Commitments and Contingencies (Narratives) (Details)		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		May. 31, 2015 USD ($) Home	May. 31, 2014 USD ($)	May. 31, 2015 USD ($) Home	May. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2014 USD ($) Home
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Structural warranty provided by the company (in years)				10 years
Minimum warranty on electrical and other building systems (in years)				2 years
Maximum warranty on electrical and other building systems (in years)				5 years
Warranty for other components of a home (in years)				1 year
Payments		$ (7,047,000)	$ (11,451,000)	$ (14,642,000)	$ (20,162,000)
Adjustment to increase warranty liability	[1]	3,411,000	4,609,000	7,034,000	4,609,000
Performance bonds		553,000,000		553,000,000		$ 541,600,000
Letters of credit outstanding		27,000,000		27,000,000		26,700,000
Cash deposits		31,278,000		31,278,000		33,059,000
Aggregate purchase price of land		907,325,000		907,325,000		958,470,000
Water Intrusion [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Receivable		7,034,000	5,609,000	7,034,000	5,609,000
Warranty Liability Associated with Water Intrusion		$ 2,400,000		$ 2,400,000		$ 9,400,000
Number of Homes Affected by Water Intrusion | Home		141		141		324
Additional Number of Affected Homes Associated with Repair Costs | Home				37
Number of Affected Homes on which Repairs Were Resolved | Home				220
Payments		$ (3,400,000)	$ (8,100,000)	$ (7,500,000)	$ (14,100,000)
Payments made as repair costs for homes with Water Intrusion		(70,800,000)		(70,800,000)
Estimated repair costs for homes with Water Intrusion		$ 73,200,000		73,200,000
Insurance Recoveries				5,000,000
Product Liability Contingency, Third Party Recovery				22,600,000		$ 26,600,000
Product Liability Contingency, Third Party Recovery Included In Warranty Liability				2,400,000
Minimum [Member] | Florida Attorney General [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Liability Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Best Estimate				0
Minimum [Member] | Water Intrusion [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Liability Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Best Estimate				0
Maximum [Member] | Florida Attorney General [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Liability Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Best Estimate				5,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Water Intrusion [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Liability Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Best Estimate				$ 3,000,000

[1] As discussed below, adjustments for the three months and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014 were primarily comprised of a reclassification of estimated minimum probable recoveries to receivables. Adjustments for the three months and six months ended May 31, 2014 also included a reclassification of estimated minimum probable recoveries to establish a separate accrual for a water intrusion-related inquiry.