Bond Receivable Amount In Exchange Of Land Development Improvement

No definition available.

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- Definition

Cash Contribution Committed to Charitable Foundation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Impairment On Bond Receivable Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Scheduled Repayment Of Principal

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Definition

The fair value as of the balance sheet date of firm holdings in fixed income obligations issued by state and local governments and authorities. Includes both pledged (to counterparties as collateral for financing transactions) and unpledged holdings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 940

-SubTopic 320

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6475986&loc=d3e42546-110969

+ Details

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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of a type of municipal bond typically used to fund a development project. Also called special assessment limited liability bond, special district bond, special purpose bond, special tax bond and community development obligation. Interest owed to lenders is paid by taxes levied on the community benefiting from the particular bond-funded project. For example, if a bond of this sort was issued to pay for sidewalks to be repaved in a certain community, an additional tax would be levied on homeowners in the area benefiting from this project.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Article 5

-Subsection 20, 22

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13, 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009 Bond Two Thousand Seven Series [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Capital Appreciation Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinate Bond [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bonds received from District in exchange for land improvements					$ 22.5	$ 1.6
Land Improvements to district in exchange for bonds	28.6
Estimated fair value of bonds	8.9
Other-than-temporary impairment on bonds				1.0
Estimated fair value of bonds	12.9
Payments on related party bonds	0.8	0.7	0.5
Cash contribution committed to Richmond American Homes Foundation	$ 1