Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	$ 33,820	$ 32,556
Inventory	1,618,648	1,382,018
Investment in joint venture arrangements	13,753	20,525
Other assets	304,319	429,672
Total assets	1,970,540	1,864,771
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	5,933	4,933
Inventory	657,154	500,671
Investment in joint venture arrangements	342	4,410
Other assets	26,288	13,573
Total assets	689,717	523,587
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	20,724	20,719
Inventory	697,404	636,019
Investment in joint venture arrangements	5,088	9,677
Other assets	36,977	38,784
Total assets	760,193	705,199
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	7,163	6,904
Inventory	264,090	245,328
Investment in joint venture arrangements	8,323	6,438
Other assets	16,440	13,311
Total assets	296,016	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	224,614	364,004
Total assets	$ 224,614	$ 364,004