Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs") - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) lot	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Contract land deposits in cash	$ 432,444	$ 441,423
Contract land deposit reserve adjustment	(36,400)
Loss Reserve On Contract Land Deposits	$ 63,188	$ 27,572
Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Maximum range of deposits required under the purchase agreements	10.00%
Power of developers equity holders to direct operating activities of development entity	100.00%
Lots controlled by NVR | lot	100,150
Contract land deposits in cash under lot purchase Agreements	$ 431,200
Letters of credit related to lots	$ 6,600
Contract on Raw Ground with Landowners [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Lots controlled by NVR | lot	7,200
Contract land deposits in cash	$ 1,200
Letters of credit related to land contract	100
Refundable deposits and letters of credit	$ 800