Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals)	Dec. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
7% Senior Notes [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate		7.00%
7% Senior Notes [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate			7.00%
10¾% Senior Notes [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	10.75%		10.75%
8.4% Senior Notes Due May 2017 [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	8.40%
8⅜% Senior Notes [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	8.375%		8.375%
1.625% Convertible Senior Notes Due May 2018 [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	1.625%
1.625% Convertible Senior Notes Due May 2018 [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	1.625%
0.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due June 2019 [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	0.25%
0.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due June 2019 [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	0.25%
6.625% Senior Notes Due May 2020 [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.625%
8⅜% Senior Notes [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	8.375%		8.375%
6¼% Senior Notes [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.25%		6.25%
5.375% Senior Notes Due October 2022 [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.375%
5⅞% Senior Notes [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.875%		5.875%
1¼% Convertible Senior Notes Due August 2032 [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Note 8 - Homebuilding Indebtedness (Details) - Senior Notes Payable (Parentheticals) [Line Items]
Interest rate	1.25%		1.25%