Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

		Fair Value
Financial Instrument	Hierarchy	June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
Marketable securities (available-for-sale)
Equity securities	Level 1	$	465,115	$	389,323
Debt securities - maturity less than 1 year	Level 2		2,079		72,577
Debt securities - maturity 1 to 5 years	Level 2		21,723		106,566
Debt securities - maturity greater than 5 years	Level 2		16,971		19,601
Total available-for-sale securities		$	505,888	$	588,067
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	Level 2	$	58,377	$	92,578
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party) (available-for-sale)	Level 3	$	14,291	$	12,729

Available-for-sale Securities [Table Text Block]

	June 30, 2014				December 31, 2013
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Homebuilding:
Equity securities	$	453,152	$	460,925	$	375,142	$	385,303
Debt securities		31,051		31,573		181,635		183,718
Total homebuilding available-for-sale securities	$	484,203	$	492,498	$	556,777	$	569,021
Financial Services:
Equity securities	$	4,000	$	4,190	$	4,000	$	4,020
Debt securities		8,950		9,200		14,721		15,026
Total financial services available-for-sale debt securities	$	12,950	$	13,390	$	18,721	$	19,046
Total available-for-sale marketable securities	$	497,153	$	505,888	$	575,498	$	588,067

Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments [Table Text Block]

	June 30, 2014							December 31, 2013
	Number of Securities in Loss Position		Aggregate Loss Position			Aggregate Fair Value of Securities in a Loss Position		Number of Securities in Loss Position		Aggregate Loss Position			Aggregate Fair Value of Securities in a Loss Position
Type of Investment	(Dollars in thousands)
Debt		40	$	(221	)	$	12,509		72	$	(430	)	$	46,440
Equity		3		(480	)		108,403		7		(713	)		14,174
Total		43	$	(701	)	$	120,912		79	$	(1,143	)	$	60,614

Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2014			2013			2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
Gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities
Equity securities	$	-		$	216		$	5,518		$	216
Debt securities		100			128			1,920			260
Total	$	100		$	344		$	7,438		$	476
Gross realized losses on sales of available-for-sale securities
Equity securities	$	(467	)	$	-		$	(709	)	$	-
Debt securities		(182	)		(1,006	)		(373	)		(1,225	)
Total	$	(649	)	$	(1,006	)	$	(1,082	)	$	(1,225	)
Net realized gain (loss) on sales of available-for-sale securities	$	(549	)	$	(662	)	$	6,356		$	(749	)

Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block]

	Quantitative Data		Sensitivity Analysis
Unobservable Input	Range	Weighted Average	Movement in Fair Value from Increase in Input	Movement in Fair Value from Decrease in Input
Number of homes closed per year	0 to 120	93	Increase	Decrease
Discount rate	6% to 16%	11.9%	Decrease	Increase

Schedule Of Principal Amounts And Fair Values Of Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2014		2013		2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	13,027	$	5,818	$	12,729	$	5,818
Increase in fair value (recorded in other comprehensive income)		959		7,354		959		7,354
Change due to accretion of principal		305		663		603		663
Cash receipts		-		-		-		-
Balance at end of period	$	14,291	$	13,835	$	14,291	$	13,835

Fair Value Of Senior Notes Table [Text Block]

	June 30, 2014				December 31, 2013
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
5⅜% Senior Notes due December 2014, net	$	-	$	-	$	249,814	$	258,750
5⅜% Senior Notes due July 2015, net		249,956		259,850		249,935		262,562
5⅝% Senior Notes due February 2020, net		246,156		270,938		245,871		259,688
5½% Senior Notes due January 2024, net		250,000		258,250		-		-
6% Senior Notes due January 2043		350,000		329,613		350,000		305,083
Total	$	1,096,112	$	1,118,651	$	1,095,620	$	1,086,083