Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2010	Feb. 28, 2010	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Nov. 30, 2009
Revenues:
Total homebuilding revenues									$ 1,305,562	$ 1,581,763	$ 1,816,415
Financial services									10,304	8,233	8,435
Total revenues	479,872	367,316	271,738	196,940	450,963	501,003	374,052	263,978	1,315,866	1,589,996	1,824,850
Pretax income (loss):
Total homebuilding loss									(207,246)	(88,511)	(330,383)
Financial services									26,078	12,143	19,199
Total pretax loss	11,411	(9,649)	(68,804)	(114,126)	15,442	(6,697)	(30,609)	(54,504)	(181,168)	(76,368)	(311,184)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures									(55,839)	(6,257)	(49,615)
Inventory impairments:
Total inventory impairments	1,300	300	20,100	1,000	1,600	1,400		6,800	22,730	9,815	120,848
Land option contract abandonments:
Total land option contract abandonments	1,000	800	500	800	1,600	2,000		6,500	3,061	10,110	47,301
Joint venture impairments:
Total joint venture impairments									53,727	0	38,531
Assets:
Total homebuilding assets	2,480,369				3,080,306				2,480,369	3,080,306
Financial services	32,173				29,443				32,173	29,443
Total assets	2,512,542				3,109,749				2,512,542	3,109,749
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Total	127,926				105,583				127,926	105,583
West Coast [Member]
Revenues:
Total homebuilding revenues									589,387	700,645	812,207
Pretax income (loss):
Total homebuilding loss									19,639	60,250	(88,442)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures									68	1,476	(7,761)
Inventory impairments:
Total inventory impairments									2,598	3,828	44,895
Land option contract abandonments:
Total land option contract abandonments									704	797	32,679
Joint venture impairments:
Total joint venture impairments									0	0	7,190
Assets:
Total homebuilding assets	995,888				965,323				995,888	965,323
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Total	38,405				37,830				38,405	37,830
Southwest [Member]
Revenues:
Total homebuilding revenues									139,872	187,736	218,096
Pretax income (loss):
Total homebuilding loss									(108,265)	(15,802)	(48,572)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures									(55,902)	(8,631)	(15,509)
Inventory impairments:
Total inventory impairments									18,715	962	28,833
Land option contract abandonments:
Total land option contract abandonments									296
Joint venture impairments:
Total joint venture impairments									53,727	0	5,426
Assets:
Total homebuilding assets	338,586				376,234				338,586	376,234
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Total	80,194				59,191				80,194	59,191
Central [Member]
Revenues:
Total homebuilding revenues									369,705	436,404	434,400
Pretax income (loss):
Total homebuilding loss									(12,924)	(1,772)	(29,382)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures											506
Inventory impairments:
Total inventory impairments									51	348	23,891
Land option contract abandonments:
Total land option contract abandonments									1,310	6,511
Assets:
Total homebuilding assets	336,553				328,938				336,553	328,938
Southeast [Member]
Revenues:
Total homebuilding revenues									206,598	256,978	351,712
Pretax income (loss):
Total homebuilding loss									(37,983)	(42,801)	(78,414)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures:
Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures									(5)	898	(26,851)
Inventory impairments:
Total inventory impairments									1,366	4,677	23,229
Land option contract abandonments:
Total land option contract abandonments									751	2,802	14,622
Joint venture impairments:
Total joint venture impairments									0	0	25,915
Assets:
Total homebuilding assets	317,308				372,611				317,308	372,611
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures:
Total	9,327				8,562				9,327	8,562
Corporate and Other [Member]
Pretax income (loss):
Total homebuilding loss									(67,713)	(88,386)	(85,573)
Assets:
Total homebuilding assets	$ 492,034				$ 1,037,200				$ 492,034	$ 1,037,200