Business Segments Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 281,608	$ 234,553	$ 516,449	$ 425,280
Operating Income (Loss)	18,055	11,792	34,648	21,018
Interest	2,730	4,397	6,900	8,737
Equity in loss (income) of unconsolidated joint ventures	22	0	(40)	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	15,303	7,395	27,788	12,281
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	85,549	79,498	165,153	140,201
Operating Income (Loss)	6,726	4,381	13,969	6,582
Interest	492	1,356	1,761	2,830
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	101,122	68,946	181,322	119,906
Operating Income (Loss)	8,649	3,858	14,526	6,949
Interest	1,368	1,800	2,959	3,104
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	88,467	78,857	155,639	149,511
Operating Income (Loss)	7,584	6,184	12,377	10,529
Interest	568	906	1,563	2,149
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial services revenue	6,470	7,252	14,335	15,662
Operating Income (Loss)	3,374	4,169	8,400	9,625
Interest	302	335	617	654
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$ (8,278)	$ (6,800)	$ (14,624)	$ (12,667)

The aggregate financial services revenue and operating interest income earned during the reporting period.

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- Definition

Revenue related to the sale of homes and home building activities including design, development, general contracting, and renovation services for residential buildings, including single-family houses, multifamily housing, townhouses, apartments, and modular housing.

+ References

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- Definition

The portion of earnings or loss from continuing operations before income taxes that is attributable to domestic operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

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- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

-Article 5

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

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- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 9

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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- Definition

The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)

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