Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs") - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) lot	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Contract land deposit reserve adjustment	$ (6,200)
Net Contract Land Deposit Impairment Recoveries		$ 36,400
Loss reserve on contract land deposits	46,008		$ 52,205
Contract land deposits in cash	$ 442,911		$ 439,833
Variable Interest Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Maximum range of deposits required under the purchase agreements	10.00%
Lots controlled by NVR | lot	106,100
Contract land deposits in cash under lot purchase Agreements	$ 436,000
Letters of credit related to lots	$ 7,300
Contract on Raw Ground with Landowners
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Lots controlled by NVR | lot	9,000
Contract land deposits in cash	$ 7,000
Letters of credit related to land contract	100
Refundable deposits and letters of credit	$ 2,000