Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 367,964	$ 330,767	$ 281,608	$ 234,841	$ 336,307	$ 275,195	$ 234,553	$ 190,727	$ 1,215,180	$ 1,036,782	$ 761,905
Land and housing									958,991	824,508	610,540
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures									3,457	5,805	3,502
General and administrative									88,830	79,494	62,627
Selling									81,148	68,282	56,406
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									(347)	(306)	0
Interest									13,365	15,938	16,071
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt									0	1,726	0
Total costs and expenses									1,145,444	995,447	749,146
Income (loss) before income taxes									69,736	41,335	12,759
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									18,947	(110,088)	(588)
Net income (loss)									50,789	151,423	13,347
Preferred Stock Dividends									4,875	3,656	0
Excess of fair value over book value of preferred shares redeemed									0	2,190	0
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders	$ 9,767	$ 12,399	$ 12,335	$ 11,413	$ 13,043	$ 124,092	$ 6,045	$ 2,397	$ 45,914	$ 145,577	$ 13,347
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic	$ 0.40	$ 0.51	$ 0.50	$ 0.47	$ 0.54	$ 5.09	$ 0.25	$ 0.11	$ 1.88	$ 6.11	$ 0.68
Diluted	$ 0.36	$ 0.44	$ 0.44	$ 0.41	$ 0.48	$ 4.22	$ 0.25	$ 0.11	$ 1.65	$ 5.24	$ 0.67
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	24,489	24,474	24,470	24,417	24,358	24,358	24,271	22,273	24,463	23,822	19,651
Diluted	29,944	29,921	29,913	29,870	29,783	29,745	24,646	22,688	29,912	28,763	19,891