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Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements (Details) - Amortized Cost and Estimated Fair Value of Available-for-Sale Marketable Securities (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost $ 151,627us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost $ 575,498us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Fair Value 156,140us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities 588,067us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Homebuilding [Member]    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 116,009us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember		 375,142us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember
Fair Value 120,274us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember		 385,303us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember
Amortized Cost 20,660us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember		 181,635us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember
Fair Value 20,604us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember		 183,718us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember
Amortized Cost 136,669us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember		 556,777us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember
Fair Value 140,878us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember		 569,021us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_HomebuildingMember
Financial Services [Member]    
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 9,028us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember		 4,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember
Fair Value 9,286us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember		 4,020us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember
Amortized Cost 5,930us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember		 14,721us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember
Fair Value 5,976us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember		 15,026us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember
Amortized Cost 14,958us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember		 18,721us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember
Fair Value $ 15,262us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember		 $ 19,046us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mdc_FinancialServicesMember