Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) lot joint_venture	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) lot joint_venture
Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Aggregate investment	$ 26,700	$ 29,400
Number of joint ventures | joint_venture	5	6
Expected production of finished lots | lot	6,300	6,800
Total lots controlled by company under the joint venture | lot	2,950	3,450
Total lots either under contract with unrelated parties or not under the current contract | lot	3,350	3,350
Additional funding commitments in the aggregate	$ 4,300	$ 5,000
Number of joint ventures with additional funding commitment | joint_venture	2	3
Number of joint ventures NVR is not primary beneficiary | joint_venture	4
Other Assets
Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Aggregate investment	$ 26,700	$ 29,400
Cost of Sales
Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment	7,400
EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCapitalizedInterestPortion	760
Consolidated Joint Venture
Joint Ventures [Line Items]
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	251
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 281	$ 320