Segment Information (Total Assets And Inventory By Reportable Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	$ 1,286,551		$ 1,210,717
Land under development	2,542,204		2,610,501
Land held for future development	723,138		815,250
House and land inventory	4,551,893		4,636,468
Total assets	6,952,825		6,885,620
Northeast [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	229,407		237,722
Land under development	447,267		457,010
Land held for future development	115,103		119,549
House and land inventory	791,777		814,281
Total assets	924,851		957,844
Southeast [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	172,078		166,302
Land under development	307,200		315,208
Land held for future development	118,059		123,209
House and land inventory	597,337		604,719
Total assets	619,826		626,506
Florida [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	138,812		137,900
Land under development	312,538		321,841
Land held for future development	104,638		110,040
House and land inventory	555,988		569,781
Total assets	630,784		637,418
Texas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	141,918		136,325
Land under development	279,442		294,814
Land held for future development	67,564		77,125
House and land inventory	488,924		508,264
Total assets	556,373		568,974
North [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	289,075		268,011
Land under development	359,987		360,202
Land held for future development	67,431		91,260
House and land inventory	716,493		719,473
Total assets	778,768		803,174
Southwest [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	257,958		216,067
Land under development	557,212		577,656
Land held for future development	179,902		216,554
House and land inventory	995,072		1,010,277
Total assets	1,068,936		1,099,058
Other Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	57,303	[1]	48,390	[1]
Land under development	278,558	[1]	283,770	[1]
Land held for future development	70,441	[1]	77,513	[1]
House and land inventory	406,302	[1]	409,673	[1]
Total assets	2,109,675	[1]	1,904,847	[1]
Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	1,286,551		1,210,717
Land under development	2,542,204		2,610,501
Land held for future development	723,138		815,250
House and land inventory	4,551,893		4,636,468
Total assets	6,689,213		6,597,821
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	$ 263,612		$ 287,799

[1] Other homebuilding primarily includes capitalized interest, cash and equivalents, income taxes receivable, intangibles, and other corporate items that are not allocated to the operating segments.