Notes Payable (Schedule Notes Payable) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 2,502,379	$ 2,640,149
Mortgages and Land Contracts Due to Land Sellers and Other Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 24,142	$ 66,927
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	$ 164,963	$ 263,932
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	$ 299,811	$ 299,647
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	$ 398,134	$ 397,364
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	$ 345,869	$ 344,811
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	$ 446,429	$ 445,911
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	$ 347,116	$ 346,774
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	$ 247,643	$ 247,404
Convertible Notes Payable [Member] | Convertible Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Nineteen At One Point Three Seven Five Percent [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	1.375%	1.375%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 228,272	$ 227,379