Fair Values of Financial and Nonfinancial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015 loan	Dec. 31, 2014 loan
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Senior notes and convertible senior notes, net	$ 1,270,990,000ryl_SeniorNotesNet	$ 1,397,308,000ryl_SeniorNotesNet
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	17,933,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities	17,845,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, unpaid principal balance	84,200,000	147,900,000
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance	2,500,000	5,400,000
Number of loans 90 days or more past due	1	1
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, aggregate carrying value of loans with payments 90 days or more past due	219,000	219,000
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans with payments 90 days or more past due	340,000	340,000
U.S. Treasury securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	276,000	350,000
Municipal debt securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	10,139,000	9,984,000
Time deposits
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	7,518,000	7,511,000
Level 1 \| Recurring Measurement \| U.S. Treasury securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	276,000	350,000
Level 2 \| Recurring Measurement \| Mortgage loans held-for-sale
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	86,699,000	153,366,000
Level 2 \| Recurring Measurement \| Mortgage interest rate lock commitments ("IRLCs")
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	6,765,000	4,229,000
Level 2 \| Recurring Measurement \| Forward-delivery contracts
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	(771,000)	(2,141,000)
Level 2 \| Recurring Measurement \| Municipal debt securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	10,139,000	9,984,000
Level 2 \| Recurring Measurement \| Time deposits
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	7,518,000	7,511,000
Carrying value
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Senior notes and convertible senior notes, net	1,300,000,000	1,400,000,000
Total Fair Value
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Senior notes and convertible senior notes, net	$ 1,400,000,000	$ 1,500,000,000

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The number of mortgage loans that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate unpaid principal balance outstanding of mortgage loans held-for-sale.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Net carrying value as of the balance sheet date of notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Section 50

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-Publisher FASB

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-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of loans held as assets that are 90 days or more past due for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

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- Definition

For loans held as assets for which the fair value option has been elected, this item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of those loans that are 90 days or more past due, in nonaccrual status, or both.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (e)(3)

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- Definition

Amount of principal due on loans that have been delinquent, which may exclude loans having interest delinquent for three months or less, as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.10(a))

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