Land Under Development - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014 Lot Parcels	Dec. 31, 2013 Lot Parcels
Real Estate [Abstract]
Number of raw parcels of land acquired	4nvr_NumberOfRawParcelsOfLandAcquired	5nvr_NumberOfRawParcelsOfLandAcquired
Carrying value of raw parcels of land	$ 33,689	$ 41,328
Number of finished lots for use in homebuilding operations	480	650
Finished lots under lot purchase agreements	94
Lots sold to unrelated party	19	15
Aggregate sale price of finished lots to unrelated party	$ 3,100	$ 2,600

Aggregate finished lots under contract to be sold to unrelated party under agreement.

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- Definition

Amount of finished lots sold under contract unrelated party.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Finished lots sold under contract unrelated party.

+ References

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- Definition

Number of finished lots intended to be developed from raw parcels of land for use in homebuilding operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of raw parcels of land acquired.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, net of valuation allowances and impairment losses, of costs of land expected to be developed in the near term plus capitalized costs of development, for purposes of selling completed units to home buyers or commercial or industrial entities..

+ 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 210.5-02.6(a))

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

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