Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenue	$ 363,457	$ 330,767	$ 949,472	$ 847,216
Land and housing	285,416	261,636	744,194	666,817
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	622	0	1,426
General and administrative	23,651	21,724	64,690	61,320
Selling	24,270	21,955	64,891	58,175
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(36)	(22)	(248)	(62)
Interest	3,658	2,649	11,870	9,549
Total costs and expenses	336,959	308,564	885,397	797,225
Income before income taxes	26,498	22,203	64,075	49,991
Provision for income taxes	10,928	8,586	25,587	10,188
Equity In subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	15,570	13,617	38,488	39,803
Preferred Dividends	1,218	1,218	3,656	3,656
Net income to common shareholders	14,352	12,399	34,832	36,147
Parent [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Land and housing	0	0	0	0
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		0		0
General and administrative	0	0	0	0
Selling	0	0	0	0
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	0	0
Interest	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Equity In subsidiaries	15,570	13,617	38,488	39,803
Net income	15,570	13,617	38,488	39,803
Preferred Dividends	1,218	1,218	3,656	3,656
Net income to common shareholders	14,352	12,399	34,832	36,147
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	354,181	323,187	923,164	825,301
Land and housing	285,416	261,636	744,194	666,817
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		622		1,426
General and administrative	19,080	17,811	53,334	51,159
Selling	24,270	21,955	64,891	58,175
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	0	0
Interest	3,246	2,248	10,732	8,530
Total costs and expenses	332,012	304,272	873,151	786,107
Income before income taxes	22,169	18,915	50,013	39,194
Provision for income taxes	9,531	7,428	20,690	5,991
Equity In subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	12,638	11,487	29,323	33,203
Preferred Dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income to common shareholders	12,638	11,487	29,323	33,203
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	9,276	7,580	26,308	21,915
Land and housing	0	$ 0	0	0
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures				0
General and administrative	4,571	$ 3,913	11,356	10,161
Selling	0	0	0	0
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(36)	(22)	(248)	(62)
Interest	412	401	1,138	1,019
Total costs and expenses	4,947	4,292	12,246	11,118
Income before income taxes	4,329	3,288	14,062	10,797
Provision for income taxes	1,397	1,158	4,897	4,197
Equity In subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	2,932	2,130	9,165	6,600
Preferred Dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income to common shareholders	2,932	2,130	9,165	6,600
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Land and housing	0	0	0	0
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		0		0
General and administrative	0	0	0	0
Selling	0	0	0	0
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	0	0
Interest	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Equity In subsidiaries	(15,570)	(13,617)	(38,488)	(39,803)
Net income	(15,570)	(13,617)	(38,488)	(39,803)
Preferred Dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income to common shareholders	$ (15,570)	$ (13,617)	$ (38,488)	$ (39,803)