Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012		Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012		Nov. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 548,974		$ 424,504		$ 1,478,599		$ 981,914
Pretax income (loss):
Total pretax income (loss)	26,578		(7,439)		10,047		(81,477)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures					(577)		2,171
Inventory impairments:
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0		6,400		0		22,900		28,100
Land option contract abandonments:
Land Option Contract Abandonment Charges	0		0		284		0
Assets:
Total assets	2,964,841				2,964,841				2,561,698
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	126,549				126,549				123,674
West Coast [Member]
Land option contract abandonments:
Land Option Contract Abandonment Charges	0		0		284		0
Southwest [Member]
Land option contract abandonments:
Land Option Contract Abandonment Charges	0		0		0		0
Central [Member]
Land option contract abandonments:
Land Option Contract Abandonment Charges	0		0		0		0
Southeast [Member]
Land option contract abandonments:
Land Option Contract Abandonment Charges	0		0		0		0
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	545,800		421,555		1,470,404		974,055
Pretax income (loss):
Total pretax income (loss)	24,174		(11,798)		3,006		(89,307)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	(656)		278		(1,658)		(37)
Inventory impairments:
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0		6,403		0		22,912
Assets:
Total assets	2,954,806				2,954,806				2,557,243
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	126,549				126,549				123,674
Financial services [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	3,174		2,949		8,195		7,859
Pretax income (loss):
Total pretax income (loss)	2,404		4,359		7,041		7,830
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	(6)		2,119		1,081		2,208
Assets:
Total assets	10,035				10,035				4,455
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	5,496				5,496				1,630
West Coast [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	266,638		207,239		746,232		445,123
Pretax income (loss):
Total pretax income (loss)	37,607		4,435		75,469		(29,019)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	(36)		(52)		(109)		(129)
Inventory impairments:
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0		933		0		14,040
Assets:
Total assets	1,236,984				1,236,984				930,450
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	39,575				39,575				38,372
Southwest [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	47,437		35,634		126,515		95,127
Pretax income (loss):
Total pretax income (loss)	1,185		(3,434)		2,026		(10,616)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	(755)		(241)		(1,919)		(458)
Inventory impairments:
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0		0		0		2,135
Assets:
Total assets	387,654				387,654				319,863
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	77,721				77,721				75,920
Central [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	154,545		117,099		381,342		285,129
Pretax income (loss):
Total pretax income (loss)	9,085		986		11,569		(3,152)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	0		0		0		0
Inventory impairments:
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0		0		0		1,267
Assets:
Total assets	449,870				449,870				369,294
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	0				0				0
Southeast [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	77,180		61,583		216,315		148,676
Pretax income (loss):
Total pretax income (loss)	(9,920)		5,174		(35,012)		5,494
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	135		571		370		550
Inventory impairments:
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0		5,470		0		5,470
Assets:
Total assets	431,270				431,270				341,460
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	9,253				9,253				9,382
Corporate and Other [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Pretax income (loss):
Total pretax income (loss)	(13,783)	[1]	(18,959)	[1]	(51,046)	[1]	(52,014)	[1]
Assets:
Total assets	$ 449,028				$ 449,028				$ 596,176

[1]