallocated income (expenses):
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,896	7,943	12,230	14,741
Florida | Homebuilding | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	74,140	79,112	132,243	149,599
Expenses
Real estate expenses	58,540	62,640	103,617	118,634
Florida | Amenity and other | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	4,289	4,125	9,107	8,762
Expenses
Real estate expenses	4,088	3,548	9,310	7,855
Florida | Land sales | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	615		2,660	1,469
Expenses
Real estate expenses	207		438	196
Carolinas | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	76,119	82,517	130,023	130,144
Expenses
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	8,173	9,140	15,130	14,163
Segment operating income (loss)	2,476	3,329	1,260	5,014
Unallocated income (expenses):
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,476	3,329	1,260	5,014
Carolinas | Homebuilding | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	76,119	82,517	130,023	129,362
Expenses
Real estate expenses	65,470	70,048	113,633	110,181
Carolinas | Land sales | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues			0	782
Expenses
Real estate expenses			0	786
Arizona | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	39,736	35,440	64,982	66,768
Expenses
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	4,269	3,782	7,394	7,153
Segment operating income (loss)	2,751	1,548	3,716	2,744
Unallocated income (expenses):
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,751	1,548	3,716	2,744
Arizona | Homebuilding | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	39,736	35,255	64,982	66,583
Expenses
Real estate expenses	32,698	29,912	53,832	56,650
Arizona | Amenity and other | Operating Segments
Expenses
Real estate expenses	18	18	40	41
Arizona | Land sales | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues		185	0	185
Expenses
Real estate expenses		$ 180	0	$ 180
Texas | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	8,661		16,553
Expenses
Homebuilding selling, general and administrative	1,954		3,541
Segment operating income (loss)	(640)		(938)
Unallocated income (expenses):
Income (loss) before income taxes	(640)		(938)
Texas | Homebuilding | Operating Segments
Operating income (loss):
Revenues	8,661		16,553
Expenses
Real estate expenses	$ 7,347		$ 13,950