Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 21, 2014 UCP 8.5% Senior Notes Due in 2017 Senior Notes Subsequent Event	Oct. 21, 2014 UCP 8.5% Senior Notes Due in 2017 Senior Notes Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt issued				$ 75,000,000
Stated interest rate (percent)				8.50%
Proceeds from debt	86,583,000	49,911,000	72,500,000
Redemption value (percent)			100.00%
Redemption value upon change of control (percent)			101.00%
Percentage of voting stock acquired to cause change of control				35.00%
Maximum debt to tangible assets ratio allowed per covenant (percent)			45.00%
Maximum secured debt allowed per covenant			75,000,000
Maximum secured debt to tangible assets ratio allowed per covenant (percent)			30.00%
Maximum annual acquisition of unimproved real property allowed per covenant			75,000,000
Maximum acquisition of unimproved real property allowed per covenant over the term of debt agreement			150,000,000
Minimum tangible assets not subject to debt-secured liens required per covenant			50,000,000
Minimum net worth required per covenant			175,000,000
Minimum cash and cash equivalents required per covenants			15,000,000
Maximum annual decrease in tangible assets allowed per covenant			25,000,000
Maximum decrease in tangible assets allowed per covenant over term of debt agreement			$ 50,000,000