Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments		4
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain		$ 169,000
Mortgage Loan Loss Expense Provision		300,000	$ 500,000	$ 0
Mortgage Loan Repurchase Reserve		3,900,000	2,200,000
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Real Estate		1,600,000	1,500,000
Term Loan B Non Cash Interest Amortization				3,600,000
Capitalized Interest Transferred From Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures To Inventories Owned		0	6,000,000	4,400,000
Capitalized Interest in Connection with Abandonment Project				800,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		0
Insurance and Litigation Accruals		125,300,000	62,800,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax				$ 2,228,000
Cash From Home Closings in Escrow [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Cash		54,200,000
Other Income [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss)		164,000
The Ryland Group, Inc. [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Mortgage Loan Repurchase Reserve		1,500,000
Insurance and Litigation Accruals		55,500,000
Homebuilding [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents		35,990,000	38,222,000
Financial Services [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents		22,914,000	$ 1,295,000
Reclassification From Debt Issuance Costs to Debt Carrying Amount [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment		16,900,000
Reclassification From Debt Issuance Costs to Debt Carrying Amount [Member] | Year Ended December 31, 2014 [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment		22,800,000
Held in Cash Collateral Accounts [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents		17,700,000
Financial Service Subsidiary Mortgage Credit Facilities [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents		4,000,000
Funds Held in Trust for Third Parties [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents		$ 1,200,000
Reverse Stock Split [Member] | The Ryland Group, Inc. [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	5