Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information - Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 145,498	$ 59,793	$ 59,793	$ 81,208	$ 109,930
Restricted cash	8,680	41,334
Mortgage loans held for sale	71,121	57,275
Inventory	556,817	466,772
Property and equipment - net	10,439	14,358
Investment in Unconsolidated LLCs	11,732	10,357
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	0	0
Other assets	27,013	14,596
TOTAL ASSETS	831,300	664,485
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	47,690	41,256
Customer deposits	10,239	4,181
Other liabilities	49,972	39,348
Community development district (CDD) obligations	4,634	5,983
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	19,105	2,944
Note payable bank - financial services operations	67,957	52,606
Notes payable - other	11,105	5,801
Convertible senior subordinated notes	57,500	0
Senior notes	227,670	239,016
TOTAL LIABILITIES	495,872	391,135
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	335,428	273,350
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	831,300	664,485
Parent [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
Inventory	0	0
Property and equipment - net	0	0
Investment in Unconsolidated LLCs	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	391,555	381,709
Intercompany	219,962	125,272
Other assets	9,081	5,385
TOTAL ASSETS	620,598	512,366
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	0	0
Customer deposits	0	0
Other liabilities	0	0
Community development district (CDD) obligations	0	0
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	0	0
Note payable bank - financial services operations	0	0
Notes payable - other	0	0
Convertible senior subordinated notes	57,500
Senior notes	227,670	239,016
TOTAL LIABILITIES	285,170	239,016
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	335,428	273,350
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	620,598	512,366
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	126,334	43,539	43,539	71,874	96,464
Restricted cash	8,680	41,334
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
Inventory	540,761	466,772
Property and equipment - net	10,314	14,241
Investment in Unconsolidated LLCs	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	(205,389)	(115,058)
Other assets	12,375	8,455
TOTAL ASSETS	493,075	459,283
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	46,882	40,759
Customer deposits	10,239	4,181
Other liabilities	44,230	33,589
Community development district (CDD) obligations	4,634	5,983
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	3,549	2,944
Note payable bank - financial services operations	0	0
Notes payable - other	11,105	5,801
Convertible senior subordinated notes	0
Senior notes	0	0
TOTAL LIABILITIES	120,639	93,257
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	372,436	366,026
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	493,075	459,283
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	19,164	16,254	16,254	9,334	13,466
Restricted cash	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale	71,121	57,275
Inventory	16,056	0
Property and equipment - net	125	117
Investment in Unconsolidated LLCs	11,732	10,357
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	(14,573)	(10,214)
Other assets	5,557	756
TOTAL ASSETS	109,182	74,545
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	808	497
Customer deposits	0	0
Other liabilities	5,742	5,759
Community development district (CDD) obligations	0	0
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	15,556	0
Note payable bank - financial services operations	67,957	52,606
Notes payable - other	0	0
Convertible senior subordinated notes	0
Senior notes	0	0
TOTAL LIABILITIES	90,063	58,862
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	19,119	15,683
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	109,182	74,545
Corporate Elimination [Member]
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
Inventory	0	0
Property and equipment - net	0	0
Investment in Unconsolidated LLCs	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(391,555)	(381,709)
Intercompany	0	0
Other assets	0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	(391,555)	(381,709)
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	0	0
Customer deposits	0	0
Other liabilities	0	0
Community development district (CDD) obligations	0	0
Obligation for consolidated inventory not owned	0	0
Note payable bank - financial services operations	0	0
Notes payable - other	0	0
Convertible senior subordinated notes	0
Senior notes	0	0
TOTAL LIABILITIES	0	0
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	(391,555)	(381,709)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$ (391,555)	$ (381,709)