Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Home closing revenue	$ 217,534	$ 233,803	$ 615,154	$ 725,790
Land closing revenue	0	0	100	1,222
Total closing revenue	217,534	233,803	615,254	727,012
Cost of home closings	(178,544)	(190,562)	(504,943)	(590,809)
Cost of land closings	0	0	(91)	(964)
Real estate impairments	(920)	(680)	(2,174)	(1,526)
Land impairment	(127)	0	(127)	0
Total cost of closings and impairments	(179,591)	(191,242)	(507,335)	(593,299)
Home closing gross profit	38,070	42,561	108,037	133,455
Land closing gross (loss)/profit	(127)	0	(118)	258
Total closing gross profit	37,943	42,561	107,919	133,713
Commissions and other sales costs	(19,708)	(19,624)	(53,876)	(58,452)
General and administrative expenses	(16,466)	(15,678)	(46,582)	(47,100)
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net	1,797	1,243	3,931	3,832
Interest expense	(7,517)	(8,425)	(23,036)	(25,273)
Other income, net	876	654	2,872	4,637
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(3,454)
(Loss)/income before income taxes	(3,075)	731	(8,772)	7,903
(Provision for)/benefit from income taxes	(160)	488	(560)	142
Net (loss)/income	$ (3,235)	$ 1,219	$ (9,332)	$ 8,045
(Loss)/income per common share:
Basic	$ (0.10)	$ 0.04	$ (0.29)	$ 0.25
Diluted	$ (0.10)	$ 0.04	$ (0.29)	$ 0.25
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic	32,417	32,095	32,358	32,038
Diluted	32,417	32,297	32,358	32,277