Notes Payable (Schedule Notes Payable) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Feb. 28, 2019	Feb. 01, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 2,203,589		$ 2,060,263
Mortgages and land contracts due to land sellers and other loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 12,018		$ 40,038
Senior Notes [Member] | 4.75% Senior notes due May 15, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	4.75%		4.75%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 399,764		$ 399,483
Senior Notes [Member] | 8.00% Senior notes due March 15, 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	8.00%		8.00%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 348,199		$ 347,790
Senior Notes [Member] | 7.00% Senior notes due December 15, 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.00%		7.00%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 447,554		$ 447,359
Senior Notes [Member] | 7.50% Senior notes due September 15, 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.50%		7.50%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 347,861		$ 347,731
Senior Notes [Member] | 7.625% Senior notes due May 15, 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	7.625%		7.625%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 352,081		$ 248,074
Senior Notes [Member] | 6.875% Senior notes due June 15, 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate	6.875%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 296,112		$ 0
Convertible Notes Payable [Member] | 1.375% Convertible senior notes due February 1, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes, rate		1.375%	1.375%
Mortgages and notes payable	$ 0	$ 230,000	$ 229,788