Segment Information (Total Assets And Inventory By Reportable Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	$ 1,042,147	$ 1,116,184	$ 1,210,717
Land under development	2,189,387	2,435,378	2,610,501
Raw land	747,027	662,484	815,250
House and land inventory	3,978,561	4,214,046	4,636,468
Total assets	8,734,143	6,734,409	6,885,620
Northeast [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	212,611	198,549	237,722
Land under development	325,241	445,436	457,010
Raw land	106,681	109,136	119,549
House and land inventory	644,533	753,121	814,281
Total assets	731,259	866,024	957,844
Southeast [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	139,484	147,227	166,302
Land under development	274,981	286,210	315,208
Raw land	146,617	120,193	123,209
House and land inventory	561,082	553,630	604,719
Total assets	599,271	590,650	626,506
Florida [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	140,366	130,276	137,900
Land under development	295,631	310,625	321,841
Raw land	104,766	100,633	110,040
House and land inventory	540,763	541,534	569,781
Total assets	618,449	620,220	637,418
Texas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	130,398	145,594	136,325
Land under development	223,979	256,704	294,814
Raw land	57,480	54,556	77,125
House and land inventory	411,857	456,854	508,264
Total assets	466,198	523,843	568,974
North [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	227,537	219,172	268,011
Land under development	350,239	369,144	360,202
Raw land	78,945	46,414	91,260
House and land inventory	656,721	634,730	719,473
Total assets	716,239	680,447	803,174
Southwest [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	159,350	226,204	216,067
Land under development	512,164	496,488	577,656
Raw land	201,659	167,295	216,554
House and land inventory	873,173	889,987	1,010,277
Total assets	940,462	963,540	1,099,058
Other Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	32,401	49,162	48,390
Land under development	207,152	270,771	283,770
Raw land	50,879	64,257	77,513
House and land inventory	290,432	384,190	409,673
Total assets	4,334,591	2,140,739	1,904,847
Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Homes under construction	1,042,147	1,116,184	1,210,717
Land under development	2,189,387	2,435,378	2,610,501
Raw land	747,027	662,484	815,250
House and land inventory	3,978,561	4,214,046	4,636,468
Total assets	8,406,469	6,385,463	6,597,821
Financial Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	$ 327,674	$ 348,946	$ 287,799

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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The net carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the sum of the various components of an operative builder's inventory, including finished homes. Operative builders primarily consist of entities that develop land, construct residential homes and commercial and industrial buildings thereon, and sell them to home buyers and operators of the commercial and industrial properties.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, net of valuation allowances and impairment losses, of costs of land expected to be developed in the near term plus capitalized costs of development, for purposes of selling completed units to home buyers or commercial or industrial entities..

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Carrying amount of land available for development.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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