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Note 16 - Lines of Credit and Total Debt Obligations (Details) - Carrying Amount of Senior Notes (Parentheticals)
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Jan. 10, 2013
5.375% Senior Notes Due December 2014 [Member]      
Note 16 - Lines of Credit and Total Debt Obligations (Details) - Carrying Amount of Senior Notes (Parentheticals) [Line Items]      
Senior notes, interest rate   5.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= mdc_SeniorNotes5.375DueDecember2014Member		  
5.375% Senior Notes Due July 2015 [Member]      
Note 16 - Lines of Credit and Total Debt Obligations (Details) - Carrying Amount of Senior Notes (Parentheticals) [Line Items]      
Senior notes, interest rate   5.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= mdc_SeniorNotes5.375DueJuly2015Member		  
5.625% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]      
Note 16 - Lines of Credit and Total Debt Obligations (Details) - Carrying Amount of Senior Notes (Parentheticals) [Line Items]      
Senior notes, interest rate 5.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= mdc_SeniorNotes5.625Due2020Member		 5.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= mdc_SeniorNotes5.625Due2020Member		  
5.5% Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member]      
Note 16 - Lines of Credit and Total Debt Obligations (Details) - Carrying Amount of Senior Notes (Parentheticals) [Line Items]      
Senior notes, interest rate 5.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= mdc_FivePointFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyFourMember		    
6.000% Senior Notes Due January 2043 [Member]      
Note 16 - Lines of Credit and Total Debt Obligations (Details) - Carrying Amount of Senior Notes (Parentheticals) [Line Items]      
Senior notes, interest rate 6.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= mdc_SeniorNotes6.000DueJanuary2043Member		 6.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= mdc_SeniorNotes6.000DueJanuary2043Member		 6.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= mdc_SeniorNotes6.000DueJanuary2043Member