Note 21 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Inventory impairments	$ 0	$ (610)	$ (200)	$ (550)	$ (610)	$ (750)
Pretax income (loss)	74,331		76,616		129,937	127,148
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(19,738)		(12,717)		(34,794)	(24,485)
Net income	54,593	$ 40,550	63,899	$ 38,764	95,143	102,663
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income	54,593		63,899		95,143	102,663
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Revenues	732,844		749,608		1,380,122	1,357,296
Cost of sales	(590,172)		(606,403)		(1,114,724)	1,103,035
Inventory impairments	0		(200)		(610)	(750)
Gross margin	142,672		143,005		264,788	253,511
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(82,712)		(81,571)		(164,973)	(152,912)
Equity income of subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
Interest and other income	2,764		1,774		5,155	3,633
Other expense	(1,110)		(871)		(2,301)	(1,434)
Pretax income (loss)	61,614		62,337		102,669	102,798
Home and land cost of sales	590,172		606,403		1,114,724	(1,103,035)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			0			0
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Revenues	18,597		21,372		36,001	40,407
Pretax income (loss)	12,717		14,279		27,268	24,350
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	51,998		60,513		89,141	96,654
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	2,595		3,386		6,002	6,009
Net income	54,593		63,899		95,143	102,663
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income	54,593		63,899		95,143	102,663
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	73,461		77,689		129,833	129,614
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(19,502)		(12,867)		(34,766)	(24,959)
Net income	53,959		64,822		95,067	104,655
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income	53,959		64,822		95,067	104,655
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	12,271		13,755		26,527	23,390
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(2,831)		(3,236)		(6,030)	(5,535)
Net income	9,440		10,519		20,497	17,855
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income	9,440		10,519		20,497	17,855
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Revenues	0		0		0	0
Cost of sales	0		0		0	0
Inventory impairments	0		0		0	0
Gross margin	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(14,128)		(16,619)		(31,566)	(29,427)
Equity income of subsidiaries	63,399		75,341		115,564	122,510
Interest and other income	2,719		1,783		5,128	3,556
Other expense	8		8		15	15
Pretax income (loss)	51,998		60,513		89,141	96,654
Home and land cost of sales	(0)		(0)		(0)	0
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			0			0
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues	732,844		749,608		1,380,122	1,357,296
Cost of sales	(590,172)		(606,403)		(1,114,724)	1,103,035
Inventory impairments	0		(200)		(610)	(750)
Gross margin	142,672		143,005		264,788	253,511
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(68,459)		(64,729)		(133,160)	(123,058)
Equity income of subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
Interest and other income	366		292		521	610
Other expense	(1,118)		(879)		(2,316)	(1,449)
Pretax income (loss)	73,461		77,689		129,833	129,614
Home and land cost of sales	590,172		606,403		1,114,724	(1,103,035)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			0			0
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues	0		0		0	0
Cost of sales	0		0		0	0
Inventory impairments	0		0		0	0
Gross margin	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	0		0		0	0
Equity income of subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
Interest and other income	0		2		0	4
Other expense	0		0		0	0
Pretax income (loss)	0		2		0	4
Home and land cost of sales	(0)		(0)		(0)	0
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			0			0
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	0		0		0	0
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	0		0		0	0
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	12,271		13,753		26,527	23,386
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	(63,399)		(75,341)		(115,564)	(122,510)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	0		0		0	0
Net income	(63,399)		(75,341)		(115,564)	(122,510)
Other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities, net of tax	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income	(63,399)		(75,341)		(115,564)	(122,510)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Revenues	0		0		0	0
Cost of sales	0		0		0	0
Inventory impairments	0		0		0	0
Gross margin	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(125)		(223)		(247)	(427)
Equity income of subsidiaries	(63,399)		(75,341)		(115,564)	(122,510)
Interest and other income	(321)		(303)		(494)	(537)
Other expense	0		0		0	0
Pretax income (loss)	(63,845)		(75,867)		(116,305)	(123,474)
Home and land cost of sales	(0)		(0)		(0)	0
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities			0			0
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member]
Pretax income (loss)	$ 446		$ 526		$ 741	$ 964