Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income taxes Our effective tax rate for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 39.9%, compared to 37.5% and 39.1% respectively, for the same periods in 2014. In these periods, our effective tax rate exceeded the federal statutory tax rate due to a number of factors, including state income taxes, changes to the valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets, tax law changes or other circumstances that impact the value of deferred tax assets, and changes in unrecognized tax benefits. 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 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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we recorded adjustments to deferred tax assets resulting from certain states enacting tax law changes along with internal reorganizations. The estimated impact of such changes was recorded to income tax expense during the respective periods. 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. 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had $33.2 million and $32.9 million, respectively, of gross unrecognized tax benefits and $17.5 million and $17.3 million, respectively, 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 $15.0 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 examinations within the next twelve months. The final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable. The statutes of limitation for our major tax jurisdictions generally remain open for examination for tax years 2004 to 2015.

Income taxes

Our effective tax rate for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 39.9%, compared to 37.5% and 39.1% respectively, for the same periods in 2014. In these periods, our effective tax rate exceeded the federal statutory tax rate due to a number of factors, including state income taxes, changes to the valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets, tax law changes or other circumstances that impact the value of deferred tax assets, and changes in unrecognized tax benefits.

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 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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we recorded adjustments to deferred tax assets resulting from certain states enacting tax law changes along with internal reorganizations. The estimated impact of such changes was recorded to income tax expense during the respective periods.

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.

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, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had $33.2 million and $32.9 million, respectively, of gross unrecognized tax benefits and $17.5 million and $17.3 million, respectively, 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 $15.0 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 examinations within the next twelve months. The final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable. The statutes of limitation for our major tax jurisdictions generally remain open for examination for tax years 2004 to 2015.