Business Segments Business Segments - Valuation Adjustments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Total valuation adjustments and write-offs	$ 622,000	$ 2,136,000	$ 1,426,000	$ 4,237,000
Impairment of Operating Communities [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Operating Communities	0	481,000	804,000	481,000
Impairment of Operating Communities [Member] | Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Operating Communities	0	481,000	804,000	481,000
Impairment of Operating Communities [Member] | Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Operating Communities	0	0	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	0	0
Impairment of Future Communities [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Future Communities	622,000	1,655,000	622,000	2,465,000
Impairment of Future Communities [Member] | Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Future Communities	622,000	1,655,000	622,000	2,465,000
Impairment of Future Communities [Member] | Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Valuation Adjustments To Future Communities	0	0	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	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	0	0	1,291,000
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	0	0	1,291,000
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	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	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	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	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	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	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	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	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	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	$ 0	$ 0