Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Financial Information for Unconsolidated Joint Ventures) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2016
Statements of operations of unconsolidated joint venture
Revenues		$ 12,802	$ 19,338	$ 39,604	$ 41,190
Construction and land costs		(12,832)	(19,383)	(37,625)	(45,379)
Other expenses, net		(1,294)	(1,008)	(3,547)	(3,599)
Income (loss)		(1,324)	$ (1,053)	(1,568)	$ (7,788)
Assets
Cash		21,372		21,372		$ 31,928
Receivables		797		797		882
Inventories		145,299		145,299		165,385
Other Assets		2,270		2,270		629
Total assets		169,738		169,738		198,824
Liabilities and equity
Accounts payable and other liabilities		19,174		19,174		19,880
Equity Method Investments Summarized Financial Information Debt	[1]	25,618		25,618		44,381
Equity		124,946		124,946		134,563
Total liabilities and equity		$ 169,738		$ 169,738		$ 198,824

[1] Two of our unconsolidated joint ventures have separate construction loan agreements with different third-party lenders to finance their respective land development activities. The outstanding debt under these agreements is secured by the corresponding underlying property and related project assets and is non-recourse to us. Of this outstanding secured debt at August 31, 2017, $24.8 million is scheduled to mature in August 2018 and the remainder is scheduled to mature in February 2020. At November 30, 2016, only one of these unconsolidated joint ventures had outstanding secured debt. None of our other unconsolidated joint ventures had any outstanding debt at August 31, 2017 or November 30, 2016.