Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income taxes Our effective tax rate is affected by a number of factors, the most significant of which are the valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets and changes in our unrecognized tax benefits. Due to the effects of these factors, our effective tax rates in 2013 and 2012 are not correlated to the amount of our income or loss before income taxes. From 2007 to 2011, we generated significant deferred tax assets primarily from asset impairments combined with reduced operational profitability. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had deferred tax assets of $2.3 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively. We evaluate our deferred tax assets each period to determine if a valuation allowance is required based on whether it is "more likely than not" that some portion of the deferred tax assets would not be realized. The ultimate realization of these deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of sufficient taxable income during future periods. We conduct our evaluation by considering all available positive and negative evidence. This evaluation considers, among other factors, historical operating results, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, and the outlooks for the U.S. housing industry and broader economy. Based on our evaluation through June 30, 2013, we fully reserved our net deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of their realization. One of the primary pieces of negative evidence we considered was the significant losses we incurred in recent years, including being in a three-year cumulative pre-tax loss position through June 30, 2013. Consistent with the above process, we evaluated the need for a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets at September 30, 2013, and determined that the valuation allowance against substantially all of our federal deferred tax assets and a significant portion of our state deferred tax assets was no longer required. Accordingly, we reversed $2.1 billion of valuation allowance in the quarter ended September 30, 2013. This reversal is reflected in our income tax expense (benefit) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. When a change in valuation allowance is recognized in an interim period, a portion of the valuation allowance to be reversed must be allocated to the remaining interim periods. Accordingly, a portion of the remaining valuation allowance of $231.0 million at September 30, 2013, will reverse in the fourth quarter of 2013. The other components of the remaining valuation allowance relate primarily to state net operating losses that have not met the "more likely than not" realization threshold. We conducted our evaluation by considering all available positive and negative evidence. The principal positive evidence that led to the reversal of the valuation allowance included: (1) our emergence from a three-year cumulative loss in 2013; (2) the significant positive income we generated during 2012 and 2013, including six consecutive quarters of pretax income; (3) continued improvements in 2013 over recent years in other key operating metrics, including revenues, gross margin, overhead leverage, and backlog; (4) our forecasted future profitability; (5) improvement in our financial position; and (6) significant evidence that conditions in the U.S. housing industry are more favorable than in recent years and our belief that conditions will continue to be favorable over the long-term. Even if industry conditions weaken from current levels, we believe we will be able to adjust our operations to sustain long-term profitability. The accounting for deferred taxes is based upon an estimate of future results. Differences between our estimated and actual results could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial position and our ability to fully realize our deferred tax assets. Changes in existing tax laws could also affect actual tax results and the realization of deferred tax assets over time. As a result of our merger with Centex in August 2009, our ability to use certain of Centex’s pre-ownership change NOL carryforwards and built-in losses or deductions is limited by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Section 382 limitation is approximately $67.4 million per year for NOLs, losses realized on built-in loss assets that are sold within 60 months of the ownership change (i.e. before August 2014), and certain deductions. We do not believe that the Section 382 limitation will prevent the Company from using Centex’s pre-ownership change federal NOL carryforwards and built-in losses or deductions. At September 30, 2013, we had $165.9 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which $31.0 million would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. Additionally, we have $32.9 million of related accrued interest and penalties at September 30, 2013. It is reasonably possible within the next twelve months that our gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $130.0 million, excluding interest and penalties, primarily due to expirations of certain statutes of limitations and potential settlements. We are currently under examination by the IRS and various state taxing jurisdictions and anticipate finalizing certain of the examinations within the next twelve months. The final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable. The statute of limitations for our major tax jurisdictions remains open for examination for tax years 2003 to 2013.

Income taxes

Our effective tax rate is affected by a number of factors, the most significant of which are the valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets and changes in our unrecognized tax benefits. Due to the effects of these factors, our effective tax rates in 2013 and 2012 are not correlated to the amount of our income or loss before income taxes.

From 2007 to 2011, we generated significant deferred tax assets primarily from asset impairments combined with reduced operational profitability. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had deferred tax assets of $2.3 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively. We evaluate our deferred tax assets each period to determine if a valuation allowance is required based on whether it is "more likely than not" that some portion of the deferred tax assets would not be realized. The ultimate realization of these deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of sufficient taxable income during future periods. We conduct our evaluation by considering all available positive and negative evidence. This evaluation considers, among other factors, historical operating results, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, and the outlooks for the U.S. housing industry and broader economy. Based on our evaluation through June 30, 2013, we fully reserved our net deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of their realization. One of the primary pieces of negative evidence we considered was the significant losses we incurred in recent years, including being in a three-year cumulative pre-tax loss position through June 30, 2013.

Consistent with the above process, we evaluated the need for a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets at September 30, 2013, and determined that the valuation allowance against substantially all of our federal deferred tax assets and a significant portion of our state deferred tax assets was no longer required. Accordingly, we reversed $2.1 billion of valuation allowance in the quarter ended September 30, 2013. This reversal is reflected in our income tax expense (benefit) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. When a change in valuation allowance is recognized in an interim period, a portion of the valuation allowance to be reversed must be allocated to the remaining interim periods. Accordingly, a portion of the remaining valuation allowance of $231.0 million at September 30, 2013, will reverse in the fourth quarter of 2013. The other components of the remaining valuation allowance relate primarily to state net operating losses that have not met the "more likely than not" realization threshold.

We conducted our evaluation by considering all available positive and negative evidence. The principal positive evidence that led to the reversal of the valuation allowance included: (1) our emergence from a three-year cumulative loss in 2013; (2) the significant positive income we generated during 2012 and 2013, including six consecutive quarters of pretax income; (3) continued improvements in 2013 over recent years in other key operating metrics, including revenues, gross margin, overhead leverage, and backlog; (4) our forecasted future profitability; (5) improvement in our financial position; and (6) significant evidence that conditions in the U.S. housing industry are more favorable than in recent years and our belief that conditions will continue to be favorable over the long-term. Even if industry conditions weaken from current levels, we believe we will be able to adjust our operations to sustain long-term profitability.

The accounting for deferred taxes is based upon an estimate of future results. Differences between our estimated and actual results could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial position and our ability to fully realize our deferred tax assets. Changes in existing tax laws could also affect actual tax results and the realization of deferred tax assets over time.

As a result of our merger with Centex in August 2009, our ability to use certain of Centex’s pre-ownership change NOL carryforwards and built-in losses or deductions is limited by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Section 382 limitation is approximately $67.4 million per year for NOLs, losses realized on built-in loss assets that are sold within 60 months of the ownership change (i.e. before August 2014), and certain deductions. We do not believe that the Section 382 limitation will prevent the Company from using Centex’s pre-ownership change federal NOL carryforwards and built-in losses or deductions.

At September 30, 2013, we had $165.9 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which $31.0 million would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. Additionally, we have $32.9 million of related accrued interest and penalties at September 30, 2013. It is reasonably possible within the next twelve months that our gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $130.0 million, excluding interest and penalties, primarily due to expirations of certain statutes of limitations and potential settlements. We are currently under examination by the IRS and various state taxing jurisdictions and anticipate finalizing certain of the examinations within the next twelve months. The final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable. The statute of limitations for our major tax jurisdictions remains open for examination for tax years 2003 to 2013.