Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Inventories:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 160,095	$ 343,361	$ 572,225	$ 1,234,252
Prepaid expenses and other assets	44,777	50,423
Total Assets	1,945,441	1,858,725
Accounts payable and other liabilities	51,864	52,446
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	160,095	343,361	572,225	1,234,252
Restricted cash	1,900	667
Accrued liabilities	118,456	119,188
Senior notes, net	744,842	744,108
Mortgage repurchase facility	76,300	48,700
Total Liabilities	1,064,544	990,089
Total Stockholder's Equity	880,897	868,636
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	1,945,441	1,858,725
Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	512,949	300,714
Cash and cash equivalents	129,535	316,418
Land and land under development	489,572	505,338
Marketable securities	519,465	485,434
Other assets, net	77,902	86,700
Prepaid expenses and other assets	44,777	50,423
Total Assets	1,759,445	1,716,864
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	129,535	316,418
Marketable securities	519,465	485,434
Restricted cash	1,859	667
Trade and other receivables	28,163	21,593
Accounts payable	73,055	25,645
Accrued liabilities	118,456	119,188
Senior notes, net	744,842	744,108
Total Liabilities	936,353	888,941
Financial Services [Member]
Inventories:
Cash and cash equivalents	30,560	26,943
Marketable securities	32,473	34,509
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	119,953	78,335
Prepaid expenses and other assets	3,010	2,074
Total Assets	185,996	141,861
Accounts payable and other liabilities	51,864	52,446
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	30,560	26,943
Marketable securities	32,473	34,509
Mortgage repurchase facility	76,327	48,702
Total Liabilities	128,191	101,148
M D C Holdings [Member]
Inventories:
Cash and cash equivalents	125,904	313,566	535,035	1,210,123
Total Assets	890,962	979,423
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	125,904	313,566	535,035	1,210,123
Total Liabilities	10,065	110,787
Total Stockholder's Equity	880,897	868,636
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	890,962	979,423
M D C Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Cash and cash equivalents	125,904	313,566
Marketable securities	519,465	485,434
Investment in subsidiaries	198,465	126,768
Other assets, net	40,565	45,287
Total Assets	890,962	979,423
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	125,904	313,566
Marketable securities	519,465	485,434
Trade and other receivables	6,563	8,368
Accrued liabilities	63,886	67,199
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(798,663)	(700,520)
Senior notes, net	744,842	744,108
Total Liabilities	10,065	110,787
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Inventories:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,308	2,771	4,287	3,258
Total Assets	989,947	819,489
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	3,308	2,771	4,287	3,258
Total Liabilities	869,584	755,768
Total Stockholder's Equity	120,363	63,721
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	989,947	819,489
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	469,495	280,932
Cash and cash equivalents	3,308	2,771
Land and land under development	467,915	489,305
Other assets, net	28,524	33,074
Total Assets	989,947	819,489
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	3,308	2,771
Restricted cash	1,859	667
Trade and other receivables	18,846	12,740
Accounts payable	67,257	23,409
Accrued liabilities	46,761	50,271
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	755,566	682,088
Total Liabilities	869,584	755,768
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Inventories:
Cash and cash equivalents	30,883	27,024	32,903	20,871
Total Assets	264,697	188,377
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	30,883	27,024	32,903	20,871
Total Liabilities	186,595	125,330
Total Stockholder's Equity	78,102	63,047
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	264,697	188,377
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	43,454	19,782
Cash and cash equivalents	323	81
Land and land under development	21,657	16,033
Other assets, net	8,813	8,435
Total Assets	77,001	44,816
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	323	81
Trade and other receivables	2,754	485
Accounts payable	5,798	2,236
Accrued liabilities	7,809	1,814
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	52,839	21,998
Total Liabilities	66,446	26,048
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Inventories:
Cash and cash equivalents	30,560	26,943
Marketable securities	32,473	34,509
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	119,953	78,335
Prepaid expenses and other assets	4,710	3,774
Total Assets	187,696	143,561
Accounts payable and other liabilities	51,864	52,446
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	30,560	26,943
Marketable securities	32,473	34,509
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(8,042)	(1,866)
Mortgage repurchase facility	76,327	48,702
Total Liabilities	120,149	99,282
Eliminations Entries [Member]
Inventories:
Total Assets	(200,165)	(128,564)
ASSETS
Total Liabilities	(1,700)	(1,796)
Total Stockholder's Equity	(198,465)	(126,768)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(200,165)	(128,564)
Eliminations Entries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Investment in subsidiaries	(198,465)	(126,768)
Other assets, net		(96)
Total Assets	(198,465)	(126,864)
ASSETS
Accrued liabilities		(96)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(9,742)	(3,566)
Total Liabilities	(9,742)	(3,662)
Eliminations Entries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Inventories:
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,700)	(1,700)
Total Assets	(1,700)	(1,700)
ASSETS
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	8,042	1,866
Total Liabilities	$ 8,042	$ 1,866