Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies. Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Financial Services [Abstract] Financial Services. Financial Services [Text Block] Financial Services Financial Services. Inventories [Abstract] Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures. Fair Value Disclosures Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Supplemental Disclosure to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block] Supplemental Disclosure to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Legal Matters [Abstract] Legal Matters. Variable Interest Entities Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Text Block] Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Abstract] Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures. Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Text Block] Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures. Supplemental Guarantor Information [Abstract] Supplemental Guarantor Information. Supplemental Guarantor Information [Text Block] Supplemental Guarantor Information Supplemental Guarantor Information. Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net loss Net loss Net loss Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax benefit (expense) Income tax expense Financial services Expenses Financial Services Costs, Total Financial Services Costs Homebuilding pretax loss Home Building Revenue Interest income Investment Income, Interest Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses Revenues Revenues Total revenues Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets Assets [Abstract] Total assets Assets Other Assets Other assets Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures, Total Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures Inventories Inventory, Real Estate, Total Inventory, Real Estate Receivables Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net, Total Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Cash and cash equivalents Liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Balance Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total stockholders' equity Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock, at cost Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock Financial services Financial Services Liabilities Financial services Accrued expenses and other liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Total Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Total Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Cash flows from financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash used by financing activities Net cash used by financing activities Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Repurchases of common stock Repurchases of common stock Cash flows from investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash provided (used) by investing activities Payments for (Proceeds from) Productive Assets Purchases of property and equipment, net Sales (purchases) of property and equipment, net Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, net Cash flows from operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net cash used by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net Other, net Other, net Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Total Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Change in assets and liabilities: Inventory impairments and land option contract abandonments The charge against earnings resulting from the write-down of assets from their carrying value to their fair value. Inventory impairments and land option contract abandonments Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Share-based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Tax benefits from stock-based compensation Tax benefits from stock-based compensation Expenses Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities: Financial services: Financial Services Revenue [Abstract] Revenues Financial Services Revenue, Total Financial Services Revenue Construction and land costs Construction and Development Costs, Total Construction and Development Costs Homebuilding: Real Estate Revenue, Net [Abstract] Notes and Loans Payable Mortgages and notes payable Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Payments of cash dividends Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information Abstract. Legal Matters [Text Block] Legal Matters Legal Matters. Payments of cash dividends Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Notes Receivable Receivables Receivables Change in restricted cash Proceeds from (Repayments of) Restricted Cash, Financing Activities Operating Income (Loss) Operating loss Common Stock Issued, Employee Stock Trust Grantor stock ownership trust, at cost Grantor stock ownership trust, at cost Mortgages and Notes Payable [Abstract] Mortgages and Notes Payable Mortgages and Notes Payable Abstract. Mortgages and Notes Payable Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Liabilities, Homebuilding Homebuilding Liabilities, Homebuilding. Change in restricted cash Equity in Income (Loss) of Unconsolidated Joint Venture, Financial Services Equity in income of unconsolidated joint venture Equity in Income (Loss) of Unconsolidated Joint Venture, Financial Services. Income (Loss) Before Tax, Financial Services Financial services pretax income Income (Loss) Before Tax, Financial Services. Income (Loss) Before Tax, Homebuilding Homebuilding pretax loss Income (Loss) Before Tax, Homebuilding. Basic And Diluted Income Loss Per Share Basic and diluted loss per share The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock, and per each share of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents, outstanding during the reporting period. Assets, Homebuilding [Abstract] Homebuilding: Assets, Homebuilding. Assets, Homebuilding Homebuilding Assets, Homebuilding. Liabilities, Homebuilding [Abstract] Homebuilding: Liabilities, Homebuilding. Assets, Financial Services Financial services Assets, Financial Services. Legal Matters Construction and land costs Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures Payments on mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans Proceeds from (Repayments of) Secured Debt Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information. Total Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes Total pretax loss Total pretax loss Total Income (loss) before income taxes Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures Cash And Cash Equivalent Excluding Financial Services Cash And Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalent excluding financial services cash and cash equivalent. Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Including Stock Options Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Including Stock Options, Total Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans Loss (Income) From Equity Method Investments Including Financial Services Loss (Income) From Equity Method Investments Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated joint ventures Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated joint ventures Loss (Income) From Equity Method Investments Including Financial Services Loss (Income) From Equity Method Investments. Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Restricted cash Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments [Abstract] Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments. Inventory Impairments And Land Option Contract Abandonments [Text Block] Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments. Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts Amortization of discounts and issuance costs Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Basic and diluted average shares outstanding The average number of shares issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted EPS, determined based on the timing of shares in the period. Basic and diluted average shares outstanding Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared Cash dividends declared per common share Loss On Loan Guaranty Loss on loan guaranty Loss on loan guaranty Loss on loan guaranty. Interest expense Interest Expense Interest Expense, Total Interest expense Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Gain on sale of operating property Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Events Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block] Recent Accounting Pronouncements Receivables [Abstract] Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Receivables Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Abstract] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities Other Assets [Abstract] Other Assets. Other Assets [Text Block] Other Assets Other Assets. Proceeds from Sale of Property Held-for-sale Proceeds from sale of operating property Write Off Of Debt Issuance Costs On Termination Of Revolving Credit Facility And Loss (Gain) On Early Extinguishment Of Debt (Gain) on early extinguishment of debt/loss on voluntary termination of revolving credit facility Amount represents the write off of amounts previously capitalized as debt issuance costs on termination of revolving credit facility and loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt. Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Events. Variable Interest Entities [Abstract] Variable Interest Entities.