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Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]      
Earnest Money Deposits $ 2,800,000us-gaap_EarnestMoneyDeposits $ 2,200,000us-gaap_EarnestMoneyDeposits  
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 3,800,000us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 3,700,000us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 4,400,000us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Mortgage Loans 13,600,000us-gaap_LoansHeldForSaleMortgages 25,900,000us-gaap_LoansHeldForSaleMortgages  
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net (800,000)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet (100,000)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet 1,100,000us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Mortgage Loans 15,500,000us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfMortgageLoans 28,700,000us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfMortgageLoans 21,700,000us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfMortgageLoans
Land Development And Home Construction Accruals Current And Noncurrent 10,100,000mdc_LandDevelopmentAndHomeConstructionAccrualsCurrentAndNoncurrent 9,600,000mdc_LandDevelopmentAndHomeConstructionAccrualsCurrentAndNoncurrent  
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]      
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Notional Amount 42,800,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateLockCommitmentsMember
69,800,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateLockCommitmentsMember
 
Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate 3.69%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateLockCommitmentsMember
4.13%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateLockCommitmentsMember
 
Employee Stock Option [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period 7 years    
Forward Sales of Mortgage-backed Securities [Member]      
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Notional Amount $ 41,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= mdc_ForwardSalesOfMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
$ 74,500,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= mdc_ForwardSalesOfMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
 
Minimum [Member]      
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 2 years    
Maximum [Member]      
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life 29 years