Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011 Home Lawsuit	Nov. 30, 2010 Home	Nov. 30, 2009 Home	Nov. 30, 2008
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Structural warranty provided by the company	10 years
Maximum warranty on electrical and other building systems	5 years
Minimum warranty on electrical and other building systems	2 years
Warranty for other components of a home	1 year
Warranty adjustment reduction of construction and land cost	$ 7,400,000
Net warranty adjustments	(6,123,000)	(1,961,000)	8,224,000
Company's warranty liability	67,693,000	93,988,000	135,749,000	145,369,000
Warranty liability associated with defective drywall	4,800,000	11,300,000	14,400,000
Number of homes containing or suspected of containing defective drywall	87	296	229
Number of affected homes on which repairs were resolved.	239	141	0
Additional Number of affected homes associated with repair costs	30	208	229
Payments made for the repair of homes containing defective drywall	13,700,000	25,500,000	1,300,000
Estimated additional charges for homes containing defective drywall	7,100,000	22,400,000	15,700,000
Payments made as repair costs for homes containing defective drywall	40,500,000		5,700,000
Estimated repair costs for homes containing defective drywall.	45,300,000
Accumulated number of homes identified affected associated with overall warranty liability.	467
Accumulated Number of affected homes on which repairs were resolved.	380
Number of lawsuits in which company is a defendant	11
Company's estimated liabilities for construction defect	94,900,000	95,700,000
Repair costs incurred associated with the identified affected homes	0
Expenses associated with self-insurance	7,200,000	7,400,000	9,800,000
Performance bonds	361,600,000	414,300,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	63,800,000	87,500,000
Non refundable deposits related to land option and other similar contracts	20,900,000	14,800,000
Letters of credit	1,700,000	4,200,000
Total deposits	22,600,000
Aggregate purchase price of land	345,100,000
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases, 2012	7,000,000
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases, 2013	6,200,000
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases, 2014	4,500,000
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases,2015	2,300,000
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases, 2016	200,000
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases, thereafter	0
Rental expense on operating leases	$ 6,700,000	$ 8,500,000	$ 10,300,000