Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	May. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	May. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Nov. 30, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013
Total revenues		$ 985,783	$ 843,157	$ 622,969	$ 580,121	$ 796,041	$ 589,214	$ 565,007	$ 450,687	$ 3,032,030	$ 2,400,949	$ 2,097,130
Homebuilding:
Revenues										3,020,987	2,389,643	2,084,978
Construction and land costs										(2,539,368)	(1,985,651)	(1,737,086)
Selling, general and administrative expenses										(342,998)	(288,023)	(255,808)
Operating income (loss)										138,621	115,969	92,084
Interest income										458	443	792
Interest expense	[1]									(21,856)	(30,750)	(62,690)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										2,488	1,427	(933)
Financial services:
Revenues										11,043	11,306	12,152
Expenses										(3,711)	(3,446)	(3,042)
Pretax income (loss)		69,917	33,954	12,673	10,499	28,601	28,661	26,924	10,763	127,043	94,949	38,363
Income tax benefit						824,200				(42,400)	823,400	1,600
Net income (loss)		$ 44,017	$ 23,254	$ 9,573	$ 7,799	$ 852,801	$ 28,361	$ 26,624	$ 10,563	$ 84,643	$ 918,349	$ 39,963
Earnings (Loss) Per Share, Basic, in dollars per share		$ 0.48	$ 0.25	$ 0.10	$ 0.08	$ 9.25	$ 0.31	$ 0.30	$ 0.13	$ 0.92	$ 10.26	$ 0.48
Earnings (Loss) Per Share, Diluted, in dollars per share		$ 0.43	$ 0.23	$ 0.10	$ 0.08	$ 8.36	$ 0.28	$ 0.27	$ 0.12	$ 0.85	$ 9.25	$ 0.46
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic										92,054	89,265	82,630
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted										102,857	99,314	91,559
Homebuilding [Member]
Total revenues										$ 3,020,987	$ 2,389,643	$ 2,084,978
Homebuilding:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										(1,804)	741	(2,007)
Financial services:
Pretax income (loss)										115,419	86,403	28,179
Financial services [Member]
Total revenues										11,043	11,306	12,152
Homebuilding:
Operating income (loss)										7,332	7,860	9,110
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										4,292	686	1,074
Financial services:
Pretax income (loss)										$ 11,624	$ 8,546	$ 10,184

[1] Amounts for the year ended November 30, 2013 included losses on the early extinguishment of debt of $10.4 million associated with the purchase and retirement of certain senior notes ahead of their maturity.