Inventories (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Feb. 28, 2010	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Nov. 30, 2010
Inventories
Homes, lots and improvements in production	$ 1,466,803,000			$ 1,466,803,000		$ 1,298,085,000
Land under development	433,777,000			433,777,000		398,636,000
Total	1,900,580,000			1,900,580,000		1,696,721,000
Interest costs
Capitalized interest at beginning of period	249,792,000	275,405,000	291,279,000	249,966,000	291,279,000
Capitalized interest related to consolidation of previously unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0		0	9,914,000
Interest incurred (a)	29,090,000	30,001,000		84,489,000	91,907,000
Interest expensed (a)	(12,342,000)	(16,183,000)		(36,902,000)	(52,108,000)
Interest amortized to construction and land costs	(21,733,000)	(27,685,000)		(52,746,000)	(79,454,000)
Capitalized interest at end of period (b)	244,807,000	261,538,000		244,807,000	261,538,000
Inventories (Textuals)
Gain on early extinguishment of Debt/write off of Debt issuance costs					(1,802,000)
Credit Facility Reduced			From $650.0 million to $200.0 million
Gain on the early extinguishment of secured debt				3,600,000
Write off of debt issuance cost on termination of revolving credit facility and gain(loss) on early extinguishment of debt	$ 3,612,000