Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Details Textual) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Cummunities
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Cummunities
Jun. 30, 2011
Jul. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]            
Number of remaining actively selling communities 151   151      
Parcel of land under contract $ 29,733,000   $ 29,733,000     $ 29,908,000
Impairments recorded on land held for sale 669,000 0 669,000 0    
Impairment Charges   311,000 0 311,000    
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest (Textual) [Abstract]            
Capitalized interest related to joint venture investments 750,000   750,000     750,000
Parcel of land under contract cash to be collected         3,300,000  
Under Contract [Member]
            
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]            
Parcel of land under contract 6,500,000   6,500,000      
Central Region [Member] | Mothballed [Member]
            
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]            
Carrying value of the community 29,300,000   29,300,000      
Number of mothball communities     8      
West Region [Member] | Mothballed [Member]
            
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]            
Carrying value of the community 11,300,000   11,300,000      
Number of mothball communities     3      
Las Vegas Wind-down [Member]
            
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]            
Number of remaining actively selling communities 2   2      
Number of lots remaining to sell 53   53      
Value of remaining lots and associated home inventory 6,000,000   6,000,000      
Value of remaining assets related to properties not being developed 23,200,000   23,200,000      
Impairments recorded on land held for sale     $ 669,000      
Las Vegas Wind-down [Member] | Maximum [Member]
            
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]            
Construction completion period     18 months      
Las Vegas Wind-down [Member] | Minimum [Member]
            
Real Estate and Capitalized Interest [Line Items]            
Construction completion period     12 months