Business Segments Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments	13us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Revenue	$ 1,215,180us-gaap_Revenues	$ 1,036,782us-gaap_Revenues	$ 761,905us-gaap_Revenues
Operating income (loss):	82,754us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	58,693us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	28,830us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest	13,365us-gaap_InterestExpense	15,938us-gaap_InterestExpense	16,071us-gaap_InterestExpense
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(347)	(306)	0
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	1,726	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	69,736	41,335	12,759
Depreciation and amortization:	8,296	8,311	9,742
Total valuation adjustments and write-offs	3,457	5,800	3,758
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	426,090	336,242	281,959
Operating income (loss):	37,484	21,469	11,443
Interest	3,001	4,923	5,502
Depreciation and amortization:	1,277	1,063	2,834
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	420,901	324,436	189,714
Operating income (loss):	34,341	23,653	14,530
Interest	5,445	6,142	3,742
Depreciation and amortization:	1,584	1,230	968
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	338,067	347,565	266,976
Operating income (loss):	27,502	27,297	15,130
Interest	3,480	3,491	5,406
Depreciation and amortization:	970	995	975
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial services revenue	30,122	28,539	23,256
Operating income (loss):	15,616	15,798	12,436
Interest	1,439	1,382	1,421
Depreciation and amortization:	201	138	140
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Less: Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses	(32,189)	(29,524)	(24,709)
Depreciation and amortization:	$ 4,264	$ 4,885	$ 4,825

Total valuation adjustments and write-offs recorded during the period.

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

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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.

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

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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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