Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	$ 33,662	$ 32,556
Inventory	1,640,798	1,382,018
Investment in joint venture arrangements	35,870	20,525
Other Combined Assets	311,251	429,672
TOTAL ASSETS	2,021,581	1,864,771
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	5,725	4,933
Inventory	696,057	500,671
Investment in joint venture arrangements	1,562	4,410
Other Combined Assets	19,524	13,573
TOTAL ASSETS	722,868	523,587
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	21,758	20,719
Inventory	717,248	636,019
Investment in joint venture arrangements	14,263	9,677
Other Combined Assets	32,161	38,784
TOTAL ASSETS	785,430	705,199
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	6,179	6,904
Inventory	227,493	245,328
Investment in joint venture arrangements	20,045	6,438
Other Combined Assets	10,925	13,311
TOTAL ASSETS	264,642	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 Combined Assets	248,641	364,004
TOTAL ASSETS	$ 248,641	$ 364,004