Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments (Narratives) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) lot delivery Rate	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($) lot	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) property lot delivery Rate	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($) property lot	Nov. 30, 2014 USD ($) property
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Acquisition Costs Related To Land Option Contracts And Other Similar Contracts	$ 60,000,000		$ 60,000,000		$ 48,000,000
Fair Value Estimate Input, Delivery For Period | delivery	4		4
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate | Rate	20.00%		20.00%
Number of land parcels or communities evaluated for recoverability | property			29	25
Carrying Value of Communities or Land Parcels Evaluated for Impairment	$ 232,800,000	$ 207,400,000	$ 232,800,000	$ 207,400,000
Asset Impairment Charges	3,173,000	$ 3,408,000	3,173,000	$ 3,408,000	37,600,000
Fair Value Estimate Input at Average Selling Price	178,100		178,100
Aggregate carrying value of inventory impacted by pretax, noncash inventory impairment charges	$ 248,300,000		$ 248,300,000		$ 266,600,000
Number of communities and various other land parcels impacted by pretax, noncash inventory impairment charges	25		25		33
Land Option Contract Abandonment Lots Associated with Projects Less Than $100,000 | lot	0	1,651	0	7,018
Land Option Contract Abandonment Lots | lot	740	624	1,166	1,306
Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Acquisition Costs Related To Land Option Contracts And Other Similar Contracts	$ 100,000		$ 100,000
Land Option Contract Abandonment [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Land	(359,000)	$ (1,013,000)	(1,343,000)	$ (1,803,000)
Southeast [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges	3,173,000	3,408,000	3,173,000	3,408,000
Southeast [Member] | Land Option Contract Abandonment [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Land	$ 0	$ 0	$ (984,000)	$ (254,000)