Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	May 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Nov. 30, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015
Total revenues		$ 1,403,138	$ 1,144,001	$ 1,002,794	$ 818,596	$ 1,191,942	$ 913,283	$ 811,050	$ 678,371	$ 4,368,529	$ 3,594,646	$ 3,032,030
Homebuilding:
Revenues										4,356,265	3,582,943	3,020,987
Construction and land costs										(3,646,468)	(3,041,101)	(2,539,368)
Selling, general and administrative expenses										(426,394)	(389,441)	(342,998)
Operating income										283,403	152,401	138,621
Interest income										1,240	529	458
Interest expense	[1]									(6,307)	(5,900)	(21,856)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										2,825	(5,601)	2,488
Financial services:
Revenues										12,264	11,703	11,043
Expenses										(3,430)	(3,817)	(3,711)
Pretax income (loss)		137,346	79,208	51,982	21,459	55,028	53,463	24,797	16,027	289,995	149,315	127,043
Income tax expense										(109,400)	(43,700)	(42,400)
Net income		$ 84,346	$ 50,208	$ 31,782	$ 14,259	$ 37,528	$ 39,363	$ 15,597	$ 13,127	$ 180,595	$ 105,615	$ 84,643
Earnings per share: Basic (usd per share)		$ 0.97	$ 0.58	$ 0.37	$ 0.17	$ 0.44	$ 0.46	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 2.09	$ 1.23	$ 0.92
Earnings per share: Diluted (usd per share)		$ 0.84	$ 0.51	$ 0.33	$ 0.15	$ 0.40	$ 0.42	$ 0.17	$ 0.14	$ 1.85	$ 1.12	$ 0.85
Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic (shares)										85,842	85,706	92,054
Weighted average shares outstanding: Diluted (shares)										98,316	96,278	102,857
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										$ (1,409)	$ (2,181)	$ (1,804)
Financial services:
Pretax income (loss)										276,927	144,849	115,419
Financial services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Operating income										8,834	7,886	7,332
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures										4,234	(3,420)	4,292
Financial services:
Pretax income (loss)										$ 13,068	$ 4,466	$ 11,624

[1] Interest incurred and interest expensed for the year ended November 30, 2017 included a charge of $5.7 million for the early extinguishment of debt.