Note 19 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 180,288	$ 153,825	$ 130,031	$ 199,338
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	774,069	732,692
Land and land under development	898,398	935,268
Total inventories	1,672,467	1,667,960
Deferred tax asset	136,900	153,500
Total Assets	2,351,936	2,358,438
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	1,115,711	1,130,102
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	1,236,225	1,228,336
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	2,351,936	2,358,438
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	148,226	122,642
Marketable securities	123,105	140,878
Restricted cash	4,944	2,816
Trade Receivables	27,120	28,555
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	774,069	732,692
Land and land under development	898,398	935,268
Total inventories	1,672,467	1,667,960
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)	22,259	18,203
Deferred tax asset	123,519	140,486
Other assets, net	97,803	98,487
Total Assets	2,219,443	2,220,027
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	33,956	35,445
Accrued liabilities	116,034	115,117
Revolving credit facility	15,000	15,000
Senior notes, net	846,752	846,450
Total Liabilities	1,011,742	1,012,012
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	32,062	31,183
Marketable securities	14,438	15,262
Inventories:
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	79,728	88,392
Other assets, net	6,265	3,574
Total Assets	132,493	138,411
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	53,969	57,268
Mortgage repurchase facility	50,000	60,822
Total Liabilities	103,969	118,090
MDC Holdings [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	145,214	119,951	97,014	145,180
Inventories:
Total Assets	2,174,163	2,144,456
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	937,938	916,120
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	1,236,225	1,228,336
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	2,174,163	2,144,456
MDC Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	145,214	119,951
Marketable securities	123,105	140,878
Trade Receivables	5,455	6,573
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	1,497,794	1,418,705
Investment in subsidiaries	220,845	260,874
Metropolitan district bond securities (related party)	22,259	18,203
Deferred tax asset	121,457	137,529
Other assets, net	38,034	41,743
Total Assets	2,174,163	2,144,456
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities	29,101	7,007
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	47,085	47,663
Revolving credit facility	15,000	15,000
Senior notes, net	846,752	846,450
Total Liabilities	937,938	916,120
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,012	2,691	3,136	3,454
Inventories:
Total Assets	1,767,063	1,757,514
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	1,584,320	1,533,085
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	182,743	224,429
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	1,767,063	1,757,514
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,012	2,691
Restricted cash	4,944	2,816
Trade Receivables	24,016	24,449
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	774,069	732,692
Land and land under development	898,398	935,268
Total inventories	1,672,467	1,667,960
Intercompany receivables	2,855	2,854
Other assets, net	59,769	56,744
Total Assets	1,767,063	1,757,514
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable	33,956	35,445
Accrued liabilities	85,836	105,529
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	1,464,528	1,392,111
Total Liabilities	1,584,320	1,533,085
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	32,062	31,183	$ 29,881	$ 50,704
Inventories:
Total Assets	178,785	186,176
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	140,683	149,731
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	38,102	36,445
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	178,785	186,176
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	5,645	5,295
Total Assets	5,645	5,295
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities	19	67
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	25,421	23,809
Total Liabilities	25,440	23,876
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cash and cash equivalents	32,062	31,183
Marketable securities	14,438	15,262
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	38,585	39,513
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	79,728	88,392
Other assets, net	8,327	6,531
Total Assets	173,140	180,881
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	57,398	62,249
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	7,845	2,784
Mortgage repurchase facility	50,000	60,822
Total Liabilities	115,243	125,855
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Inventories:
Total Assets	(1,768,075)	(1,729,708)
Homebuilding:
Total Liabilities	(1,547,230)	(1,468,834)
Equity:
Total Stockholder’s Equity	(220,845)	(260,874)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	(1,768,075)	(1,729,708)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Trade Receivables	(2,351)	(2,467)
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(1,506,294)	(1,426,854)
Investment in subsidiaries	(220,845)	(260,874)
Deferred tax asset	2,062	2,957
Total Assets	(1,727,428)	(1,687,238)
Homebuilding:
Accrued liabilities	1,078	2,514
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(1,537,034)	(1,463,583)
Total Liabilities	(1,535,956)	(1,461,069)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(38,585)	(39,513)
Other assets, net	(2,062)	(2,957)
Total Assets	(40,647)	(42,470)
Homebuilding:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(3,429)	(4,981)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(7,845)	(2,784)
Total Liabilities	$ (11,274)	$ (7,765)