Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements (Details) - Quantitative Data Regarding Unobservable Inputs and Sensitivity Analysis	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Number of homes closed per year	93
Number of homes closed per year	Increase
Number of homes closed per year	Decrease
Discount rate	11.90%
Discount rate	Decrease
Discount rate	Increase
Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Number of homes closed per year	0
Discount rate	6.00%
Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Number of homes closed per year	120
Discount rate	16.00%

Movement in fair value from decrease in input, discount rate.

No definition available.

Name:	mdc_MovementInFairValueFromDecreaseInInputDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Movement in fair value from decrease in input, number of homes closed in year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdc_MovementInFairValueFromDecreaseInInputNumberOfHomesClosedInYear
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Movement in fair value from increase in input, discount rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdc_MovementInFairValueFromIncreaseInInputDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Movement in fair value from increase in input, number of homes closed in year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdc_MovementInFairValueFromIncreaseInInputNumberOfHomesClosedInYear
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Homes Closed In Period Inputs

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdc_NumberOfHomesClosedInPeriodInputs
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted Average Number Of Homes Closed In Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdc_WeightedAverageNumberOfHomesClosedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInputsAssetsQuantitativeInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bbb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The average discount rate applied to insurance contracts to determine future policy benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482714&loc=d3e14881-158438

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration