Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income taxes Our effective tax rate is affected by a number of factors, the most significant of which are the valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets, changes to tax laws or other circumstances that impact the value of our deferred tax assets, and changes in our unrecognized tax benefits. Our 2014 effective tax rate approximates our blended statutory tax rate. Our tax provisions for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 consisted primarily of the reversal of a valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets. We evaluate our deferred tax assets each period to determine if a valuation allowance is required based on whether it is "more likely than not" that some portion of the deferred tax assets would not be realized. The ultimate realization of these deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of sufficient taxable income during future periods. We conduct our evaluation by considering all available positive and negative evidence. This evaluation considers, among other factors, historical operating results, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, and the outlooks for the U.S. housing industry and broader economy. Based on our evaluation through June 30, 2013, we had fully reserved our net deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of their realization. At September 30, 2013, we determined that the valuation allowance against substantially all of our federal deferred tax assets and a significant portion of our state deferred tax assets was no longer required. Accordingly, we reversed $2.1 billion of valuation allowance in the third quarter of 2013. The accounting for deferred taxes is based upon estimates of future results. Differences between estimated and actual results could result in changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets that could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial position. Changes in existing tax laws could also affect actual tax results and the realization of deferred tax assets over time. Certain states enacted changes to tax laws that impacted the value of our deferred tax assets during 2014. The estimated impact of such changes was recorded to income tax expense during the period. Unrecognized tax benefits represent the difference between tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefits recognized for financial statement purposes. At September 30, 2014, we had $159.6 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits and $36.7 million of related accrued interest and penalties. It is reasonably possible within the next twelve months that our gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $127.9 million, excluding interest and penalties, primarily due to expirations of certain statutes of limitations and potential settlements. We are currently under examination by the IRS and various state taxing jurisdictions and anticipate finalizing certain of the examinations within the next twelve months. The final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable. The statute of limitations for our major tax jurisdictions remains open for examination for tax years 2004 to 2014.

Income taxes

Our effective tax rate is affected by a number of factors, the most significant of which are the valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets, changes to tax laws or other circumstances that impact the value of our deferred tax assets, and changes in our unrecognized tax benefits. Our 2014 effective tax rate approximates our blended statutory tax rate. Our tax provisions for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 consisted primarily of the reversal of a valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets.

We evaluate our deferred tax assets each period to determine if a valuation allowance is required based on whether it is "more likely than not" that some portion of the deferred tax assets would not be realized. The ultimate realization of these deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of sufficient taxable income during future periods. We conduct our evaluation by considering all available positive and negative evidence. This evaluation considers, among other factors, historical operating results, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, and the outlooks for the U.S. housing industry and broader economy. Based on our evaluation through June 30, 2013, we had fully reserved our net deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of their realization. At September 30, 2013, we determined that the valuation allowance against substantially all of our federal deferred tax assets and a significant portion of our state deferred tax assets was no longer required. Accordingly, we reversed $2.1 billion of valuation allowance in the third quarter of 2013.

The accounting for deferred taxes is based upon estimates of future results. Differences between estimated and actual results could result in changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets that could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial position. Changes in existing tax laws could also affect actual tax results and the realization of deferred tax assets over time. Certain states enacted changes to tax laws that impacted the value of our deferred tax assets during 2014. The estimated impact of such changes was recorded to income tax expense during the period.

Unrecognized tax benefits represent the difference between tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefits recognized for financial statement purposes. At September 30, 2014, we had $159.6 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits and $36.7 million of related accrued interest and penalties. It is reasonably possible within the next twelve months that our gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $127.9 million, excluding interest and penalties, primarily due to expirations of certain statutes of limitations and potential settlements.

We are currently under examination by the IRS and various state taxing jurisdictions and anticipate finalizing certain of the examinations within the next twelve months. The final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable. The statute of limitations for our major tax jurisdictions remains open for examination for tax years 2004 to 2014.