Note 18 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 322,314	$ (271,361)	$ (362,397)
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	(29,118)	(91,453)	(10,506)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	39,735	19,582	18,010
Loan to parent and subsidiaries
Other investing activities	(7,688)	(11,972)	(4,754)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	2,929	184,674	(31,020)
Change in restricted cash	8,873	652	(16,762)
Borrowing from revolving credit facility	1,433,200	852,700
Principal payments on revolving credit facility	(1,433,200)	(852,700)
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable	(23,228)	(2,532)	(1,458)
Loan from subsidiary
Principal payments on senior notes payable	(280,000)	(29,789)	(4,971)
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	300,000		300,000
Payment of debt issuance costs	(2,669)	(1,016)	(6,230)
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facilities	(55,995)	110,469	(11,454)
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries
Repurchases of common stock	(232,520)	(22,073)	(36,781)
Common stock dividend payments	(18,841)	(4,851)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings	1,330	1,000	6,771
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements	(460)
Other financing activities	(200)	(222)
Intercompany advances, net
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(303,710)	60,888	242,519
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	21,533	(25,799)	(150,898)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	186,594	212,393	363,291
Cash and equivalents at end of year	208,127	186,594	212,393
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	322,314	(271,361)	(362,397)
Cash acquired in connection with merger		268,517
Principal payments on senior notes payable		(29,789)	(4,971)
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements		9,250	13,404
Net cash paid for acquisitions			(33,770)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings			6,771
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures
Loan to parent and subsidiaries	187,300	(34,000)	180,000
Other investing activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	187,300	(34,000)	180,000
Change in restricted cash
Borrowing from revolving credit facility
Principal payments on revolving credit facility
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable
Loan from subsidiary	(187,300)	(46,000)	(100,000)
Principal payments on senior notes payable
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payment of debt issuance costs
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facilities		80,000	(80,000)
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries
Repurchases of common stock
Common stock dividend payments
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements
Other financing activities
Intercompany advances, net
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(187,300)	34,000	(180,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and equivalents at end of year
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Cash acquired in connection with merger
Principal payments on senior notes payable
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements
Net cash paid for acquisitions
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings
Parent Company [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	35,434	(17,201)	(56,158)
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	(276)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	1,104	641	227
Loan to parent and subsidiaries
Other investing activities	(616)	9	(1,571)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	212	20,995	(1,344)
Change in restricted cash
Borrowing from revolving credit facility	1,433,200	852,700
Principal payments on revolving credit facility	(1,433,200)	(852,700)
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable	(22,647)	(1,893)
Loan from subsidiary	187,300	46,000	100,000
Principal payments on senior notes payable	(280,000)
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	300,000		300,000
Payment of debt issuance costs	(2,669)	(1,016)	(6,230)
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facilities
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries	20,850	13,873	8,350
Repurchases of common stock	(232,520)	(22,073)	(36,781)
Common stock dividend payments	(18,841)	(4,851)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings	1,330	1,000
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements	(460)
Other financing activities
Intercompany advances, net	110,885	(141,212)	(365,026)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	63,228	(130,711)	15,517
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	98,874	(126,917)	(41,985)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	6,387	133,304	175,289
Cash and equivalents at end of year	105,261	6,387	133,304
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	35,434	(17,201)	(56,158)
Cash acquired in connection with merger		20,345
Principal payments on senior notes payable		(29,789)	(4,971)
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements		9,250	13,404
Net cash paid for acquisitions
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings			6,771
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	120,540	(107,470)	(118,941)
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	(227)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	336	75	228
Loan to parent and subsidiaries
Other investing activities	(3,496)	(4,310)	(1,351)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,387)	233,799	(37,170)
Change in restricted cash
Borrowing from revolving credit facility
Principal payments on revolving credit facility
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable
Loan from subsidiary
Principal payments on senior notes payable
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payment of debt issuance costs
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facilities
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries		(31,719)
Repurchases of common stock
Common stock dividend payments
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements
Other financing activities	(200)	(95)
Intercompany advances, net	(191,594)	17,276	156,678
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(191,794)	(14,538)	156,678
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(74,641)	111,791	567
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	112,852	1,061	494
Cash and equivalents at end of year	38,211	112,852	1,061
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	120,540	(107,470)	(118,941)
Cash acquired in connection with merger		238,034
Principal payments on senior notes payable
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements
Net cash paid for acquisitions			(36,047)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	166,340	(146,690)	(187,298)
Investments in unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	(28,615)	(91,453)	(10,506)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated homebuilding joint ventures	38,295	18,866	17,555
Loan to parent and subsidiaries	(187,300)	34,000	(180,000)
Other investing activities	(3,576)	(7,671)	(1,832)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(181,196)	(36,120)	(172,506)
Change in restricted cash	8,873	652	(16,762)
Borrowing from revolving credit facility
Principal payments on revolving credit facility
Principal payments on secured project debt and other notes payable	(581)	(639)	(1,458)
Loan from subsidiary
Principal payments on senior notes payable
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payment of debt issuance costs
Net proceeds from (payments on) mortgage credit facilities	(55,995)	30,469	68,546
(Contributions to) distributions from Corporate and subsidiaries	(20,850)	17,846	(8,350)
Repurchases of common stock
Common stock dividend payments
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements
Other financing activities		(127)
Intercompany advances, net	80,709	123,936	208,348
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	12,156	172,137	250,324
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(2,700)	(10,673)	(109,480)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	67,355	78,028	187,508
Cash and equivalents at end of year	64,655	67,355	78,028
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 166,340	(146,690)	(187,298)
Cash acquired in connection with merger		10,138
Principal payments on senior notes payable
Excess tax benefit (provision) from share-based payment arrangements
Net cash paid for acquisitions			2,277
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans, net of withholdings