Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 425,316	$ 545,419
Inventory:
Land under development	60,611	33,689
Contract land deposits, net	343,295	294,676
Total assets	2,515,131	2,351,335
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Total liabilities	$ 1,275,966	$ 1,227,080
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized; 20,555,330 shares issued as of both December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014	$ 206	$ 206
Additional paid-in capital	1,447,795	1,325,495
Deferred compensation trust – 108,614 shares of NVR, Inc. common stock as of both December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014	(17,333)	(17,333)
Deferred compensation liability	17,333	17,333
Retained earnings	5,270,114	4,887,187
Less treasury stock at cost – 16,664,342 and 16,506,229 shares as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	(5,478,950)	(5,088,633)
Total shareholders' equity	1,239,165	1,124,255
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,515,131	2,351,335
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	397,522	514,780
Receivables	11,482	10,021
Inventory:
Lots and housing units, covered under sales agreements with customers	785,982	690,955
Unsold lots and housing units	147,832	131,938
Land under development	60,611	33,689
Building materials and other	12,101	12,904
Total Inventory	1,006,526	869,486
Assets related to consolidated variable interest entity	1,749	3,590
Contract land deposits, net	343,295	294,676
Property, plant and equipment, net	44,651	46,242
Reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets, net	41,580	41,580
Goodwill and finite-lived intangible assets, net	3,982	5,364
Deferred tax assets, net	161,805	165,189
Other assets	122,989	137,091
Total assets	2,135,581	2,088,019
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable	227,437	204,622
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	304,922	289,058
Liabilities related to consolidated variable interest entity	1,091	1,618
Non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity		64
Customer deposits	110,965	106,755
Senior notes	599,260	599,166
Total liabilities	1,243,675	1,201,283
Mortgage Banking [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	26,804	30,158
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	319,553	205,664
Inventory:
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,313	6,189
Reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets, net	7,347	7,347
Other assets	20,533	13,958
Total assets	379,550	263,316
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	32,291	25,797
Total liabilities	$ 32,291	$ 25,797