Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013		May 31, 2012		May 31, 2013		May 31, 2012		Nov. 30, 2012
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$ 0		$ (9,900,000)		$ 0		$ (16,500,000)		$ (28,100,000)
Post Impairment Fair Value			15,200,000
Land Option Contract Abandonment Charges	284,000		0		284,000		0
Minimum [Member]
Unobservable Input
Average selling price	0	[1]	115,200	[1]	0	[1]	115,200	[1]
Deliveries per month	0	[1]	1	[1]	0	[1]	1	[1]
Discount rate	0.00%	[1]	17.00%	[1]	0.00%	[1]	17.00%	[1]
Maximum [Member]
Unobservable Input
Average selling price	0	[1]	487,300	[1]	0	[1]	498,000	[1]
Deliveries per month	0	[1]	6	[1]	0	[1]	6	[1]
Discount rate	0.00%	[1]	20.00%	[1]	0.00%	[1]	20.00%	[1]
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Post Impairment Fair Value							$ 27,400,000		$ 39,900,000

[1] The ranges of inputs used primarily reflect the underlying variability among the various housing markets where each of the impacted communities or land parcels are located, rather than changes in prevailing market conditions.