Business Segments Business Segments - Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	$ 32,353		$ 33,662
Inventory	1,731,126		1,640,798
Investment in joint venture arrangements	41,344		35,870
Other assets	284,383		311,251
Total assets	2,089,206		2,021,581
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group	5,600
Operating lease right-of-use assets	19,397	$ 20,900	0
Northern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	4,159		5,725
Inventory	725,541		696,057
Investment in joint venture arrangements	1,685		1,562
Other assets	25,903		19,524
Total assets	757,288		722,868
Southern Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deposits on real estate under option or contract	28,194		27,937
Inventory	1,005,585		944,741
Investment in joint venture arrangements	39,659		34,308
Other assets	55,393		43,086
Total assets	1,128,831		1,050,072
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	203,087		248,641
Total assets	$ 203,087		$ 248,641