Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	May 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	May 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014
Total revenues	$ 1,191,942	$ 913,283	$ 811,050	$ 678,371	$ 985,783	$ 843,157	$ 622,969	$ 580,121		$ 3,594,646	$ 3,032,030	$ 2,400,949
Homebuilding:
Revenues										3,582,943	3,020,987	2,389,643
Construction and land costs										(3,041,101)	(2,539,368)	(1,985,651)
Selling, general and administrative expenses										(389,441)	(342,998)	(288,023)
Operating income										152,401	138,621	115,969
Interest income										529	458	443
Interest expense										(5,900)	(21,856)	(30,750)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										(5,601)	2,488	1,427
Financial services:
Revenues										11,703	11,043	11,306
Expenses										(3,817)	(3,711)	(3,446)
Pretax income (loss)	55,028	53,463	24,797	16,027	69,917	33,954	12,673	10,499		149,315	127,043	94,949
Income tax benefit (expense)									$ 824,200	(43,700)	(42,400)	823,400
Net income	$ 37,528	$ 39,363	$ 15,597	$ 13,127	$ 44,017	$ 23,254	$ 9,573	$ 7,799		$ 105,615	$ 84,643	$ 918,349
Earnings per share: Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.46	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.48	$ 0.25	$ 0.10	$ 0.08		$ 1.23	$ 0.92	$ 10.26
Earnings per share: Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.42	$ 0.17	$ 0.14	$ 0.43	$ 0.23	$ 0.10	$ 0.08		$ 1.12	$ 0.85	$ 9.25
Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic (shares)										85,706	92,054	89,265
Weighted average shares outstanding: Diluted (shares)										96,278	102,857	99,314
Homebuilding [Member]
Total revenues										$ 3,582,943	$ 3,020,987	$ 2,389,643
Homebuilding:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										(2,181)	(1,804)	741
Financial services:
Pretax income (loss)										144,849	115,419	86,403
Financial services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Operating income										7,886	7,332	7,860
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										(3,420)	4,292	686
Financial services:
Pretax income (loss)										$ 4,466	$ 11,624	$ 8,546