Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ (55,418)	$ (18,813)
Net cash used in investing activities	(107,069)	(3,953)
Mortgage repurchase facility	(34,859)	(22,862)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	247,813
Dividend payments		(11,994)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	5,118
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	218,072	(34,856)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	55,585	(57,622)
Beginning of period	160,095	343,361
End of period	215,680	285,739
M D C Holdings [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(7,369)	(13,986)
Net cash used in investing activities	(105,589)	(2,385)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	(86,949)	(25,203)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	247,813
Dividend payments		(11,994)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	5,118
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	165,982	(37,197)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	53,024	(53,568)
Beginning of period	125,904	313,566
End of period	178,928	259,998
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(151,915)	(25,595)
Net cash used in investing activities	(571)	(147)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	153,486	26,234
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	153,486	26,234
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,000	492
Beginning of period	3,308	2,771
End of period	4,308	3,263
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	103,866	20,768
Net cash used in investing activities	(909)	(1,421)
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries	(66,537)	(1,031)
Mortgage repurchase facility	(34,859)	(22,862)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(101,396)	(23,893)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,561	(4,546)
Beginning of period	30,883	27,024
End of period	32,444	22,478
Eliminations Entries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Payments from (advances to) subsidiaries
Mortgage repurchase facility
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes
Dividend payments
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	0	0
End of period	$ 0	$ 0