Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Segments [Abstract]
Other assets	$ 62,926	$ 46,142
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	29,856	23,710
Inventory	1,186,078	1,088,332
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	28,016	36,967
Other Combined Assets	304,561	266,545
TOTAL ASSETS	1,548,511	1,415,554
Payments for Flight Equipment	9,900
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	3,989	3,379
Inventory	399,814	368,748
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	10,155	5,976
Other Combined Assets	25,747	10,018
TOTAL ASSETS	439,705	388,121
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	22,607	16,128
Inventory	484,038	416,443
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	10,630	30,991
Other Combined Assets	35,622	23,704
TOTAL ASSETS	552,897	487,266
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Land purchase deposits	3,260	4,203
Inventory	302,226	303,141
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	7,231	0
Other Combined Assets	13,912	7,253
TOTAL ASSETS	326,629	314,597
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	229,280	225,570
TOTAL ASSETS	$ 229,280	$ 225,570