Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 482,738		$ 511,521	$ 1,306,038	$ 1,339,188
Home construction and land sales expenses	410,974		428,109	1,107,681	1,119,870
Inventory impairments and abandonments	0	$ 147,600	168	148,618	168
Gross profit	71,764		83,244	49,739	219,150
Commissions	18,230		19,535	49,965	51,225
General and administrative expenses	40,749		42,473	116,763	120,610
Depreciation and amortization	3,242		3,656	8,912	9,229
Operating income (loss)	9,543		17,580	(125,901)	38,086
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	299		147	316	302
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	358		0	574	(25,904)
Other expense, net	(755)		(30)	(1,134)	(4,628)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	9,445		17,697	(126,145)	7,856
(Benefit) expense from income taxes	(2,180)		4,268	(44,260)	113,386
Income (loss) from continuing operations	11,625		13,429	(81,885)	(105,530)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(23)		(20)	(64)	(450)
Net income (loss)	$ 11,602		$ 13,409	$ (81,949)	$ (105,980)
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic (in shares)	30,250		32,147	30,926	32,113
Diluted (in shares)	30,489		32,726	30,926	32,113
Basic income (loss) per share:
Continuing Operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38		$ 0.42	$ (2.65)	$ (3.29)
Discontinued Operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.00	0.00	(0.01)
Total (in dollars per share)	0.38		0.42	(2.65)	(3.30)
Diluted income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.38		0.41	(2.65)	(3.29)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00		0.00	0.00	(0.01)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38		$ 0.41	$ (2.65)	$ (3.30)