Inventories (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013		Nov. 30, 2012		Nov. 30, 2011
Inventories
Homes under construction	$ 586,439		$ 454,108
Land under development	1,066,916		567,470
Land held for future development	645,222		684,993
Total	2,298,577		1,706,571
Interest Costs
Capitalized interest at beginning of year	217,684	[1]	233,461	[1]	249,966
Interest incurred	149,101	[2]	132,657	[2]	112,037	[2]
Interest Expense	62,690	[2]	69,804	[2]	49,204	[2]
Interest amortized to construction and land costs	(87,414)		(78,630)		(79,338)
Capitalized interest at end of year	216,681	[1]	217,684	[1]	233,461	[1]
Inventories (Textual)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt	$ (10,448)		$ (10,278)		$ 3,612

[1] Inventory impairment charges are recognized against all inventory costs of a community, such as land acquisition, land development, cost of home construction and capitalized interest. Capitalized interest amounts presented in the table reflect the gross amount of capitalized interest as impairment charges recognized are not generally allocated to specific components of inventory.

[2] Amounts for the years ended November 30, 2013 and 2012 included losses on the early extinguishment of debt of $10.4 million and $10.3 million, respectively. Amounts for the year ended November 30, 2011 included a gain on the early extinguishment of secured debt of $3.6 million