Commitments and Contingencies (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					0 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2012	Nov. 30, 2012	May 31, 2013 Damages from Product Defects [Member] Lawsuit	May 31, 2013 Water Intrusion [Member] Home	Mar. 12, 2013 Florida State Court Damages from Product Defects [Member]	May 31, 2013 Florida State Court Damages from Product Defects [Member] Lawsuit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Structural warranty provided by the company (in years)			10 years
Minimum warranty on electrical and other building systems (in years)			2 years
Maximum warranty on electrical and other building systems (in years)			5 years
Warranty for other components of a home (in years)			1 year
Warranty Liability Associated with Water Intrustion							$ 27,800,000
Number of Homes Affected by Water Intrusion							1,140
Accumulated number of affected homes on which repairs were resolved							297
Payments Made for Repair of Homes With Water Intrusion			11,400,000
Payments made as repair costs for homes with Water Intrusion			15,400,000
Estimated repair costs for homes with Water Intrusion			43,200,000
Number of lawsuits in which company is a defendant						8			1
Number of omnibus class action lawsuits						7
Litigation settlement, expense								300,000
Adjustment to increase warranty liability	15,873,000	(11,130,000)	17,547,000	(11,097,000)
Estimated liabilities for construction defect	90,600,000		90,600,000		93,300,000
Expenses associated with self-insurance	1,600,000	2,300,000	3,400,000	4,600,000
Performance bonds	289,700,000		289,700,000		286,100,000
Letters of credit outstanding	41,900,000		41,900,000		41,900,000
Total deposits	22,400,000		22,400,000
Cash deposits	22,335,000		22,335,000		25,682,000
Letters of credit	100,000		100,000		500,000
Aggregate purchase price of land	$ 707,762,000		$ 707,762,000		$ 625,335,000