Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Homebuilding:
Revenues	$ 1,624,959	$ 1,547,742	$ 1,240,060	$ 1,125,883	$ 1,518,445	$ 1,255,327	$ 1,033,154	$ 852,184	$ 5,538,644		$ 4,659,110		$ 4,033,596
Cost of revenues	1,249,868	1,230,070	1,011,528	923,488	1,261,012	1,044,765	876,990	745,563	4,414,954		3,928,331		3,503,677
Income (loss) before income taxes	225,511	163,594	21,971	68,037	75,225	79,179	23,939	(20,352)	479,113		157,991		(275,830)
Financial Services:
Revenues	30,380	34,336	39,362	36,873	48,521	47,264	36,251	28,852	140,951		160,888		103,094
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,909	11,128	16,359	14,313	(24,012)	26,727	15,987	6,861	48,709		25,563
Consolidated results:
Total revenues	1,655,339	1,582,078	1,279,422	1,162,756	1,566,966	1,302,591	1,069,405	881,036	5,679,595		4,819,998		4,136,690
Income (loss) before income taxes	232,420	174,722	38,330	82,350	51,213	105,906	39,926	(13,491)	527,822		183,554		(310,300)
Income tax expense (benefit)	12,367	(2,107,162)	1,913	588	(7,529)	(10,727)	(2,510)	(1,825)	(2,092,294)		(22,591)		(99,912)
Net income (loss)	$ 220,053	$ 2,281,884	$ 36,417	$ 81,762	$ 58,742	$ 116,633	$ 42,436	$ (11,666)	$ 2,620,116	[1]	$ 206,145	[1]	$ (210,388)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.58	$ 5.92	$ 0.09	$ 0.21	$ 0.15	$ 0.31	$ 0.11	$ (0.03)	$ 6.79		$ 0.54		$ (0.55)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.57	$ 5.87	$ 0.09	$ 0.21	$ 0.15	$ 0.30	$ 0.11	$ (0.03)	$ 6.72		$ 0.54		$ (0.55)
Number of shares used in calculation:
Basic shares outstanding	379,879	382,883	385,389	384,228	383,404	381,355	380,655	380,502	383,077		381,562		379,877
Effect of dilutive securities (shares)	3,845	3,220	5,791	6,093	5,900	3,215	1,548	0	3,789		3,002		0
Diluted shares outstanding	383,724	386,103	391,180	390,321	389,304	384,570	382,203	380,502	386,866		384,564		379,877

[1] Due to rounding, the sum of quarterly results may not equal the total for the year. Additionally, quarterly and year-to-date computations of per share amounts are made independently.