Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Revenue									$ 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
Equity in subsidiaries									0	0	0
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
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Revenue									0	0	0
Land and housing									0	0	0
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures									0	0	0
General and administrative									0	0	0
Selling									0	0	0
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									0	0	0
Interest									0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										0
Total costs and expenses									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									0	0	0
Provision (benefit) from income taxes									0	0	0
Equity in subsidiaries									(56,609)	(51,763)	(50,789)
Net income									(56,609)	(51,763)	(50,789)
Preferred dividends									0	0	0
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders									(56,609)	(51,763)	(50,789)
Parent Company [Member]
Revenue									0	0	0
Land and housing									0	0	0
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures									0	0	0
General and administrative									0	0	0
Selling									0	0	0
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									0	0	0
Interest									0	0	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										0
Total costs and expenses									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									0	0	0
Provision (benefit) from income taxes									0	0	0
Equity in subsidiaries									56,609	51,763	50,789
Net income									56,609	51,763	50,789
Preferred dividends									4,875	4,875	4,875
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders									51,734	46,888	45,914
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue									1,649,316	1,382,420	1,185,058
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									92,135	77,662	73,747
Selling									108,809	95,092	81,148
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									0	0	0
Interest									15,486	15,905	11,926
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										7,842
Total costs and expenses									1,578,605	1,314,802	1,129,269
Income before income taxes									70,711	67,618	55,789
Provision (benefit) from income taxes									28,161	28,758	14,341
Equity in subsidiaries									0	0	0
Net income									42,550	38,860	41,448
Preferred dividends									0	0	0
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders									42,550	38,860	41,448
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue									42,011	35,975	30,122
Land and housing									0	0	0
Impairment of inventory and investment in unconsolidated joint ventures									0	0	0
General and administrative									19,465	15,546	15,083
Selling									0	0	0
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									(640)	(498)	(347)
Interest									2,112	1,616	1,439
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										0
Total costs and expenses									20,937	16,664	16,175
Income before income taxes									21,074	19,311	13,947
Provision (benefit) from income taxes									7,015	6,408	4,606
Equity in subsidiaries									0	0	0
Net income									14,059	12,903	9,341
Preferred dividends									0	0	0
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders									$ 14,059	$ 12,903	$ 9,341