Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details Textual) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Communities
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2012
Under Contract [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Under Contract [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Central [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Central [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Central [Member]
Mothballed [Member]
Communities
Dec. 31, 2011
West [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
West [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
West [Member]
Mothballed [Member]
Communities
Dec. 31, 2012
Las Vegas Wind-down [Member]
Communities
Lot
Dec. 31, 2012
Las Vegas Wind-down [Member]
Maximum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Las Vegas Wind-down [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]                              
Number of mothball communities                 2     8      
Carrying value of the community                 $ 3,400,000     $ 35,100,000      
Change in Number of properties in mothball Status   1                          
Change in Amount of properties in mothball Status   2,000,000                          
Impairment charges related to communities   0 3,913,000 1,897,000     150,000 1,502,000   3,408,000 395,000        
Number of lots remaining to sell                         24    
Number of communities to which homes are sold   158                     1    
Value of remaining lots and associated home inventory                         4,800,000    
Construction completion period                           9 months 6 months
Value of remaining assets related to properties not being developed                         17,800,000    
Land held for sale   21,650,000 29,908,000   2,400,000 6,500,000                  
Proceeds from sale of land held for sale under contract 3,300,000                            
Capitalized interest related to joint venture investments   $ 539,000 $ 750,000