Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Impacts of Adopting ASC 606) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2019	Feb. 28, 2018	Dec. 01, 2018	Nov. 30, 2018
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 811,483	$ 871,623
Total pretax income	34,511	46,045
Income tax expense	(4,500)	(117,300)
Net income (loss)	$ 30,011	$ (71,255)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ (0.82)
Assets
Inventories	$ 3,683,763			$ 3,582,839
Property and equipment, net	55,330			24,283
Total assets	5,173,656			5,073,571
Stockholders’ equity:
Retained earnings	1,936,523		$ 1,908,778	1,897,168
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total pretax income	35,826
Income tax expense	4,800
Net income (loss)	$ 31,026
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32
Stockholders’ equity:
Retained earnings	$ 1,925,928			1,897,168
Financial Service [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Contract assets	19,800		19,700
Total revenues	2,695	$ 2,418
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,024)	(953)
Operating income	1,671	1,465
Total pretax income	2,473	1,884
Assets
Total assets	29,275		32,108	12,380
Financial Service [Member] | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,590
Assets
Total assets	9,442			12,380
Home Building [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenues	808,788	869,205
Construction and land costs	(670,855)	(729,478)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(106,594)	(95,724)
Operating income	31,339	44,003
Total pretax income	32,038	44,161
Assets
Inventories	3,683,763		3,547,551	3,582,839
Deferred tax assets, net	433,295		437,796	441,820
Property and equipment, net	55,330		55,477	24,283
Total assets	5,144,381			5,061,191
Home Building [Member] | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenues	808,155
Construction and land costs	(676,115)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(99,281)
Operating income	32,759
Assets
Inventories	3,722,475			3,582,839
Deferred tax assets, net	437,019			441,820
Property and equipment, net	22,132			$ 24,283
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Assets
Inventories		0	(35,288)
Property and equipment, net		$ 0	31,194
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total pretax income	(1,315)
Income tax expense	(300)
Net income (loss)	$ (1,015)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)
Stockholders’ equity:
Retained earnings	$ 10,595		11,610
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | Financial Service [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Contract assets			19,728
Total revenues	105
Assets
Total assets	19,833
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | Home Building [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenues	633
Construction and land costs	(5,260)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	7,313
Operating income	(1,420)
Assets
Inventories	(38,712)		(35,288)
Deferred tax assets, net	(3,724)		(4,024)
Property and equipment, net	$ 33,198		$ 31,194