Business Segments Business Segments - Valuation Adjustments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Total valuation adjustments and write-offs	$ 0	$ 900
Impairment of Operating Communities [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Operating Communities	0	0
Impairment of Operating Communities [Member] | Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Operating Communities	0	0
Impairment of Operating Communities [Member] | Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Operating Communities	0	0
Impairment of Operating Communities [Member] | Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Operating Communities	0	0
Impairment of Future Communities [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Future Communities	0	252
Impairment of Future Communities [Member] | Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Future Communities	0	252
Impairment of Future Communities [Member] | Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Future Communities	0	0
Impairment of Future Communities [Member] | Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Future Communities	0	0
Impairment of Land Held for Sale [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Land With Intend To Sell Or Has Sold To Third Parties	0	648
Impairment of Land Held for Sale [Member] | Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Land With Intend To Sell Or Has Sold To Third Parties	0	648
Impairment of Land Held for Sale [Member] | Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Land With Intend To Sell Or Has Sold To Third Parties	0	0
Impairment of Land Held for Sale [Member] | Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Land With Intend To Sell Or Has Sold To Third Parties	0	0
Option Deposits and Pre-Acquisition Write-Offs [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Write Offs Of Option Deposits And Preacquisition Costs	0	0
Option Deposits and Pre-Acquisition Write-Offs [Member] | Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Write Offs Of Option Deposits And Preacquisition Costs	0	0
Option Deposits and Pre-Acquisition Write-Offs [Member] | Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Write Offs Of Option Deposits And Preacquisition Costs	0	0
Option Deposits and Pre-Acquisition Write-Offs [Member] | Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Write Offs Of Option Deposits And Preacquisition Costs	0	0
Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Investments In Unconsolidated Entities	0	0
Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs [Member] | Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Investments In Unconsolidated Entities	0	0
Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs [Member] | Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Investments In Unconsolidated Entities	0	0
Impairment of Investments in Unconsolidated LLCs [Member] | Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Investments In Unconsolidated Entities	$ 0	$ 0