Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 523,246	$ 442,464	$ 401,247	$ 324,370	$ 468,923	$ 363,457	$ 322,856	$ 263,159	$ 1,691,327	$ 1,418,395	$ 1,215,180
Land and housing									1,358,183	1,114,663	958,991
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures									3,992	3,638	3,457
General and administrative									111,600	93,208	88,830
Selling									108,809	95,092	81,148
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									(640)	(498)	(347)
Interest									17,598	17,521	13,365
Loss on early extinguishment of debt									0	7,842	0
Total costs and expenses									1,599,542	1,331,466	1,145,444
Income before income taxes									91,785	86,929	69,736
Provision (benefit) from income taxes									35,176	35,166	18,947
Net income									56,609	51,763	50,789
Preferred dividends									4,875	4,875	4,875
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders	$ 19,343	$ 9,724	$ 14,697	$ 7,970	$ 12,056	$ 14,352	$ 12,131	$ 8,349	$ 51,734	$ 46,888	$ 45,914
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$ 0.78	$ 0.39	$ 0.60	$ 0.32	$ 0.49	$ 0.58	$ 0.49	$ 0.34	$ 2.10	$ 1.91	$ 1.88
Diluted	$ 0.67	$ 0.35	$ 0.52	$ 0.30	$ 0.43	$ 0.51	$ 0.43	$ 0.31	$ 1.84	$ 1.68	$ 1.65
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	24,671	24,669	24,669	24,657	24,649	24,605	24,531	24,514	24,666	24,575	24,463
Diluted	30,166	30,139	30,077	30,032	30,107	30,067	30,023	29,975	30,116	30,047	29,912