Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Mar. 12, 2013	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	May 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Nov. 30, 2013		Nov. 30, 2012		Nov. 30, 2011
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)								$ 11,200,000		$ 7,400,000	$ (31,959,000)	[1]	$ 8,586,000	[1]	$ 6,123,000	[1]
Consolidated Quarterly Results
Revenues		618,531,000	548,974,000	524,406,000	405,219,000	578,201,000	424,504,000	302,852,000	254,558,000		2,097,130,000		1,560,115,000		1,315,866,000
Gross profits		113,282,000	101,829,000	80,772,000	61,119,000	81,631,000	72,439,000	49,118,000	21,891,000
Pretax income (loss)		28,316,000	26,578,000	(4,173,000)	(12,358,000)	2,424,000	(7,439,000)	(28,636,000)	(45,402,000)		38,363,000		(79,053,000)		(181,168,000)
Net income (loss)		28,116,000	27,278,000	(2,973,000)	(12,458,000)	7,724,000	3,261,000	(24,136,000)	(45,802,000)		39,963,000		(58,953,000)		(178,768,000)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share, Diluted, in dollars per share		$ 0.31	$ 0.30	$ (0.04)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.10	$ 0.04	$ (0.31)	$ (0.59)		$ 0.46		$ (0.76)		$ (2.32)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share, Basic, in dollars per share		$ 0.33	$ 0.32	$ (0.04)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.10	$ 0.04	$ (0.31)	$ (0.59)		$ 0.48		$ (0.76)		$ (2.32)
Quarterly Results (Narrative) [Abstract]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		400,000				5,200,000	6,400,000	9,900,000	6,600,000		391,000		28,107,000		22,730,000
Land option contract abandonment charges	0	2,900,000	0	300,000		400,000					3,190,000		426,000		3,061,000
Loss on loan guaranty											0		0		30,765,000
Insurance Recoveries			16,500,000					10,000,000					26,500,000
Water Intrusion [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)		(8,500,000)	(5,900,000)	(15,900,000)	(1,600,000)	(2,600,000)
Estancia Coastal Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency Accrual, Carrying Value, Period Increase (Decrease)		$ 8,200,000						$ (8,800,000)			$ (1,200,000)		$ (8,800,000)

[1] (b)Adjustments in 2013 were comprised of charges associated with water intrusion-related issues in central and southwest Florida, while in 2012, favorable warranty adjustments were partly offset by such water intrusion-related charges. In 2011, favorable warranty adjustments were partly offset by the impact of our consolidation of a previously unconsolidated joint venture.