Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	$ 36,163	$ 32,556
Inventory	1,544,181	1,382,018
Investment in joint venture arrangements	22,066	20,525
Other assets	291,963	429,672
Total assets	1,894,373	1,864,771
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	6,253	4,933
Inventory	615,973	500,671
Investment in joint venture arrangements	4,972	4,410
Other assets	20,198	13,573
Total assets	647,396	523,587
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	23,163	20,719
Inventory	686,632	636,019
Investment in joint venture arrangements	10,169	9,677
Other assets	41,147	38,784
Total assets	761,111	705,199
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	6,747	6,904
Inventory	241,576	245,328
Investment in joint venture arrangements	6,925	6,438
Other assets	11,305	13,311
Total assets	266,553	271,981
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	219,313	364,004
Total assets	$ 219,313	$ 364,004