Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Use of Estimates Policy	Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications Policy	Reclassification Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation
Subsequent Events Policy	Subsequent events We evaluated subsequent events up until the time the financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
Cash and Cash Equivalents Policy	Cash and equivalents Cash and equivalents include institutional money market investments and time deposits with a maturity of three months or less when acquired. Cash and equivalents at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 also included $19.3 million and $13.0 million, respectively, of cash from home closings held in escrow for our benefit, typically for less than five days, which are considered deposits in-transit. Restricted cash We maintain certain cash balances that are restricted as to their use. Restricted cash consists primarily of deposits maintained with financial institutions under certain cash-collateralized letter of credit agreements (see Note 9). The remaining balances relate to certain other accounts with restrictions, including customer deposits on home sales that are temporarily restricted by regulatory requirements until title transfers to the homebuyer.
Notes receivable policy	Notes receivable In certain instances, we may accept consideration for land sales or other transactions in the form of a note receivable. The counterparties for these transactions are generally land developers or other real estate investors. We consider the creditworthiness of the counterparty when evaluating the relative risk and return involved in pursuing the applicable transaction. Due to the unique facts and circumstances surrounding each receivable, we assess the need for an allowance on an individual basis. Factors considered as part of this assessment include the counterparty's payment history, the value of any underlying collateral, communications with the counterparty, knowledge of the counterparty's financial condition and plans, and the current and expected economic environment. Allowances are recorded in other expense (income), net when it becomes likely that some amount will not be collectible. Such receivables are reported net of allowance for credit losses within other assets. Notes receivable are written off when it is determined that collection efforts will no longer be pursued. Interest income is recognized as earned.
Earnings Per Share Policy	Earnings per share Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common shareholders (the “numerator”) by the weighted-average number of common shares, adjusted for non-vested shares of restricted stock (the “denominator”) for the period. Computing diluted earnings per share is similar to computing basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of stock options, non-vested restricted stock, and other potentially dilutive instruments. Any stock options that have an exercise price greater than the average market price are considered to be anti-dilutive and are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. Due to the net loss recorded during the periods, all stock options, non-vested restricted stock, and other potentially dilutive instruments were excluded from the calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are participating securities and, therefore, are included in computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends or dividend equivalents and their respective participation rights in undistributed earnings. Although our outstanding restricted stock and restricted stock units are considered participating securities, there were no earnings attributable to restricted shareholders during the three months ended March 31, 2012 or 2011.
Land under Option Arrangements Policy	Land, not owned, under option agreements In the ordinary course of business, we enter into land option agreements in order to procure land for the construction of homes in the future. Pursuant to these land option agreements, we generally provide a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase land at different times in the future, usually at predetermined prices. Under ASC 810, “Consolidation” (“ASC 810”), if the entity holding the land under option is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), our deposit represents a variable interest in that entity. If we are determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, then we are required to consolidate the VIE. Only a portion of our land option agreements are with entities considered VIEs. In evaluating whether there exists a need to consolidate a VIE, we take into consideration that the VIE is generally protected from the first dollar of loss under our land option agreement due to our deposit. Likewise, the VIE's gains are generally capped based on the purchase price within the land option agreement. However, we generally have little control or influence over the operations of these VIEs due to our lack of an equity interest in them. Additionally, creditors of the VIE have no recourse against us, and we do not provide financial or other support to these VIEs other than as stipulated in the land option agreements. Our maximum exposure to loss related to these VIEs is generally limited to our deposits and pre-acquisition costs under the applicable land option agreements. In recent years, we have canceled a significant number of land option agreements, which has resulted in significant write-offs of the related deposits and pre-acquisition costs but did not expose us to the overall risks or losses of the applicable VIEs. No VIEs required consolidation under ASC 810 at either March 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011. Additionally, we determined that certain land option agreements represent financing arrangements pursuant to ASC 470-40, “Accounting for Product Financing Arrangements” (“ASC 470-40”), even though we generally have no obligation to pay these future amounts. As a result, we recorded $26.1 million and $24.9 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, to land, not owned, under option agreements with a corresponding increase to accrued and other liabilities. Such amounts represent the remaining purchase price under the land option agreements, some of which are with VIEs, in the event we exercise the purchase rights under the agreements.
Residential Mortgage Loans Available for Sale Policy	Residential mortgage loans available-for-sale Substantially all of the loans originated by us are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time after origination. In accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments” (“ASC 825”), we use the fair value option for residential mortgage loans available-for-sale. Election of the fair value option for these loans allows a better offset of the changes in fair values of the loans and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. We do not designate any derivative instruments as hedges or apply the hedge accounting provisions of ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” Fair values for agency residential mortgage loans available-for-sale are determined based on quoted market prices for comparable instruments. Fair values for non-agency residential mortgage loans available-for-sale are determined based on purchase commitments from whole loan investors and other relevant market information available to management. See Note 10 for discussion of the risks retained related to mortgage loan originations. Expected gains and losses from the sale of residential mortgage loans and their related servicing rights are included in the measurement of interest rate lock commitments that are accounted for at fair value through Financial Services revenues at the time of commitment. Subsequent changes in the fair value of these loans are reflected in Financial Services revenues as they occur.
Mortgage Servicing Rights Policy	Mortgage servicing rights We sell the servicing rights for the loans we originate on a flow basis through fixed price servicing sales contracts to reduce the risks and costs inherent in servicing loans. This strategy results in owning the servicing rights for only a short period of time. We recognize the fair value of our rights to service a mortgage loan as revenue at the time of entering into an interest rate lock commitment with a borrower. Due to the short period of time the servicing rights are held, we do not amortize the servicing asset. The servicing sales contracts provide for the reimbursement of payments made by the purchaser if loans prepay within specified periods of time, generally within 90 to 120 days after sale. We establish reserves for this liability at the time the sale is recorded.
Derivatives Policy	Derivative instruments and hedging activities We are exposed to market risks from commitments to lend, movements in interest rates, and canceled or modified commitments to lend. A commitment to lend at a specific interest rate (an interest rate lock commitment) is a derivative financial instrument (interest rate is locked to the borrower). In order to reduce these risks, we use other derivative financial instruments to economically hedge the interest rate lock commitment. The principal derivative instruments we use to hedge this risk are forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities and whole loan investor commitments. We enter into these derivative financial instruments based upon our portfolio of interest rate lock commitments and closed loans. We do not use any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. Fair values for interest rate lock commitments, including the value of servicing rights, are based on market prices for similar instruments. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had interest rate lock commitments in the total amount of $137.2 million and $97.6 million, respectively, which were originated at interest rates prevailing at the date of commitment. Since we can terminate a loan commitment if the borrower does not comply with the terms of the contract, and some loan commitments may expire without being drawn upon, these commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. We evaluate the creditworthiness of these transactions through our normal credit policies. Forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities are commitments to either purchase or sell a specified financial instrument at a specified future date for a specified price and may be settled in cash, by offsetting the position, or through the delivery of the financial instrument. Forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities are the predominant derivative financial instruments we use to minimize the market risk during the period from the time we extend an interest rate lock to a loan applicant until the time the loan is sold to an investor. Forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities are valued based on market prices for similar instruments. We also use whole loan investor commitments, which are obligations of the investor to buy loans at a specified price within a specified time period. Fair values for whole loan investor commitments are based on market prices for similar instruments from the specific whole loan investor. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had unexpired forward contracts of $277.0 million and $311.5 million, respectively, and whole loan investor commitments of $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Changes in the fair value of interest rate lock commitments and other derivative financial instruments are recognized in Financial Services revenues, and the fair values are reflected in other assets or other liabilities, as applicable. There are no credit-risk-related contingent features within our derivative agreements, and counterparty risk is considered minimal. Gains and losses on interest rate lock commitments are substantially offset by corresponding gains or losses on forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities and whole loan investor commitments. We are generally not exposed to variability in cash flows of derivative instruments for more than approximately 60 days.

Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Use of Estimates Policy

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications Policy

Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation

Subsequent Events Policy

Subsequent events

We evaluated subsequent events up until the time the financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Cash and Cash Equivalents Policy

Cash and equivalents

Cash and equivalents include institutional money market investments and time deposits with a maturity of three months or less when acquired. Cash and equivalents at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 also included $19.3 million and $13.0 million, respectively, of cash from home closings held in escrow for our benefit, typically for less than five days, which are considered deposits in-transit.

Restricted cash

We maintain certain cash balances that are restricted as to their use. Restricted cash consists primarily of deposits maintained with financial institutions under certain cash-collateralized letter of credit agreements (see Note 9). The remaining balances relate to certain other accounts with restrictions, including customer deposits on home sales that are temporarily restricted by regulatory requirements until title transfers to the homebuyer.

Notes receivable policy

Notes receivable

In certain instances, we may accept consideration for land sales or other transactions in the form of a note receivable. The counterparties for these transactions are generally land developers or other real estate investors. We consider the creditworthiness of the counterparty when evaluating the relative risk and return involved in pursuing the applicable transaction. Due to the unique facts and circumstances surrounding each receivable, we assess the need for an allowance on an individual basis. Factors considered as part of this assessment include the counterparty's payment history, the value of any underlying collateral, communications with the counterparty, knowledge of the counterparty's financial condition and plans, and the current and expected economic environment. Allowances are recorded in other expense (income), net when it becomes likely that some amount will not be collectible. Such receivables are reported net of allowance for credit losses within other assets. Notes receivable are written off when it is determined that collection efforts will no longer be pursued. Interest income is recognized as earned.

Earnings Per Share Policy

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common shareholders (the “numerator”) by the weighted-average number of common shares, adjusted for non-vested shares of restricted stock (the “denominator”) for the period. Computing diluted earnings per share is similar to computing basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of stock options, non-vested restricted stock, and other potentially dilutive instruments. Any stock options that have an exercise price greater than the average market price are considered to be anti-dilutive and are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. Due to the net loss recorded during the periods, all stock options, non-vested restricted stock, and other potentially dilutive instruments were excluded from the calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are participating securities and, therefore, are included in computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends or dividend equivalents and their respective participation rights in undistributed earnings. Although our outstanding restricted stock and restricted stock units are considered participating securities, there were no earnings attributable to restricted shareholders during the three months ended March 31, 2012 or 2011.

Land under Option Arrangements Policy

Land, not owned, under option agreements

In the ordinary course of business, we enter into land option agreements in order to procure land for the construction of homes in the future. Pursuant to these land option agreements, we generally provide a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase land at different times in the future, usually at predetermined prices. Under ASC 810, “Consolidation” (“ASC 810”), if the entity holding the land under option is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), our deposit represents a variable interest in that entity. If we are determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, then we are required to consolidate the VIE.

Only a portion of our land option agreements are with entities considered VIEs. In evaluating whether there exists a need to consolidate a VIE, we take into consideration that the VIE is generally protected from the first dollar of loss under our land option agreement due to our deposit. Likewise, the VIE's gains are generally capped based on the purchase price within the land option agreement. However, we generally have little control or influence over the operations of these VIEs due to our lack of an equity interest in them. Additionally, creditors of the VIE have no recourse against us, and we do not provide financial or other support to these VIEs other than as stipulated in the land option agreements. Our maximum exposure to loss related to these VIEs is generally limited to our deposits and pre-acquisition costs under the applicable land option agreements. In recent years, we have canceled a significant number of land option agreements, which has resulted in significant write-offs of the related deposits and pre-acquisition costs but did not expose us to the overall risks or losses of the applicable VIEs. No VIEs required consolidation under ASC 810 at either March 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011.

Additionally, we determined that certain land option agreements represent financing arrangements pursuant to ASC 470-40, “Accounting for Product Financing Arrangements” (“ASC 470-40”), even though we generally have no obligation to pay these future amounts. As a result, we recorded $26.1 million and $24.9 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, to land, not owned, under option agreements with a corresponding increase to accrued and other liabilities. Such amounts represent the remaining purchase price under the land option agreements, some of which are with VIEs, in the event we exercise the purchase rights under the agreements.

Residential Mortgage Loans Available for Sale Policy

Residential mortgage loans available-for-sale

Substantially all of the loans originated by us are sold in the secondary mortgage market within a short period of time after origination. In accordance with ASC 825, “Financial Instruments” (“ASC 825”), we use the fair value option for residential mortgage loans available-for-sale. Election of the fair value option for these loans allows a better offset of the changes in fair values of the loans and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. We do not designate any derivative instruments as hedges or apply the hedge accounting provisions of ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” Fair values for agency residential mortgage loans available-for-sale are determined based on quoted market prices for comparable instruments. Fair values for non-agency residential mortgage loans available-for-sale are determined based on purchase commitments from whole loan investors and other relevant market information available to management. See Note 10 for discussion of the risks retained related to mortgage loan originations.

Expected gains and losses from the sale of residential mortgage loans and their related servicing rights are included in the measurement of interest rate lock commitments that are accounted for at fair value through Financial Services revenues at the time of commitment. Subsequent changes in the fair value of these loans are reflected in Financial Services revenues as they occur.

Mortgage Servicing Rights Policy

Mortgage servicing rights

We sell the servicing rights for the loans we originate on a flow basis through fixed price servicing sales contracts to reduce the risks and costs inherent in servicing loans. This strategy results in owning the servicing rights for only a short period of time. We recognize the fair value of our rights to service a mortgage loan as revenue at the time of entering into an interest rate lock commitment with a borrower. Due to the short period of time the servicing rights are held, we do not amortize the servicing asset. The servicing sales contracts provide for the reimbursement of payments made by the purchaser if loans prepay within specified periods of time, generally within 90 to 120 days after sale. We establish reserves for this liability at the time the sale is recorded.

Derivatives Policy

Derivative instruments and hedging activities

We are exposed to market risks from commitments to lend, movements in interest rates, and canceled or modified commitments to lend. A commitment to lend at a specific interest rate (an interest rate lock commitment) is a derivative financial instrument (interest rate is locked to the borrower). In order to reduce these risks, we use other derivative financial instruments to economically hedge the interest rate lock commitment. The principal derivative instruments we use to hedge this risk are forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities and whole loan investor commitments. We enter into these derivative financial instruments based upon our portfolio of interest rate lock commitments and closed loans. We do not use any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

Fair values for interest rate lock commitments, including the value of servicing rights, are based on market prices for similar instruments. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had interest rate lock commitments in the total amount of $137.2 million and $97.6 million, respectively, which were originated at interest rates prevailing at the date of commitment. Since we can terminate a loan commitment if the borrower does not comply with the terms of the contract, and some loan commitments may expire without being drawn upon, these commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. We evaluate the creditworthiness of these transactions through our normal credit policies.

Forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities are commitments to either purchase or sell a specified financial instrument at a specified future date for a specified price and may be settled in cash, by offsetting the position, or through the delivery of the financial instrument. Forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities are the predominant derivative financial instruments we use to minimize the market risk during the period from the time we extend an interest rate lock to a loan applicant until the time the loan is sold to an investor. Forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities are valued based on market prices for similar instruments. We also use whole loan investor commitments, which are obligations of the investor to buy loans at a specified price within a specified time period. Fair values for whole loan investor commitments are based on market prices for similar instruments from the specific whole loan investor. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had unexpired forward contracts of $277.0 million and $311.5 million, respectively, and whole loan investor commitments of $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Changes in the fair value of interest rate lock commitments and other derivative financial instruments are recognized in Financial Services revenues, and the fair values are reflected in other assets or other liabilities, as applicable.

There are no credit-risk-related contingent features within our derivative agreements, and counterparty risk is considered minimal. Gains and losses on interest rate lock commitments are substantially offset by corresponding gains or losses on forward contracts on mortgage-backed securities and whole loan investor commitments. We are generally not exposed to variability in cash flows of derivative instruments for more than approximately 60 days.