Note 21 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Homebuilding:
Revenues	$ 511,756	$ 318,541	$ 1,308,158	$ 817,115
Cost of sales	(382,366)	(254,436)	(1,001,480)	(651,983)
Gross margin	129,390	64,105	306,678	165,132
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(61,939)	(43,121)	(162,831)	(122,765)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(32)	(39)	1,249	(2,707)
Interest income (expense), net		(1,669)		(5,816)
Other income (expense)	301	117	2,624	4,708
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	67,720	19,393	147,720	38,552
Financial Services:
Financial services pretax income (loss)	2,416	2,511	8,953	6,514
Income (loss) before income taxes	70,136	21,904	156,673	45,066
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(11,201)	(194)	(32,778)	(570)
Net income (loss)	58,935	21,710	123,895	44,496
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding:
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	(22,421)	(4,285)	(43,692)	(8,923)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	(22,421)	(4,285)	(43,692)	(8,923)
Financial Services:
Income (loss) before income taxes	(22,421)	(4,285)	(43,692)	(8,923)
Net income (loss)	(22,421)	(4,285)	(43,692)	(8,923)
Parent Company [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues	228,520	148,216	599,452	335,887
Cost of sales	(165,466)	(119,019)	(450,521)	(265,519)
Gross margin	63,054	29,197	148,931	70,368
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(25,799)	(20,157)	(69,750)	(56,524)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	165	310	1,660	(648)
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	22,421	4,285	43,692	8,923
Interest income (expense), net	3,827	4,209	13,112	11,948
Other income (expense)	(495)	808	1,503	4,616
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	63,173	18,652	139,148	38,683
Financial Services:
Income (loss) before income taxes	63,173	18,652	139,148	38,683
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(4,238)	3,058	(15,253)	5,813
Net income (loss)	58,935	21,710	123,895	44,496
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues	212,707	141,155	556,691	407,520
Cost of sales	(162,589)	(111,353)	(429,729)	(325,276)
Gross margin	50,118	29,802	126,962	82,244
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(29,095)	(19,968)	(77,771)	(58,490)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(111)	(38)	(235)	(157)
Interest income (expense), net	(2,732)	(4,215)	(9,423)	(12,799)
Other income (expense)	144	22	(13)	322
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	18,324	5,603	39,520	11,120
Financial Services:
Income (loss) before income taxes	18,324	5,603	39,520	11,120
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(5,913)	(2,343)	(13,873)	(4,325)
Net income (loss)	12,411	3,260	25,647	6,795
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues	70,529	29,170	152,015	73,708
Cost of sales	(54,311)	(24,064)	(121,230)	(61,188)
Gross margin	16,218	5,106	30,785	12,520
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(7,045)	(2,996)	(15,310)	(7,751)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(86)	(311)	(176)	(1,902)
Interest income (expense), net	(1,095)	(1,663)	(3,689)	(4,965)
Other income (expense)	652	(713)	1,134	(230)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	8,644	(577)	12,744	(2,328)
Financial Services:
Financial services pretax income (loss)	2,416	2,511	8,953	6,514
Income (loss) before income taxes	11,060	1,934	21,697	4,186
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(1,050)	(909)	(3,652)	(2,058)
Net income (loss)	$ 10,010	$ 1,025	$ 18,045	$ 2,128