Commitments and Contingencies (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015		Feb. 28, 2014		Nov. 30, 2014
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
Payments	$ (7,595,000)		$ (8,711,000)
Adjustment to increase warranty liability	3,623,000	[1]	0	[1]
Performance bonds	550,400,000				541,600,000
Letters of credit outstanding	27,200,000				26,700,000
Cash deposits	28,469,000				33,059,000
Letters of credit	0				100,000
Aggregate purchase price of land	829,204,000				958,470,000
Water Intrusion [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Receivable	3,623,000		0
Warranty Liability Associated with Water Intrusion	5,800,000				9,400,000
Number of Homes Affected by Water Intrusion	231				324
Additional Number of Affected Homes Associated with Repair Costs	18
Number of Affected Homes on which Repairs Were Resolved	111
Payments	(4,100,000)		(6,000,000)
Payments made as repair costs for homes with Water Intrusion	(67,400,000)
Estimated repair costs for homes with Water Intrusion	73,200,000
Insurance Recoveries	5,000,000
Product Liability Contingency, Third Party Recovery	21,600,000
Product Liability Contingency, Third Party Recovery Included In Warranty Liability	5,800,000
Minimum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Liability Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Best Estimate	0
Minimum [Member] | Water Intrusion [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Liability Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Best Estimate	0
Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Liability Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Best Estimate	5,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Water Intrusion [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Product Liability Contingency, Loss Exposure Not Accrued, Best Estimate	$ 3,000,000

[1] As discussed below, adjustments for the three months ended February 28, 2015 were comprised of a reclassification of estimated minimum probable recoveries to receivables and had no impact on our consolidated statement of operations for the period.