Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Narrative (Details)

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BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Narrative (Details)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
state
region
community
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Jan. 01, 2018
USD ($)
Organization and Presentation [Line Items]        
Entity operations in number of regions | region 3      
Number of states in regions | state 9      
Number of communities in which homes are sold | community 244      
Deposits on real estate under option or contract $ 59,945 $ 85,556    
Depreciation expense 15,900 14,300 $ 12,700  
Debt issuance costs related to credit facility, net 3,000 2,700    
Accumulated amortization of debt issuance costs 6,500 5,600    
Advertising expense 15,800 15,000 14,800  
Contribution to the 401(K) Retirement Plan 2,900 2,700 $ 2,400  
Increase (decrease) to warranty reserve balance (1,639) (1,012)    
Decrease to warranty reserve balance 3,700      
Increase to warranty reserve balance 2,100      
Retained earnings 991,844 848,589    
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]        
Organization and Presentation [Line Items]        
Amounts in transit from title companies for home closings 107,100 $ 75,300    
Minimum [Member]        
Organization and Presentation [Line Items]        
Base price per house for sale range $ 170      
Community life cycle range 3 years      
Property and equipment useful life 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 $ 1,390      
Community life cycle range 5 years      
Property and equipment useful life 7 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      
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]        
Organization and Presentation [Line Items]        
Retained earnings       $ 600