Commitments and Contingencies (Narratives) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2017 USD ($) Home	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($)
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	$ (6,457)	$ (8,446)	$ (12,569)	$ (12,467)
Adjustment to increase warranty liability	0	$ 393	0	$ 652
Performance bonds	564,800		564,800		$ 535,700
Letters of credit outstanding	32,400		32,400		31,000
Cash deposits	31,412		31,412		42,829
Aggregate purchase price of land	855,916		$ 855,916		1,073,596
Warranty for Other Components of Home			1 year
Damages from Product Defects [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Minimum Number of Affected Homes for Construction Defect Claims | Home			2
Structural warranty provided by the company (in years)			10 years
Warranty Obligations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Structural warranty provided by the company (in years)			10 years
Self Insurance [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Receivable	$ 78,900		$ 78,900		$ 84,500