Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 262,428	$ 425,316
Inventory:
Land under development	62,327
Contract land deposits, net	377,496	343,295
Total assets	2,663,216	2,511,718
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Total liabilities	1,364,077	1,272,553
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized; 20,555,330 shares issued as of both September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015	206	206
Additional paid-in capital	1,499,770	1,447,795
Deferred compensation trust – 108,635 and 108,614 shares of NVR, Inc. common stock as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	(17,367)	(17,333)
Deferred compensation liability	17,367	17,333
Retained earnings	5,544,485	5,270,114
Less treasury stock at cost – 16,766,035 and 16,664,342 shares as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	(5,745,322)	(5,478,950)
Total shareholders' equity	1,299,139	1,239,165
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,663,216	2,511,718
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	249,728	397,522
Receivables	13,921	11,482
Inventory:
Lots and housing units, covered under sales agreements with customers	1,107,919	785,982
Unsold lots and housing units	134,626	147,832
Land under development	62,327	60,611
Building materials and other	11,858	12,101
Total Inventory	1,316,730	1,006,526
Assets related to consolidated variable interest entity	1,247	1,749
Contract land deposits, net	377,496	343,295
Property, plant and equipment, net	45,321	44,651
Reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets, net	41,580	41,580
Goodwill and finite-lived intangible assets, net	2,945	3,982
Other assets	280,245	281,381
Total assets	2,329,213	2,132,168
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable	281,530	227,437
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	309,939	304,922
Liabilities related to consolidated variable interest entity	877	1,091
Customer deposits	144,697	110,965
Senior notes	596,303	595,847
Total liabilities	1,333,346	1,240,262
Mortgage Banking [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	11,490	26,804
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	291,303	319,553
Inventory:
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,085	5,313
Reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets, net	7,347	7,347
Other assets	18,778	20,533
Total assets	334,003	379,550
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	30,731	32,291
Total liabilities	$ 30,731	$ 32,291