Note 6 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Note 6 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	$ 3,546,289	$ 2,248,289
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	2,039,597	827,612
Model homes, by segments	484,073	179,303
Total inventories owned, by segments	6,069,959	$ 3,255,204
Homebuilding: North [Member]
Note 6 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	370,584
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	266,967
Model homes, by segments	66,100
Total inventories owned, by segments	703,651
Homebuilding: Southeast [Member]
Note 6 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	1,169,350	$ 722,166
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	464,668	258,132
Model homes, by segments	119,283	53,103
Total inventories owned, by segments	1,753,301	1,033,401
Homebuilding: Southwest [Member]
Note 6 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	687,792	339,625
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	599,183	223,032
Model homes, by segments	113,549	36,199
Total inventories owned, by segments	1,400,524	598,856
Homebuilding: West [Member]
Note 6 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories Owned [Line Items]
Land and land under development, by segments	1,318,563	1,186,498
Homes completed and under construction, by segments	708,779	346,448
Model homes, by segments	185,141	90,001
Total inventories owned, by segments	$ 2,212,483	$ 1,622,947

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:	caa_HomesCompletedAndUnderConstruction
Namespace Prefix:	caa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	caa_Note6InventoriesDetailsInventoriesOwnedLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	caa_
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

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

+ 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

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=caa_HomebuildingNorthMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=caa_HomebuildingSoutheastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=caa_HomebuildingSouthwestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=caa_HomebuildingWestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: