Business Segments Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 322,856	$ 281,608	$ 586,015	$ 516,449
Operating Income (Loss)	25,621	18,055	45,577	34,648
Interest	3,750	2,730	8,212	6,900
Equity in loss (income) of unconsolidated joint ventures	(14)	22	(212)	(40)
Income before income taxes	21,885	15,303	37,577	27,788
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	804	0	804
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	118,141	85,549	203,358	165,153
Operating Income (Loss)	12,219	6,726	20,015	13,969
Interest	563	492	1,887	1,761
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	105,399	101,122	203,954	181,322
Operating Income (Loss)	7,970	8,649	16,561	14,526
Interest	1,762	1,368	3,536	2,959
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Homebuilding revenue	90,382	88,467	161,671	155,639
Operating Income (Loss)	8,266	7,584	13,026	12,377
Interest	1,030	568	2,063	1,563
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial services revenue	8,934	6,470	17,032	14,335
Operating Income (Loss)	5,245	3,374	10,569	8,400
Interest	395	302	726	617
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$ (8,079)	$ (8,278)	$ (14,594)	$ (14,624)