Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	$ 33,386		$ 33,662
Inventory	1,697,402		1,640,798
Investment in joint venture arrangements	40,736		35,870
Other assets	300,254		311,251
Total assets	2,071,778		2,021,581
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group	5,600
Operating lease right-of-use assets	20,603	$ 20,889	0
Midwest Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	5,306		5,725
Inventory	693,483		696,057
Investment in joint venture arrangements	1,649		1,562
Other assets	38,146		19,524
Total assets	738,584		722,868
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	22,467		21,758
Inventory	764,217		717,248
Investment in joint venture arrangements	14,426		14,263
Other assets	49,323		32,161
Total assets	850,433		785,430
Mid-Atlantic Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	5,613		6,179
Inventory	239,702		227,493
Investment in joint venture arrangements	24,661		20,045
Other assets	14,340		10,925
Total assets	284,316		264,642
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	198,445		248,641
Total assets	$ 198,445		$ 248,641