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REAL ESTATE AND CAPITALIZED INTEREST - Summary of Capitalized Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of capitalized interest |  |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized interest, beginning of year |  | $ 54,060 | [1] | $ 32,992 | [1] | $ 21,600
Interest incurred |  | 67,542 |  | 58,374 |  | 51,152
Interest expensed |  | (15,965) |  | (5,163) |  | (15,092)
Interest amortized to cost of home and land closings |  | (44,435) |  | (32,143) |  | (24,668)
Capitalized interest, end of year | [1] | 61,202 |  | 54,060 |  | 32,992
Equity Method Land Ventures [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of capitalized interest |  |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized interest, beginning of year |  | 490 |  | 511 |  |
Capitalized interest, end of year |  | $ 445 |  | $ 490 |  | $ 511
[1] | Approximately $445,000, $490,000 and $511,000 of the capitalized interest is related to our joint venture investments and is a component of “Investments in unconsolidated entities” in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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- Definition Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of interest costs that were capitalized to properties under development during the land development and construction period of a project, and which are included in inventory. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 + Details
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- Definition The amount of interest costs that had been capitalized to inventory which were charged to cost of sales during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 + Details
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- Definition The amount of interest capitalized to an operative builder's inventory during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391 + Details
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