Notes Payable (Schedule Notes Payable) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 2,632,127	$ 2,625,536
Mortgages and Land Contracts Due to Land Sellers and Other Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 41,461	$ 35,664
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior notes due September 15, 2017 at 9.10%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	9.10%	9.10%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 263,875	$ 263,475
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior notes due June 15, 2018 at 7 1/4%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.25%	7.25%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 299,635	$ 299,554
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Nineteen at Four Point Seven Five Percent [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	4.75%	4.75%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 400,000	$ 400,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior notes due March 15, 2020 at 8.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	8.00%	8.00%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 347,156	$ 346,843
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes due December 15, 2021 at 7.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.00%	7.00%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 450,000	$ 450,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior notes due September 15, 2022 at 7.50%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.50%	7.50%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 350,000	$ 350,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty Three At Seven Point Six Two Five Percent [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.625%	7.625%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 250,000	$ 250,000
Convertible Notes Payable [Member] | Convertible Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Nineteen At One Point Three Seven Five Percent [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	1.375%	1.375%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 230,000	$ 230,000