Segment Information Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 10,188,331	$ 8,577,686	$ 7,676,530
Number of reportable segments \| segment	6
Detached single-family homes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 8,200,000	7,300,000	6,500,000
Attached homes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 1,600,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,000,000

Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130543-203045

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130539-203045

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130545-203045

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration