Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Financial Information for Unconsolidated Joint Ventures) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) joint_venture	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) joint_venture	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($) joint_venture
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures | joint_venture		6		6		7
Statements of operations of unconsolidated joint venture
Revenues		$ 35,391	$ 12,802	$ 52,015	$ 39,604
Construction and land costs		(22,211)	(12,832)	(38,866)	(37,625)
Other expenses, net		(226)	(1,294)	(2,209)	(3,547)
Income (loss)		12,954	$ (1,324)	10,940	$ (1,568)
Assets
Cash		10,466		10,466		$ 21,193
Receivables		26		26		688
Inventories		131,512		131,512		145,519
Other Assets		740		740		1,398
Total assets		142,744		142,744		168,798
Liabilities and equity
Accounts payable and other liabilities		9,856		9,856		25,426
Equity Method Investments Summarized Financial Information Debt	[1]	11,407		11,407		20,040
Equity		121,481		121,481		123,332
Total liabilities and equity		$ 142,744		$ 142,744		$ 168,798
Secured Debt [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures | joint_venture		1		1

[1] As of November 30, 2017, two of our unconsolidated joint ventures had separate construction loan agreements with different third-party lenders to finance their respective land development activities, with the outstanding debt secured by the corresponding underlying property and related project assets and non-recourse to us. The secured debt of one of these unconsolidated joint ventures was repaid in August 2018 upon maturity. All of the outstanding secured debt at August 31, 2018 is scheduled to mature in February 2020. None of our other unconsolidated joint ventures had outstanding debt at August 31, 2018 or November 30, 2017.