Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017
Total Revenues									$ 4,552,747	$ 4,547,002	$ 4,368,529
Interest expense									0	0	(622)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									10,681	9,367	2,825
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt									(6,800)	0	(5,685)
Pretax income (loss)	$ 164,967	$ 91,936	$ 56,761	$ 34,511	$ 128,936	$ 114,676	$ 78,308	$ 46,045	348,175	367,965	289,995
Income tax expense									(79,400)	(197,600)	(109,400)
Net income	$ 123,167	$ 68,136	$ 47,461	$ 30,011	$ 96,836	$ 87,476	$ 57,308	$ (71,255)	$ 268,775	$ 170,365	$ 180,595
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings per share: Basic (usd per share)	$ 1.37	$ 0.77	$ 0.54	$ 0.34	$ 1.09	$ 0.99	$ 0.65	$ (0.82)	$ 3.04	$ 1.93	$ 2.09
Earnings per share: Diluted (usd per share)	$ 1.31	$ 0.73	$ 0.51	$ 0.31	$ 0.96	$ 0.87	$ 0.57	$ (0.82)	$ 2.85	$ 1.71	$ 1.85
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic (shares)									87,996	87,773	85,842
Weighted average shares outstanding: Diluted (shares)									93,838	101,059	98,316
Financial services
Total Revenues									$ 15,089	$ 13,207	$ 12,264
Construction and land costs									(4,333)	(3,844)	(3,430)
Selling, general and administrative expenses									(4,333)	(3,844)	(3,430)
Operating income									10,756	9,363	8,834
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									12,230	7,301	4,234
Pretax income (loss)									22,986	16,664	13,068
Homebuilding:
Total Revenues									4,537,658	4,533,795	4,356,265
Construction and land costs									(3,708,928)	(3,743,920)	(3,646,468)
Selling, general and administrative expenses									(497,350)	(444,154)	(426,394)
Operating income									331,380	345,721	283,403
Interest income									2,158	3,514	1,240
Interest expense									0	0	(622)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures									(1,549)	2,066	(1,409)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt									(6,800)		(5,685)
Pretax income (loss)									$ 325,189	$ 351,301	$ 276,927