Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Impacts of Adopting ASC 606) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Dec. 01, 2019	Nov. 30, 2019	Dec. 01, 2018
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Lease right-of-use assets	$ 33,291		$ 33,291
Total revenues	999,013	$ 1,160,786	2,988,918	$ 2,994,072
Total pretax income	101,315	91,936	237,952	183,208
Income tax expense	(22,900)	(23,800)	(47,800)	(37,600)
Net income	$ 78,415	$ 68,136	$ 190,152	$ 145,608
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.83	$ 0.73	$ 2.02	$ 1.55
Assets
Inventories	$ 3,671,129		$ 3,671,129			$ 3,704,602
Property and equipment, net	64,619		64,619			65,043
Total assets	5,177,427		5,177,427			5,015,482
Stockholders’ equity:
Retained earnings	2,326,060		2,326,060			2,157,183
Financial Service [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Lease right-of-use assets	300		300
Contract assets	21,600		21,600			20,600
Total revenues	3,865	$ 3,931	11,108	$ 9,758
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,056)	(1,003)	(2,901)	(3,067)
Operating income	2,809	2,928	8,207	6,691
Total pretax income	9,664	6,644	23,081	13,709
Assets
Total assets	34,761		34,761			38,396
Home Building [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Lease right-of-use assets	32,992		32,992			0
Total revenues	995,148	1,156,855	2,977,810	2,984,314
Construction and land costs	(798,495)	(943,754)	(2,429,001)	(2,458,353)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(107,710)	(127,626)	(348,082)	(357,048)
Operating income	88,943	85,475	200,727	168,913
Total pretax income	91,651	85,292	214,871	169,499
Assets
Inventories	3,671,129		3,671,129			3,704,602
Deferred tax assets, net	241,171		241,171			364,493
Property and equipment, net	64,619		64,619			65,043
Total assets	$ 5,142,666		$ 5,142,666			$ 4,977,086
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Lease right-of-use assets		$ 0		$ 0	$ 31,199
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Assets
Inventories							$ (35,288)
Property and equipment, net							$ 31,194