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Segment Information (Land-Related Charges By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information |  |  |  |
Land and community valuation adjustments | $ 4,514 |  | $ 103 |
Net realizable value adjustments - land held for sale | 643 |  | 0 |
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs | 739 |  | 623 |
Total land-related charges | 5,896 |  | 726 |
Northeast [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information |  |  |  |
Land and community valuation adjustments | 0 |  | 0 |
Net realizable value adjustments - land held for sale | 0 |  | 0 |
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs | 51 |  | 263 |
Southeast [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information |  |  |  |
Land and community valuation adjustments | 0 |  | 41 |
Net realizable value adjustments - land held for sale | 285 |  | 0 |
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs | 555 |  | 205 |
Florida [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information |  |  |  |
Land and community valuation adjustments | 0 |  | 0 |
Net realizable value adjustments - land held for sale | 38 |  | 0 |
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs | 11 |  | 0 |
Texas [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information |  |  |  |
Land and community valuation adjustments | 0 |  | 0 |
Net realizable value adjustments - land held for sale | 0 |  | 0 |
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs | 25 |  | 13 |
North [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information |  |  |  |
Land and community valuation adjustments | 1,890 |  | 0 |
Net realizable value adjustments - land held for sale | (119) |  | 0 |
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs | 97 |  | 62 |
Southwest [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information |  |  |  |
Land and community valuation adjustments | 1,810 |  | 0 |
Net realizable value adjustments - land held for sale | 439 |  | 0 |
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs | 0 |  | 80 |
Other Homebuilding [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information |  |  |  |
Land and community valuation adjustments | $ 814 | [1] | $ 62 | [1]
[1] | Primarily write-offs of capitalized interest related to land and community valuation adjustments.

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- Definition Charge against earnings in the period to reduce the current value of land held for sale to its fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Total Land-Related Charges + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Write Off Of Deposits And Pre Acquisition Costs + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property to fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 26 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230 + Details
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