Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	$ 31,374	$ 29,856
Inventory	1,424,435	1,186,078
Investment in joint venture arrangements	22,981	28,016
Other assets	305,905	304,561
Total assets	1,784,695	1,548,511
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	5,078	3,989
Inventory	514,949	399,814
Investment in joint venture arrangements	3,798	10,155
Other assets	13,106	25,747
Total assets	536,931	439,705
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	20,094	22,607
Inventory	623,815	484,038
Investment in joint venture arrangements	10,493	10,630
Other assets	24,624	35,622
Total assets	679,026	552,897
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	6,202	3,260
Inventory	285,671	302,226
Investment in joint venture arrangements	8,690	7,231
Other assets	11,600	13,912
Total assets	312,163	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	256,575	229,280
Total assets	$ 256,575	$ 229,280