Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012 Home	Aug. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Nov. 30, 2012 Home	Nov. 30, 2011 Home	Nov. 30, 2010 Home	Nov. 30, 2009
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Structural warranty provided by the company					10 years
Minimum warranty on electrical and other building systems					2 years
Maximum warranty on electrical and other building systems					5 years
Warranty for other components of a home					1 year
Company's warranty liability	$ 47,822,000				$ 47,822,000	$ 67,693,000	$ 93,988,000	$ 135,749,000
Warranty liability associated with defective drywall	1,500,000				1,500,000	4,800,000	11,300,000
Number of homes containing or suspected of containing defective drywall	17				17	87	296
Additional Number of affected homes associated with repair costs					2
Payments made for the repair of homes containing defective drywall					2,900,000	13,700,000	25,500,000
Payments made as repair costs for homes containing defective drywall	43,400,000				43,400,000
Estimated repair costs for homes containing defective drywall.					44,900,000
Accumulated number of homes identified affected associated with overall warranty liability.	469				469
Accumulated Number of affected homes on which repairs were resolved.	452				452
Insurance recovery as reduction to construction and land costs		16,500,000	10,000,000		26,500,000
Warranty adjustment reduction of construction and land cost	2,600,000		(11,200,000)	(7,400,000)
Company's estimated liabilities for construction defect	93,300,000				93,300,000	94,900,000
Expenses associated with self-insurance					8,700,000	7,200,000	7,400,000
Performance bonds	286,100,000				286,100,000	361,600,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	41,900,000				41,900,000	63,800,000
Deposits under Land Option and Other Similar Contracts	26,200,000				26,200,000
Non refundable deposits related to land option and other similar contracts	25,682,000				25,682,000	20,927,000
Letters of credit	500,000				500,000	1,700,000
Aggregate purchase price of land	$ 625,335,000				$ 625,335,000	$ 345,065,000
Defective Drywall Material
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits in which company is a defendant	10				10
Number of omnibus class action lawsuits	7				7
Florida State Court | Defective Drywall Material
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits in which company is a defendant	2				2
Louisiana Federal Court | Defective Drywall Material
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits in which company is a defendant	1				1