Variable Interest Entities and Joint Ventures (Details 1)	Sep. 30, 2011 Lot JointVenture Land
Joint Venture Lots
Joint venture lots under contract with NVR	2,881
Joint venture lots under contract with others	66
Joint venture lots not under contract	2,659
Joint venture lots	5,606
Spotsylvania County Virginia [Member]
Joint Venture Lots
Joint venture lots under contract with NVR	143
Joint venture lots under contract with others	16
Joint venture lots not under contract	0
Joint venture lots	159
Loudoun County [Member]
Joint Venture Lots
Joint venture lots under contract with NVR	1,769
Joint venture lots under contract with others	50
Joint venture lots not under contract	0
Joint venture lots	1,819
Prince Georges County Maryland [Member]
Joint Venture Lots
Joint venture lots under contract with NVR	969
Joint venture lots under contract with others	0
Joint venture lots not under contract	0
Joint venture lots	969
Jefferson County West Virginia [Member]
Joint Venture Lots
Joint venture lots under contract with NVR	0
Joint venture lots under contract with others	0
Joint venture lots not under contract	2,659
Joint venture lots	2,659