Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 493,761	$ 396,619
Inventory:
Land under development	63,684
Contract land deposits, net	369,703	379,844
Total assets	2,742,299	2,643,943
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Total liabilities	1,334,019	1,339,502
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized; 20,555,330 shares issued as of both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	206	206
Additional paid-in capital	1,570,270	1,515,828
Deferred compensation trust – 108,644 and 108,640 shares of NVR, Inc. common stock as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	(17,383)	(17,375)
Deferred compensation liability	17,383	17,375
Retained earnings	5,797,342	5,695,376
Less treasury stock at cost – 16,819,692 and 16,862,327 shares as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	(5,959,538)	(5,906,969)
Total shareholders' equity	1,408,280	1,304,441
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,742,299	2,643,943
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	482,689	375,748
Restricted cash	14,857	17,561
Receivables	19,876	18,937
Inventory:
Lots and housing units, covered under sales agreements with customers	1,025,071	883,868
Unsold lots and housing units	129,931	145,065
Land under development	63,684	46,999
Building materials and other	13,748	16,168
Total Inventory	1,232,434	1,092,100
Assets related to consolidated variable interest entity	1,248	1,251
Contract land deposits, net	369,703	379,844
Property, plant and equipment, net	45,116	45,915
Reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets, net	41,580	41,580
Goodwill and finite-lived intangible assets, net	2,254	2,599
Other assets	277,489	257,811
Total assets	2,487,246	2,233,346
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable	237,700	251,212
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	317,828	336,318
Liabilities related to consolidated variable interest entity	879	882
Customer deposits	148,353	122,236
Senior notes	596,607	596,455
Total liabilities	1,301,367	1,307,103
Mortgage Banking [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	9,862	19,657
Restricted cash	2,122	1,857
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	213,433	351,958
Inventory:
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,434	4,903
Reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets, net	7,347	7,347
Other assets	16,855	24,875
Total assets	255,053	410,597
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	32,652	32,399
Total liabilities	$ 32,652	$ 32,399