Supplemental Disclosure to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014	Nov. 30, 2014
Summary of cash and cash equivalents at end of period:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 548,079	$ 306,450	$ 358,768
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	(3,892)us-gaap_InterestPaidNet	(8,133)us-gaap_InterestPaidNet
Income taxes paid	150us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid	103us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Supplemental disclosures of noncash activities:
Increase (decrease) in consolidated inventories not owned	0	917
Cost of inventories acquired through seller financing	0	27,010
Homebuilding
Summary of cash and cash equivalents at end of period:
Cash and cash equivalents	545,641	303,269	356,366
Financial Services
Summary of cash and cash equivalents at end of period:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,438	3,181	2,402
Inspirada Builders LLC [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of noncash activities:
Increase in inventories due to distribution of land from unconsolidated joint venture	8,006	70,642
Tax Increment Financing Entities (TIFE)	0	33,197
Water Intrusion [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Loss Contingency, Receivable	$ 3,623	$ 0

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income.

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The amount of cash paid for interest during the period net of cash paid for interest that is capitalized.

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Amount of receivable related to a loss contingency accrual. For example, an insurance recovery receivable.

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The amount of inventory that an Entity acquires in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

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