Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information - Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 34,197	$ (82,365)	$ (132,504)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	(13,106)	(3,659)	(2,946)
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	0	(23,950)	0
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights	0	3,065	2,135
Intercompany Investing	0	0	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(21,746)	(18,162)	(20,415)
Return of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	3,207	1,226	1,523
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(31,645)	(41,480)	(19,703)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Repayment of senior notes		(226,874)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		300,000
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	351,500	417,300	192,600
Repayment of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	(355,000)	(403,500)	(162,600)
Net proceeds from bank borrowings - financial services operations	29,247	38,269	5,350
Principal proceeds from note payable - other and community development district bond obligations	(2,026)	(1,077)	1,728
Redemption of preferred shares			(50,352)
Dividends paid on preferred shares	(4,875)	(4,875)	(4,875)
Intercompany financing	0	0	0
Debt issue costs	(240)	(5,818)	(2,081)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	182	1,035	1,944
Excess tax deficiency from stock-based payment arrangements	0	0		$ 0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	18,788	114,460	32,066
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	21,340	(9,385)	(120,141)
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	13,101	22,486	142,627
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	34,441	13,101	22,486	142,627
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(11,653)	(7,178)	(10,200)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	0	0	0
Acquisition, net of cash acquired		0
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights		0	0
Intercompany Investing	6,960	3,338	(7,269)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	0
Return of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	6,960	3,338	7,269
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Repayment of senior notes		0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		0
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0	0
Repayment of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0	0
Net proceeds from bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0	0
Principal proceeds from note payable - other and community development district bond obligations	0	0	0
Dividends paid on preferred shares	11,653	7,178	10,200
Intercompany financing	991	(11,289)	(7,269)
Debt issue costs	0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	12,644	(4,111)	2,931
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	7,951	(7,951)	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	(7,951)	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	0	(7,951)	0	0
Parent Company [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	11,653	7,178	10,200
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	0	0	0
Acquisition, net of cash acquired		0
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights		0	0
Intercompany Investing	(6,960)	(3,338)	7,269
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	0
Return of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(6,960)	(3,338)	(7,269)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Repayment of senior notes		0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		0
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0	0
Repayment of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0	0
Net proceeds from bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0	0
Principal proceeds from note payable - other and community development district bond obligations	0	0	0
Dividends paid on preferred shares	(4,875)	(4,875)	(4,875)
Intercompany financing	0	0	0
Debt issue costs	0	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	182	1,035	1,944
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(4,693)	(3,840)	(2,931)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	0	0	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	42,572	(58,772)	(143,501)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	(12,505)	(3,156)	(2,793)
Acquisition, net of cash acquired		(23,950)
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights		0	0
Intercompany Investing	0	0	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(13,764)	(8,087)	(14,435)
Return of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	275
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(26,269)	(35,193)	(16,953)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Repayment of senior notes		(226,874)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		300,000
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	351,500	417,300	192,600
Repayment of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	(355,000)	(403,500)	(162,600)
Net proceeds from bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0	0
Principal proceeds from note payable - other and community development district bond obligations	(2,026)	(1,077)	1,728
Dividends paid on preferred shares	0	0	0
Intercompany financing	7,407	5,929	14,244
Debt issue costs	(153)	(5,740)	(2,004)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,728	86,038	43,968
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	18,031	(7,927)	(116,486)
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	2,896	10,823	127,309
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	20,927	2,896	10,823	127,309
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(8,375)	(23,593)	10,997
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	(601)	(503)	(153)
Acquisition, net of cash acquired		0
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights		3,065	2,135
Intercompany Investing	0	0	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(7,982)	(10,075)	(5,980)
Return of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures	3,207	1,226	1,248
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(5,376)	(6,287)	(2,750)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Repayment of senior notes		0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes		0
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0	0
Repayment of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0	0
Net proceeds from bank borrowings - financial services operations	29,247	38,269	5,350
Principal proceeds from note payable - other and community development district bond obligations	0	0	0
Dividends paid on preferred shares	(11,653)	(7,178)	(10,200)
Intercompany financing	(8,398)	5,360	(6,975)
Debt issue costs	(87)	(78)	(77)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	9,109	36,373	(11,902)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(4,642)	6,493	(3,655)
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	18,156	11,663	15,318
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	$ 13,514	$ 18,156	$ 11,663	$ 15,318