Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenue	$ 401,247	$ 322,856	$ 725,617	$ 586,015
Land and housing	319,708	252,595	579,880	458,778
General and administrative	26,830	21,705	49,089	41,039
Selling	25,533	22,935	47,799	40,621
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(82)	(14)	(389)	(212)
Interest	4,308	3,750	9,573	8,212
Total costs and expenses	376,297	300,971	685,952	548,438
Income before income taxes	24,950	21,885	39,665	37,577
Provision for income taxes	9,034	8,535	14,560	14,659
Equity In subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	15,916	13,350	25,105	22,918
Preferred Dividends	1,219	1,219	2,438	2,438
Net income to common shareholders	14,697	12,131	22,667	20,480
Parent [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Land and housing	0	0	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	15,916	13,350	25,105	22,918
Net income	15,916	13,350	25,105	22,918
Preferred Dividends	1,219	1,219	2,438	2,438
Net income to common shareholders	14,697	12,131	22,667	20,480
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	391,297	313,921	705,614	568,983
Land and housing	319,708	252,595	579,880	458,778
General and administrative	22,085	17,868	40,387	34,254
Selling	25,533	22,935	47,799	40,621
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	0	0
Interest	3,798	3,355	8,679	7,486
Total costs and expenses	371,124	296,753	676,745	541,139
Income before income taxes	20,173	17,168	28,869	27,844
Provision for income taxes	7,442	6,767	10,886	11,159
Equity In subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	12,731	10,401	17,983	16,685
Preferred Dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income to common shareholders	12,731	10,401	17,983	16,685
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	9,950	8,935	20,003	17,032
Land and housing	0	0	0	0
General and administrative	4,745	3,837	8,702	6,785
Selling	0	0	0	0
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures	(82)	(14)	(389)	(212)
Interest	510	395	894	726
Total costs and expenses	5,173	4,218	9,207	7,299
Income before income taxes	4,777	4,717	10,796	9,733
Provision for income taxes	1,592	1,768	3,674	3,500
Equity In subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income	3,185	2,949	7,122	6,233
Preferred Dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income to common shareholders	3,185	2,949	7,122	6,233
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Land and housing	0	0	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	(15,916)	(13,350)	(25,105)	(22,918)
Net income	(15,916)	(13,350)	(25,105)	(22,918)
Preferred Dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income to common shareholders	$ (15,916)	$ (13,350)	$ (25,105)	$ (22,918)