Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Segments [Abstract]
Other assets	$ 46,142	$ 37,699
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	23,710	23,495
Inventory	1,088,332	895,094
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	36,967	27,769
Other Combined Assets	266,545	258,881
TOTAL ASSETS	1,415,554	1,205,239
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	3,379	4,573
Inventory	368,748	303,037
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,976	1,764
Other Combined Assets	10,018	7,933
TOTAL ASSETS	388,121	317,307
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	16,128	14,752
Inventory	416,443	331,938
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	30,991	26,005
Other Combined Assets	23,704	16,829
TOTAL ASSETS	487,266	389,524
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	4,203	4,170
Inventory	303,141	260,119
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0
Other Combined Assets	7,253	7,536
TOTAL ASSETS	314,597	271,825
Corporate, Financial Services and Unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	0	0
Inventory	0	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0
Other Combined Assets	225,570	226,583
TOTAL ASSETS	225,570	226,583
Scenario, Adjustment [Member]
Business Segments [Abstract]
Other assets	$ (7,800)	(6,171)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
TOTAL ASSETS		$ (6,171)