Discontinued Operations - Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Home construction and land sales expenses									$ 1,070,814		$ 888,379		$ 661,851
Inventory impairments and lot option abandonments	404	0	2,025	204	1,718	5,819	1,170	3,503	2,633		12,210		32,459
Gross profit	80,046	54,115	43,885	36,084	41,398	21,231	20,190	22,269	214,130		105,088		48,095
Commissions									52,922		43,585		32,711
General and administrative expenses									121,163		110,051		137,376
Depreciation and amortization									12,784		13,510		10,253
Operating Income (Loss)	22,079	8,472	311	(3,601)	(6,510)	(21,155)	(17,694)	(16,699)	27,261		(62,058)		(132,245)
Other (loss) income, net									(58,165)		(69,119)		(62,224)
(Benefit from) provisions for income taxes									(3,489)		(40,347)		3,366
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(1,704)		(9,703)		(4,675)
Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue									288		6,029		42,806
Home construction and land sales expenses									(319)		6,057		38,157
Inventory impairments and lot option abandonments									17		579		2,906
Gross profit									590		(607)		1,743
Commissions									0		217		1,167
General and administrative expenses									2,566	[1]	9,206	[1]	4,270	[1]
Depreciation and amortization									0		35		455
Operating Income (Loss)									(1,976)		(10,065)		(4,149)
Other (loss) income, net									77		(38)		(463)
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes									(1,899)		(10,103)		(4,612)
(Benefit from) provisions for income taxes									(195)		(400)		63
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									$ (1,704)		$ (9,703)		$ (4,675)

[1] General and administrative expenses for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 primarily includes expense for the wind-down of our NW Florida operations, legal fees and potential liability related to outstanding litigation and other matters in Denver, Colorado and legal fees and other expenses related to BMC's settlement agreements related to our prior mortgage operations.