Commitments and Contingencies (Narratives) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2019 USD ($) Home claim_filed	Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Minimum warranty on electrical and other building systems (in years)		2 years
Maximum warranty on electrical and other building systems (in years)		5 years
Warranty for other components of the home (in years)		1 year
Performance bonds		$ 737,500	$ 689,300
Letters of credit outstanding		$ 33,600	28,000
Warranty for other components of a home (in years)		1 year
Cash deposits		$ 48,649	53,830
Aggregate purchase price of land		$ 1,377,183	1,371,238
Damages from Product Defects [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Structural warranty provided by the company (in years)		10 years
Minimum number of affected homes for construction defect claims | Home		2
Warranty Obligations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Structural warranty provided by the company (in years)		10 years
Self Insurance [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recoveries related to warranty and other claims		$ 49,000	56,900
Warranty and other [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recoveries related to warranty and other claims		4,100	$ 4,800
Northern California Townhome Community [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Claims for damages	$ 100,000	$ 142,000
Chapter 558 of the Florida Statutes [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding noticed claims | claim_filed		580