Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information - Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ (23,275)	$ 1,415
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	(993)	(10,706)
Intercompany Investing	0	0
Investment in joint venture arrangements	(3,197)	(2,846)
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights	7,396	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	3,206	(13,552)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	162,000	154,100
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	(91,400)	(83,400)
Net repayment of bank borrowings - financial services operations	(45,958)	(36,462)
Proceeds from (principal repayments of) notes payable-other and CDD bond obligations	607	364
Intercompany Financing	0	0
Dividends paid	(1,219)	(1,219)
Debt issue costs	0	(99)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	496	73
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	24,526	33,357
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	4,457	21,220
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	34,441	13,101
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	38,898	34,321
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(200)	(3,200)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	0	0
Intercompany Investing	(523)	2,054
Investment in joint venture arrangements	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(523)	2,054
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0
Net repayment of bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0
Proceeds from (principal repayments of) notes payable-other and CDD bond obligations	0	0
Intercompany Financing	523	5,897
Dividends paid	200	3,200
Debt issue costs		0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	723	9,097
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	7,951
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	0	(7,951)
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	0	0
Parent Company [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	200	3,200
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	0	0
Intercompany Investing	523	(2,054)
Investment in joint venture arrangements	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	523	(2,054)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0
Net repayment of bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0
Proceeds from (principal repayments of) notes payable-other and CDD bond obligations	0	0
Intercompany Financing	0	0
Dividends paid	(1,219)	(1,219)
Debt issue costs		0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	496	73
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(723)	(1,146)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(77,003)	(38,803)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	(932)	(10,686)
Intercompany Investing	0	0
Investment in joint venture arrangements	(857)	(1,502)
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,789)	(12,188)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	162,000	154,100
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	(91,400)	(83,400)
Net repayment of bank borrowings - financial services operations	0	0
Proceeds from (principal repayments of) notes payable-other and CDD bond obligations	607	364
Intercompany Financing	1,816	(406)
Dividends paid	0	0
Debt issue costs		(99)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	73,023	70,559
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(5,769)	19,568
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	20,927	2,896
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	15,158	22,464
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	53,728	40,218
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract]
Purchase of property and equipment	(61)	(20)
Intercompany Investing	0	0
Investment in joint venture arrangements	(2,340)	(1,344)
Net proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights	7,396
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	4,995	(1,364)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0
Repayments of bank borrowings - homebuilding operations	0	0
Net repayment of bank borrowings - financial services operations	(45,958)	(36,462)
Proceeds from (principal repayments of) notes payable-other and CDD bond obligations	0	0
Intercompany Financing	(2,339)	(5,491)
Dividends paid	(200)	(3,200)
Debt issue costs		0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(48,497)	(45,153)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,226	(6,299)
Cash and cash equivalents balance at beginning of period	13,514	18,156
Cash and cash equivalents balance at end of period	$ 23,740	$ 11,857

The cash outflow from the parent as a source of financing.

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are the amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Includes effect from exchange rate changes.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities, including discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from investing activities, including discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

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The cash outflow paid to third parties in connection with debt origination, which will be amortized over the remaining maturity period of the associated long-term debt.

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Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of or advances to an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled (for example, an unconsolidated subsidiary, affiliate, and joint venture or equity method investment) or the acquisition of an additional interest in a subsidiary (controlled entity).

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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The cash inflow from bank borrowing during the year.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) for debt classified as other.

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The cash inflow from a borrowing net of the cash outflow from repayment of a borrowing having initial term of repayment within three months.

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The cash inflow from the sale of servicing rights, which contractually entitle the servicer to receive fees and ancillary revenues for performing billing, collection, disbursement and recordkeeping services in connection with a mortgage portfolio. Rights may be obtained via (1) acquisition or assumption of a servicing obligation that does not relate to financial assets of the servicer or its consolidated affiliates; or (2) by originating mortgage loans and then (a) transferring the loans to a Variable Interest Entity (VIE) in a transaction that meets the necessary transfer and classification requirements, or (b) transferring the loans in a transaction that meets the requirements for sale accounting.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

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The cash outflow to settle a bank borrowing during the year.

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