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ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) state region community | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) state region community | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Entity operations in number of regions | region | 3 |  | 3 |  |
Number of states in regions | state | 9 |  | 9 |  |
Number of communities in which homes are sold | community | 237 |  | 237 |  |
Money market funds | $ 100 |  | $ 100 |  | $ 20,000
Deposits on real estate under option or contract | 91,053 |  | 91,053 |  | 87,839
Adjustments to warranty reserve balance | 0 | $ 0 | (275) | $ 750 |
Cash and cash equivalents [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Amounts in transit from title companies for home closings | 64,900 |  | 64,900 |  | 74,500
Prepaids, other assets and goodwill [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  | (10,700)
Senior and convertible senior notes, net [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  | $ 10,700
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Base price per house for sale range | 162 |  | $ 162 |  |
Community life cycle range |  |  | 3 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Non-Structural Items [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period following home closings |  |  | 1 year |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Base price per house for sale range | $ 1,440 |  | $ 1,440 |  |
Community life cycle range |  |  | 5 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Non-Structural Items [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period following home closings |  |  | 2 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Structural [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Organization and Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period following home closings |  |  | 10 years |  |

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