Commitments and Contingencies (Changes in the Warranty Liability) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	May 31, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	May 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Self Insurance Reserve		$ 177,559	$ 164,844	$ 177,559	$ 164,844	$ 156,505	$ 158,584	$ 156,733	$ 173,011
Expenses Associated with Self Insurance	[1]	5,573	7,110	13,811	15,532
Payments, Net of Recoveries for Self Insurance		(2,291)	(4,517)	(7,051)	(19,952)
Changes in the Warranty Liability
Balance at beginning of period		60,037	48,837	56,682	49,085
Warranties issued		10,041	8,006	25,965	19,573
Payments		(6,267)	(4,719)	(18,836)	(17,186)
Adjustments		0	0	0	652
Balance at end of period		63,811	52,124	63,811	52,124
Self Insurance [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Receivable		75,000		75,000			84,500
Increase (Decrease) in Insurance Liabilities	[2]	21,700	0	21,700	0
Loss Contingency, Receivable, Period Increase (Decrease)	[3]	(3,901)	$ 5,518	(9,458)	$ (3,747)
Warranty and Other [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Receivable		$ 5,200		$ 5,200			$ 14,600

[1] a)These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and are largely offset by contributions from subcontractors participating in the wrap-up policy.

[2] b)Amounts for the three months and nine months ended August 31, 2017 reflect a change in estimate to increase our self-insurance liability based on a review of actual claim resolution experience, which indicated a higher frequency of claims and, to a lesser extent, a higher claim severity than previously anticipated. Based on these higher historical claim frequency and severity trends, we determined in the 2017 third quarter that future payments for claims relating to homes delivered in certain prior years were likely to exceed the then-estimated liabilities remaining for those claims. Therefore, we recorded an adjustment to increase our self-insurance liability based on an actuarially determined estimate that we believe has a higher probability of being adequate to cover future payments associated with unresolved claims, including claims incurred but not yet reported. This adjustment is included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

[3] (c)Amount for each period represents the changes in the estimated probable insurance and other recoveries that were reclassified to receivables to present our self-insurance liability on a gross basis.