Note 3 - Segment Reporting - Reconciliation of Pretax Operating Income From Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income before income taxes		$ 67,420	$ 89,680	$ 194,568	$ 177,934
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Income before income taxes		52,983	80,169	155,781	145,683
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Income before income taxes	[1]	(14,432)	41,484	(41,270)	20,262
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, West [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Income before income taxes		28,947	17,746	91,028	54,335
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, Mountain [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Income before income taxes		34,697	18,326	94,736	61,097
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Segment, East [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Income before income taxes		3,771	2,613	11,287	9,989
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Income before income taxes		14,437	9,511	38,787	32,251
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Mortgage Operations [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Income before income taxes		6,702	5,857	23,262	21,093
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Other Financial Services [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Income before income taxes		$ 7,735	$ 3,654	$ 15,525	$ 11,158

[1] The pretax gain for the year ended December 31, 2017 was driven by $53.6 million in realized gains due to the sales of investments.