Commitments and Contingencies (Narratives) (Details)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) Home	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($) community	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) Home	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($) community	Nov. 30, 2014 USD ($) Home
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
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		$ (5,285,000)	$ (10,633,000)	$ (19,927,000)	$ (30,795,000)
Adjustment to increase warranty liability	[1]	1,130,000	7,546,000	8,164,000	12,155,000
Performance bonds		542,900,000		542,900,000		$ 541,600,000
Letters of credit outstanding		26,400,000		26,400,000		26,700,000
Cash deposits		42,771,000		42,771,000		33,059,000
Aggregate purchase price of land		941,596,000		$ 941,596,000		958,470,000
Warranty for Other Components of Home				1 year
Damages from Product Defects [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Structural warranty provided by the company (in years)				10 years
Water Intrusion [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Receivable		8,164,000	12,794,000	$ 8,164,000	12,794,000
Warranty Liability Associated with Water Intrusion		$ 1,300,000		$ 1,300,000		$ 9,400,000
Number of Homes Affected by Water Intrusion | Home		52		52		324
Additional Number of Affected Homes Associated with Repair Costs | Home				74
Number of Affected Homes on which Repairs Were Resolved | Home				346
Payments		$ (1,100,000)	$ (7,200,000)	$ (8,600,000)	(21,300,000)
Payments made as repair costs for homes with Water Intrusion		(71,900,000)		(71,900,000)
Estimated repair costs for homes with Water Intrusion		$ 73,200,000		73,200,000
Insurance Recoveries				5,000,000	$ 500,000
Product Liability Contingency, Third Party Recovery				22,600,000		$ 26,600,000
Product Liability Contingency, Third Party Recovery Included In Warranty Liability				$ 1,300,000
Number of Affected Attached Home Communities | community			1		1
Warranty Obligations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Structural warranty provided by the company (in years)				10 years
Minimum [Member] | Florida Attorney General [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] | Florida Attorney General [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 and nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 were primarily comprised of the reclassification of estimated minimum probable recoveries to receivables. Adjustments for the nine months ended August 31, 2014 also included a reclassification of estimated minimum probable recoveries to establish a separate accrual for a water intrusion-related inquiry.