Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	$ 29,887	$ 29,856
Inventory	1,349,657	1,186,078
Investment in joint venture arrangements	22,877	28,016
Other assets	228,965	304,561
Total assets	1,631,386	1,548,511
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	6,035	3,989
Inventory	464,186	399,814
Investment in joint venture arrangements	4,649	10,155
Other assets	13,301	25,747
Total assets	488,171	439,705
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	19,272	22,607
Inventory	582,405	484,038
Investment in joint venture arrangements	10,333	10,630
Other assets	35,136	35,622
Total assets	647,146	552,897
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	4,580	3,260
Inventory	303,066	302,226
Investment in joint venture arrangements	7,895	7,231
Other assets	8,546	13,912
Total assets	324,087	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	171,982	229,280
Total assets	$ 171,982	$ 229,280