Notes Payable (Schedule Notes Payable) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 2,063,127	$ 2,324,845
Mortgages and Land Contracts Due to Land Sellers and Other Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	44,295	$ 10,203
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior notes due June 15, 2018 at 7 1/4%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate		7.25%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 0	$ 299,867
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Nineteen at Four Point Seven Five Percent [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	4.75%	4.75%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 399,207	$ 398,397
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior notes due March 15, 2020 at 8.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	8.00%	8.00%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 347,390	$ 346,238
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes due December 15, 2021 at 7.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.00%	7.00%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 447,166	$ 446,608
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior notes due September 15, 2022 at 7.50%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.50%	7.50%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 347,603	$ 347,234
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty Three At Seven Point Six Two Five Percent [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.625%	7.625%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 247,984	$ 247,726
Convertible Notes Payable [Member] | Convertible Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Nineteen At One Point Three Seven Five Percent [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	1.375%	1.375%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 229,482	$ 228,572