Average FICO credit score of the entity's homebuyers for loans originated during the period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents the average number of days before the closing of loan for which it would lock the interest rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

This element represents cash deposits and/or letters of credit provided to the selling party in accordance with the terms of a land purchase contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

This element represents the maximum number of days of loan commitment extension.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents average combined loan-to-value ratio for mortgage loans originated by the entity during the period. Loan to value is an equation that mortgage lenders use to assess their risk in lending a borrower money to purchase property. The loan to value equation is essentially a ratio of the amount of money being borrowed to the value or purchase price of the property, whichever is less.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The composition of mortgage loan types originated by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

The total of all rent expense incurred under operating leases for the period prior to deducting any sublease amounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income, for discontinued operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

This element represents the aggregate purchase price of lots expected to be purchased in accordance with executed lot option purchase contracts containing provisions that require the parties to the option contract to perform all of the obligations under the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

This element represents the aggregate purchase price of lots expected to be purchased in accordance with executed lot option purchase contracts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative liability.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

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- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

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

-Publisher FASB

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-Section 50

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- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments for leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 20

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Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

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- Definition

Contractually required future rental payments receivable on noncancelable subleasing arrangements.

+ References

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Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

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Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

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Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

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Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

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Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

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- Definition

Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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- Definition

The total amount of sublease rental income recognized during the period that reduces the entity's rent expense incurred under operating leases.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014 item	Dec. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011 item	Dec. 31, 2010 item	Dec. 31, 2009 item
Company's rent expense
Total rent expense	$ 7,333,000ryl_OperatingLeaseRentExpenseGross	$ 6,553,000ryl_OperatingLeaseRentExpenseGross	$ 5,933,000ryl_OperatingLeaseRentExpenseGross
Income from subleases	(305,000)	(323,000)	(385,000)
Net rent expense	7,028,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	6,230,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	5,548,000us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet
Rent expense from discontinued operations			556,000
Future minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases
2015	5,270,000
2016	4,276,000
2017	3,126,000
2018	2,062,000
2019	1,318,000
Thereafter	892,000
Less: income from subleases	(198,000)
Total lease commitments	16,746,000
Mortgage loan types originated (as a percent)	100.00%ryl_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePercentage	100.00%ryl_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePercentage	100.00%ryl_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePercentage	100.00%ryl_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePercentage	100.00%ryl_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePercentage	100.00%ryl_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePercentage
Average FICO credit score (unaudited)	732ryl_AverageHomebuyersFICOScores	733ryl_AverageHomebuyersFICOScores	731ryl_AverageHomebuyersFICOScores	726ryl_AverageHomebuyersFICOScores	723ryl_AverageHomebuyersFICOScores	717ryl_AverageHomebuyersFICOScores
Average combined loan-to-value ratio (unaudited) (as a percent)	87.80%	89.80%	90.10%	90.30%	90.80%	91.40%
Mortgage interest rate lock commitments ("IRLCs")
Commitments and Contingencies
Average number of days of interest rate commitment before closing	180 days
Maximum number of days of loan commitment extension		270 days
Notional amount	148,000,000	269,200,000
Development bonds
Future minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases
Guarantee obligations estimated exposure pertaining to land development and improvements	189,400,000	138,900,000
Performance-related cash deposits and letters of credit
Future minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases
Guarantee obligations estimated exposure pertaining to land development and improvements	87,300,000	64,000,000
Prime
Future minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases
Mortgage loan types originated (as a percent)	67.60%	57.20%	48.60%	42.20%	34.90%	32.90%
Government (FHA/VA/USDA)
Future minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases
Mortgage loan types originated (as a percent)	32.40%	42.80%	51.40%	57.80%	65.10%	67.10%
Lot option purchase contracts
Commitments and Contingencies
Cash deposits and/or letters of credit	72,800,000	73,000,000
Aggregate purchase price	847,100,000	869,100,000
Purchase commitments, specific performance	$ 1,400,000	$ 2,500,000