Business Segments Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 558,098	$ 456,866	$ 995,955	$ 863,846
Operating Income	38,505	28,909	69,646	60,565
Interest	4,888	3,834	10,766	9,172
Equity in loss (income) from joint venture arrangements	86	(110)	(224)	(127)
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0	1,700	0
Income before income taxes	33,531	25,185	57,404	51,520
Purchase Accounting Adjustments	2,961		3,857
Standard Product Warranty Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)	0	8,500	0	8,500
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	18,981	17,984	31,198	32,843
Interest	1,812	863	3,878	2,240
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	19,370	4,709	34,220	13,421
Interest	1,908	1,791	4,195	4,168
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	5,106	9,588	7,698	16,841
Interest	473	515	1,229	1,431
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	5,938	6,860	15,478	16,090
Interest	695	665	1,464	1,333
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$ (10,890)	$ (10,232)	$ (18,948)	$ (18,630)