Inventories (Schedule of Inventories) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	May 31, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013
Inventories
Homes under construction	$ 824,273	$ 586,439
Land under development	1,564,025	1,066,916
Land held for future development	617,820	645,222
Total	3,006,118	2,298,577
West Coast [Member]
Inventories
Homes under construction	465,052	275,516
Land under development	729,946	560,032
Land held for future development	307,179	308,636
Southwest [Member]
Inventories
Homes under construction	46,175	39,661
Land under development	298,501	106,654
Land held for future development	137,605	157,924
Central [Member]
Inventories
Homes under construction	189,191	157,572
Land under development	323,277	238,311
Land held for future development	24,274	15,193
Southeast [Member]
Inventories
Homes under construction	123,855	113,690
Land under development	212,301	161,919
Land held for future development	$ 148,762	$ 163,469

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized construction costs of homes for future sale.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

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Carrying amount net of impairment reserves as of the balance sheet date primarily consisting of deposits for land purchases (including option payments), related acquisition costs, and land which is not expected to be developed in the next two years.

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The net carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the sum of the various components of an operative builder's inventory, including finished homes. Operative builders primarily consist of entities that develop land, construct residential homes and commercial and industrial buildings thereon, and sell them to home buyers and operators of the commercial and industrial properties.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, net of valuation allowances and impairment losses, of costs of land expected to be developed in the near term plus capitalized costs of development, for purposes of selling completed units to home buyers or commercial or industrial entities..

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