The reserve account established to account for expected but unspecified losses related to contract land deposits.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Total amount of items in the reconciliation of total assets from reportable segments to the entity's consolidated assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 18

-Article 5

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- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3044-108585

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- Definition

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Intangible assets are assets, not including financial assets, lacking physical substance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (bb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5710-111685

+ Details

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Segment Information, Nature of Operations, and Certain Concentrations - Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	$ 2,351,335us-gaap_Assets	$ 2,486,148us-gaap_Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	545,419	866,253	1,153,507	480,794
Contract land deposit reserve	(56,074)nvr_LossReserveOnContractLandDeposits	(59,761)nvr_LossReserveOnContractLandDeposits
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	1,615,009	1,427,205
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	917,689	810,270
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding North East [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	103,631	84,958
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	192,781	172,167
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding South East [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	144,939	106,389
Operating Segments [Member] \| Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	255,969	253,421
Reconciling Items Sub-Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated variable interest entity	3,590	7,268
Cash and cash equivalents	514,780	844,274
Deferred taxes	165,189	162,378
Intangible assets and goodwill	54,291	55,674
Contract land deposit reserve	(56,074)	(59,761)
Reconciling items sub-total	736,326	1,058,943
Consolidation adjustments and other [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Consolidated assets	$ 54,550	$ 49,110