Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned (Homebuilding [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development	$ 1,636,011	$ 1,444,161
Homes completed and under construction	647,271	427,196
Model homes	127,367	100,061
Total inventories owned	2,410,649	1,971,418
California [Member]
Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development	785,752	778,419
Homes completed and under construction	285,306	240,236
Model homes	80,808	67,504
Total inventories owned	1,151,866	1,086,159
Southwest [Member]
Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development	387,392	352,705
Homes completed and under construction	167,066	93,265
Model homes	26,822	15,231
Total inventories owned	581,280	461,201
Southeast [Member]
Note 7 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development	462,867	313,037
Homes completed and under construction	194,899	93,695
Model homes	19,737	17,326
Total inventories owned	$ 677,503	$ 424,058

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of homes that have been finished and are ready for sale, net of valuation allowance and impairment loss and of capitalized construction costs of homes for future sale.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spf_HomesCompletedAndUnderConstruction
Namespace Prefix:	spf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	spf_Note7InventoriesDetailsInventoriesOwnedLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	spf_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the sum of the various components of an operative builder's inventory, including finished homes. Operative builders primarily consist of entities that develop land, construct residential homes and commercial and industrial buildings thereon, and sell them to home buyers and operators of the commercial and industrial properties.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryOperativeBuilders
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of all of a real estate developer's inventories that are either not otherwise specified in the taxonomy or are not separately reported by the entity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryOperativeBuildersOther
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, net of valuation allowances and impairment losses, of costs of land expected to be developed in the near term plus capitalized costs of development, for purposes of selling completed units to home buyers or commercial or industrial entities..

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryRealEstateLandAndLandDevelopmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant