Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 263,797	$ 343,361	$ 567,501	$ 572,225
Prepaid expenses and other assets	47,616	50,423
Inventories:
Total Assets	1,908,423	1,858,725
Accrued liabilities	106,457	119,188
Senior notes, net	744,654	744,108
Total Liabilities	1,001,861	990,089
Total Stockholder's Equity	906,562	868,636
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	1,908,423	1,858,725
Homebuilding [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Accounts payable	49,636	25,645
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	235,273	316,418
Marketable securities	503,805	485,434
Restricted cash	2,084	667
Trade and other receivables	35,768	21,593
Prepaid expenses and other assets	47,616	50,423
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	504,016	300,714
Land and land under development	393,170	505,338
Other assets, net	81,405	86,700
Total Assets	1,755,521	1,716,864
Accrued liabilities	106,457	119,188
Senior notes, net	744,654	744,108
Total Liabilities	900,747	888,941
Financial Services [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Accounts payable and other liabilities	54,226	52,446
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	28,524	26,943
Marketable securities	32,915	34,509
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	86,648	78,335
Prepaid expenses and other assets	4,815	2,074
Inventories:
Total Assets	152,902	141,861
Mortgage repurchase facility	46,888	48,702
Total Liabilities	101,114	101,148
M D C Holdings [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	231,595	313,566	532,302	535,035
Inventories:
Total Assets	959,423	979,423
Total Liabilities	52,861	110,787
Total Stockholder's Equity	906,562	868,636
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	959,423	979,423
M D C Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	231,595	313,566
Marketable securities	503,805	485,434
Trade and other receivables	8,594	8,368
Inventories:
Investment in subsidiaries	172,975	126,768
Other assets, net	42,454	45,287
Total Assets	959,423	979,423
Accrued liabilities	56,840	67,199
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(748,633)	(700,520)
Senior notes, net	744,654	744,108
Total Liabilities	52,861	110,787
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	3,475	2,771	2,845	4,287
Inventories:
Total Assets	907,178	819,489
Total Liabilities	815,007	755,768
Total Stockholder's Equity	92,171	63,721
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	907,178	819,489
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Accounts payable	46,958	23,409
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	3,475	2,771
Restricted cash	2,084	667
Trade and other receivables	25,986	12,740
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	469,618	280,932
Land and land under development	376,059	489,305
Other assets, net	29,956	33,074
Total Assets	907,178	819,489
Accrued liabilities	46,277	50,271
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	721,772	682,088
Total Liabilities	815,007	755,768
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	28,727	27,024	32,354	32,903
Inventories:
Total Assets	216,497	188,377
Total Liabilities	135,693	125,330
Total Stockholder's Equity	80,804	63,047
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	216,497	188,377
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Accounts payable	2,678	2,236
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	203	81
Trade and other receivables	1,188	485
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	34,398	19,782
Land and land under development	17,111	16,033
Other assets, net	8,995	8,435
Total Assets	61,895	44,816
Accrued liabilities	3,340	1,814
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	33,776	21,998
Total Liabilities	39,794	26,048
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Accounts payable and other liabilities	54,226	52,446
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	28,524	26,943
Marketable securities	32,915	34,509
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	86,648	78,335
Prepaid expenses and other assets	6,515	3,774
Inventories:
Total Assets	154,602	143,561
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(5,215)	(1,866)
Mortgage repurchase facility	46,888	48,702
Total Liabilities	95,899	99,282
Eliminations Entries [Member]
Inventories:
Total Assets	(174,675)	(128,564)
Total Liabilities	(1,700)	(1,796)
Total Stockholder's Equity	(172,975)	(126,768)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(174,675)	(128,564)
Eliminations Entries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Investment in subsidiaries	(172,975)	(126,768)
Other assets, net		(96)
Total Assets	(172,975)	(126,864)
Accrued liabilities		(96)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(6,915)	(3,566)
Total Liabilities	(6,915)	(3,662)
Eliminations Entries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,700)	(1,700)
Inventories:
Total Assets	(1,700)	(1,700)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	5,215	1,866
Total Liabilities	$ 5,215	$ 1,866