Business Segments Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 208,875	$ 141,624	$ 510,994	$ 389,638
Operating Income (Loss)	12,451	(1,451)	19,443	(19,946)
Interest	3,999	3,384	12,066	10,884
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,452	(4,835)	7,377	(30,830)
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	79,015	58,941	198,994	168,291
Operating Income (Loss)	3,940	1,364	9,012	(6,925)
Interest	1,243	1,291	4,181	4,612
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	50,828	35,281	123,400	84,117
Operating Income (Loss)	6,144	(203)	9,837	(6,895)
Interest	999	768	2,543	1,965
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	72,649	44,530	172,977	127,863
Operating Income (Loss)	5,787	1,909	9,496	4,959
Interest	1,342	1,122	4,248	3,663
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial services revenue	6,383	2,872	15,623	9,367
Operating Income (Loss)	3,960	969	8,606	4,203
Interest	415	203	1,094	644
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$ (7,380)	$ (5,490)	$ (17,508)	$ (15,288)