Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	$ 30,795	$ 29,856
Inventory	1,255,823	1,186,078
Investment in joint venture arrangements	24,218	28,016
Other assets	261,429	304,561
Total assets	1,572,265	1,548,511
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	5,521	3,989
Inventory	417,867	399,814
Investment in joint venture arrangements	3,965	10,155
Other assets	14,009	25,747
Total assets	441,362	439,705
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	21,122	22,607
Inventory	539,395	484,038
Investment in joint venture arrangements	12,924	10,630
Other assets	27,983	35,622
Total assets	601,424	552,897
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	4,152	3,260
Inventory	298,561	302,226
Investment in joint venture arrangements	7,329	7,231
Other assets	16,633	13,912
Total assets	326,675	326,629
Corporate, Financial Services and Unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	0	0
Inventory	0	0
Investment in joint venture arrangements	0	0
Other assets	202,804	229,280
Total assets	$ 202,804	$ 229,280