Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 336,307	$ 275,195	$ 234,553	$ 190,727	$ 250,911	$ 208,875	$ 170,994	$ 131,125	$ 1,036,782	$ 761,905	$ 566,424
Land and housing									824,508	610,540	467,130
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures									5,805	3,502	21,993
General and administrative									79,494	62,627	52,664
Selling									68,282	56,406	43,534
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									(306)	0	0
Interest									15,938	16,071	15,005
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt									1,726	0	0
Total costs and expenses									995,447	749,146	600,326
Income (loss) before income taxes									41,335	12,759	(33,902)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(110,088)	(588)	(25)
Net income (loss)	13,043	124,092	6,045	2,397	5,015	8,314	3,204	(3,186)	151,423	13,347	(33,877)
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact									3,656	0	0
Excess of fair value over book value of preferred shares redeemed									2,190	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic									$ 145,577	$ 13,347	$ (33,877)
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic	$ 0.54	$ 5.09	$ 0.25	$ 0.11	$ 0.23	$ 0.43	$ 0.17	$ (0.17)	$ 6.11	$ 0.68	$ (1.81)
Diluted	$ 0.48	$ 4.22	$ 0.25	$ 0.11	$ 0.23	$ 0.42	$ 0.17	$ (0.17)	$ 5.24	$ 0.67	$ (1.81)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	24,358	24,358	24,271	22,273	21,545	19,434	18,833	18,772	23,822	19,651	18,698
Diluted	29,783	29,745	24,646	22,688	21,961	20,273	19,031	18,772	28,763	19,891	18,698